Haverhill is nestled in the Stour Valley in a quiet corner of Suffolk, bordering Essex and Cambridgeshire. It has been a market town for almost 1000 years and was recorded in the Domesday survey in 1086, but even before the English and Normans came, archaeological evidence shows that both Stone Age man and later the Romans thought this valley a good place to settle.
In the 19th century, the town thrived through its textile industry notably when it became a significant centre for the making of ‘drabbet’ smocks for the agricultural workers. It almost doubled in size between 1851 and 1901, bringing new houses, factories, schools, churches and public buildings to make it a complete Victorian town.
Its population has quadrupled between 1951 and the present time and continues to grow, with major new facilities and new housing. It is a forward looking town with an active Town Council and a strong sense of community and our school has been at the heart of that community since 1978.
Suffolk has inspired everyone, from George Orwell who adopted the name of one of our rivers, to bird watchers and nature lovers who come to see our unique landscapes, and is noted for having been the home to two of England’s best regarded painters – John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough – with the Stour Valley being branded as “Constable Country”.
Along with the Brecks, ancient woodlands and the glorious countryside which will enthral and delight you, you will find some unique coastal villages, also home to one of our most noted composers, Benjamin Britten.
Samuel Ward Academy
Chalkstone Way
Haverhill
Suffolk CB9 0LD
Tel: 01440 761511
Haverhill is situated approximately:
- 19 Miles from Cambridge
- 19 Miles from Bury St Edmunds
- 28 Miles to Colchester
- 46 Miles from the M25