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Pakenham is quite unique in that it is the only village in the country to have both a windmill and a watermill in working order. Although not on the route of this walk they are easily accessible, well worth a visit and reached via Fen Road. The watermill is a fine 18th century example open to the public from Easter to September (see information file for details). The Domesday Survey records show that there has been a watermill on the present site since 1086, thus corn has been ground here for 900 years. Bought and restored by the Suffolk Preservation Society in 1978, it is the last working watermill in Suffolk. The windmill was often seen on the screen in the early days of television and more recently in 'Campion'. This magnificent five storey tarred brick tower mill was built about 1816. It is eighty feet tall and was restored to full working order in the 1950s. The Grade II listed building is open to the public by appointment only. From the church car park walk through the graveyard, to the north (right) of the church to reach a kissing gate and steps down to a meadow. St. Mary's Church is a beautiful cruciform building of flint, with Barnack stone dressings and built around 1100 AD. The unusual octagonal crossing tower was added in the 14th century, stands on a square Norman tower and contains a peal of five bells. Follow the path to the right, around an old pit and through the meadow to a kissing gate in the corner at the rear of Newe House. Described as 'a picturesque gable mansion of red brick' it was built in 1622 by Robert Bright of Nether Hall. Turn left and then right on a crop break strip towards the woodland ahead. Continue straight on through the wood and then on a wide track to the right of the 124 acre Pakenham Wood. Walk on past a signpost defining a short cut through the wood on the left and on to a junction at the end. Take the left fork around the end of the wood and then left again at the next corner, now along the north side of the wood. Where the short cut rejoins the route, follow the track around to the right and out to Bull Road. Turn left and walk past the 30 mph signs and Fen Road, taking great care to use the verge whenever traffic approaches. Turn right on the path through the trees, just before the Suffolk Agri-Centre, passing across a wooden footbridge and up behind the houses of the Owell estate. At a row of garages turn left and then follow the road right through the estate and right down to The Street. Cross over to Home Farm Lane, a wide curving track leading out to Mill Lane, a former Roman road that once linked to an important Roman fort in the north of the parish close to the A143 road at Ixworth. Turn left and walk for about 600 metres along the road, again taking great care to use the verge whenever traffic approaches, to turn left on Sheep Lane, opposite a sign to Millfields. Walk for 700 metres along the lane, down the dip and up to reach a kissing gate on the left giving access out onto the open space of the parkland of Thurston Gardens. Aim for a wide gap in the fence line straight ahead and then on to the a kissing gate close to the 17th century Nether Hall in the trees on the left. The manor of Nether Hall was situated partly in Pakenham and partly in Thurston and was vested in the Lordship of the Abbot of St. Edmunds. In the time of Henry III the manor was vested in John de Pakenham, steward to the Bishop of Ely in 1253. From the kissing gate follow the wide track between the trees to emerge on Church Hill opposite the church. Turn left on the raised footway and then right up the steps into the churchyard to return to the start. InformationLocation: Pakenham is 22 miles north west of Ipswich and 5 miles north east of Bury St. EdmundsStart: St Mary's Church, Ordnance Survey map reference TL931671 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Mainly track, woodland and road, no stiles, woodland sections could be muddy How to get there:- Public Transport: Telephone Suffolk County Council's travel advice TraveLine on 0870 6082608 By Road: From Ipswich west on A14 to A1088 north, turn off left to Pakenham at Stowlangtoft Parking: Large free car park at rear of church, off Church Hill Public Toilets: None Refreshments: The Fox pub and Village Post Office Stores Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 211 Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket Watermill: Open April to September on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 2.00 to 5.30 pm and on Thursdays from 9.30 to 11.30 am, telephone 01359 270570 Windmill: Open by appointment only Internet: - Pakenham information - http://www.pakenham-village.co.uk Suffolk Country Walks - http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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