LOCAL PLACES OF INTEREST

Stoke by Nayland
Stoke by Nayland is one and a half miles from the village of Nayland and situated on the edge of the Dedham Vale region designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. The village is a real Suffolk ‘chocolate box village' with rows of half timbered and ‘Suffolk Pink' painted houses. The local church, St. Mary's, is a beautiful ornate church built during the 15 th century. It boasts 8 bells with a 22cwt tenor and has a group of bell ringers who practice and pull regularly. The church is a landmark and appears in many of Constable's paintings. Stoke has the award winning Angel Inn and the Crown pub and they host a range of fine food and very good wine. Nearby is the Stoke by Nayland Club which incorporates a golf and country club, restaurant, beauty parlour and fitness centre.

Polstead
www.polstead.suffolk.uk
Polstead is situated one mile from the village of Stoke by Nayland. Polstead means ‘a place of pools' because it takes its name from the two ponds which existed between the village and the church. Polstead is famous for its cherries, particularly ‘Polstead Black.'

Polstead's other claim to fame is connected with the murder of Maria Marten who was murdered by young William Corder. Maria's stepmother dreamt on three occasions that Maria had been murdered and buried in the Red Barn. Maria's body was found and subsequent examination found that she had been shot in the eye and stabbed several times. After a sensational trial Corder was convicted of murder and hanged in Bury St Edmunds. Corder's body was flayed by the prison surgeon, and a copy of the printed account of the trial, bound in Corder's skin, is kept at Bury Museum, together with the murderer's skull!

Sudbury
www.sudbury.org.uk
This market town hosts a thriving market on Thursdays and Saturdays and encourages a French market intermittently throughout the year. Sudbury was the birthplace of the famous painter Thomas Gainsborough (1927) who was educated at the local grammar school. He spent much time in London developing his artistic skills and returned to Sudbury and lived in Friar Street. Sudbury is also noted for its Common Lands and relaxing pastures along side the River Stour. Sudbury has many good eating venues, shops, and ‘Holy Connections' all waiting to be explored.

Lavenham
www.lavenham.co.uk
This is a beautiful, much photographed town that owed its prosperity to the wool trade during the time of King Henry Vlll. There are several good eating places such as The Swan Hotel, The Angel Pub and the Great House. Lavenhams' famous Guildhall of Corpus Christi is well worth a visit. This is a delightful place to explore.

Long Melford
www.longmelford.co.uk
This is one of the longest villages in England – hence its name. Historical re enactments at Kentwell Hall and stately furnishings at Long Melford Hall are well worth a visit. There are lots and lots of antique shops to tempt the tempted and there are some wonderful eating places to wet the appetite such as ‘Scutchers, The Black Lion, Chimneys. Long Melford also has a beautiful, grandiose wool church of the 15 th century named Holy Trinity Church which boasts a fine display of stained glass. It is a prime example of where money from the wool trade was spent.

Cavendish and Clare
www.clare-uk.com
These are two pretty picture postcard villages, well worth a visit.

Clare has a delightful priory and grounds to visit. It also has a handsome Ancient House built in 1473. It has some wonderful elaborate plasterwork known as ‘pargeting.' This ancient house became the town museum in the 1970s and it houses many documents and records. Clare also has an interesting antique warehouse and there are several walks along the riverbank.

Cavendish houses the famous Sue Ryder Museum. This was opened by the Queen in 1979 and it tells the story of Sue Ryder and her international foundation and the role they played during the war for the sick and disabled.

Kersey
www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/kersey.html
There is a ford at the centre of this village which is a classic picture postcard Suffolk scene. Kersey's name is derived from Kerseys, a form of coarse, narrow cloth exported in the 14 th and 15 th centuries. Timber framed jetted houses can be found in Kersey with an outstanding parish 14 th century church at the top of the hill.

Bury St Edmunds
www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk
Bury is the third biggest town in Suffolk and is noted for the martyrdom of the Saxon king Edmund by Viking invaders. His body is buried here and an abbey developed around his shrine. Bury was the third most popular site of pilgrimage after Canterbury and Walsingham. Bury is full of museums, eating places, and is particularly famous for its Cathedral which now has a gleaming new tower (and was visited by Charles and Camilla to see the finishing touches to this splendid restoration). There is also the Greene King brewery (the largest independent cask brewers in the UK) that was established in 1887 – they have a museum on site and brewery tours into the making of IPA and Abbott Ale.