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The small town of Needham Market is centrally placed in the River Gipping valley, approximately mid way along the Ipswich to Stowmarket Gipping River Path. It therefore provides the ideal starting point for a walk and Needham Lake is the perfect place to visit for all types of walking, there is even a hardened path around the lake for the less able. This walk is one of several possible routes in the area and is out to the adjoining village of Barking and back again along very easy paths and tracks. From the Lake Visitor Centre turn right along the road and under the low railway bridge. Either turn immediately left on Lion Lane past the former local mortuary or, to avoid the dangerous bend, follow the footway to the right. After about 50 metres turn left on a footpath through to a housing estate. Bear left on Pinecroft Way and along the footpath to the left of a pair of garages to reach Lion Lane. Turn right to the B1113 road at the Lion public house and cross to Grinstead Hill. Walk up the hill for about 100 metres then turn left up Mill Lane, marked with a public footpath sign. Follow this path straight up the hill, through the wooden barriers and on past the deep chalk quarry on the left to the top. During the 18th and 19th centuries the quarry was used for extracting chalk for lime used in mortar for the building industry. During World War II the quarry was used as a rifle range, an ideal place for safely training troops to shoot. The present workings were started in 1947 and produced lump chalk for agricultural use. The process has since been refined and the chalk is now dried and finely ground to produce a powder used in a wide variety of industrial uses such as for food, rubber, pharmaceuticals and horticulture. At the end of the hedges continue straight on along the grassy path ahead with a view of Darmsden Church on the high ground on the horizon. At a junction of tracks take the right fork, curving round to the right and following the ditch line. Turn left at a sharp turn in the track, along the natural ridge, heading towards the right edge of a conifer plantation called Bottys Plantation. There are some splendid views of the surrounding countryside from up here, the Ordnance Survey map shows the height to be 57 metres above sea level. At the end of the plantation follow the track to the right, down Oak Hill and all the way to the B1078 Barking Road. At the road turn left on the roadside footway for about 400 metres and then right up the road, known as Parson's Lane, towards Barking Church. Where the road turns sharply left, either follow the road to visit Barking Church or to continue the walk, straight on to the bridleway by a large oak tree, guarded by a white chain across the entrance. After a few metres the path bears right and then left to pick up the Causeway, an ancient tree lined lane leading back to Needham Market. The surface may be a little muddy in places after rain, but this section of the walk will provide you with the opportunity to observe the wildlife in the hedges and, if it is hot, the chance of a nice shady walk in the cool. The name Causeway is thought to be a corruption of 'corpseway', at one time Needham Market had no churchyard and burials were undertaken at Barking Church because it had a large graveyard. Keep to the route of the old path, which becomes a little narrow in places, as far as a sharp left bend with a wide footbridge on the right. Bear left here, through a staggered metal barrier, still following the route of the Causeway. Eventually you will descend into the town, crossing Quinton Road and on along a Tarmac section of path where the The Causeway becomes one of the town's roads and leads to the High Street. At the junction with High Street cross the road via the pedestrian crossing and note the buildings on the opposite side. On the left of the Causeway is the Old Town Hall, built in 1866 and designed by Frederick Barnes. Over the entrance is a stone tablet incised with date, patron, architect and builder. On the other side stand the Almshouses, inside are two medieval carvings of figures, probably surviving from earlier buildings on the site. Walk down the street past Christchurch, rebuilt in 1837 as a congregational chapel in the Greek revival style. Joseph Priestley, who discovered oxygen, was appointed minister of the previous chapel in 1755. Continue on as far as the Swan public house, then turn left into Station Yard with the fine station building standing at the far end. The magnificently restored red brick station was designed by the architect Frederick Barnes and built by Daniel Revitt, a local contractor. Opened as Needham Station in 1849 it is now named Needham Market and is a Grade II listed building. Follow the path to the left of the station and take the low pedestrian tunnel to reach the meadows on the other side of the tracks. Turn right parallel to the railway in Station Field and then diagonally left after entering the local nature reserve at the first crossing hedge. Walk on the well defined path across the grass to reach a Tarmac path around the lake. Turn left and follow the path to return to the start of the walk. The lake is an exhausted gravel extraction working now turned into a splendid water recreation area by Mid Suffolk District Council in the 1970s. Boating enthusiasts will often be seen sailing their model boats on the lake, dodging the geese, ducks and other wildlife that also use the water. The curious device in the centre of of the lake is a wind powered water aerator designed to keep the water fresh and algae free. If you cross the bridge over the River Gipping you will see Bosmere Mill, built in the late 18th century, it has a large iron breast-shot water wheel that was formerly inside the wheelhouse. The river was once used for navigation from the 12th century and opened for barges up to Stowmarket in 1793 with 15 locks lifting the barges 90 feet over the course of 17 miles. Several of the locks have been restored by the Inland Waterways Association and one of these can be seen adjacent to the mill. The brick walls have been replaced, the coping stones realigned and in the future, it is hoped to reinstate the wooden lock gates so that a narrowboat can navigate the canal up to Hawks Mill. Fact FileLocation: Needham Market is 8 miles north west of IpswichStart: Needham Lake OS map reference TM 094547 Length: 4 miles Conditions: Easy walking mainly on tracks and road side footways, muddy at times, no stiles How to get there: - Public transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's TraveLine on 08459 583358 or for Anglia Railways telephone 08700 402020 By road: From the A14/A140 junction follow the signs for Needham Market and Needham Lake Car parking: Free at Needham Lake Refreshments: There are several pubs, cafes, shops and takeaways in the town Public Toilets: Needham Lake Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 211 Bury St. Edmunds & Stowmarket Publications: Barking and Back leaflet 20p + p&p from Suffolk County Council Walking on the web: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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