Preparing for 2020

We shall hold our AGM in Ipswich on St. Andrew’s Day. If you are coming, please bring your ideas. If you are a Group member but cannot make it, please send them.
I have tagged a few suggestions …

Visiting Howard country again

On September 21st, the last Saturday of summer, five of us converged at the south Suffolk village of Stoke-by-Nayland. It is approximately square and St. Mary’s Church is on one corner, by the road. Sir John Howard rebuilt it in the second half of the fifteenth century as part of his Tendring Hall estate, burying his first wife Catherine Moleyns (left and below) there in 1465, several years before inheriting the Duchy of Norfolk in 1483. The font (left bottom) is particularly notable. This, however, is not the end of the mediaeval or early modern theme visible in the village.

Proceeding along Church Street, we passed Lady Anne Windsor’s (1603) Almshouses, the Old Bakery and the Woolhouse before lunching at The Angel, which is also late mediaeval.

Turning left down the narrow Polstead Road, named after the adjacent village, we passed two cottages more recently known as the Black Horse, as well as the Stuart era Alde House and Hedingham, that hosted the Post Office. Park Street, across the top of the village, features the Corner House and Park Street stores.

Returning towards the church on School Street, we were able to view the Well House, White Horse Cottage (with Beryl Cook connections), the Maltings (“Rodings”) and the Guildhall (below).