Birdbrook a courtyard house of about 1500. It 2 The small village of Birdbrook, was built for the Gent family, although Steeple Bumpstead Highlights with a population of around 300, is takes its name from the Norman ‘Le thought to be named such due to the Moigne’ family, who were there in 1254 Steeple Bumpstead 1915, shot by German firing squad for brook that passes through the parish. and owned much land in the area. 1 As you walk around Steeple helping allied soldiers escape. The Old The quaint and beautiful village The house was passed down from Bumpstead, there are several features Vicarage, now a private residence, has church, St Augustine’s, is one of the Major-General Cecil Robert St John Ives that give a nod to the village’s ancient a plaque that commemorates her time oldest churches in the county. The to his grandson, Ivar Bryce. There is history, and people of the past. in Steeple Bumpstead. There is also a a long-standing equestrian history to The Moot Hall, at the cross-roads in plaque dedicated to her memory in St The Church of St Augustine the house. It was used as a residential the middle of the village, is believed Mary’s Parish Church, and there is a riding school in and around 1949, with to have been built sometime in the road named after her in the village – courses in dressage and show jumping, 1570’s and is the earliest known school Edith Cavell Way. and then became a stud farm in 1955. in the parish. It is thought that the St Mary’s Church has lost the steeple Ian Fleming (a good friend of Bryce) original building comprised of a single featured in the village name, but does stayed there in the following summer, classroom at first floor level, with the boast a Norman tower, though its upper and it is said that he made final ground being open underneath, similar stage has been repaired with Tudor brick. There are three narrow Norman The Moot Hall north wall of the chancel survives windows, and a gargoyle below each from the church’s foundation in 1050. length of parapet. The porch is 14th There are some more modern features century; its door, roof and a pair of too –such as a stained-glass window rough and gnarled benches are 16th, celebrating a churchwarden’s life, and the font inside is 500 years old. added in 1966 and richly-carved choir The greatest treasure of the church was stalls and pews from 1969. The village an 8th century bronze boss with panels also has a pub, a children’s play area, of ornament and sockets for 18 jewels. and a thatched Community Hall with a It used to be on the chancel door of bowling green behind it. the church and is now in the British Moyn’s to a market hall. Spot the stone lion Museum. Birdbrook Village Sign changes to his James Bond novel ‘From holding a shield with the royal arms of Many of the houses in the village have Russia, with Love’ in the house. the Tudors on the roof of the building. historical architectural features or When Bryce’s wife died in 1992, she Today, the charming and well preserved interesting stories from the past, but left the house to his cousin’s children; building is used to host the weekly one particularly noteworthy resident Lord Ivar Mountbatten and George community library, village archive and a was the author A.A. Milne, who lived Mountbatten, 4th Marquess of Milford venue for the parish council meetings. in Broadgates House as a teenager. Haven. During 1886, Edith Cavell was It is thought that this house inspired The appearance of the house might appointed governess to the four the home of Christopher Robin in the Moyn’s Park be familiar to fans of Hammer Horror children of the Reverand Charles Winnie the Pooh stories, and that the 3 This Grade I listed Elizabethan films, as it was one of their most Powell, vicar of Steeple Bumpstead, 100 acre wood was based on the nearby country house was built in the late popular filming locations. before she trained to become a nurse. Thetford Forest. 16th century and incorporates part of She died in Brussels on 12th October The Stour Valley Picturesque villages, rolling farmland, rivers, meadows, ancient woodlands and a wide variety of local wildlife combine to create what many describe as the traditional English lowland landscape on the Suffolk-Essex border. The charm Walking in of the villages, fascinating local attractions and beauty of the surrounding countryside mean there’s no shortage of places to go and things to see. Steeple Visiting Steeple Bumpstead Ordnance Survey Explorer Map No. 210 By Bus: Steeple Bumpstead is on the route (Newmarket & Haverhill) between Haverhill and Cambridge. Details at www.traveline.info Bumpstead By car: Steeple Bumpstead can be reached via the B1054 or the B1057. By train: Steeple Bumpstead is 9 miles from Saffron Walden Train Station. Train Free parking both behind (via Bower Hall information: www.nationalrail.co.uk or Drive) and in front (via Finchingfield Road) call: 03457 48 49 50 of Steeple Bumpstead Village Hall (CB9 7EF). Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project Email: [email protected] Tel: 01394 445225 Web: www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Local circular walks – free AONB leaflets To Newmarket Stour Valley Project Area Local cycle routes – Stour Valley Path free AONB leaflets To Bury St Edmunds Country Parks and Picnic sites Public canoe launching locations. Great Bradley Craft must have an appropriate licence www.riverstourtrust.org To Bury St Edmunds Boxted Crown copyright. All rights reserved. © Suffolk County Council. Licence LA100023395 2020 To Great Bradle Great Newmarke Thurlow HA Great Glemsford Wratting VERHILL t Cavendish y edington Wr Long atting Melford Great HAVERHILL Clare Thurlow Great Bumpstea Steeple Foxearth Sturme Stoke by Clare Sturmer SUDBURY To Hadleigh r & Ipswich d Ke To A101 dingto Steeple Bury St Edmunds Bumpstead Great Cornard To Braintree Bulmer n Raydon Polstead To Braintre To Ipswich To Halstead Stoke by Clar Tw instead Stoke-by-Nayland Leavenheath Higham Clar e Lamarsh Stratford East e Nayland Bergholt Bures St Mary Cattawade e All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council. Licence LA100023395 All rights reserved. Flatford Walking in Boxted Steeple Bumpstead Dedham Langham MANNINGTREE Cavendish Wormingford Glemsford Crown copyright. Great Horkesley To Colchester To Colchester Leaflet produced July 2020 and funded by: Foxeart To Bulmer Boxted Halstead Discover the beautiful green and undulating To h Bury St Edmunds landscape around Steeple Bumpstead, a village nestled in the Stour Valley, with walks exploring Tw Melfor Long instea Lamars Leaflet research and production supported by Dominique Wallace and Jennifer Nash of the Printed on Recycled,d FSC, the history and heritage of the area. d Steeple Bumpstead Environmental Group. Front cover image by @live.the.moments_ on Instagram.h ECF, Carbon Balanced Paper SUDBUR Cornard Great Wo Bure Y rmingfor s Leavenheat A107 d 1 Naylan h Horkesle & Ipswic To Hadleigh Great d To h Colcheste y Stoke-by-Nayland r Po Boxted lstea Langha d To Colchester Stratfor m Higham St Mary d Raydon Dedham Bergholt Flatfor East To d Ipswic h MANNINGTRE Cattawade E Garlands Walk continued... green. Follow the track over the bridge to Water Lane. Turn right to the next Walking in bridge. Cross over Church Street and approximately 20 metres ahead, on the opposite side of the road, there is a set Steeple Bumpstead of steps between a small brick building Walk 1 and a farmhouse. Cross the road and - To Birdbrook and take the steps up to a footpath. Follow the footpath with the hedgerow on your Moyns Park right. Further up, the footpath continues between two fields. As you walk this Walk 2 slight climb out of the village, you can - Circular around enjoy the distant countryside views. the Village At the end of the fieldsturn right. In approximately 75 metres turn left 1 - 3 Location of Highlights (see overleaf) down the side of a field, andcontinue downhill to a footbridge. Cross the Map based on Ordnance Survey Copyright mapping. All rights reserved. bridge and turn right. At the end of Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright. Suffolk County Council Licence No. 100023395 2020 1 2 Start Countryside Start Code Footbridge between Field Paths 3 The area has a network of footpaths the coppice, turn right and follow the and bridleways. We have marked track, which bears left and then right. suggested routes on this map and have a Continue between two hedges until you few simple suggestions to help you enjoy the reach a metal gate. area safely and assist our work to care for it. Pass around the gate and cross the Please follow the Countryside Code: road (taking care of any traffic). Follow www.gov.uk/government/ the footpath (a tarmacked farm road) publications/the-countryside-code through Garlands Farm. At the end of the barns turn right and follow the Plan ahead and follow any signs. field edge footpath running alongside • Leave things as you find them. the stream. Cross the next wooden • Take your litter home. footbridge and turn right. A little • Always clean up after your dog. further along, turn right over the ditch. • Some livestock in fields so please keep Turn left, following the field ditch, dogs under close control. until you reach a road. Cross the road and continue along the field edge for approximately 100 metres, with the ditch on your left. Cross over the metal footbridge to your left.