Thetford, Norfolk
via Aldeburgh & Southwold, Suffolk
Copy Free feature February 2012
Updated: 16th April 2013 Issue: 1
Page 1 of 4
1. Aldeburgh High Street
A wide High Street from which run narrow side roads & alley ways towards the seafront
2. Aldeburgh High Street
Pleasant homes share the road with ...
3. Aldeburgh High Street
... a good range of traditional local shops, cafe's ...
4. Aldeburgh High Street
... restaurants & galleries
5. Aldeburgh Seafront
Doesn't boast the prettiest of seafronts, but it provides a popular brisk promenade for all comers
6. Fishing vessel 'Guard'
7. Aldeburgh with small fishing boats hauled up onto the steep beach
8. This beach shelter ...
9. ... erected to commemorate the coronation of King George V
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10. Southwold Pier
11. Southwold foreshore & lighthouse, centre from the pier
12. The privately owned pier
Is a magnet for all, has the obligatory ammusment hall but a refreshing number of shops, kiosks, cafe's all hold special events throughout the year particularily in school holidays
13. On the pier, the water clock
Made from old plumbing fittings & fixtures
On the pier you'll find - The Boardwalk, The Clockhouse, Promenade Cafe, The Curlew, Seaweed & Salt, The Treasure Chest, Buckets & Spades
14. Amusement of all
The garden gets well & truly watered On the hour & half hour!
Built in 1900 the original 810' pier was a pick-up point for Belle Steamship trips to London Bridge, the business declined in 1933 & the Belle Company turned to Motor Coaches
15. End of the pier
By 1934 the pier head was swept away & never replaced. In 1937 a two story pavillion & concert hall with amusement arcade were constructed. Like most piers Southwold was sectioned in fear of German invasion, hit by drifting mine in 1941 a further section was taken out
16. 'Be lucky' coins tosted onto the pier's steel fendering caps
£30,000 was spent in 1948 on repairs & making good deck holes. A storm in 1955 took away the much-weakened end half of the pier & in 1979 the pier was reduced by storms to 60'
17.
Cold war telescope |
18.
Fully functional, a £1 coin operates |
Purchased in 1987 rebuilding commenced in 1999 completed in 2001. The 623' pier is a privately owned family run business & once again has historic steamers docking to take people to London just as the Belle Steamers did 100 years ago
Southwold Pier, North Parade, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6BN telephone 01502 722 105
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Thetford the Saxon Capital of East Anglia is full of surprises, it's rich in history & European culture
The Portuguese who originlly came the UK from 1550 & again through the 1960's looking for seasonal work, migrated to Thetford from the late 1990's & along with the Polish make up 30% of the population
19 An Old English Inn, The Bell Inn, Bridge Street, IP24 2AZ in Thetford town centre
N.B The town centre has been pedestrianised, some Sat' Navs' take you to within yards of the Inn but you might find yourself on the wrong side of town, even though just yards from the Inn you can't access by car
The best way to find The Bell Inn is to use the postcode for Barclays Bank, IP24 3AB
20. The Bell Inn plaque
Green King's Old English Inn's are steeped in history, The Bell being no exception
Like many old coaching Inn's it's said to be haunted
21. Picture of the Bell Inn hangs in reception, taken from a small painting it was enlarged during redecoration
22. The Bell Inn's most famous guests
The Thetford Town, affectionatly renamed Walmington-on-Sea played host to the cast & crew who stayed 6-7 weeks whilst filming between 1968 - 1977
23. Filming Dad's Army
Written by Jimmy Perry & David Croft the classic British Comedy series Dad's Army was filmed in & around Thetford
I feel a walk coming on ......
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