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| 1 Start - Obelisk Milestone | Start from Obelisk
Milestone which indicates that it is 64 miles to London and on old
photos of the town appears on the opposite side of the street.
Head towards the Church.
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| 2 Church | The Church
of the Blessed Virgin Mary is 163 ft long and has a lead spire
135ft high. The main part of the building belongs to the 15th
century but the Tower which is narrower in breadth from the Church is
much earlier. The Deanery Tower was built by Archdeacon Pykenham
in 1495 and has distinctive polygonal turrets. Cross the
churchyard to the 15th century Guildhall
and then follow the road to the Town Hall.
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| 3 URC Church | The Congregational
Church opposite was built in 1832, it has a broad heavy Grecian
porch and upper arched windows. In the graveyard there is a
monkey puzzle tree. It is suggested that the tree may have been
so named because "to climb it would puzzle a monkey".
Pass The Ram
Public House and cross the car park in front of the Tourist Board
offices, the fire station and the clinic. Follow the path along
the river. At the gate turn right.
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| 4 Toppesfield Bridge | The medieval three-arch
bridge is the oldest in the town and was strengthened in Victorian
times. Turn left along the path beside the millpond, crossing
the river at the small bridge. In the distance the lights of
Hadleigh United FC's football stadium are visible. Walk up
Tinker's Lane to Benton Street and turn left.
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| 5 War memorial | Nicola's
Hadleigh site contains a
great wealth of material about the 110 townsfolk who died in the First
World War, including the 12 men who died on 21st August 1915 in
Turkey. Carry on into the town. Cross the road at the
Barclays Bank where William Corder, the Red Barn murderer changed a £5
note which helped to convict him.
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| 6 White Lion | Carry on past the
White Lion and the George
Inn, turning right at the Obelisk and passing the British Legion.
Cross Magdalen Road and head up George Street (formerly Hell Street).
Pass the Baptist Chapel (1830) and East House, cross Stonehouse Road.
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| 7 Almshouses | Opposite is the site
of Archdeacon Pykenham's almshouses
which were built originally from his will of 1498 for 12
"decayed" housekeepers and 12 poor men, with an attached
chapel where daily at 4pm the inhabitants were to thank God and pray
for his soul. Two additional almshouses were added with the will
of rector, Dr Thomas Goad in 1638. The almshouses were rebuilt
in 1887. The 15th century chapel, known as the Row
Chapel, was restored in 1890. Turn back towards the town,
turning right at the Cock Inn into Threadneedle Street and turning
left at the Eight Bells.
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| 8 Angel Street | Look out for 49, the
Pink House, formerly the home of the Oswald
Gayford. Head back towards the town, turning right at the
King's Head.
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| 9 High Street | Pass nos 108 and 110
with the date 1649.
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| 10 Old Shoulder | At the Old Shoulder,
a former inn which served as a centre for wagons and carrier's carts
cross the road and head back to the centre. Pass Cinch's shop
which now seems to sell garden furniture and which has been mooted as
a possible route to a future Tesco
store. No 150 is Sun
Court which would be dramatically affected if planning permission
were to be granted.
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| 11 Pound Lane | Opposite the King's
Head, Pound Lane leads to Hadleigh Hall. Pass the butchers
and various other shops. Queen Street was built at the beginning
of Victoria's reign.
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| 12 Finish - Crabtrees | Cross the High Street
and if you peg out before reaching the Obelisk you could always call
into Crabtrees, formerly the Coffee Tavern.
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Based on a walk around the town with W.A.B Jones |
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