Shelland Hessett Woolpit Rattlesden

Long before you reach the village This little gem of a church up a tiny with its timbered buildings clustered country lane is a joy to discover on round the old market square, you foot or by bike. Its location among will see the spectacular Victorian pastures and wild hedgerows, gives spire of St Mary’s church, an it a ‘miles from anywhere’ feel. important landmark in the area. Stepping inside, you will be Admire the beautiful flint flushwork pleasantly surprised by the delightful on the clerestory, before entering the Gothick pastel wall colours and the church through one of the most lavish complete set of Georgian box pews. porches in Suffolk. Inside you will Remarkably, there’s a barrel organ, discover the famous hammerbeam roof dating from 1820 that’s still in use. with its profusion of saints and angels. Rattlesden Hessett

Set in a steep valley in rolling Angels, parapets and pinnacles decorate countryside, Rattlesden church sits at the tower of this gorgeous little church the heart of this old Suffolk village with named for a Saxon king of East Anglia its two pubs and many half-timbered murdered in 794. The rich interior contains houses. fine woodcarving, vibrant medieval glass and a 14th century wall painting of the Seven The exquisitely carved angel roof dates Deadly Sins as figures on the branches from the 1880s but the real wonder of of a tree. Learn more about the discovery the church is the complete replica of inside the parish chest of rare medieval a medieval rood screen, loft and rood, treasures, now in the British Museum. completed in the early 20th century. The 1920s glass in the nave is also beautiful. Other trails in the series: Framlingham Eye Southwold Clare Mildenhall

A Step Further A1088 St Mary's Woolpit A14 to St Ethelbert's Hessett 2.6 miles / 4 km each way Woolpit This is a walk for wide-open country and big Suffolk skies. From Woolpit church, follow Hessett Route 1 to No. 3 on the map. Now head Church Heritage Trails straight on to Drinkstone church with its 17th Shelland century brick tower. Inside you’ll discover an No.4 in the series: Woolpit cluster exquisitely carved screen dating from 1390. Leaving the church, turn right for a few yards and Rattlesden

take the footpath on your left at Home Farm. Map based on Ordnance Survey Over the stile, cross the meadow diagonally, go Copyright mapping. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction over the wooden bridge, then straight by the infringes Crown Copyright. Suffolk County Council Licence No. side of the fence. Go over another stile to a wide Leaving 1000233952012 track. Pause to look back for a great view of the Drinkstone All Saints tower rising above the church, turn village. Join the drive of Moat Farm House and right and take the next go straight on at the road junction. Take the right signposted Onehouse and Stowmarket. footpath, bearing right onto the field, with Park Turn right by the red pillar box for Buxhall and House on your left. Follow the path across the Rattlesden. Ride across Harleston Village field towards a lone Scots pine on the horizon, Green — perfect for a picnic with benches to picking up a hedgerow on your right. Very soon sit on — then ride on through the trees to a you will see the pinnacles on Hessett church narrow lane taking you across country. At the tower. Return by the same route. bottom of the hill, turn left signposted Buxhall. Entering Onehouse, turn immediately right to A ride round three churches Rattlesden, opposite the thatched cottage. 8.7 miles/14 km The road crosses the River Rat, then climbs You can take a leisurely circular cycle ride up into Rattlesden. Fork right at the village sign from Woolpit St Mary’s to Shelland church, and you’ll soon see the church on your left. returning via St Nicholas Rattlesden. From the church, return to the village sign and turn Starting at Woolpit church, turn left, then right sharp left up the hill, following the road round past The Angels & Pinnacles project at the junction. Ride through Woolpit Heath Clopton Hall on your right. A straight road takes and keep right at the next junction into Borley you back to the old market place at Woolpit. covers six clusters of churches across Green. Fork left to Shelland and cross the Stop at the café for a much-deserved cup of Suffolk. Walk or cycle between the green to see Shelland church on your right. tea before turning right to Woolpit church. four churches to combine the best of the countryside with Suffolk’s magnificent medieval heritage. www.angelsandpinnacles.org.uk

St Mary's Woolpit – St Nicholas Rattlesden King Charles the Martyr Shelland – St Ethelbert's Hessett – Church Heritage Trails

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Route  — 6.3 miles / 10 km Route 2 — 5.5 miles / 8.8 km St Mary's Woolpit to St Nicholas Rattlesden St Nicholas Rattlesden to King Charles the Martyr Shelland At the church, turn right into Drop down to a stream and join the track Turn left out of the church porch to the Turn left at T-junction of paths and follow the market square. bearing right. Continue on the farm track, gate. Turn right at the road and then left round where field edge path turns right, Turn right at the cresting the hill then dipping down. Under the into Birds Green Road. Bear left to the keeping right to walk three sides of field, Post Office, then power lines, follow the woods round5 to the playing field then continue along a concrete then left to walk along gravel track between left down Rags right, then walk diagonally across the field. path, up the track to the allotments. another field and the hedged Great Wood. At Lane. Turning At the top of the track, bear left alongside the the end of the wood, bear right, then left 6 . Continue along the grass path to reach left at the paddocks and through some gates before the road where you turn left over the River Continue between two fields, bearing junction, take emerging on the road opposite the church. 4 Rat 1 , little more than a ditch now but right and then left at the junction with the footpath To return, take the road behind the church in the Middle Ages stone was brought to another rough track. Turn left again at next on your to the junction and village sign. Just beyond Rattlesden in flat-bottomed boats for the junction. At the fork in the farm track, turn right 1 . the left turn to Woolpit, take the footbridge 5 building of the Abbey at Bury St Edmunds. right before the Clopton Hall farmhouse Cross the to head uphill, then turn right, taking a track and cross a wooden footbridge onto field at Bishop to the edge of the woods. Look to your right As road bears left, turn right,1 passing the the footpath continuing on past an old Karney Green, for a view of Gt Finborough church spire by timber-framed Brookvale Farmhouse farm building. The path then bears left named after the Victorian architect Phipson, who also on your right. At the T-junction, turn and zigzags right and left at the top. the first Bishop of built Woolpit spire. Turn left at the woods, right, then bear left 2 onto a stony Johannesburg who was bearing right at the end. Go down the hill byway known as Gypsy Lane. Turn right onto a wide grass path to enjoy Rector of Woolpit in 1903. Cross the turning left at the next wood. Turn right near lovely views to the left across the valley to At the road, turn right. Immediately after road and continue across another field, then the farm buildings and over a ditch to a track. see Great Finborough church spire on a passing a private track on your left, turn through some trees. At Deadman’s Lane, turn Turn left and follow the track through the clear day. Turn left just before left through an opening in the hedge 3 to left then right onto the footpath 2 . On your Clopton Hall estate 6 , a moated site in meeting the road to use a byway known as Church Lane. Continue right, see the 18th century smock mill and a medieval times, to emerge on the road. the field edge path ahead along a grass path for a short 16th century post mill, thought to be the oldest Turn right and continue on the road to the 7 down to the distance to reach Shelland Church 4 . in England. At the hedge corner 3 , turn left at T-junction at Woolpit Green. Turn left, then village. Cross the signpost with views of Drinkstone church immediately right along the path past the Leaving the church, cross the road and walk the road and on your right. At the road, turn left and shortly Grange 7 and along the edge of a field to a between houses and green, veering left onto bear right after take the footpath on your right. Cross the housing estate. Follow the path at the back the grass to walk in front of a large thatched with the plank bridge and follow the path to your left. of the houses to join the road. Turn left and cottage. Cross the driveway of 17th century village-sign Rockyll’s Hall with its tall chimneys to another on your left, After the second4 field, cross another bridge immediately right into Abbotts Meadow. and turn left through the woods to the road. At the junction, turn left into Mill Lane to grassed area and back onto the road again. taking you Turn right towards Hill Farm before turning return to the market place and the church. Turn right and continue along the road before back up to right again. Keep to this path, bearing left 4 . bearing left to join another road. Turn right 5 Rattlesden to join the footpath just after Slough Farm. Church. P There is a free car park The Swan is a 15th century coaching inn P opposite Woolpit church serving food www.woolpitswan.co.uk Limited parking is available in the lay-by The Five Bells is a traditional local A toilet is available inside St Mary’s church Public transport - On weekdays or opposite the Village Hall in Lower Street. pub in the High Street serving Saturdays, you may consider taking the bus Teacups Tea Rooms and Elm Tree refreshments and snacks. one way. Timetables and journey planners The Brewers Arms in Lower Road serves Gallery in the old market place both are available at www.suffolkonboard.com lunches and evening meals all week More walks and great days out at: serve snacks and refreshments. www.brewersarms-rattlesden.com www.discoversuffolk.org.uk