The Babergh District was created on the reorganisation of local government from five former local authorities in South Suffolk. The District takes its name from one of the old Saxon hundreds which was referred to in the Domesday Survey. Although the name of the District may not generally be known outside East Anglia, many of the towns and villages in the District are nationally known.
Most people, for instance, have had, at one time or another, a calendar which features either the picture-book villages of Kersey or Lavenham or one of the landscapes made famous by John Constable. All these and much more make up this beautiful part of Suffolk.
A house in Lavenham
The District is wedge-shaped with its point being the Shotley peninsula, which has the River Orwell on its northern flank and the River Stour (which forms the County boundary with Essex) on its southern side. Shotley itself faces Orwell Haven which has the modern, bustling, container port of Felixstowe on one side and the historic port of Harwich and the Sealink terminal at Parkeston Quay on the other side.
The wedge extends inland for a distance of some 35 miles (55 km) widening as it does so. It embraces almost the whole of what is known as "Constable Country", the Stour Valley, the valleys of the Rivers Box, Brett and Glem and the historic towns of Hadleigh and Sudbury.
Flatford Mill
Many other places in the District are famous for a variety of reasons: Polstead for its magnificent black cherries and for the "Murder in the Red Barn" of Maria Marten; Stoke by-Nayland is renowned for its magnificent church and golf club; Lavenham for its wealth of medieval buildings and Long Melford both for its antique shops and for the historic Kentwell Hall and Melford Hall.
Not all is old, though. There are modern, thriving, industrial estates at Hadleigh and at Chilton, just outside Sudbury. Firms produce everything from boiler tubes for nuclear-powered ships to antique picture frames and the finest perfumes and essences. Silk is still woven in Sudbury as it was hundreds of years ago. Most of the once famous wool towns, however, have turned to new enterprises, including tourism.
Babergh District Council HQ, Hadleigh
Communications by road, by rail and by sea are excellent. London via the A12 and M25 is only an hour or so away, as is Stansted Airport (by a prettier route!); Gatwick Airport is within 2 hours by way of the Dartford Crossing. The Midlands and the North are easily accessible from the A14 and the magnificent Orwell Bridge, opened in 1983, has put access to ferries to the continent within an arm's length. With the new by-passes around Ipswich, road access from the District to all points is extremely good. The rail service to London from Colchester is frequent and fast enough (at around 65 minutes) to attract commuters to live in the area. The whole of the line from Norwich to London is now electrified, which has further improved rail communications. Daily sea crossings to Belgium and Holland can be made from Harwich (Parkeston Quay) and passenger ferries are also available to Denmark and other countries.
The Orwell Bridge
Much of the attraction of the District, however, lies in its natural surroundings. Contrary to popular belief, the landscape of this part of East Anglia is not flat and uninspiring; there are gently flowing rivers at the bottom of grassy and wooded valleys, rolling hills and narrow twisting lanes leading to small quiet villages. Large areas of the District are designated as areas of outstanding natural beauty. In short, Babergh is peaceful, unspoiled, rural Suffolk at its best. With around 4000 buildings in the District listed as being of architectural or historic interest, Babergh probably has more than any other District of its size. Neither are these buildings confined to one or two villages or towns. Almost every village has a considerable number of historic buildings; the difficulty is knowing where to begin and how to be selective. It is hoped that the tourism articles in this guide will assist.
Kersey
A little further afield are the historic towns of Bury St Edmunds, Colchester and Ipswich - all famous in their own right and each possessing a fine theatre and shopping centre. At hand too are the seaside resorts of Felixstowe and Clacton with their own brands of entertainment. There are also quieter seaside haunts such as Aldeburgh and Frinton and there are the forests of Thetford Chase and of the area north and east of Woodbridge. Almost every type of sport and recreation is well catered for.
The District also has its artistic connections which range from Constable and Gainsborough to Tom Keating, who in more recent years gained fame for his paintings in the style of the old renowned artists. Literary connections include Hammond Innes and Ruth Rendell.
There is truly "something for everyone" in Babergh District. |