WoodbridgeWeekend


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WOODBRIDGE WANDER

St George (left) and The Dragon (right) depicted on the porch of St Mary's Church, Woodbridge, SuffolkOnce you’ve looked round Buttrum's mill, retrace your steps as far as Queens Head Lane, on the right hand side.

Turn down the lane and follow its short and steep course until it emerges at Fen Meadow and The Abbey School grounds.

If you're feeling full of energy turn right for a look at the ornate Seckford Alms Houses, hospital and Victorian wrought-iron work before heading back to town. Alternatively turn left and make for the Market Hill, observing as you do the variations of Victorian hanging lamps and the Seckford Dispensary, 1886, with its unusual stamped concrete designs on the first floor. A few more steps will bring you out by the Kings Head and another chance for some refreshment.

Detail of the font in St Mary's Church, Woodbridge, SuffolkOnce refreshed walk down the right hand side of the market place until you reach a narrow cobble bordered lane on your right. Follow its gentle slope and the steps down to St Mary’s Church.

Tomb in St Mary's ChurchPause on the steps for the best view of the fantastically ornate flint flushwork porch, with George on the left hand side and the Dragon on the right. Inside the porch on the left is a wooden box designed for the distribution of bread to the poor on the Sabbath, donated by John Sayer in 1638.

Of particular interest in the church is the font, a pre-reformation construction, its figures (depicting the Seven Sacraments and the Crucifixion) literally defaced. On the far right hand side of the church is another point of interest, the incredibly ornate tomb of Jeoffrery Pitman, 1627, his two wives and two sons. To the left at the far end of the church you’ll also find the tomb of Chimneys of the Abbey School, WoodbridgeThomas Seckford. On leaving, walk round to the left, through the graveyard, in order to get a birds-eye view of the attractive, hotchpotch of Tudor chimneys on the roof of the adjacent Abbey School.

WEEKEND WOODBRIDGE: Words Copyright © 2007 Tony Mudd tonymudd.com, Photos Copyright 2005-2007 Top Floor Studio, Woodbridge, & Tony Mudd. 26.2.2007
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