a courtyard house of about 1500. It 2 The small village of Birdbrook, was built for the Gent family, although 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- 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 Train Station. Train Free parking both behind (via Bower Hall information: www.nationalrail.co.uk or Drive) and in front (via 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 t Thurlow HA Great Glemsford Wratting VERHILL

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All rights reserved. Suffolk County Council. Licence LA100023395 County Council. Suffolk All rights reserved. Flatford Walking in Boxted Steeple Bumpstead Dedham Langham Cavendish Wormingford Glemsford Crown copyright. Crown Great Horkesley To To Colchester Leaflet produced July 2020 and funded by: Foxeart h To Bulmer Boxted Halstead Discover the beautiful green and undulating To Bury St Edmunds landscape around Steeple Bumpstead, a village nestled in the Stour Valley, with walks exploring Tw Melfor Long instea Lamars

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1 Naylan h Horkesle & Ipswic h To Hadleigh Great d To Colcheste y Stoke-by-Nayland r Po Boxted lstea Langha d To Colchester Stratfor d m Higham St Mary 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. Follow the path along the stream. At the end of the field,

Field Margin Footpaths WALK follow the footpath off to the right To Birdbrook through a wooded area. At the road, turn right, walking through or over the 1 and Moyn’s Park ford. At the road junction, cross over Follow this route through fields, through this gate – instead, continue to the other side (taking care of any traffic) andfollow the footpath toward pockets of woodland and quiet along the path to the left of the Grounds around Moyn’s lanes to explore another nearby gate with the field fence on your the fields, passing a row of houses village and enjoy stunning views right. The path opens up into a wider Use the pedestrian gate (left of main on your left. The path runs along the of a historical stately home and its grassy avenue between two paddocks. gate) and continue along the drive for edge of a wood (called Devil’s Grove). Approximately 30 metres beyond the parkland. Continue straight ahead and at the approximately three quarters of a mile. next fence corner the path bears round wood, cross over the footbridge to At the fork in the drive bear right. You to the left. Cross over the wooden will pass the front of the house on your the right. Continue uphill, with the Walking Distance: 5.1 miles/8.25 km footbridge and pass through the left. Where the driveway curves around ditch on your left. When you reach the Time: 2 hours (not including stops) metal gate. Cross the paddock to the left, go straight on following a waymarked post on the brow of the Start/Finish: The rear car park of the diagonally (or follow the path around wide grassy avenue lined with trees, hill (from which you can enjoy great Village Hall, which can be accessed the edge) to the metal leading to a metal gate. Go through views of the surrounding landscape with Steeple Bumpstead nestled in the valley via Bower Hall Drive (CB9 7ED). gate on the other side. Follow the the gate and diagonally across the footpath through woodland and across below), turn right. From here please Paths and tracks, some paddock (or follow the path around Terrain: a footbridge into a field.Walk straight follow the instructions in the blue minor roads and village roads which the edge) to the metal gate on the across the field aiming for the gap in other side. Pass through the gate and box below. may contain road traffic. Gentle the hedgerow (situated between two wooded area. Turn right and follow the inclines. Route can be very muddy telegraph poles). Cross the footbridge field boundary path. At the waymarked RETURNING TO THE START OF YOUR WALK: in places. and bear right and almost immediately post turn left. From here please follow End of route instructions for both Walks 1 & 2: left. Follow the waymarked path the instructions in the blue box. Follow the path downhill between From the rear village hall car park walk between the hedge field boundaries to the fields towards the tree line. When to Bower Hall drive. Turn left following the road. Cross here into Daw Lane. you reach the bottom meadow, cross the road to the junction opposite the This is a quiet lane, but do be aware WALK Garlands it diagonally using a trodden path to metal gates of the cemetery. Turn right that there may be traffic. Walk this lane a waymarked post in the opposite following the path to the end. Cross the for just under a mile. The lane enters 2 Walk corner. Turn right and follow the road here (taking care of any traffic) a wooded area with speed limit signs. footpath between a fence and hedge. and join the footpath stepping up the Approximately 20 metres beyond these This circular route explores the At the end of this footpath you will find small grass verge. Follow the field signs take the public footpath on the scenery and landscape around the yourself back in the village of Steeple Bumpstead. At this point you can turn boundary path to the corner and turn left, through a wooded area leading to north and east of Steeple Bumpstead. right. Continue up the path between paddocks and a passageway between left and walk along Chapel Street to two fields. At the end of the fields houses. You are now in Birdbrook where return to the village hall. you can visit the village pub and church Walking Distance: 4.3 miles/ 7 km If you would like to take a route that turn left. In approximately 20 metres explores more of the village, cross the turn right and cross two footbridges. off to your right. To continue the walk; Time: 1.5 hour (not including stops) turn left out of the passageway. Follow Start/Finish: The rear car park of road and continue along the path to Follow the footpath with the hedge on Claywall Bridge. Immediately over the your left. At the field cornerturn right the road through the village, passing the Village Hall, which can be accessed the pond on your left and the thatched bridge turn left onto the Riverside Walk through a wooded area. Go through via Bower Hall Drive (CB9 7ED). footpath. At the end of this path turn the metal gate and bear right across village community hall on your right. Terrain: Paths and tracks, some left over a wooden footbridge, and pass A little further on, turn right onto the the paddock (or follow the path around minor roads and village roads which the cottages known as “The Crescent”. drive of Moyn’s Park Estate and Stud. the edge, which may be used as an may contain road traffic. Gentle Turn left along Church Street, which alternative to passing through the horse includes points of interest such as paddocks) to the next inclines. Route can be very muddy the village lock-up, St Mary’s Church, metal gate. Follow the footpath through in places. Steeple Bumpstead Pottery, the Moot the woodland into the open parkland. Hall, village pubs and older residential Continue following the waymarked From the rear village hall car park, properties with interesting architectural path, crossing over a driveway track and walk diagonally across Camping Close features. From this road there are a eventually into a section of woodland (the name of the village green) to the number of footpaths off to the right towards a metal gate. Do not pass Path around Moyn’s Park basketball court. Bear right and go that will take you back to Camping Close through the gate at the bottom of the and the village hall.