Evening Star Walks|
The village of Elmsett is set in rolling countryside between Hadleigh
and Ipswich, at one time the area must have been heavily wooded with
elm trees, for it is from these trees that the parish takes its name.
The walk this week starts opposite the church of St. Peter on Manor
Road, here you will find the Tithe Memorial erected in 1935. Enscribed
on the memorial are the facts "1934 - To commemorate the tithe seizure
at Elmsett Hall of furniture including baby's bed and blankets, herd
of dairy cows, 8 corn and seed stacks, valued at £1200 for tithes
valued £385". The story is that the attempt to stop the seizure resulted
in mass protest among farmers and farm workers, including blocking
the farm entrance by felling elm trees and gaining national news coverage. But, apart from bombing during World War II, peace has long since returned to this compact village and we can start our visit by walking back along Manor Road to The Street. Turn right and, just before the primary school and the Elmsett sign, turn right to the field edge. Turn left and follow the field edge path along the rear of the school and the playing field to reach the drive of the moated Old Rectory in the trees on the left. This was the home of the Reverend John Bois (1560-1643), born in the village, he was one of the translators of the James I Bible. Follow the drive out past The Green on the right to reach the Whatfield Road, the house at the rear of the green was formerly the Blacksmith's Cottages. Turn right and walk though the village as far the entrance to Ladbrookes Mill, opposite Mill Croft, and turn left up the access drive. Ladbrookes first became established on this site when they purchased a windmill here in 1848. The business has developed along with modern methods of powering the mill and undertakes a wide range of milling operations today. At the end of the drive turn left between the buildings and hedge to reach a field edge path. At the corner of the first field turn right along the hedge line and join Cornhatches Lane at the corner. Turn left between the hedges of the old lane, joining the tarmac at Corn Hatches and out to the Hadleigh Road at Eley's Corner. Turn left towards the village, walking for about 800 metres to turn right over a wooden footbridge, just before reaching Sawyers on the left. Follow the field edge path to a small footbridge into the next field and on along the left edge, turning left at the end of the hedge, just before reaching an electricity pole. Continue along the next field edge path to reach the Ipswich Road and turn left past the bungalows. After 250 metres, before the left bend and the thatched Wall Farm, turn right along the boundary hedge. At the end of the hedge bear right across the field, past two electricity poles, to the corner of the hedge on the other side. Continue along the field edge and around the corner at the end for about 30 metres to a gap into the next field on the left. Follow the edge of the next field to the corner and on across an area of rough grass and trees to reach the Flowton Road opposite The Thatched Cottage. Turn left to the junction with The Street and then left again to the junction with Manor Road, turning right towards the church to return to the start of the walk at the Tithe Memorial. About that war time bombing mentioned earlier, it seems that in May 1941 the peace of the village was again disrupted when ten people were killed by a German bomber jettisoning its load during the night after being caught in a local search light. A row of eight thatched cottages in the village received a direct hit from one of the bombs and quickly became a blazing inferno and later had to be demolished. However, several people miraculously survived, including a number of small children who escaped unhurt. Fact FileLocation: Elmsett is 8 miles west of Ipswich and 4 miles north east of HadleighStart: Elmsett Church, Ordnance Survey map reference TM 058472 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Road, field edge paths and tracks, no stiles How to get there:- Public transport: Check for details with Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine 0645 583358 By Road: From Ipswich via A1071 Hadleigh Road, turn off through Burstall village and at Aldham, turn right to Elmsett Car Parking: Parking available roadside at the church or the village hall when not in use Refreshments: Elmsett Post Office and General Store, Rose and Crown PH Public Toilets: None, nearest at Hadleigh Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 196 Sudbury, Hadleigh & Dedham Vale
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Evening Star Walks
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