Mildenhall | |
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St Mary's Church, Mildenhall |
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Mildenhall shown within Suffolk | |
Population | 10,315 (2011) |
OS grid reference | TL710748 |
• London | 75 mi (121 km) |
Civil parish |
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District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BURY ST. EDMUNDS |
Postcode district | IP28 |
Dialling code | 01638 |
Police | Suffolk |
Fire | Suffolk |
Ambulance | East of England |
EU Parliament | East of England |
UK Parliament | |
Website | www.mildenhall.suffolk.gov.uk |
Mildenhall is a small market town and civil parish in Suffolk, England. It is part of the non-metropolitan district of Forest Heath and has a population of 9,906 people, increasing to 10,315 at the 2011 Census. The town is near the A11 and is located 60 km (37 mi) north-west of county town, Ipswich. The large Royal Air Force base, RAF Mildenhall as well as RAF Lakenheath, are located north of the town. The former is used by the United States Air Force, as the headquarters of its 100th Air Refueling Wing and 352nd Special Operations Group.
Mildenhall centres on a market place with a 16th-century hexagonal market cross and town pump. The town's market is held here on every Friday and originated as a weekly chartered market in, it is believed, the 15th century. In 1934, Mildenhall was the start point of the MacRobertson Air Race to Melbourne, Australia. Mildenhall has its own radio station, ZACK FM (Forest Heath Public Radio), broadcasting on 105.3 FM; the transmitter is located at the top of St Mary's Church and radiates 100 W. The station format is classic and current hits plus specialist shows, and broadcasts 24 hours a day with a mix of music, news and information Mildenhall is mentioned in passing in the Pink Floyd song 'Let There Be More Light' on the 1968 album A Saucerful of Secrets as a speculated location for first contact between humanity and extraterrestrial life: