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Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Saxtead |
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The town of Woodbridge in Suffolk (some 75 from London) stands at the head of the estuary of the River Deben, and rises through Market Hill past Buttrams mill out as far as the A12 road. The main shopping area is the pedestrianised Thoroughfare with its selection of curiosity shops. From the Thoroughfare, Quay Street leads down to the harbour area, where many boats are moored creating a picturesque setting against a backcloth of the Tidemill, which is open to the public. The mud flats exposed by the tide makes it a popular area for bird watching. Adjacent to the quayside is the Riverside Theatre and cinema, and not far away is the railway station and the swimming pool.
The town as we see it today has been heavily influenced by the Seckford Foundation. This bequest set up by Thomas Seckford (1515 – 1587), who was Master of The Court of Requests during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, has made possible Woodbridge School, The Almshouses The Dispensary and continues to provide benefit as a charitable foundation to the current day. The period buildings in Woodbridge are a mixture of Georgian and timber framed structures. Cumberland Street has some true Georgian buildings in Cumberland House, Gordon House and Marston house. Buildings of interest dating back further are St. Mary's Church (1483) and the nearby Abbey (formerly the town house of Thomas Seckford and now the preparatory section of Woodbridge School). Also of interest is The Shire Hall, commissioned by Thomas Seckford around 1575 in the Flemish style, which stands in the centre of market hill, is now the home of The Suffolk Horse Museum. Another former town resident was Edward Fitzgerald who lived from 1809 to 1883, and is probably best known for his translation of ‘The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.'
Historically the town's riparian location gave it a boat building and trading tradition. Wood, salt and wool were all traded on Market Hill. Across the river on the opposite bank is the Anglo-Saxon burial site at Sutton Hoo. In 615 AD Redwald the Wuffinga king of Anglia was buried at Sutton Hoo in his ship, and this archaeological site is now managed by The National Trust for the benefit of visiting public.
Many Americans will have memories of the town, resulting from their having been based at Bentwaters, just north of here during their air force days. In 1993 the base was closed down, necessitated by the end of the cold war. During word war two Americans also served at the Parham air base, 10 miles to the northwest, where the former control tower now houses Parham Air Museum.
Within easy reach of Woodbridge is the county town of Ipswich, the picturesque fishing village of Orford, the Snape Maltings complex with its concert hall made famous by its association with the composer Benjamin Britten, Framlingham and its castle, Saxtead windmill, and the quaint seaside resort of Aldeburgh.