Wymondham, a Norfolk market town, stands out as a rare success story in the UK's struggling retail landscape, with almost no abandoned shops and a thriving high street. This resilience is attributed to a 'fiercely independent' community spirit that traces back to the 1549 Kett's Rebellion, when locals stormed Norwich to protest against greedy landlords.
A Town That Fights for What's Right
Today, Wymondham faces modern challenges like rising rents, soaring taxes, and online competition, but it has resisted the decline seen elsewhere. Tracy Kenny, chief executive and co-founder of Kett's Books, says, 'Wymondham has a very, very strong community heritage. There is a strong history of the people of Wymondham standing up for what's right for the town. The town appreciates working together and making things happen.'
Kett's Books, a community-owned social enterprise, opened in 2014 after the previous bookshop closed. Kenny explains, 'When the previous bookshop was going to close, we met and decided we'd run a bookshop for the benefit of the town. This business is a social enterprise, owned by the community. We can see it's succeeding.'
Independent Shops Thrive
Walking around Wymondham, only two empty units are visible: one former pub with a 'let' sign, and a former bank that closed as part of a national branch closure programme. Independent traders like Williams and Parfitt Antiques and Interiors, which took over a former Jarrolds store, are thriving. Co-owner Ryan Parfitt says, 'The community is just brilliant in Wymondham. Everyone sticks by you and supports you. We've had a really good response and have been really busy. Wymondham is unique. It's very traditional. It's the community that makes it. Everyone supports each other. There are brilliant events.'
Samantha Wootton, owner of Elementals Magickal Emporium, calls the town a 'hidden treasure.' She says, 'We just fell in love with Wymondham – that was a major influence of why we moved to Norfolk. It's got so much history, which we absolutely love. There is a lovely community. All the shops and businesses help each other out as well. It's just a unique place in its own right. It's different. When people come to Wymondham, they can see how wonderful and beautiful it is. It is a hidden treasure – that's why we put events on to bring people to the town, then they can see how beautiful it is. But it needs people to come and appreciate all the businesses.'
Community and Culture
Wymondham is known for its food and drink festival in June, with 60 stalls, and its 900-year-old Abbey. Residents and visitors praise its charm. Victor Soria, a resident since 2020, says, 'The schools are good for the kids. You can get around by walking and don't have to use the car for everything. It looks quite peaceful, but there's stuff going on. I'd put it well above average. I can't think of many places where you go to the high street and have some variety and independent shops.'
Mayor Lucy Nixon highlights the town's volunteer energy: 'People take great care of this town and are generously volunteering their time and experience. The volunteer energy in Wymondham is immense and often involves putting on large events such as the Christmas lights switch-on, food and drink festival and spring arts festival. It's what gives the town its strong sense of community, and there are many people working hard in Wymondham to ensure it continues to thrive for years to come.'
Crime in Wymondham is 14% lower than the national average, and the town's rebellious spirit lives on, ensuring its future looks as bright as its past.
