Halesworth
| Halesworth | |
| Suffolk | |
|---|---|
 Church of St Mary, Halesworth | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TM388773 |
| Location: | 52°20’31"N, 1°30’22"E |
| Data | |
| Population: | 4,637 (2001) |
| Post town: | Halesworth |
| Postcode: | IP19 |
| Dialling code: | 01986 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | East Suffolk |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Suffolk Coastal |
Halesworth is a small market town (population of around 6,000) in Suffolk, found 15 miles southwest of Lowestoft. It stands on a small tributary of the River Blyth, 9 miles upstream from the river mouth at Southwold.
A Roman settlement, Halesworth has a mediæval church; St Mary's with Victorian additions and a variety of houses, from early timber-framed buildings to the remnants of Victorian prosperity. Former almshouses used to house the Halesworth & District Museum (open from May to September) but this has now been moved to Halesworth railway station. The Town Trail walk provides opportunity to discover the history of Halesworth.
Halesworth is primarily centred on a pedestrianised, shopping street known as the Thoroughfare. "Thoroughfare" is a typical East Anglian expression for the main street of a town - what would be commonly known elsewhere as the "high street". Each year the Thoroughfare hosts a popular food, drink and craft fair, termed the "Thoroughfair", to raise money for good causes.
Halesworth is the home to the New Cut Arts Centre, which hosts the acclaimed HighTide theatre festival and the annual Halesworth Arts Festival.
Halesworth has the largest Millennium Green in the UK with around 44 acres of grazing marsh providing a haven for wildlife close to the town centre. The rivers in this area are home to herons, kingfishers and otters.
Nearby villages include Cratfield, Wissett, Chediston, Walpole, Blyford, Linstead Parva, Wenhaston, Thorington, Spexhall and Bramfield.
St Mary's Church
There has probably been a church on the site of St Mary's, Halesworth since Saxon times. Halesworth is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 recording Ulf the priest to be in charge of the parish.
The present church is essentially early 15th century - with outer aisles built and restoration taking place in the late 19th century. At the time of the restoration, some evidence was uncovered of a round-tower church on the site. The carved Danestones in the church are now believed to be early Norman in date. They were found in the church during the 19th century and could be part of a cross shaft. They depict hands clutching foliage or tails. Their original location is unknown, but undoubtedly pre-date anything now visible in the present church.
St Mary's is part of the Blyth Valley Team Ministry of eleven parishes.
Tall railings once surrounded the churchyard. This provided protection from sheep and cattle being driven through on market day. This was known as Monkey Walk.
On Palm Sunday each year, there is an ecumenical procession from the library, through the Thoroughfare to St Mary's Church.
History
A Halesworth bank used to issue its own banknotes. A 5 guinea banknote, issued by the Suffolk and Halesworth Bank in 1799, has recently been recovered.
In the early 16th century the Angel Hotel was built and held a position of importance as the post house, coaching inn and main meeting place for townsfolk.
In 1862 the only murder was recorded, Ebenezer Tye, aged 24, was a policeman who was trying to stop a burglary in Chediston Street. However he was beaten to death and is now buried in Halesworth Cemetery. The murderer, John Ducker, was caught and was the last person to be publicly hanged in Suffolk.
In 1862 the Rifle Hall was presented to the town by the family of a late captain of the rifle corps, Andrew Johnston. It is so called because it was used as a drill hall by the rifle corps. The hall was originally built in 1792 as a theatre and was used from 1812-44 by the theatre manager David Fisher. He owned an itinerant theatre group which travelled a circuit of theatres in East Anglia (including the Fisher Theatre in Bungay which has now been fully restored). It would take the company two years to complete the circuit travelling with their costumes, props and sets and publicising their plays as they went.
Chediston Street was originally the site of many pubs and small breweries.
Quay Street takes its name from the original town quay. In the middle of the 18th century the river was made navigable from Halesworth to Southwold. A new brick lock was made at Halesworth and new cuts were dug. The first keel arrived from Southwold in 1761, laden with coal, shortening the journey of the cargo considerably. Part of the old navigation can be seen in the Town Park.
1822-31 - the Reverend Richard Whatley is Rector of Halesworth, living in the Rectory, Rectory Lane. He is a renowned and outspoken academic vociferously opposed to slavery. He left Halesworth to become Archbishop of Dublin.
The Thoroughfare
Excavations outside the White Hart pub in 1991 discovered part of a causeway - probably dating from the late Saxon period. A piece of oak pile from these excavations is in the Halesworth & District Museum.
There are fine examples of 16th-, 17th-, 18th- and 19th-century buildings in the Thoroughfare.
Number 8 is a former ironmonger's. This shop belonged to the grandfather of Sir David Frost and the name of William Frost can still be seen underneath the archway next to the shop. The Thoroughfare is home to many specialist shops and cafes as well as playing host to events throughout the year.
Number 6, thought to be 14th century and sometimes referred to as Dame Margery's, is believed to have been the home of Margaret de Argentein.
A block of four shops next to this was originally built in 1474 as the Guildhall. This was the home of the Guild of St John the Baptist and Guild of St Love and St Anthony. The original line of the building can be seen.
A short distance to the east of the actual town lies the Second World War airfield of Halesworth. The airfield was begun in 1943. Initially the 56th Fighter Group of the United States 8th Army Air Force were stationed there. Later in 1944 it became the base of the 489th Bomb Group flying B24 Liberators. They played a full part in the buildup to and during D-Day on 6 June 1944. From July they switched to strategic offensive bombing until November, when they ceased operations to return to America. Between January and June in 1945 the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron operated from the base flying war weary P47s and B17s. Their mission was to carry dinghies and smoke markers to aid downed crews found at sea.
The airfield closed for flying in February 1946. Today the airfield is owned by Bernard Matthews and while it is still closed for flying except by the turkeys, there is an interesting and well laid out museum staffed by locals who help to keep the memories of those it hosted, alive.
Railway
The Halesworth railway is connected to Ipswich and Lowestoft. It is the best unstaffed railway station for 2004 and 2005.
From 24 September 1879 until 11 April 1929 there was a line from Halesworth to Southwold. There were plans by the Southwold Railway Society to revive the railway, partly on the original track and partly on new formation, but these have now been abandoned in favour of a Railway Park, to be situated at Southwold.[1]
Sports
- Football: Halesworth Town Football Club
Events
Every year the lights are switched on in the Thoroughfare and then people gather near St Mary's to see the Christmas tree being lit up. There are stalls in the Thoroughfare and people dancing with a special visit from Father Christmas who gives the children presents. A Christingle Service is held in St Mary's Church at 4.00pm every Christmas Eve with a Midnight Communion at 11.30pm.