The Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty The Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of Britain’s finest landscapes. It extends from the Stour estuary in the east to Wormingford in the west. A wider project area extends along the Stour Valley to Walking in the Cambridgeshire border. The AONB was designated in 1970 and covers almost 35 square miles/90 square kms. The outstanding landscape includes ancient woodland, farmland, rivers, meadows and attractive villages. Visiting Constable Country Nayland Ordnance Survey Explorer Map No. 196 Public transport information: (Sudbury, Hadleigh and the Dedham Vale). www.traveline.info or call: 0871 200 22 33 Nayland is located beside the A134 Nayland can be reached by bus or taxi from between Colchester and Sudbury. Colchester Station, which is on the London Nayland Village Hall car park, CO6 4JH Liverpool Street to Norwich main line. (located off Church Lane in Nayland). Train information: www.nationalrail.co.uk or call: 03457 48 49 50 Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project Email: [email protected] Tel: 01394 445225 Web: www.dedhamvaleandstourvalley.org Walking in nayland Research, text and some photographs by Simon Peachey. Disclaimer: The document reflects the author’s views. The Dedham Vale AONB is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. Designed by: Vertas Design & Print Suffolk, December 2017. Design & Print Suffolk, December 2017. Designed by: Vertas The ancient village of Nayland is Discover more of Suffolk’s countryside – walking, cycling and riding leaflets are DISCOVER yours to download for free at Suffolk County Council’s countryside website – surrounded by some of the loveliest www.discoversuffolk.org.uk www.facebook.com/DiscoverSuffolk countryside in the Dedham Vale twitter.com/DiscoverSuffolk port of Sudbury. Local goods, including grain and Nayland wool, were exported in the same way. The Anchor Highlights Inn is so named because is roughly half way along this route. The barges would be moored here and Follow riverside paths from Nayland to explore quiet corners of the Dedham Vale. Visit an the boatmen would take a well-earned rest. ancient church where a dragon lies in wait and look for otters slipping into the dark waters Commercial traffic stopped many years ago, but of the river Stour. the river is still popular with canoeists. In D addition, it is home to many species of animal, Nayland has over 100 listed buildings, St. James’s 1 2 B 3 The Court Knoll is, at first glance, including herons, kingfishers and otters. nearly all of which are timber framed and Church sits a flat field, but look carefully and you can St. Mary’s Church at Wissington (or some over 500 years old. They were built when at the heart of the see that it is surrounded by a deep ditch, a 5 Wiston) is an ancient Norman building Nayland was a wealthy wool town, with a thriving village. The building human-made structure. There is ongoing which dates from at least 1135, when it is weaving industry. A tax survey in 1522 indicated dates from around historical discovery of this Scheduled Monument recorded as being owned by Robert Godbold. It that Nayland was the 42nd most prosperous town 1400 and has a bright to determine its significance. Documentary sits within a moated enclosure, indicating that in England. However, the decline in the weaving and welcoming evidence relates back to the Norman Conquest, the site may have been used since Saxon times. industry by 1700 meant that the fortunes of the interior. The most when the landowner Robert, of Norman/Breton Although “Norman” features were added in the town changed and it had to rely on other famous feature of descent, was known personally by William the Victorian period, many original Norman features industries such as tanning, soap manufacture the church is the Conqueror. The site may have originated as a Late still exist – including the richly carved south and milling. Very little re-building took place, altarpiece painting by Anglo-Saxon thegn’s residence, including a doorway, the chancel arches and the windows so today you can wander the streets and admire the artist John Constable - Christ Blessing the church and hall complex within a defended on the south side. Inside the church, the walls the ancient buildings, which were created by Bread and Wine. It was probably commissioned enclosure. The large quantity of Roman ceramic are decorated with medieval paintings. Opposite prosperity and saved by poverty. by Constable’s aunt and village resident, Martha building material suggests a high status, probably the south door is an image of a dragon, which Smith. According to letters from the time, ecclesiastical building was constructed using may have been inspired by the story of an evil Constable was reluctant to start the painting and rubble robbed from a Roman site. The settlement A dragon that roamed the land nearby. Another had to be encouraged by his mother. Just beyond of Neyland, or Eiland meaning ‘island’ as it is wall painting features the earliest known the church, beside the path, is Alston Court, one called in the Domesday Book, is at an important depiction of St. Francis of Assisi. Information in of the finest medieval town houses in Britain. river Stour crossing point. the church helps you understand more. E F 4 The River Stour is a peaceful waterway today, but 200 years ago, it was Front Cover: Walking beside the river Stour at Nayland; A Alston Court – said to be one of the finest medieval town the main trade route into Suffolk and north Essex. houses in England; B Pargetting on the wall of Clare Cottage; Cargo, such as coal and bricks, was unloaded from C St. James’s Church – contains a painting by John Constable; D The Court Knoll – a quiet place with an ancient history; sea going vessels at the estuary port of Mistley E The River Stour – a peaceful waterway; F Wissington Church – an ancient Norman building. C and transported 25 miles by barge to the inland Walking in Map Key Walk 1 – Countryside Nayland Historic Nayland Code Walk 1 + Walk 2 shortened The area has a network of footpaths and bridleways. We have marked suggested Walk 1 + Walk 2 In routes on this map and have a few simple Search of a Dragon! suggestions to help you enjoy the area Full length safely and assist our work to care for it. A Please follow the Countryside Code: Point of interest on route www.gov.uk/government/publications/ 1 ‘Highlights’ location the-countryside-code • Plan ahead and follow any signs. • Leave things as you find them. 250m Take your litter home. 1 • Help look after our plants and wildlife c Map based on Ordnance Survey by keeping to footpaths and not Start StartStart Copyright mapping. All rights reserved. 2 Unauthorised reproduction infringes trampling verges. A Crown Copyright. Suffolk County Council • Dogs are welcome, but please keep 4 Licence No. 100023395 2017 3 them under close control at all With thanks to times, especially when amongst farm DISCOVER animals and in bird nesting season B (March-September). Release your dog .0RG.UK www.gladwinsfarm.co.uk if chased by cattle. • Always clean up after your dog. Thank You for helping us keep this Outstanding Landscape D beautiful 5 E Corner Industrial Estate. Carefully cross road and take path exit opposite. Follow path ahead, keeping fence on left. Continue beside fields and through thickets. Ignore all path exits. When you reach wall of Wiston Hall, bear right and then left. Cross lane and visit F Wiston Church. Retrace steps for about 200 metres and turn right across bridge (or continue straight here to shorten the route by 2 miles – see paragraph below)*. Follow path ahead through willow plantation. Cross bridge and go through thicket. At field edge and path junction, turn right and follow path to lane (the official walk Historic walk In Search 1 Nayland 2 of a Soak up the history of Nayland on this Dragon! short walk visiting St. James’s Church and the ancient Court Knoll. Follow this with Extend the first walk to include a visit a delightful stroll along the banks of the to the Norman church of St. Mary’s at Stour, passing the impressive Nayland weir. B Wissington. Look out for the Medieval E Walking distance and time: painting of a dragon! On the return route, Turn right across bridge and continue ahead cross into Essex to enjoy beautiful views 2 miles/3.3km. 1 hour (not including stops). over green. Cross road and turn right along footpath runs across field, but path may follow of the Stour Valley. field edge). Turn left and follow lane uphill. Start: Nayland Village Hall car park, pavement. Just before bridge, take path off At left bend, take path off left beside hedge. CO6 4JH left down steps. Follow winding path beside Walking distance and time: Follow path for some distance between fields. Terrain: river until main road. Climb bank and turn Paths and tracks, some minor (Walk 1 length included): 5.8 miles/9.3km turn right sharp right across river, keeping behind At corner of wood, and continue to roads and village roads. Route can be very (this can be shortened by 1.6 Miles/2.6km Turn left crash barrier. Bear right, away from main lane. and follow lane downhill past muddy in places and flooding is possible if desired). Full distance 2.5 hours (not Continue past Lower Dairy Farm road, and continue beside river. houses. and after heavy rain.