A visitor’s guide to Constable Country in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 2 Constable Country A visitor’s guide to the Dedham Vale 3

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With its gently rolling farmland, There are 46 AONBs in Great Britain “Welcome to this enchanting ancient woodlands, meandering and each is designated in recognition and tranquil corner of . river and picturesque villages, the of their national importance to Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding ensure that their character and We invite you to savour all that it has to offer and Natural Beauty (AONB) embraces qualities are protected for all to enjoy. help us ensure it remains unspoiled and as beautiful one of our most cherished landscapes and is to many, a rural idyll and a The Dedham Vale AONB covers an as it is today, for future generations to enjoy”. prime example of the traditional, area of 90km2 on the - English lowland landscape. border. It is one of the smallest AONBs and is unique in that the area’s Throughout the seasons, the cultural heritage was instrumental landscape changes dramatically. in securing this designation. In winter, the valley floor is clearly visible, occasionally blanketed in a Robert Erith TD DL, carpet of fresh snow, while in spring Chairman of the Dedham Vale and summer, the valley becomes AONB and Stour Valley Partnership more enclosed with leafy green lanes and woodland canopies. Autumn of course, brings with it a rainbow of warm, golden colours.

The Dedham Vale has been a source of creative inspiration for many artists and writers over the centuries, but is most well known for its connections with one of England’s greatest landscape painters: RA. The artist was born and grew up here and gave credit to a childhood spent in this captivating landscape, for making him the painter he became.

Front cover: A Barge on the Stour at Dedham (c1930) by Sir Alfred Munnings © Estate of Sir Alfred Munnings. All rights reserved, DACS 2014. This page: The River Stour Opposite page: Walkers on the Stour Valley Path

Dedham Vale AONB & Stour Valley Project, Visit our website for more information and to Dock Lane, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1PE download maps, walks and cycle routes Telephone 01473 264263 dedhamvalestourvalley.org email [email protected] dedhamvalestourvalley.org 4 Constable Country A visitor’s guide to the Dedham Vale 5

Constable The area has affectionately become known as ‘Constable Country’, Country due to the strong connections with John Constable. 1 2 John Constable was born in East 3 Bergholt in 1776 and spent much of his time in the countryside near his Lying in the Dedham Vale AONB, and straddling the home. It was here that he developed border between Essex and Suffolk, Constable Country a love of painting from an early age encompasses some of England’s most instantly and he drew inspiration from his recognisable views and includes the villages of Dedham, beloved Suffolk, which was to sustain and . him creatively, for the rest of his life.

Don’t miss the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. The building of the bell tower was never completed, and the ‘temporary’ bell cage, which was built in 4 1531 to house the bells, has been in use ever since. The heaviest set of five bells 1. Willy Lott’s House 2. Sign in Dedham 3. and Flatford Bridge, Flatford 4. Bell Cage, East Bergholt Church currently being rung in England, it is 5. Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum 6. Rowing boats at Dedham remarkable that they are rung by hand!

Follow in Constable’s footsteps and walk 5 down Fenbridge Lane in East Bergholt, alongside the River Stour to Dedham in Essex, where John attended school.

Dedham is perhaps the most well known village in Constable Country; with its vibrant high street, magnificent church, the Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum, a bustling art and craft centre and a fascinating history. It’s a village which truly does have something for everyone. 6

Suffolk Cottage Holidays The Grove Cottages 152 High Street, Aldeburgh, Suffolk IP15 5AQ The Grove, Priory Green, , Suffolk CO10 5PP Telephone 01394 389189 suffolkcottageholidays.com Telephone 01787 211115 grove-cottages.co.uk 6 Constable Country A visitor’s guide to the Dedham Vale 7

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1. National Trust Bridge Cottage, Flatford 2. Stoke By 3. Stour Trusty II 4. RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden 5.

The tiny hamlet of Flatford is a Boat trips are on offer during the pleasant 40 minute walk across summer on the River Stour between the fields from Dedham and was Flatford and Dedham. Visitors can the source of many of Constable’s hire a rowing boat or take a peaceful most famous works. It remains trip with the River Stour Trust in one little changed since the artist of their electric boats. lived here in the late 18th century. See the area as Constable did, by Bridge Cottage, owned by the taking a guided walk to the scenes National Trust, houses an exhibition of some of his most famous works, about Constable and there is also a with a National Trust guide. tea room where you can sit by the river and take your time over lunch Other villages or a cream tea. There are many other gems worth exploring in the Dedham Vale, including Courses in environmental and arts- Stoke by Nayland with its splendid based subjects are run in Flatford church, often painted by Constable; the Mill by the Field Studies Centre and pretty village of Nayland on the banks the RSPB have a dedicated wildlife of the River Stour; Stratford St Mary, garden in Flatford, where visitors with many fine timbered buildings and can sit and relax, and learn all about an excellent farm shop; and , wildlife gardening. another lovely village, with its beautifully positioned church with views across the valley.

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Milsom Hotels & Restaurants Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa Gun Hill, Dedham, , Essex CO7 6HP Keepers Lane, , Colchester, CO6 4PZ Telephone 01206 323150 milsomhotels.com Telephone 01206 262836 stokebynayland.com 8 Constable Country A visitor’s guide to the Dedham Vale 9

Where Constable Painted Constable Country Attractions 4 Flatford Mill Field Studies Centre: field-studies-council.org/flatfordmill A The Leaping Horse 1 St Mary the Virgin Church & Bellcage: 5 Rowing boat hire eastbergholt-bells.org.uk B 6 Stour Trusty II (river trips): C Boat Building at Flatford 2 National Trust Bridge Cottage riverstourtrust.org Constable exhibition/tea room/shop: D Stratford Mill 7 Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum: nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford-bridge-cottage E Dedham Mill siralfredmunnings.co.uk 3 RSPB Flatford Wildlife Garden: F The Cornfield 8 St Mary the Virgin Church: rspb.org.uk/flatford dedham-parishchurch.org.uk

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Parking Rowing boat hire Disabled parking Church Picnic facilites PH Public house Accessible toilets Marsh with radar key scheme Public rights of way with Bus stop kissing gates (not stiles) Take the Train... Did you know it only takes 40 minutes to walk from Station to Flatford, and around Café / restaurant Public paths 40 more from Flatford to Dedham? Avoid the traffic and enjoy a relaxing day out by train. Farm shop National Trust walks (stile free) 10 11 Cultural Connections The charming villages, rolling landscape, meandering River Stour and ancient woodland have moved artists and writers through the centuries to create some of their greatest work. 1

Stay a while in this peaceful corner of On his death, Nash left Bottengoms Farm to rural England and discover just what his great friend, author Ronald Blythe, who

inspired these great names … is perhaps most well-known for his classic 2 evocation of life in the Suffolk countryside As well as being the birthplace of in his book Akenfield – Portrait of an English 4

John Constable, the Stour Valley Village (1969). 2 3 4 was also home to another of Britain’s most famous painters. Known for his Father of BBC correspondent Martin Bell, 5 landscapes and portraits, Thomas Adrian Bell was a journalist, farmer and Gainsborough was born in 1727 in author who went on to compile The Times nearby Sudbury, where his home is crossword. Bell lived for many years in now open as a museum and gallery. Suffolk, at one time just across the Stour Valley from his friend John Nash. Nash helped Born in Suffolk in 1878, Sir Alfred Bell by illustrating his book Men and the Fields Munnings was a talented equestrian with woodcuts and engravings. artist as well as a painter of portraits and landscapes and a wonderful ‘Sexton Blakes’ sculptor. His home and studio, on Tom Keating was famous for reputedly the outskirts of Dedham, is open forging over 2000 works of more than one to the public. hundred artists. Although never successful in his own right, he found fame in the 1980s John Nash was an esteemed through his imitations, which he called his painter, illustrator and engraver Sexton Blakes (Cockney rhyming slang for who spent many years of his life fakes) which, since his death, have become in his beloved Bottengoms Farm increasingly sought after. Keating is buried in in . Initially his works Dedham churchyard. were focussed on war, but following 1. Engraving by John Nash 2. Thomas Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury the end of WW1, his attention turned 3. Detail of ‘My Wife, My Horse and Myself’ (1925) by Sir Alfred Munnings to the alluring landscape of the © Estate of Sir Alfred Munnings. All rights reserved, DACS 2014. 4. ‘A Suffolk Harvest’ by Adrian Bell 5. Flatford Mill (“Scene on a Dedham Vale and Stour Valley. Navigable RIver”) by John Constable 1776 - 1837 © Tate, London 2014

Gainsborough’s House The Swan Inn 46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2EU Lower Street, Stratford St Mary, Suffolk CO7 6JR Telephone 01787 372958 gainsborough.org Telephone 01206 321244 stratfordswan.com 12 13

The Great Outdoors

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6 7 8 Why not enjoy the area at 9 Take your time to its more tranquil time, by explore the Dedham taking a peaceful evening Vale; it has much to stroll, with the setting sun offer and the changing providing an impressive seasons bring fresh and backdrop; or visit mid-week exciting discoveries. or in the autumn/winter

On the Water Walking Cycling All you need for ideas on wild days out The River Stour provides a fantastic One of the best ways to explore the area Enjoying the Dedham Vale from the explore, experience and enjoy! opportunity for seeing the Vale from a is on foot. There are many established saddle guarantees plenty of gorgeous different angle. Get close to nature on walks to take you off the beaten track scenery and a great workout too. The the river, either under your own steam by and into some stunning landscapes which area lends itself perfectly to cycling with canoeing or hiring a rowing boat, or you were so inspirational to Constable. There its network of quiet country lanes and can take a gentle potter on an electric are many circular and linear walks; to add gently undulating terrain; it’s easy and powered boat, with the River Stour Trust a sense of adventure, you can download enjoyable for cyclists of all abilities. which operates from Flatford. some of our geocaching leaflets and hunt down treasures as you make your way Wildlife visitessex.com/constablecountry Walk The Stour Valley Path through the Dedham Vale. The Dedham Vale is home to a wide This 60 mile route meanders range of plant and animal species and through the tranquil countryside Fishing habitats, many of which have been in of the Stour Valley, from Newmarket The River Stour provides many serious decline over the last sixty years. near the source of the River Stour, to opportunities for coarse fishing; If you The Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Cattawade near Manningtree, where the want to fish around Flatford, you must Project are striving to reverse this trend river joins the estuary. The Stour Valley first purchase a day ticket. by working with landowners to plant Path Guide includes ten route cards with more trees and maximise provision of maps and information. It’s available at 1. Canoeing on the River Stour 2. Winter in the Dedham Vale suitable habitats for vulnerable species 3. River Stour, Dedham 4. Walking in Constable Country 5. Otter such as barn owl, otter and dormouse. information centres and is available to 6. Fishing in the River Stour 7. Riding through the Dedham Vale download at dedhamvalestourvalley.org 8. Barn Owls 9. Cycling through Dedham

Coolpedals Cycling Holidays & Bike Hire National Trust, Flatford Bridge Cottage Kintail, Moor Road, Langham, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5NR Flatford, East Bergholt, Suffolk CO7 6UL Telephone 01206 625325 coolpedals.co.uk Telephone 01206 298260 nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford-bridge-cottage 14 Constable Country A visitor’s guide to the Dedham Vale 15

By train: By coach/bus: Further information: Getting here London Liverpool Street, A daily service runs to For information on places The Dedham Vale is a quiet, rural area and Harwich, Colchester, and Colchester to visit, eat and stay, please the country lanes can quickly become Ipswich and Norwich all and passengers can travel contact the following congested. Although it is perhaps easier connect with Manningtree onwards via local bus or Visitor Information Centres: to travel here by car, the area is well served Station, as does Sudbury train to the Dedham Vale. Colchester with good public transport services, so why (via Marks Tey) using the The main villages through- visitcolchester.com not consider alternatives? Gainsborough Line. Flatford out the area are served by Tel 01206 282920 Dedham Vale is a pleasant 40 minute regular local bus services. walk from Manningtree Ipswich Station, along way-marked For bus and train allaboutipswich.com footpaths. timetables, please see: Tel 01473 258070 traveline.info Sudbury or phone 0871 200 22 33 heartofsuffolk.co.uk Tel 01787 881320 Or visit dedhamvalestourvalley.org for downloadable walks/ cycle routes and information on the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley.

NameHeart of SuffolkAdvertiser Co-op Foodstore AddrAddressTouristess of Information the advertiser,advertiser Centre,, Address Lady Street, of the advertiser, High Street, Dedham, Essex, CO7 6DE AddressLavenham, of the Suffolk advertiser, CO10 9RA Address of the advertiser Telephone 01206 322125 Tel:Telephone 01206 12345601787 248207 wwwwww.webaddr heartofsuffolk.co.uk.webaddress.co.ukess.co.uk eastofengland.coop/store-finder/stores/dedham 16 A visitor’s guide to the Dedham Vale

Top Tips to Keep it Special

The tranquil, peaceful nature of this outstanding river landscape never fails to captivate and we all have a role to play in ensuring the Dedham Vale remains unspoiled for future generations to enjoy.

Please... 11530 Barber Jackson 11530 Respect wildlife, the environment and local communities. Park in designated car parks

Support local businesses. Extend your visit; shop, stay and explore more

Enjoy the scenery. Use public transport, bike or walk; travel off-peak to avoid the crowds

Protect the area. Keep dogs under control and take your litter home with you

Relax and explore. Visit the lesser known parts of the area at a leisurely pace

dedhamvalestourvalley.org

Published August 2014