Polstead and Polstead Heath

Polstead Heath is located 1 mile away from Polstead. It has/had a chapel, which is now private residence for sale, it stopped being a chapel about 35 years ago. Polstead is located near Stoke-by-Nayland. It has a church called St Mary, a village hall, a community shop and a pub called the Cock Inn. Polstead civil parish includes the hamlets of Polstead Heath, Hadleigh Heath, Whitestreet Green, Bower House Tye, Mill Street and Bell's Corner. There was the Red Barn Murder in Polstead in 1827; details below.


The Red Barn Murder was a notorious murder committed in Polstead, Suffolk, England, in 1827.  A young woman, Maria Marten, was shot dead by her lover, William Corder. The two had arranged to meet at the Red Barn, a local landmark, before eloping to Ipswich. Maria was never heard from again. Corder fled the scene and although he sent Marten's family letters claiming she was in good health, her body was later discovered buried in the barn after her stepmother spoke of having dreamt about the murder.  Corder was tracked down in London, where he had married and started a new life. He was brought back to Suffolk, and after a well-publicised trial, found guilty of murder. He was hanged in Bury St Edmunds in 1828; a huge crowd witnessed Corder's execution. The story provoked numerous articles in the newspapers, and songs and plays. The village where the crime had taken place became a tourist attraction and the barn was stripped by souvenir hunters. The plays and ballads remained popular throughout the next century and continue to be performed today. Source Wikipedia.

Wrabness

Wrabness is a village located in between Manningtree and Harwich. In the 2001 census it had a population of 380. There is a Gospel concert on Sunday 30th June 2012 on St Tersa of Lisieux, Clairmont Road, Lexden CO3 9BE, tickets £10.  It has a railway station that goes to Harwich and London as well as Norwich and Ipswich. It also has a village shop and a church called All Saints, which is a bit out of the village.

Lamb Corner

Lamb Corner is a hamlet on the B1029, south of Dedham and north east of Colchester in Essex, England. It has a phone box and once had a pub. There is a public footpath to Parney Heath. We found some young cows on the footpath. We had to go over 2 stiles to get to Parney Heath.

Halesworth

St Mary's Church, Halesworth

Diamond Jubilee

Bell ringing information

Inside St Mary's Church

We went to St Mary's church in Halesworth, which is regually open to the public. There is a flower club in Halesworth and a church group called Cameo which meets on a Monday morning. There is also Halesworth country market every Friday from 10:00 am until 11:15 am. There is also a fish and chip shop and a community day centre. The New Cut Arts centre has classes in dance and drama as well as workshops, cinema showings, art exhibitions and dance and theatre performances, for more information visit their website, www.newcut.org

Layer Marney

Layer Marney is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Colchester, in the county of Essex, England. In 2001 is had a population of 206 and includes the hamlet of Smythe's Green. It has a church called St Mary and a Tudor palace called Layer Marney Tower, which was built in approximately 1520. Layer Marney Tower is 80 feet high. It is situated in gardens which are listed as Grade II and are open to the public from 1st of April to 30th of September for a small admission fee. It is approximately 26 miles from Lapwing via A12.

Layer Marney Tower

Sheep in Layer Marney Gardens

Shelland

Shelland is a village and civil parish  in the Mid Suffolk district in the county of Suffolk, England. Shelland had a population of 39 in 2001. It has a church called King Charles the Martyr. It was recorded in the Domesday Book as "Sellanda". There is no local bus service in Shelland, the nearest is Stowmarket. The nearest pub is The Buxhall Crown Inn, in Mill Green, Buxhall. It is about 17 miles away from Ipswich.

Introduction on the Road

Each week we travel around the East of England visiting places we are interested in learning more about. We travel by car and by foot and we find out interesting facts about the places we visit. We will then post these facts on this blog for you to see, along with some pictures of the places we have travelled to and seen along the way.
We hope you enjoy our weekly entries and that they bring some interesting information to you.