The statue of Captain Mainwaring from Dad's Army. Photo: Denise Bradley Historic figures

Thetford has been home to influential and inspirational men and women.

During the Iron Age, the town was a major centre for the Iceni tribe, led by the iconic queen Boudica, who rebelled against the Roman Empire. Evidence of the Iron Age settlement can be seen at Castle Park and Gallows Hill.

Thetford’s castle motte and priory remains date from the medieval days of Roger Bigod, who settled there after coming to England with William the Conqueror.

Thomas Paine, one of the founding fathers of the United States, was born in Thetford in 1737. He emigrated to America where he wrote hugely influential pamphlets advocating revolution. He later travelled to France to become part of the French Revolution. A philosopher and writer, he argued for republicanism, democracy, progressive taxation and a minimum wage, and against organised religion.

And the last Maharajah of the Punjab, Duleep Singh, lived at nearby Elveden Hall.

He was just five years old when he inherited the throne of the Punjab empire across modern-day Pakistan, India and Tibet. Deposed by the British and separated from his mother, he was exiled to England where he was befriended by Queen Victoria. He eventually bought the Elveden estate, near Thetford, and lived the life of an English aristocrat, but regretted his childhood conversion to Christianity and tried to reclaim his kingdom.

His eight children included suffragette Princess Sophia Duleep Singh.

There are statues of Thomas Paine and Maharajah Duleep Singh in the town.

Thetford Forest. Photo: Getty Images Thetford Forest

Just outside the town is the largest lowland forest in the country, planted in the 1920s for timber. Spanning........

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