Woodbridge, Suffolk
Bawdsey Radar Station, Bawdsey and its influence on the ending of World War II
It may have seemed a strange candidate for the BBC's 2004 Restoration programme. A concrete bunker on the shores of the Deben Estuary overlooking a quiet shingle beach on the East coast of Suffolk; perhaps not exactly everyone’s idea of architectural interest. But what Bawdsey Radar Station lacks in design finesse is more than made up for by its historical importance and indeed impact on the eventual outcome of World War II.
The River Deben, 'An Old World Fairway' by Michael Weaver
“Who will come a-sailing,
Who will come with me,
Down the sunny Deben
To the distant sea?”
A January Jaunt
Christmas 2007 is now over and yes, despite all my fears, it was a good Christmas. We spent time with family and friends, no one argued, the turkey was delicious and the cat wasn't sick! What more could I ask for?
Well........, it sounds terribly indulgent I know, but actually I could do with a quiet and peaceful holiday away from everyone. Long walks, bracing sea air, not too much to eat and somewhere cosy where I can curl up and read all those wonderful books I was given for Christmas.
The Geology of the Deben Estuary
Woodbridge
A great place to begin your investigations of the geology of the area and an ancient market town well worth walking around. The Thoroughfare has some lovely shops and several examples of early 'Pulhamite' moulded ornamental plasterwork - a pheonix at no 18, an animal head at no 30, and 2 heads above the doorway arches at 1 New Street, and at 31 Cumberland Street. Further examples can be see at the Museum on Market Hill.
The Geology of the Suffolk Coast
Suffolk, topographically at least, can be described as a divided county with the Sandlings in the east and the Claylands to the west. Within the Sandlings the geological make up the area can be clearly seen with areas of Coralline Crag, cliffs edges with large numbers of fossils and so on.
At its simplest there are four major geological periods to be aware of:
Smuggling around Woodbridge and the Deben Estuary
The ancient market town of Woodbridge was once a major ship building town providing ships for the English fleet fighting the Spanish Armada in 1588 and today there are still many boats in the river, some working but the majority leisure craft.
Just a few miles from the sea at Bawdsey smuggling boats would have travelled up the Deben Estuary to land their bounty in Woodbridge or beyond. Below is an extract from Smuggling in the British Isles: a History by Richard Platt For more detail visit his website www.smuggling.co.uk
A walk along the Deben river - Woodbridge (4 miles)
Woodbridge (probably from the Norse or Saxon meaning "Wooden's Town") is an ancient market town with plenty to see - attractive medieval, Dutch and Tudor buildings and several fascinating museums in the centre of the town and down by the river, always busy with sailing boats and yachts, with fantastic views over the river to Sutton Hoo and the Tide Mill.
Woodbridge Wildlife
Foxburrow Farm Melton
From Woodbridge take the A12 north towards Wickham Market; Foxburrow Farm is signposted on the right down Saddlemakers Lane. A mixed working farm, the home to the skylark and grazed by sheep, while spotted flycatcher and pied wagtail flit around the farm buildings. Hedges, many of which have been coppiced, are home to and a food source for insects, birds and mammals. Here you can see little owl and hear the song of the nightingale. In the farms two woodland areas are blackcap, whitethroat and garden warbler.
Woodbridge Mills
There were nine mills in Woodbridge at the time that Buttrum’s brick tower mill was built in the 1830s. Now only two working mills remaining, Buttrum’s Mill and The Tide Mill, a visit to either is a fascinating experience. Both are in excellent order and can even see the flour being ground at Buttrums and purchase the result.
Buttrums Mill
Villages around Woodbridge
Lower Ufford
A village on the Deben, gave its name to the family of Robert de Ufford, who fought at Poitiers in 1356 and was made Earl of Suffolk.
