Reinterred: Bacton Walk

Today we walked some new paths for me in a circular walk from Bacton via Finningham and Gislingham.

This was the invite from Joyce..

"Friday Jan 26th an extra walk. Please join me for a 'coffee' at EmZo Gift/coffee shop on Station Road, Bacton IP14 4NH. (what3words ///host.depths.token).at 10.15am. We can park opposite the café, in the timber yard, for the duration of our walk. Look out for the huge white water tower Bacton/Finningham) and the café is in that location. After coffee, we will have a circular walk of about 7 miles (maybe a bit more). Bring a packed lunch to eat at Gislingham Church (toilet here). Lifts available from Bury and Mildenhall so please get in touch. "

This was our route. We went clockwise.

Here are a few of my photos.

In all there were 12 of us and we all but filled up the café at the start.

The breakfasts looked good. Maybe for another time.

Off we go.

It wasn't long before we got sight of Finningham village.

I liked this weather vane as we entered the village.

St. Batholemew's Church was open so we went inside to look around, I see from Simon Knott's description of the church (linked to in the previous sentence) that I missed a set of three interesting bench ends. Did anyone else spot them?

It has a proper organ loft with a lovely view along the nave.

The organ is fairly modest and reasonably modern. It was built by Bevington in 1980 and, according to this, came from a residence in Nottingham.

Outside, as we were leaving, Val pointed out to us the benchmark on the corner of the church.

In surveying, a benchmark -- or bench mark or survey benchmark -- is a post or other permanent mark established at a known elevation that is used as the basis for measuring the elevation of other topographical points.

We crossed the stream that is a tributary of the River Dove by the splendid, and splendidly named, Church Mouse Barn. It is ranked as the most expensive property in IP14 4JA, with a valuation of £754,000. It was last sold in June 2007 for £475,000,

On now towards Gislingham. Going along this path between trees we saw some deer off to the right, but I couldn't get a clear view for a photo.

Some pleasant paths and, despite some wetness in the fields they were dry enough.

Gislingham has an excellent playing field with both children's and adult's playthings. Here is Nick demonstrating what to do with this piece of apparatus.

I was amused to see the zipwire had a sign saying to keep you dog on a lead... as you do the zipping?

This is Gislingham village hall.

Dawn wondered what the significance of the village sign was.

This page on Geograph by Adrian Pye says... "Gislingham village sign is shaped like a keyhole but I believe it is a reference to the old windmill which stood without its sails in Mill Street behind Mill House.At the top however, is a representation of a Viking longboat. A Viking by the name of Gisli or Gisyl settled at Gisleham near Lowestoft where he came ashore. His son with a similar name decided to set out west to seek his fortune and settled here and named it Gysela’s ham, or Gysela’s home, later abbreviated to Gislingham."

St. Mary's Church was our lunch stop. In the church I found this Discover Suffolk leaflet with a couple of walks from Gislingham. Something to come back and try some time, I think.

A dinky little chamber organ this time....

...with a note on the keyboard to say to keep children off it.

The church has numbered box pews.

As Simon Knott says, there is a fine double-hammerbeam roof. You can see where there used to be angel decorations on the ends.

Some of us found a seat in the sun.

"You have to take a photo of the toilet, John", said Joyce. Yes. It is a bit unusual with gravestones underfoot.

Back towards Bacton now heading directly into the sun.

We passed this sad burnt out house. It looks like repairs are under way, though.

We were never far from the railway line. It was quite busy as it is the main line to Norwich.

The horses in the field on the left came over briefly to say hello.

I rather liked this line of trees which, in their midwinter bareness, made me think of a parking lot for giant witches' broomsticks.

We recrossed the River Dove tributary.

This thatched house had a rather nice garden.

Back across the railway line. We marvelled at the longevity of the career celebrated by this plaque on the bridge.

The water tower came into view...

...and we were soon back at the start.

Thank-you Joyce for leading us round and thank-you to the others too for the company. I enjoyed doing a short distance for a change. Afterwards we had time to look through the windows of the Heart of Suffolk Distillery (but not go in as it was closed today)...