Crown - Woodbridge

Tourist information

by joanj

Not exactly a tip but more of information

Woodbridge is on the rail route betweeen London Liverpool Street , Ipswich, and Lowestoft. Rail enquiries:- 08457 484950

Woodbridge Tourist Information Centre :- 01394 382240

web site www.woodbridgesuffolk.info

Weekly retail market on Thursdays, many stalls specialising in food. 8.a.m. - 2.p.m.

Farmers and Craft Market on second and fourth Saturdays of every months - 9 a.m. - 1.p.m.

Track down your ancestors

by MikeBird

My great uncle was a Blacksmith who lived in a small, 2 up and 2 down, cottage with his forge set alongside his house which was down a country lane. I visited it when I was a small boy ( about 45 years ago) and could remember the overhead power cables and the neighbouring thatched house.
I remembered the name of the village and so we set off to see if we could find it.
The electricity pylons were the best clue; the thatched house next door and then the name on the small, but now extended cottage, was enough to settle it. We had found my great uncle's old forge.
The current owner wasn't in but I'd have enjoyed telling them about my great uncle and how the forge was like a treasure trove of old bits of wrought iron. The hearth was set in the middle of the forge and his anvil next to it. It was good to see that despite the renovations the new owners had retained the hearth as a feature fireplace - but I wonder what they did with the old iron work?
It was great to have re-discovered the old forge clearly serving a new purpose but being functional and part of the local community.

see an 18th Century windmill

by joanj

not far from Woodbridge is the 18th Century Saxted Green Windmill.

It was the earliest of this type of mill built in this country. It has four sails with a span of 54ft, and consists of a brick roundhouse situated below a three storey wooden "buck".

Open Easter to September, Monday to Saturday 10am. - 1pm. and 2pm - 6pm

Woodbridge and Sutton Hoo

by alucas

I've started this page on Woodbridge purely because it is the nearest town to Sutton Hoo. To be honest, I don't think I've ever actually been into the middle of Woodbridge, only driven around the bypass on the way to Bawdsey, Orford, Aldeburgh or Southwold along the Suffolk coast.

Sutton Hoo is a famous Saxon burial site which was discovered in 1939, and both the site and the treasure found buried there were donated to the nation by the owners of the land. The site is now owned by the National Trust and is open for visitors, along with a splendid visitor centre.

Woodbridge, Suffolk

by joanj

Woodbridge town has narrow streets with Tudor timber-framed buildings, also a Victorian windmill, a unique 18thC Tide Mill on the river, two museums, 1) the Town Museum, 2( the Suffolk Horse Museum.

You can also walk along the river bank and enjoy wonderful views.
There are plenty of places to eat too,

The picture shows the 18th C. Tide Mill, which dates from the early industrial revolution. It is situated on a busy quayside, and was restored in 1973

Inside the mill are several working models, a video and various displays. The wheel turns most summer days at varying times. The times are listed in the brochure from the site office.

There is an Annual Art Exhibition too.

for Information telephone (44) 01473 626618

web site www.tidemill.org.uk

Woodbridge is situated 8 miles east of Ipswich.

"Buttrum's Mill"

Buttrum's Mill is a magnificent 6 - storey tower mill dating from 1835.

It has been fully restored, and the sails can be seen turning most week-ends.

The milling machinery inside if a fine example of the millwright's craft and should not be missed.

for info. telephone (44) 01473 583352