The Suffolk Coast | Blog Post | Lifestyle Photographer

Suffolk is not often known for its coastal towns, they are often overlooked as they don’t fit the stereotypical, rural countryside appeal of the rest of the county. However the 50 mile stretch of coastline and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to many small towns and villages that face out onto the rough North Sea. Places such as Aldeburgh and Southwold are some of the most serene and picturesque places in the UK.

Aldeburgh:

Aldeburgh is a traditional British seaside town. Its pastel coloured 19th Century houses line the promenade overlooking the stony, pebbled beach. Situated along the sea front sits weathered and worn fishermen’s huts, with swarms of gulls flying over head, as the catch of the day is hauled up the beach ready to be prepared and sold.

The name Aldeburgh is derived from the Old English ald (old) and burh (fortification), meaning an old defensive wall built to strengthen a place against attack. Although this structure, along with much of the Tudor town has now been lost to the sea. In the late 16th Century, Aldeburgh was a leading port and had a flourishing shipbuilding industry. However the importance and use of its port declined as the River Alde silted up, resulting in much larger ships being unable to dock. It therefore survived mainly off being a fishing town until the 19th Century, which was when it made the major shift towards more of a seaside resort.

Aldeburgh today, has a large array of high-end clothing shops as well as individual cafes, a deli, and bakery. It is also home to two family run Fish and Chip shops that are voted some of the best in the country. The towns timeless quality, makes it a wonderful place to visit all year round.

Aldeburgh is also known for its historic Aldeburgh Carnival which takes place annually and is thought to be at least 170 years old! It has had various titles over the years, but was known as Ye Olde Marine Regatta as long ago as 1835. The earliest recorded programme of the carnival was in 1892, when 15 events were held - 12 sailing races, 2 swimming races and a Greasy Pole competition. It is now one of the towns biggest events, that is on the calendar of many locals who attend year upon year.

THORPENESS:

Thorpeness is a much smaller and quieter seaside village of around just 400 people. The village was a small fishing hamlet in the late 19th Century, with folk tales of it being a route for smugglers into East Anglia. However in 1910, a Scottish barrister known as Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie, increased his family estates to cover the entire area from north Aldeburgh to past Sizewell. Most of his land was used for farming, however he developed Thorpeness into a private fantasy holiday village for his friends and family. A country club with tennis courts, swimming pool and golf course were all built to go alongside the holiday village.

Thorpeness today, is known for its large artificial boating lake, known as “The Meare” and variety of unique houses. The Meare covers over 60 acres of ground and was entirely dug by hand. Although it may be wide, it is at no point anymore than 3 feet deep, which was the intention of Ogilvie, meaning young children could learn to punt, sail and row in the shallower waters. The idea of the lake, was sparked by Ogilvie’s closest friends, J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. This is therefore why the tiny islands, coves and creeks of the lake are all named after parts of the Peter Pan novel!

The House in The Clouds is perhaps the villages most notable tourist attraction. To hide the eyesore of having a water tower in the village, the tank built in 1923 was clad in wood to make it look like a small house on top of a five-storey tower. The mill next to the House in the Clouds was used to pump water to the tower.

SOUTHWOLD:

Southwold is situated at the mouth of the River Blyth, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the East coast of the UK. A charming and quintessential English resort town, Southwold’s sandy beach and beach-hut lined promenade offers the perfect environment whether it be for weekends away or day trips away to the coast!

Southwold was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, as a fishing port, specialising in herring fishery. However a shingle bar built up across the harbour mouth, eventually preventing the town from becoming a major Early Modern port. A large fire in 1659 devastated most of the town, which created the large number of open spaces within Southwold today. The large village green areas were never rebuilt upon, which has preserved the towns polished appearance.

The town is also well know for its array of cannons situated on Gun Hill overlooking the sea. The cannons are to commemorate the Battle of Sole Bay fought in 1672 between English and French fleets against the Dutch. Many of the bodies lost in the battle were washed up onto the shores of Southwold. During World War I, it is thought that the presence of these cannons is one of the reasons that this part of the coast was bombarded by German Fleet, as they saw it as a “fortified coast”.

Southwold has become the home to Adnams Brewery, which was established in the town by George and Ernest Adams in 1872, with the purchase of Sole Bay Brewery. The brewery is now the town’s largest employer, and the Adnams name is now extremely popular and well-recognised in the Suffolk county. Southwold is also known for its lighthouse which has stood as a prominent landmark in the centre of town since 1890. In 1938 it was automated and electrified, and is currently classed as a Grade II listed building. The lighthouse replaced three local lighthouses that were under serious threat from coastal erosion. It also suffered a fire in its original oil fired lamp days just six days after commissioning, but survived and today operates a rotating 150 watt lamp with a range of 24 nautical miles!

Southwold Pier was built in 1900. Originally at 247m it was long enough to accommodate the old steam boats that carried trippers along the coast. In World War II, it was weakened by two breaches and in 1955 a large section was destroyed in a gale. The pier was entirely rebuilt in 2001 and is now one of the most popular attractions that Southwold has to offer.

The dramatic coastline and town’s beautiful architecture make it a popular attraction all year round. In the winter some of Southwold’s best elements can be enjoyed away from the summer crowds. Cosy pub lunches, long walks along the beach and a browse in some of the many independent shops the town has to offer.