Leiston Pocket Guide
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Key DISCOVER LEISTON VISIT-LEISTON.CO.UK 1 Leiston Film Theatre Leiston The Pocket Guide to (1914) & Leiston may have been shaped by the past, but it’s not from the usual 2 United Church (1867) 3 Supermarket (Co-op here since 1887!) is an exceptional Suffolk town. Suffolk mould. As Leiston-cum-Sizewell it encompasses the nature-rich INFO INFO shingle stretches of the heritage coast; first-class farming country on the 4 Angel Cottage (early 1800s) 5 Former Wesleyan Chapel (1860) A community with history at its heart like no other. LEISTON well-drained soils of the Sandlings and has its own crop of monastic, TakeEAST a closer lookSUFFOLK at Leiston-cum-Sizewell medieval and wartime memories to share. 6 High Green A place forged byEAST pioneers andSUFFOLK philanthropists, Coast, countryside & so much more!! 7 Coast, countryside & so much more!! Yet Leiston is not just another Suffolk Long Shop (Museum) (1852) whose legacies live on and on. 8 Abbeys & IndustrialLowestoft, Felixstowe Heritage & Everything * Town, In-between Countryside & Coast market town with independent shops Water Tower (c.1850s) Lowestoft, Felixstowe & Everything In-between Maritime & Market Town Heritage Fun Facts 9 Library/Town Council Offices MaritimeDiscover & Market a Townworld-class Heritage industrial MAPS, ITINERARIES & MAPS, ITINERARIES & MAPS, WALKS & INFO MAPS, WALKS MAPS, WALKS & INFO MAPS, WALKS WalksFamily & Cycle Fun * Walks, Rides Cycle *Rides Nature & Themed Reserves Itineraries & Beaches trading for generations. Its past and Family Fun * Walks, Cycle Rides & Themed Itineraries ‰ 10 White Horse Hotel (c.1768) ‰ MAPS, WALKS & INFO MAPS, WALKS * Population: heritage site, edged by ancient Food & Drink Cultural Activities & Events * present are something for all of Suffolk to c. 6,000 WC Public Food & Drink Cultural Activities & Events Independent Shopping * Entertainment, Activities & Events Fairtrade Town: 11 Quakers’ Meeting House (1860) be proud of. The legacies of its pioneers since 2009 Toilets lands and abbey ruins, in an MAPS, WALKS, INFO & MORE MAPS, WALKS, 12 Colonial House (1969) Park Run: and philanthropic heroes are in evidence Saturdays (Sizewell) 13 Former Station Buildings (1859) P Area of Outstanding Natural ‰ US Connections: Parking th SOUTHWOLD everywhere, from the Long Shop Museum 358 then 357th Fighter Groups 14 Summerhill School (est.1927) SOUTHWOLD Beauty, by one of Suffolk’s EAST SUFFOLK and beautifully restored Edwardian-era (The Yoxford Boys) at Leiston EAST SUFFOLK 15 Leiston Hall (c.1650) F Petrol best-loved secret beaches. cinema to its fine parks, sports and Airfield 1942-45 16 Church of St Margaret of Antioch Station Famous People: leisure facilities. The Garrett Family; A.S Neill; (1360/1860) BS Enjoy Leiston-cum-Sizewell. SOUTHWOLD LEISTON Bus stop Take time for a closer look at Leiston - Paxton Chadwick 17 The Cupola (c.late 1700s+) you’ll soon be lovin’ it like a local. Location (miles): 18 A B King George’s Ipswich 25 > Norwich 37 Victory Road Recreation Ground 19 Haylings Pond Avenue Recreation London 109 > Coast 2.5 20 All Saints’ Catholic Church (c.1960s) Ground > Engineers & W d 21 The David Silver Honda Collection D Waterloo Centre entrepreneurs A legacy like no other estw R ard H o 14 y F 22 C Leiston Leisure Centre The spirit of Garrett & Sons engineering company lives on When Melton lad Richard Garrett I arrived in 1778, the area now known as Leiston- Carr Ave Abbe 23 LEISTON TOWN today in more than just Leiston’s bricks and mortar… Leiston Post Office 24 Chemist Abbey cum-Sizewell was home to poorly paid farmhands, fishermen and spinners, many HERITAGE STROLL 13 W Leiston Film Theatre of whom turned to smuggling contraband tea and tobacco to keep themselves A is proudly L K Suffolk’s oldest working purpose- from starvation. Within decades, the enterprising metal worker had founded an 2 miles / 3 kms Start/ Finish: engineering dynasty and was fast developing a concept most unusual for Suffolk, built cinema and a firm favourite 21 1 Leiston Film Theatre, also nearby - site of J. Balls & Sons with locals and visitors alike. but quite commonplace in England’s industrial north - a company town. You could WC N > Blacksmith’s forge (sign). By United Church almost call it ‘Garretts-ville’. 2 Lovingly restored, yet now incorporating Saxmundham Valley Road NW NE past gallery. Cross supermarket take path 12 BS 3 carpark to view listed cottage (Gr. II) those digital and 3D cinema mod-cons, it was Suffolk’s Industrial Revolution in microcosm, Leiston was to be dominated by LEISTON 9 4. Via Urban Road to Crown Street. Opposite No.39, take narrow lane F W E established in 1914 as the ‘Leiston Picture House Limited’ by Garrett & Sons agricultural engineering business for nearly 200 years, with its Waterloo A 10 P to Prospect Place and Old Chapel House ve 5 senior Garrett employee, Frank E. Walker who had spotted the B1119 5. influence pervading every aspect of Leiston life. Remarkably, as well as much of H Opposite High Green 6 SW SE 6 and Garrett ‘Town’ Works site 11 ig success of travelling film shows. The pioneering picture palace h former rectory (bank) on Old Post Office Square. Detour 7/8up Dinsdale, note the workers’ housing and infrastructure, a sizeable amount of the original 7 8 S D t S was saved from closure in the 1970s by Leiston’s enterprising Victorian Works still survive today, Road (flint cottages/cast-iron street name plates). Note picture-railings Town Council. leistonfilmtheatre.co.uk preserved as a museum. Sizewell Beach > by library 9; Engineers Arms’ sign shows ‘Rob Roy’, last Garrett traction 15 16 WC P King George’s Ave produced (1931). At listed (Gr. II) hotel Today, Leiston has a real treat in store for motorbike enthusiasts. 2 3 10 Don’t miss Leiston’s very own 18 A and Constitutional Club (right). Colonial House, view Meeting House 11 The David Silver Honda Collection , located on Garrett’s old ‘cathedral’ Cross St 23 4 (‘Station’) Works site, created on former demonstration12 is on farm Garrett to ‘Top’ ‘Top’ Works site (now Masterlord Industrial Estate), shares its 24 B > At the heart of the ‘Town’ Works, Victory Rd relocate woodworking away from foundry after ‘Town’ Works fire owner’s passion for the engineering prowess of Japan’s Soichiro 1 just a traction engine’s puff from 17 (1913). Pass Greyshott House (Gr. II) (right), to old station Honda, with 150 models from the 1950s to 1990s. the site of Garrett’s first forge near P 13 davidsilverhondacollection.co.uk Summerhill School 14 and High Green and Suffolk’s deepest . Opposite Geaters Nurseries, take footpath over railway. At Waterloo Ave, old sign on railings stipulates exact location Sizewell B Power Station Visitor Centre well (148m!), is ‘The Cathedral’ - provides a unique s Rd of ‘Top’ Works boundary. g insight into the technology which supports the UK’s only the Grade II* listed Long Shop, View timber-framed, brick-encased Leiston Hall (now flats) aylin Pressured Water Reactor (PWR). Why not take a tour? the UK’s first ever assembly line H 20 end of drive. Take footpath (left of hedge) to church 15 from building. The idea came from Richard Garrett III’s churchyard onto Church Road to footpath. By King Edward16. Exit Road, meeting with Samuel Colt of US revolver fame at the detour (path right) to spot The Cupola (Georgian, Gr. II) Education, sport & music were all on the 1851 Great Exhibition. Soon with enhanced Don’t forget to pop Road park 17. Victory 18/A was former Garrett Athletic Club site. Cross Street Garretts’ agenda too… production capabilities, Leiston was exporting into the Visitor edges rear of ‘Town’ Works. Right onto High Street. engines and agricultural machinery worldwide. Information Originally, a Mechanics Institute provided a reading room and Today Leiston’s ‘Cathedral’ is home to engines and 19 Point library. There were schools for the workers families and several exhibits and is a popular venue for concerts and C 22 members of the Garrett family were involved in establishing events. longshopmuseum.co.uk P the Prince Albert Memorial College in the nearby market W PICNIC & PLAY A town of Framlingham. In 1969 mock-Georgian Colonial House L K Be sure to pop Public Play Areas & Sports Facilities (now flats) was built as an apprentice centre. Little wonder Cast in iron 1 mile/1.5 kms Start/Finish: that A.S. Neill later chose Leiston as the new location for his in to mighty Recreation Grounds St Margaret’s A B ground-breaking progressive ‘free school’ – Summerhill From street name plates to Leiston’s hidden gem, Haylings Pond, is not just great for Playing field School, still located in Richard Garrett’s former residence 3 3 By 1901 decorative architectural panels, anglers, but perfect for picnics too! Find tasty treats in the Play equipment 3 3 ‘New Haven’ on Westward Ho was established in 1927. Leiston had railings to graveyard memorials, independent shops. The kids will love letting off steam en Toddler play Basket Ball 3 Royal British Legion Band Leiston – a much-loved sight around 4000 Garrett cast iron was king. route near the old Garrett Works. And wouldn’t a matinee Outdoor Gym 3 and sound at community events – was probably a military fife residents and 700 What will you spot? in the historic cinema just make the day complete? Zip wire 3 and drum band until Frank Garrett gave £110 towards a houses. The town had grown Pump Track 3 set of brass instruments in 1886 in readiness for Queen fast together with its church congregations. In the Along High Street to traffic lights. Either detour right 3 Boules/Pétanque Victoria’s jubilee celebrations! 1860s, a Congregational Church, Wesleyan Chapel and new Find the odd one out for more shops/supermarket 3, or continue left via Sports & Leisure Cross Street to Victory Road Recreation Ground/play C D In 1880, Garretts & Sons employees enjoyed their own Quaker Meeting House were built, and soon after, the Church of areas 18/A.