Mildenhall

Market town in Suffolk, England, 19 km/12 mi from Bury St Edmunds, situated on the River Lark; population (2001) 9,900. Mildenhall airfield was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) until 1945, and is now operated by the RAF for use by the US air force.

The town has a typical East Anglian market cross. Wamil Hall, 1 km/0.6 mi to the west of Mildenhall, is Elizabethan. The Mildenhall treasure, a hoard of 4th-century Romano-British silver tableware said to be the finest of its kind to come into the keeping of the nation as treasure trove, was found nearby at West Row in 1942-43.

The Mildenhall treasure is now in the British Museum. It consists of bowls, dishes, spoons, platters, and goblets, ornamented with hunting scenes, embossed figures of fine quality and classical design, and niello work (an incised design of black sulphur compound).

Mildenhall airfield is also the headquarters of the European Tanker Task Force. In 1934 it was the starting point of the Britain to Australia air race.