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Mill At Museum of
East Anglia Life,
Stowmarket
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| Southwold |
One of the factors that makes the coastal
town of Southwold popular with visitors is that it is unspoilt
by modern day living. Drive past the sign that says "Welcome
to Southwold" and it is as if you are stepping back in time.
From Gun Hill, where there are six eighteen-pound cannon, you
can look out over Sole Bay. In 1672 this was the scene of a
battle between the British and French fleets and the Dutch fleet.
Looking across South Green to Gun Hill and the sea. |
Period buildings house specialist shops,
the white lighthouse looks out to sea from just off the town
centre, pubs serve Adnams ale just a stones-throw from the brewery,
brightly coloured beach huts line the seafront, their owners
sitting in doorways drinking tea from china cups. Hear the sound
of leather upon willow as you watch a game of cricket on the
town common or buy fish straight from the fisherman's
nets on the dock side.
Even the newly built town pier harks back to a quieter and gentler
age with its assortment of peculiar amusements, waterclock and
brass plaques along the handrail of the promenande naming the
benefactors who made the building possible. It was opened by
the Duke of Gloucester and in 2002 won "Pier of the Year".
Near the pier you will find a small boating lake, a crazy golf
course and ample car parking.
Southwold also has a new cinema, but being Southwold, this is
no ordinary modern multi-plex. The Electric Picture Palace is
situated in Blackmill Road and was opened by Monty Python star
and globetrotter and adopted Southwold resident, Michael Palin
(Palin spent his summer holidays here as a child). The Electric
Picture Palace may be small, it has just 66 seats, but also
has Mighty Wurlitzer. Movies are a mix of new releases and classics.
In 1659 Southwold suffered a great fire which destroyed much
of the town. Even so many buildings of interest still survive
including the magnificent St.Edmund's Church.
Just south of the main town (via Ferry Road) you will find the
busy little harbour where you can visit the Lifeboat Museum,
buy fresh fish or try your luck at catching a crab.
If you follow the line of the River Blyth inland for about half
a mile you will see fishing boats unloading their catches. Small
shacks offer the catch for sale, there is a small fresh fish
restaurant and then the Harbour Inn. This small pub (recently
extended) is always busy at weekends and offers the local Adnams
beers and good food. Look on the outside wall for the mark of
the tide level in the great flood of the 1950s.
Just past the Harbour Inn you can either continue to walk along
the river edge until you reach a footbridge, this leads across
the river to Walberswick on the other bank (15 miles by road).
Alternatively take a right turn just after the pub across a
small hump-backed bridge and follow the winding road over the
town Common land and golf course back up into the town centre.
Small market is held in the town centre outside the Swan on
Monday and Thursdays.
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| Places to see |
The Amber Shop and Museum in the market
place.
Southwold Museum, Victoria Street. Housed in a typical
Dutch-gabled cottage with many local items of interest.
Southwold Pier. All the fun of the seaside. Until recently
Southwold didn't have a pier, just the remaining stump of one
that had been destroyed in a gale many years ago. Then with
local funding the pier was re-built (a unique feat in this modern
day).
Alfred Cory Museum. The Old Cromer Lifeboat shed was
shipped down from North Norfolk to Southwold a few years ago
and put on the harbour entrance to house the local Lifeboat
Museum.
The Sailor's Reading Room. On East Cliff and containing
items of maritime interest.
Electric Picture Palace. Situated in Blackmill Road this
is run by Southwold Film Society.
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| Where To Eat |
The Dutch Barn, Ferry Road. Tel: 01502
723172. Email
The Crown, High Street. Tel: 01502 722275.
The Harbour Inn, Blackshore. Tel: 722381.
King's Head, 25 High Street. Tel: 01502 724517. Day time
snacks, plus full a la carte. Sunday carvery.
The Red Lion, South Green. Tel: 722385. Home-cooked meals,
outside seating overlooking the green and sea.
The Swan, Market Place. Tel: 01502 722186. Email
Take-Away:
Mark's Fish and Chips, 32 High Street. Tel: 723585. Eat
in or take-away, frying locally caught fish. Simply THE BEST
fish and chips in the area.
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| Where to Stay |
Heritage
Hideaways can offer high quality holiday properties throughout
Norfolk and Suffolk, encompassing many areas of outstanding
natural beauty of coast and country. Their aim is to provide
a personal service to guests and to ensure they have an enjoyable
and effortless holiday.
Owners Philip and Marion Anthony, have a thorough knowledge
of Norfolk and Suffolk having spent their childhood here, they
have now returned to give their children the childhood they
so much enjoyed walking the footpaths, playing on the beaches
and exploring the history of the region.
Heritage Hideaways, The Wee Blether, 2 Westend Farm Cottages,
Wrentham, Suffolk, NR34 7NH
E-mail Tel:
01502 675674; Mobile: 07931 567806
To see a selection of property available visit the website
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HOTELS:
The Swan, Market Place. Tel: 01502 722186. Email. 3-Stars, classic 42 bedroomed hotel. Located right in the heart of
the town.
GUEST HOUSES:
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 Newlands
is set in delightful surroundings and only a mile from the town
centre of Southwold. Newlands is unique to the area, offering
first class accommodation, with eight rooms available. In the
main house on offer are double/twin rooms, a single room, and
combinations to offer a family suite.
To the rear
of the main house are four purpose built
ground floor suites these rooms are very adaptable and
can cater for small families with beds adapting from double
to twin, the rooms being large enough to also take single
beds if required.
Newlands are particularly proud of the
facilities they can offer disabled guests, all ground floor
suites are fully wheelchair accessible, including the en-suite
bathroom. Each suite has its own patio area set in a quite secluded
garden, alternatively sit near the pond and watch the fish glide
in and out of the water lilies.
The more energetic can spend time in the
heated swimming pool - at Newlands you can swim at Southwold
for twelve months of the year!
Halesworth Road, Reydon, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6NS E-mail
Website
Tel: 01502 722164. Ask for Penny or David. |
Acton Lodge, 18 South Green. Tel: 723217. 4 Diamonds,
superior accommodation, good location with sea views.
Amber House, 24 North Parade. Tel: 723303. Email.
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