Evening Star Walks|
If you fancy a day out exploring ancient and modern history, here
is a walk to suit a wide range of interests. Leiston is a small town
of about 5,000 inhabitants which grew around the Garret Engineering
Works, one of the earliest agricultural machinery manufacturers in
the country (1778-1980). The original works now form the Long Shop
Museum. Another landmark is Leiston Abbey, the most extensive monastic
remains in Suffolk, situated one mile north of the town and at the
halfway point of this walk. A leaflet is available (see fact File) describing two three mile walks from the town and I have chosen the northern route via the Abbey. The other walk on the leaflet is south from the town and together the two walks can provide a 6 mile figure of eight if you feel like stretching your legs a bit more. The Long Shop is an early example of flowline assembly and now houses samples of Garrett's agricultural and wartime manufacturing outputs: a threshing machine, mealie dressers, seed drills, bakers' ovens, a dry-cleaning machine and the latest addition, an anti-aircraft gun. The Museum is open daily from April to the end of October, see the fact File for further details. From Post Office Square turn right along Main Street to the White Horse pub on the corner. Turn right again along Station Road, passing the Masterlord Industrial Estate on the left. As you cross the level crossing look to the left where you will see the platforms of the former railway station. The passenger service from Saxmundham to Aldeburgh was axed by Dr. Beeching in 1966 but the line is used for goods, including nuclear waste from the Sizewell Halt. The station and railway buildings are now houses. Turn left into Westward Ho and, just past Summerhill School (founded by A.S. Neill in 1922, moved to Leiston in 1927), turn right on the footpath between hedge and garden wall. The grounds of Summerhill School are on your right and Geater's nurseries on the left. Walk through Geater's Farm and then straight on into the field to the left of the hedge. At the end of the hedge line, head out across the field, aiming in the general direction of Aldhurst Farm on the rise ahead. As you approach the boundary between the first and second fields, look out for a gap in the hedge and a footpath sign positioned at a ditch crossing point. After the small footbridge, bear slightly left and head for the boundary hedge to the right of Aldhurst Farm, following this along the ditch edge out to Abbey Lane. Turn right along the lane and then left up the track to the Leiston Abbey. The Abbey was founded by the Premonstratensian Order in 1182 at Minsmere, rebuilt on its present site in the 14th century and destroyed in 1536. The Chapel has been restored and is in use. The other buildings were used as a retreat house from 1923 to 1977 and sold to the Pro Corda school for young string players in 1979. New studio rooms have been built and the Guesten Hall has been rebuilt for accommodation, studios, dining hall, etc. The Abbey is now in the care of English Heritage. Return down the track to Abbey Lane and take the footpath opposite, heading back towards Leiston. Follow the path between the fields and over the ditch then bear left and right on a well defined sunken path between fences and the side of the field. At the corner bear left and continue on down to a grassy track to reach Abbey Road. Turn right on the roadside footway, across the railway again, and left at the White Horse pub to return to the start of the walk at the Post Office Square. Fact FileLocation: Leiston is 27 miles north east of IpswichStart: Post Office Square - Ordnance Survey map reference TM 444626 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Roadside footway, cross field and field edge paths, tracks. Muddy across fields when wet, no stiles How to get there:- Public Transport : Check details with Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - telephone 0645 583358 Road Route: From Ipswich on A12 north to Saxmundham and then B1119 to Leiston town centre Car parking: Free at Post Office Square (limited) and other on street parking Refreshments: A wide variety of pubs and shops in the town Public Toilets: Off Post Office Square on Dinsdale Road Map: Ordnance Survey Pathfinder sheet 987 Leiston Walk Information: Leaflet - Leiston Suffolk, 2 Circular Walks. Available from Leiston Library and Suffolk County Council (A5 s.a.e.+20p) Longshop Museum: Open weekdays 10am to 5pm, Sundays 11am to 5pm. Admission adults £2.50, concessions £1.50 and juniors 75p
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Evening Star Walks
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