Leiston

Leiston
Suffolk
Long Shop Museum, Leiston
Location
Grid reference:	TM445623
Location:	52°12’22"N, 1°34’44"E
Data
Population:	6,240  (2001)
Post town:	Leiston
Postcode:	IP16
Dialling code:	01728
Local Government
Council:	East Suffolk
Parliamentary constituency:	Suffolk Coastal

Leiston is a village in the broad, flat, open coastal lands of eastern Suffolk. It is near Saxmundham and Aldeburgh, about two miles from the North Sea coast and is 21 miles north-east of Ipswich. The village had a population of 6,240 at the 2001 Census.

Since the closure of the Leiston Works, the town's economy has been dominated by the two nuclear power stations on the coast at Sizewell: the now decommissioned Magnox reactor of Sizewell A and the more modern Pressurised Water Reactor of Sizewell B. A number of smaller companies operate from industrial areas within the town.

Leiston's High Street serves as the business and market hub of the surrounding agricultural district. The town's facilities include a post office, library, banks, pubs and a range of shops and other services.

History

The 14th century remains of Leiston Abbey lie northwest of the town.

Leiston thrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a manufacturing town dominated by Richard Garrett & Sons, owners of the "Leiston Works". This firm made steam tractors and a huge variety of cast and machined metal products, including munitions during both world wars. The works closed in 1981 and the site was reused as a mixture of housing, flats and industrial uses. The Long Shop Museum, showing the history, vehicles and products of the works, remains as a heritage tourist attraction.

During Second World War, RAF Leiston, a mile northwest of the town in the neighbouring village of Theberton, sent fighter squadrons of the American 357th Fighter Group to fight the Luftwaffe. Famous American test pilot and fighter ace General Chuck Yeager (who, later, first broke the sound barrier) flew out of RAF Leiston. The Friends of Leiston Airfield hold a memorial service and flying display at the end of May each year, with veterans and their families attending.

Since the 1960s Leiston became famous outside the UK as the home of the Summerhill School, founded by the bizarre A S Neill in the 1920s, which was the first major "free school" - referring to freedom in education. Children are not required to attend classes and discipline is given by pupil self-government meetings. Summerhill has inspired a large "free school" movement and, more recently, "democratic schools" in several countries. The school occupies the former mansion of Richard Garrett, owner of the Leiston Works.

Churches

The parish church is St Margaret's. It has an ancient tower and an unusual 19th century nave.

• Church of England: [stmargaretschurchleiston.onesuffolk.net St Margaret of Antioch]
• Baptist: Leiston Baptist Church
• Methodist and United Reformed Church: Leiston United Church

Culture and community

Leiston Film Theatre, a half-timbered building with street front shops, is the oldest purpose-built cinema in Suffolk. The theatre is owned and run by Leiston-cum-Sizewell Town Council and supported by the Leiston Film Theatre Support Club which has raised money for stage refurbishment and enabled the theatre to install the latest digital 3D projection system.

Sport and leisure

• Football: Leiston FC

Leiston also has a leisure centre, a skatepark and several parks.

Transport

A railway branch spur from the Great Eastern Line, known as the Aldeburgh Branch Line, went from Saxmundham to Aldeburgh, with intermediate stations at Leiston and Thorpeness. On 12 September 1966 British Rail withdrew all passenger services to Leiston and beyond; however, the line to Leiston remained active, but only for the purpose of removing nuclear materials from Sizewell power station.

Outside links

• The Leiston Long Shop Museum
• Suffolk's oldest cinema
• Leiston Abbey
• Leiston Film Theatre Support Club