Stowmarket
| Stowmarket | |
|---|---|
Eastbridge Windpump at The Food Museum (June 2006) | |
Location within Suffolk | |
| Population | 21,534 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | TM048588 |
| • London | 89.1mi |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STOWMARKET |
| Postcode district | IP14 |
| Dialling code | 01449 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Stowmarket (/ˈstoʊˌmɑːrkɪt/ STOH-mar-kət) is a market town and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk, England, on the A14 trunk road between Bury St Edmunds to the west and Ipswich to the southeast. The town lies on the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) between Diss and Needham Market, and lies on the River Gipping, which is joined by its tributary, the River Rat, to the south of the town.
The town takes its name from the Old English word stōw meaning "principal place", and was granted a market charter in 1347 by Edward III. A bi-weekly market is still held there today on Thursday and Saturday.
The population of the town has increased from around 6,000 in 1981 to around 21,000 in 2021, with considerable further development planned for the town and surrounding villages as part of an area action plan. It is the largest town in the Mid Suffolk district and is represented in Parliament by the MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, currently Peter Prinsley.