Walk Around Bungay and South Elmham

This walk was from a couple of days ago with my friend Rob, starting in Earsham and then going to see the new bridge that has been installed, before walking around The Saints and then returning to the bridge. It wasn’t the dryest of days, but Bungay is in the national press today due to flooding, so it could have perhaps been worse.

Earsham was the start and end point of the walk, wet at the beginning and the rain started to pour down just as we arrived back. There’s been a church here since the Saxon period, although the current structure is from the twelfth century with bits added on and restored since.

My trip to get the day’s lunch was delayed slightly as they couldn’t get the till to turn on. I don’t think the Bungay Shopper themselves would claim that they have a range of high quality artisan food and drink, but it was convenient and cheap.

I’ve never seen Bungay Castle, I hadn’t realised it was visible from the footpath. It was financed by Roger Bigod of Norfolk and was constructed just after the Norman Conquest. It fell out of use many centuries ago, being owned by the Dukes of Norfolk from 1483, but the family gave it to the town in 1987.

Flixton Road Mill, built in 1830 and now converted into residential accommodation.

The temperature was quite warm, although there were occasional showers.

A rainbow appeared between the rain showers.

We visited three churches on the walk, all of which were open to go inside. This is St Margaret’s Church in Ilketshall St Margaret and more of this in another post. But, the highlights here are what I think is a Saxon window in the tower and the completely ridiculous decision made by English Heritage to render the tower. They accepted this was in error and it is neither historically accurate nor particularly beautiful. But, it’s there now, part of the church’s story.

I rather liked the path in the above photos, I think from the width it’s a former drovers’ road. One of those routes which could have easily have become a road.

Fortunately, the mud in Suffolk isn’t generally too clay-like (unless certain parts of Essex…..), otherwise this could have been an annoying walk across a field with mud welding to my boots.

Part of my lunch from the Bungay Shopper….. Very decadent.

Streams and ponds that are often low in water certainly aren’t at the moment.

Some aggressive looking sheep.

I’m not sure of the age, but this road bridge looks to have some history to it. A nice feature to have in the garden as well.

St. Peter’s Church in South Elmham.

St. Peter’s Brewery, which was founded in 1996, and occupies a site which includes an ancient thatched barn and St. Peter’s Hall. The brewery own one just pub in the country, which I have meant to go to, it’s located in Farringdon in London.

Norfolk and Suffolk can be hilly. Well, relatively hilly.

 

One of the reasons we went on this walk was to see the new bridge which has been installed here on the Angles Way. This map (in .pdf format) shows the temporary route which the broken bridge caused. It took six years for this bridge to be replaced and numerous local politicians were involved, and the Ramblers really engaged with the process.

The area was a little more moist than was ideal, perhaps the bridge set-up wasn’t ideal, but the main thing is that the Angles Way route has now been restored. Fortunately, that water wasn’t too deep.

This is Rob’s route of the walk, I like the colours showing when we were walked a little quicker.