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legacy. legacy.

Ixworth & Ixworth Thorpe Parish Council Parish Thorpe Ixworth & Ixworth

rich cultural rich

Produced by Suffolk County Council and and Council County Suffolk by Produced

reflects its reflects

www.discoversuffolk.org.uk at vibrancy that vibrancy

Discover more great days out across Suffolk Suffolk across out days great more Discover community with a with community

Today, Ixworth is a thriving a is Ixworth Today,

to plan your journey. your plan to

(08712 002 233) 002 (08712 www.travellineeastanglia.co.uk seen today, were constructed after this time. this after constructed were today, seen

for timetables or timetables for www.suffolkonboard.com of the fine timber framed buildings, which can be can which buildings, framed timber fine the of

Public transport is available to Ixworth. Visit Ixworth. to available is transport Public With the Normans came great upheaval and many and upheaval great came Normans the With

Public Transport Public

recorded as being little more than 50 people. people. 50 than more little being as recorded

Domesday Book (1085-6) the population was population the (1085-6) Book Domesday

there.

two main Manors in the village and by the by and village the in Manors main two

southern end of High Street. All walks start from start walks All Street. High of end southern

Edward the Confessor (1042-1066), there were there (1042-1066), Confessor the Edward

opposite the Church of St Mary the Virgin, at the at Virgin, the Mary St of Church the opposite

settled in scattered hamlets. By the time of time the By hamlets. scattered in settled

Free parking is available in front of the village hall, village the of front in available is parking Free

After the Romans came the Angles and Saxons, and Angles the came Romans the After

just off the A143 Bury to Diss road. Diss to Bury A143 the off just

around historic Ixworth historic around

Iceni tribe and their infamous Queen Boudicca. Queen infamous their and tribe Iceni

Ixworth is 6 miles north east of Bury St Edmunds, St Bury of east north miles 6 is Ixworth

Three circular walks circular Three modern Ixworth, probably built to suppress the suppress to built probably Ixworth, modern

Walks of outskirts the on stood which Fort Roman a

With the Romans came settlement, roads and and roads settlement, came Romans the With

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EDMUNDS

occupied by Celtic tribes including the Iceni. Iceni. the including tribes Celtic by occupied

BURY ST ST BURY

Ixworth

hand tools, prior to Roman occupation it was it occupation Roman to prior tools, hand

IXWORTH

A140

Neolithic period, apart from scattered finds of flint of finds scattered from apart period, Neolithic

history. Whilst little is known about the town in the in town the about known is little Whilst history.

A143

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DISS Circular Walks Circular

Ixworth is steeped in over 6000 years worth of worth years 6000 over in steeped is Ixworth

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A1060

THETFORD to Ixworth to

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Welcome Location

Turn right at the war memorial, through the Western Loop (1 mile, 1.5km) Ixworth churchyard to exit on to Commister Lane. Turn left Instead of turning left at 5 continue past a and curve right and take the bridleway on the left private track on the right to the end of the Circular Walk opposite Abbey Close 2 . copse on the left where you turn left along a Start: Park at the Village Hall/Library This ‘green lane’ was the original medieval bridleway. The bridleway veers left across a Distance: 4 miles (6.5km) or 5 miles highway from Ixworth to Great Livermere and shallow ditch past a small copse and then (8kms) with western loop Troston. On both sides are ditches, remnants of follows a deep ditch until it meets Heath Duration: approx 2-3 hours fishponds used by the Augustinian Canons of Lane. Turn left and walk past Gameclose Ixworth Abbey 3 which you can see across the Covert to rejoin the main route 6 . From the Village Hall walk across the High Street to meadow on your left. Founded in 1172, the Abbey the Church of St. Mary the Virgin 1 . At the time of and its lands were ‘acquired’ in 1537 by Henry VIII The grassy track takes you to two Copper Beech the Domesday survey (1086) there was a Norman and the house later passed into private hands. trees, and all that remains of Brewster’s Farm. church and today the oldest surviving structures are The façade you see today dates from the Brewster’s Farm was once owned by Reginald the Priest’s door and the chancel arch (1200). seventeenth and eighteenth centuries but the Appleyard. During the 1930’s he developed the Notice the flint flushwork patterns on the tower and medieval core and crypt still remain. famous all white ‘Ixworth Chickens’. the angel roof inside. Pause awhile at Hempyard Bridge 4 , a former The track leads to a firm gravelled path before packhorse bridge, under the shade of a fine Black reaching Heath Lane 6 . As you follow the track admire the view of Pakenham Windmill ahead. Terrain: Generally level walk Poplar and play ‘Pooh sticks’ as you look at the Take extreme care crossing the main road 7 , and on footpaths, bridleways and quiet pleasant views of the River Blackbourne. Continue then head uphill along Cutters Lane. As you reach lanes with no steep hills or stiles. between open fields towards a small plantation the rise you cross the line of a Roman Road All walks do include crossing the and swing right up a slope towards an uncluttered which ran from Chelmsford to The Wash (now the A143 which needs great care. The skyline. Turning round you can enjoy a Peddars Way). On the left was the Roman Fort Roman Trail includes steps to the panoramic view of the village. that stood on the outskirts of Ixworth. A143 crossing. In wet weather Turn left on to a grassy paths will be muddy so may be track 5 . Pakenham Windmill 8 is one of two working mills less suitable for pushchair and in Pakenham and is a five storey, tarred brick wheelchair users tower mill built in 1831. It was fully restored in 2000 and is in full working order. Ixworth Walks Three circular walks around historic Ixworth

5 4 2 3 1 P

6 12 11 KEY TO MAP Ixworth Walk 7 Please follow the Country Code: Riverside Trail 8 Roman Trail • Consider the local community and 10 other people enjoying the outdoors Public Footpath Bridleway • Leave gates and property as you find them and Byway follow paths unless wider access is available 9 P Car Park • Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home Map based on Ordnance Survey Copyright mapping. All rights reserved. Unauthorised • Keep dogs under effective control reproduction infringes Crown Copyright . • Plan ahead and be prepared Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2012. • Follow advice and local signs

Carry on down Thieves Lane and over Fulmer Bridge to the junction with Fen Road. Turn left and Riverside The Roman continue to another T-junction where you turn left onto Mill Road 9 . In a short distance you will Trail Trail reach Pakenham Watermill 10 . Start: Park at the Start: Park at the Village Hall/Library Pakenham Watermill dates from the 18th century Village Hall/Library Distance: 2 miles (3km) and is the last working watermill in Suffolk. For Distance: 3 miles (5km) Duration: approx 1 hour over 1000 years millers have been using Duration: approx From the Village Hall waterpower to produce stone ground wholemeal 1-2 hours car park turn right What’s in flour from locally grown wheat. Today, the mill is From the Village Hall car park along the High a name? maintained and operated by a team of dedicated turn left down the High Street to the Street past The Ixworth is probably volunteers who continue this tradition. It is open to village sign. This is the site of the original market Pykkerell Hotel a corruption of the visitors and has a tearoom and a programme of granted by Richard II in 1384. There are 4 medieval and then right Saxon Gycsa or events throughout the year (contact 01379 783 houses; Ridgetile House on your left (late 14th down Crown Lane. Gisca, meaning 554, pakenhamwatermill.org.uk) century); Dover Farm (16th century) named after a At the end of Crown soil or place. Past the watermill enjoy beautiful views over the Mary Dover who occupied in the mid 1800s; Holmlea Lane take the steps 17 hectares of the Mickle Mere 11 , a low lying (16th century) and Cyder House (15th century). down to the A143. Take great care crossing the road. seasonal wetland owned by the Suffolk Wildlife Turn left along Stow Road and before the Trust. On your right is the entrance to a bird hide, roundabout, cross to follow the path through the Continue straight ahead along Crown Lane where, full of fascinating information including the Suffolk trees along the bank. This takes you under the A143 to the right, on the sloping field with sweeping Barn Owl project. Do read the wildlife records flyover to the riverside. views to Mickle Mere, once stood a substantial book. The mere dries out during the summer but Roman Villa. This was first discovered in Through the kissing gate follow the well at other times regularly floods providing excellent 1834 and excavated in 1849 and walked path, following the roadside fence opportunities to see many species of migrating then again in 1948 by Basil until the river bend after which you waterfowl. The mere is also home to a variety of Brown, famous for his work at continue beside the river. Turn left at mammals including otters and water voles. Sutton Hoo. the next fence to leave the riverside Returning to Mill Road, continue to the A143 and via a gate. Carefully cross the At the end of the field turn take great care crossing the road. Walk to the left road to the field opposite where right and walk beside the and then right to enter the southern end of High you turn right and to walk along field towards the old Street. Many of the houses along the edge of a field to safely re- Pumping Station12 . High Street date from 14th-16th cross the road at the old pumping Carefully cross the road to century. Notice Tollgate station 12 . Follow Baileypool Lane, follow Baileypool Lane to Cottage on your right and over Baileypool Bridge to the join the Ixworth Circular the half timbered Bridge junction with Mill Road where you join Walk 9 . Farm just before you cross the Ixworth Circular Walk 9 . the River Blackbourne.