West Row

West Row combines archaeological traces from the Bronze Age and Roman times with a Victorian church, the River Lark and a car-free route to Mildenhall. If you are looking for a hotel in West Row, these different highlights can help you plan your stay, depending on whether you are most interested in history, the landscape or activities.

Archaeological traces from the Bronze Age to Roman Britain

The Mildenhall Treasure was found in West Row in January 1942. It comprises more than 30 pieces of silver tableware from Roman Britain. Faithful replicas are on display at Mildenhall Museum. This makes it possible to consider the find in West Row and the museum’s display of the treasure as different stages in its history.

Another archaeological connection is the Mildenhall Roman Site at Thistley Green, West Row, Mildenhall. The site was probably a Roman villa with a two-room building and a hypocaust; it was excavated in 1932. A hypocaust is a Roman heating system in which heat was channelled beneath the rooms. The Mildenhall Roman Site is designated a Scheduled Monument. The description of it as a villa remains a likely interpretation, not a certainty.

A Roman settlement on Beaches Road in West Row is interpreted as a comparatively wealthy or high-status farmstead-type settlement. It dates from the 2nd to the 4th century AD. This presents two different archaeological pictures side by side: the possible villa with a hypocaust and the settlement understood as farmstead-like. The date refers to the settlement on Beaches Road; 1932, by contrast, is the year the Mildenhall Roman Site was excavated.

The area’s prehistory also stretches far back. West Row is believed to have been an important Bronze Age site for more than 3,500 years. Early farmers lived here in wooden houses during the summer months; they may have made ritual offerings into the River Lark. The seasonal use and possible religious significance offer a different glimpse of the past from the later Roman settlement remains.

Church, conservation and village history

St Peter’s Church began as a village schoolroom in 1850 and was consecrated as a church in 1874. West Row War Memorial stands on Church Green in front of the church. West Row also has nine Grade II listed buildings and three Blue Plaques. Together, these places and designations offer an overview of different aspects of the village’s history, from the development of the church to commemorating local people and events.

Landscape and route to Mildenhall

West Row lies on the north bank of the navigable River Lark. It is considered part of Breckland and lies on the edge of the Fens. The river and landscape give your stay a clear geographical setting, while the Bronze Age and Roman sites add a long history of settlement.

A paved, car-free path between West Row and Mildenhall opened in 2013. It is suitable for cyclists, horse riders, walkers, runners, pushchairs and wheelchair users. The route accommodates different ways of travelling between the two places and offers a way to include the connection to Mildenhall in your travel plans.

Activities in the village

The Newmarket Model Flying Club has operated from an airfield in West Row since 2019. Anyone interested in trying model flying is welcome at the club; the club’s training aircraft are available. You must contact the club before taking part. This allows anyone interested to arrange their participation directly with the club.

West Row Bowls Club also has facilities for indoor and outdoor bowls.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Tunstall, Needham Market, Shotley, Dalham, Long Melford, Ilketshall Saint Margaret, Hessett and Blythburgh.

Go to the broader travel overview: Suffolk.