Still in Suffolk, picnic lunches on beaches, fresh fish, good weather, forest parking places - what’s not to like?
I had a good walk from Orford opposite the spit of Orford Ness. Now an important nature reserve, it has a chequered history of secret MOD tests, early radar development, AWRE environmental testing from which the “pagodas” date, medium wave transmitting BBC World Service (sublime) to broadcasting Radio Caroline (ridiculous).
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| Orford Ness “pagodas” |
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| Orford Castle |
I just liked the name Shingle Street so went to look for it and found it to be one row of houses and a Martello tower, one of many along the Suffolk coast, also some kite surfers having a wonderful time.
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| Shingle Street |
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| Wow! |
Thorpeness is an extraordinary place. Originally a small fishing village, in the early 20th century Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie, Scottish barrister and railway builder, created a fantasy holiday village with appropriate leisure amenities for himself and his friends. The water tower was disguised as a “House in the Clouds” with a water pumping windmill installed next to it. After mains water arrived in the village, the tank was transformed into a games room. The whole building is now a holiday
house. The Meare was dug out from the ancient harbour with features from Peter Pan stories.
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| The Meare |
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| Pumping Mill8 |
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| House in the Clouds |
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| Country Club |
Dunwich was an extremely large medieval port and city but a
series of storms from the 13th century onwards caused its steady destruction by the sea.
There is very little left now apart from the remains of the once very large and important priory.
The last remaining grave from the parish church, now on the cliff edge is very touching.
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| The Last Grave |
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| Dunwich, historically |
Next stop Walberswick: the enormous 15th c. church tower was built as a landmark for ships. This church became too large for the shrinking population and eventually was demolished. When in the 17th century a smaller building was created the tower was repaired to its original size.
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| Very clever flintwork decoration |
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| Walberswick church |
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| War Graves |
Onwards.
