working for the community of Beccles

T H E O F F I C I A L

T O W N C O U N C I L G U I D E

T O

Beccles2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 5

QuaysideConservatories LimitedQuality Hardwood ConservatoriesBuy directly from the manufacturer

• Multifolding doors • Windows• Orangeries • Various colours available

Quayside Conservatories Limited8 The Walk, Beccles

01502 714512E-mail: enquiries@quayside-conservatories.co.uk

www.quayside-conservatories.co.uk

Established since 1991

ContentsForeword by Mayor of Beccles .................. 3Beccles Today ...................................... 4-5The Town Council......................................6The Charter and Website ............................7Beccles - A Fairtrade Town ..........................8Beccles Town Signs....................................10Pride in Beccles ........................................10Beccles Bell Tower......................................11Historic Beccles ....................................12-15Beccles Business & Tourism Association ....16-17Beccles Charter Market ..............................18

The Town Trail ........................................19BECCLES MAP..................................20-21Beccles Marsh Trail ..................................22Beccles Golf Club ..................................23The Quay................................................24The River Waveney ..................................24Crafts on the River ..................................25Annual Events in Beccles ....................26-28Local Hotels and Guest Houses ................29Beccles, A Fine Touring Base ................30-31Useful Information ..............................32-33

An Aladdin’s caveof 15 galleried

rooms, withexhibitors

changing monthly.

A LifecastingService

is also available atthe gallery.

(bookings & gift vouchers)

The Upstairs Gallery, Exchange Square, Beccles, Suffolk NR349HHTel: 01502 717191 Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00am-4.30pm

www.theupstairsgallery.co.uk

As seen in VogueCeramics, jewellery, sculpture, lifecasts,

paintings, prints, handbags – all crafted byEast Anglian artists and craftsmakers

Kisscast £8.99

The UpStAiRs Gallery GBWinner of the 2008 Sunrise Coast Tourism Award

For further information regarding anything in this guide, please contact Beccles Town CouncilTel: 01502 712109 / Fax: 01502 716166 / Email: admin@beccles.info

Website: www.beccles.infoDesigned and Printed by Keely Print Ltd, The Quay, Fen Lane, Beccles 01502 713930

Cover photo by G.Catchpole ©2013

Every effort has been made to ensure that all information in Beccles Town Council’s Official Guide is correct at time of printing.Neither Keely Print, nor Beccles Town Council accept responsibility for any loss or inconvenience which may occur.

Delicious Ice Creams & Sorbets made daily to our family recipeusing fresh milk and double cream from local farms

Hand-made patisserie, cakes and gluten free productsCall in to our factory shop for any of the above

Mon – Fri 9am to 5.30pm, Sat & Sun (Apr-Oct) 9 – 11amUnit 8 George WestwoodWay Beccles NR34 9BN

www.parravanis.co.uk Tel: 01502 715970 sales@parravanis.co.uk

www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk

ADVICE AND SUPPORT ON BEREAVEMENTBENEFITS AND FUNERAL GRANTS

A family funeral service– we believe it makes a difference

The Rosedale Funeral Plan enables you to select and payfor the arrangements of your choice at today’s prices.

RosedaleFUNERAL HOME22 Hungate, Beccles01502 71444516 Upper Olland Street, Bungay01986 892790

Foreword

I f you are a visitor, may I on behalf of Beccles andthe Town Council, offer you a very warmwelcome to our lovely market town situated on

the edge of the Waveney Valley. If you are a residentof Beccles, I hope this Guide will introduce you toorganisations and opportunities that perhaps youhave not been aware of.

Nestling beside the River Waveney on the Suffolkand Norfolk border, our town is ideally placed touse as a touring base, with many exciting and variedplaces to visit, all within a thirty minute car journey,or you can always catch the local bus or train. Youcan also spend a number of days in Beccles itself, justrelaxing and enjoying walks along the Marsh Trail oracross Beccles Common. Boats are available for hireon the River or you can discover the cosy tea roomsand modern speciality restaurants. Explore the oldstreets (gates) and find something new around everycorner.

With an excellent Outdoor Swimming Pool, smalltheatre, art gallery and a large selection of shops,Beccles has everything to offer the visitor; you maynever want to leave. Visit the Museum to discoverthe fascinating and surprising history of Beccles.

Visit the Town Hall or Tourist Information Centre,where the staff will be more than pleased to helpyou. Just a quick thank you to all the advertisers whohave helped to make the production of the OfficialBeccles Town Guide possible.

To you, the reader, I hope this Guide helps youenjoy and discover the secrets of our special markettown called Beccles.

by Councillor Graham CatchpoleMayor of Beccles (2012–May 2013)

QQUALITYTOWN

COUNCIL

3

Selling quality pre-owned cars since 1997Every car multi-point checked + valeted

All budgets accommodatedEXCELLENT FINANCE PACKAGES ARRANGED

BEST PRICES PAID FOR QUALITY CARS + 4X4'sOpening Times:

Monday-Friday: 8.30am-5.30pmSaturday: 9am-5pm; Sundays - by appointment

After Hours - 07990 755224Website: www.becclescarcentre.co.uk

COMMON LANE NORTH, BECCLES NR34 9BL01502 710234

MOT & SERVICING ALL MAKESOF CARS • VANS AND 4x4

REPAIRS • CLUTCHES • BRAKESCAMBELTS • EXHAUSTS • DIAGNOSTICS

FRIENDLY RELIABLE SERVICES

Tel: 01502 417900Unit 3, George Westwood Way, Beccles NR4 9EJPROPRIETORS: SHERYL & CHRIS BASEY FISHER

CBF SERVICE CENTRE LIMITED

Beccles TodayBeccles today is a thriving market town with an active community spirit, steeped in history. The picturesque

town is situated in the heart of the Waveney Valley and has many a story to tell. The narrow streets andquaint architecture hide the sometimes turbulent history of this ancient borough with its fiercely

independent citizens.

Baptist Church, Station Road

The Baptist church in Station Road stands near the site where, in the 16th Century, three martyrs were burntat the stake for their religious beliefs. Here Chateaubriand, French aristocrat and writer, found refuge from theturbulence which was France at the end of the 18th Century. In the parish church Rev Edmund Nelsonmarried a local girl called Catherine Suckling, and out of their union came Horatio Nelson, Britain’s greatestAdmiral.

Sir John Leman School (now Sir John Leman High School)

The Sir John Leman School was founded more than 350 years ago by a man who, like Dick Whittington, foundhis fortune as Lord Mayor of London. Many of its students have become stars in the contrasting galaxies ofscience and the arts, including Nobel Prize winning chemist Dr Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin and Sir John Millswhose lifelong contribution to stage and screen is unrivalled.

Famous People

Other distinguished names growing up within the confines of the Beccles area include author and farmerAdrian Bell, father of BBC war correspondent Martin Bell, Second World War military leader, Field MarshallSir Claude Auchinleck, Sir Stanley Rons Football Association Chairman, and globetrotting television pundit,Sir David Frost.

New Town Signs

The town signs, now placed at each of the five entrances to the town, depict the presentation of the BoroughCharter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1584 and remind us of the independent spirit of the people fighting for theirtown and community.

District Councils and Other Bodies

Beccles, once governed by a Borough Council before Waveney District Council was formed in 1974, now hasa busy and diverse Town Council working with and for the community. Under the umbrella of Waveney DistrictCouncil, the Broads Authority and Suffolk County Council all working together to provide the community andvisitors with amenities and facilities for modern living. Also working within these authorities is the BecclesTownlands Trust (Feoffees), an ancient charity, and a small group who make up the Beccles Society. Allendeavour to keep the town of Beccles as close to its historic roots as possible without stopping progress.

Beccles a Market Town

Over the past years, Beccles has grown into a busy and vibrant Market Town with new businesses starting up.The town has one of the finest museums to be found anywhere and a well equipped marina complete with aTourist Information Centre, toilets, shop and children’s play area. The Quay is used during the Summer forannual events such as the Beccles Carnival, the Duck Race and the Harvest Moon Free Music Festival.

Beccles has a diverse range of facilities which include the Waveney Enterprise Workshop, which providessheltered but productive employment for those with special needs and has a well attended shop selling thecrafts which the clients make. The Waveney Centre caters for the over 60s and this superb social centrecommands magnificent views over the beautiful River Waveney every day of the week. The Centre is also openfor use by others and is extremely popular.

Beccles has first-class facilities from the Library in Blyburgate, where many events and functions are held regularly,under the watchful eye of the Library Manager, Stephen Amer and his staff to the well-used Sports Pavilion,Indoor Bowls Club, and traditional Golf Course on Beccles Common and all situated in Common Lane South.The long-awaited Outdoor Swimming Pool refurbishment has been completed by Beccles Lido Ltd and the manyvolunteers who stepped forward to help complete the job. The pool, under the local District Council, hadbeen in a state of disrepair for many years and was to be sold off, so it was a great relief for residents that it wastaken on by local people and when it opened its doors for the first Season of 2010 it was very well receivedwith record attendance from the start.

Beccles Twinned with Petit Couronne, France and Ahlem, Germany

Beccles also has a continued liaison over many years with Petit Couronne in France through the Beccles TwinningAssociation who carried this out on behalf of the Town Council. The Twinning Association, due to lack ofmembers and an ageing committee, decided to cease running as a Twinning Association. Members of theCouncil decided to take on the Twinning with France and have had meetings with other organisations and theSchools in Beccles in an attempt to promote the French Twinning in the Town. Within this they would like tostrengthen the link with Ahlem in Germany, a relatively new liaison for Beccles

4 5

The Town Council

L ocal Government functions in and aroundBeccles are undertaken by three levels (ortiers) of authority; Suffolk County Council,

Waveney District Council and Beccles TownCouncil. Elections for the sixteen Town Council seatstake place every four years and in 2015 candidateswill be fighting for the four wards of Beccles:

Centre – Common – Darby – Rigbourne

In 2010 the Council achieved Quality Parish Statusand a certificate was awarded from the ChiefExecutive of Suffolk Association of Local Councilsto the Mayor at that time.

The Mayor is elected annually by a vote of theCouncil. Each year the Mayor chooses a charity orlocal organisation/good cause, and raises money forthis during their year of office.

The Town Council owns and manages quantities ofmarsh estate, Beccles Common and various otherplots of land and buildings. The estate is leased orrented and this income, together with interest oninvestment, is used to maintain the Council’s holdingsand provide services for the benefit of parishioners.

The day to day administration is carried out by theTown Clerk and Deputy Town Clerk, and any

enquiries can be made by telephone (there is ananswerphone) - 01502 712109 from 9am-4pmMonday-Friday. Visitors can be received from9am-1pm at the Town Hall, The Walk, BecclesNR34 9AJ.

A great deal of the historic records used to be keptat the Town Hall, but these have now been archivedand deposited at the Lowestoft Record Office,telephone enquiries to 01502 405357.

The Councillors meet in the Council Chambers ofthe Town Hall twice monthly on the first and thirdTuesday. The Council consists of Committees andWorking Parties with the Planning Committee makingrecommendations for all applications received fromboth Waveney District Council and the BroadsAuthority for matters pertaining to Beccles.

The Beccles Fenland Charity Trust, of which the TownCouncil is the Sole Trustee, has supported variousorganisations, including the Beccles TwinningAssociation, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, drama andsporting groups. Grants are made three times a year inFebruary, June and November and can be requestedthrough a Grant Application Form which can be foundon the Town Council’s website www.beccles.info ordirect from the Town Hall office.

QQUALITYTOWN

COUNCIL

6 7

E very March, June, September and December 5,000 copies of TheCharter are delivered to every home in Beccles. Since September2005 this information leaflet has kept the community up-to-date

with Council news and views and has been a vessel for local organisationsto let the community keep abreast of achievements etc. This newsletteris collated, designed and edited by the Deputy Town Clerk and can alsobe found on the Council’s website www.beccles.info

The Beccles Town Council website was introduced in 2008,supported by a Working Party and the Deputy Town Clerk. Sincethen it has undergone reviews and refurbishment. In 2012 the

Council were approached by the Beccles Business and TourismAssociation (BBTA) who wished to amalgamate with the TownCouncil to form a new website for Beccles, incorporating business,tourism and Council information under one domain name,www.beccles.info. This new project is currently under construction

and will be going live in the next few months. Keeping thewebsite updated will now be undertaken by

members of the BBTA who will uploadinformation for Business and Tourism and thestaff of the Council for Town Councilinformation.

Town CouncilWebsite

www.beccles.info

DREBCEME

2120

I EUSS 27

ThTh hThe ChThe CharteraarYRRYRYRRRRREEMM

FFSSAAMTTMTMTSSIIRHHRHRHCC

OOTTSSEELLCCCCEEBB

LLIICCNNUUOOCC CCCEBEBE

YY

MMOORRFF

NNWWOOLL LE OWE WOOTTTOTOTTOESLESLESCCCCCLCLCCCL

WNWN COUNCAA Mays

2012/13ysthiendto

embmethlal

LCIIL

slecceBofory

kelildouwI13,

ginnkthabyeary

lovtheofsrbeSLAPECI

SNTIPOESTERNTI

:S OF

T royaMeh

rollicnuoC

sah,elpohctCa

roffoniopetitmCo

penoistI.oLog

elcceBfostned

5morffrnerdilhc

roffosizePr.dlo

t9,8ot5,psuorg

elseeblwil61ot

offolePanginnggdJu

s,elcceBfo

maharG

adisenagro

ismrToua

si-erllaotn

ginngdulcinse

sraey61ot

egaseehtr

31dna21ot

ehtybdetce

siertneehtr

wiliteroffoereht

redroinplesim

.stoltois n

etonekatseaePl

pemCoehtgin

nuCoehtginivg

ogolruoyseuot

.niotac

neniopetitmCo

dedaolwnodeb

ebotdeenlil

ilatedynnyataht

-retneybtahte

erauoynioetit

nissiomperilcn

i-lpubynnyanoo

nacsmroffoyrtn

ceBehtmorffr

embmethlalorga

unteerhwnowkouy

edorkwehavbermemrthei

resIt i.ytmunicceBtaht

fieeoplpngti

eayymedyjold

l-ovtheofsrbe

d(annsioatisan

ohware),ouyoh

orflyssleretied

m-octhedanrs

eesotginfreshre

yrevsisel

- ut-pn-eevhaIt.srfi

faroseicoffinar

tdfik

ogoLmisruo

niopmahCthuoY

stifftGsatmisrhC

peeSwnaelC

atlusonCicevrSeeFir

llaic HlbuPselccBe noitaa

gg

essalcerahicwh

dna,dednemmCo

waaeblwilnekot

olAll.niotcse

eitvinneebevah

neginngnnwieTh

£20aeivecftig otereblwilnsiged-

mlaniotomoprlla

llwinsigedeTh

ylhgHisad

tifftg£10ad

hcaeindedra

sloohsclaco

.retneotde

-erlwilyrtn

ehtdnaneko

nodecudopr

ial.retam

-inotdeen

dedaolwnodeb

wselc

s.inelccewww.b

elcceBehtmorffr

rffrlHalTown

idrFotyadnoM

ninsigedneWh

htersuneseaple

issposaplesim

fostnemelegin

toteiqunuera

-ceBehtmorffr

,etisbe

detcellocrooffon

ehttaeicffifffOse

ma9mor- pm1

.yad

,ogolruoygn

saptekisittah

w-oshdnaelib

hicwhselcceBf

eThaeraisht

ooklamand

pohitw2013esmyoffhal

ouncCnTowoyitopportun

of Becepeopl

hy CMerrryAappy andH

2

otardforwgink

e-bnO.mismpti

slececBndafel

sthietakIilc

ethlalnghisiwofslecec

istmas and ahr

ousosperrd P2013

S

I EDINSSIHT

USSSII

ETNEYEVENWA

R-

BBB AM

EUE:

2

u

e

g

wh ceBtawhfooyyrroostst

ostedstiruoTT

d

a

wnardebdlluuooshhth

A5fla(hteeshA5

e

na

tahtegdewlwloonnkk

kdnuoraotknuurrssh

s

DDRRAAWWNNEEKKMMAASS

seechhrrAft

fffffffuufuufBBthMo

sasreffefffoselc

tI.niotanit

nodetina/pn

ehthwitA4)

eblwilit

dnamc.52d

toteiqunuera

eisyitilibsspo

umsosahaera

htdanisttareht

inrehtruffurFo

90121720510

DD

TTUUOOYYEEHHTTRROOFFGGNNIIKKAAEAEPPSS

eTh.aeraisht

ehtsasseldne

otreffefffonohcu

.roisitveh

llacnoitamroffo

EEBBFFOOHHTTSSEELLCCCC

aharGllrCMayor o leatchpo

am CseccleBoff

ETNEYEVENWA

RSSEIPRRI

SELCCEBOTTNRAG

UBLCGNILISAI

-NOCCEIVRRSEREFI

NOITATSUL

IUBLPFORERANSF

T

LLAH

TEKRKAMSELCCBE

2

S 2

2

3

CI 3

3

L gnebehassto

vhutyohet

erswaI.ccleseB- lee

saroffolepploepungyo

emhisT.1220ilrpA

20insndemretym

isophistnidevrrves

amIhattwoN.sryea

antcoymindhelis

anmhtwilinksdgoo

allyerncaew,sietti

hhitat

morffrnoggoinweivi -

inntiop

evresotdectle

inmretndcoes

newhathtsane

evhallwiI,14

urofforoffoionitti

ab-tseeromm

ademandacts

i-laciffacalloany

emosakemy

ftjt

evhallwiweyMa

erpprerionpCham

ncuCownTohet

ehav3120

asllewas

roffosmilffignwihos

inginttiarttasyttyunim

maIall.HicublP

ayarrbLiibccleseB

yroffopuograing

delvovineromtge

balllwihet

hutoYwnoruoe

morffreivattintese

oalsllwiWecil.

amneciniima

-mcoelwhohetr

hetatyraanuJJain

htwiingkkirwom

-mroffoearweand

otelpoepungyo

yaranuJJamoFr.d

hutbe

A.tropansTrlic

ginnttieserpreis

evlvoinvtgeot

oPillHneurbo

beincsashsThi

earemain the s

histfogthnerttrs

foaysdingurd

.ff.alks ot

likuldwouyofI

itmerymghuholtA

italvitltteffeh, Iutg yo

g-Rihetithwde

eurscloiceffiOffftso

ernebe -butdateclo

hetwshohich swa,

nevenityummcos

ityretausfisisht

a-mrinforehturffuike

TEKRRKAMSELCCBE

SAMSTRICH

NOSHTOMRARE

LRAIILTHRSAM

inrPylKeeybtedinntrP

3

4nepaphngshitategr

offobutlepoepungyo

beavhI.yttyunim

gyeatrttrsasdrwaot

imotsruncillo

Co

ehtinntemgengaetdt Ln

roffotusjtno,n

-mcohetallro

ingkrwoneeb

callohtwigy

hutyoevorpm

inndaictrttrisd

bosalllwierhet

lechannotnseet

niseussigindrga

inmaIlynttler

ingdrgaerseagts

hutyowneabe

-erseicovrihet

-rCu.wnotirhet

lyareyreveht

ub-Pnosegrcha

liuldwouyofI

ehavroiontti

wouyosnteve

usro/andndet

ateact mt

pukylkoffoufffsams

amrinforehturffuike

hutyoeruutffuany

at-otemlikeuldo

n-coesleap,troppu

.comahooy@p

The Charter

Puddingmoor, Beccles, Suffolk Tel: 01502 712270 Fax: 01502 470370www.waveneyhousehotel.co.uk email: enquiries@waveneyhousehotel.co.uk

Riverside Bar and Restaurant open dailyRelax beside the River Waveney

So What Is Fair Trade?

Fairtrade aims to help reduce poverty and promote sustainable development. Many producers indeveloping countries have been disadvantaged by the conventional trading system, with big globalcompanies dominating the market and being able to pay as little as they like for their products. Fairtrade

helps farmers and workers get a BETTER deal for their produce and earn a FAIR wage.

The Fairtrade Foundation awards the FAIRTRADE mark to products which meet their high standards. This markmeans that producers in the developing world have been paid a FAIRER and STABLE price for their goodsor crops. They also receive a Fairtrade premium, which they can use to help fund social, environmental oreconomic development projects, decided upon democratically by the producers.

What Makes Beccles A Fairtrade Town?

As well as gaining the necessary support of the Town Council, Beccles has a certain number of food retailers,cafes, businesses and organisations that sell or use Fairtrade products. We also have a steering group to ensurethe campaign continues to progress and encourage others to support Fairtrade, with various events organisedthroughout the year.

How Can You Get Involved And Find Out More?

Anyone with enthusiasm for Fairtrade, and who would like to get involved either with their business or as anindividual, can visit our page on Facebook – just type in Fairtrade Beccles and you will find us! The page isopen to anyone, so even if you just want to investigate Fairtrade or see upcoming events in Beccles, pleasedo join us.

A Fairtrade Town

8 9

10

D ominating the skyline, Beccles’ Bell Tower is famous for itsuniqueness. The weight of the Tower, 3,000 tons, made itimpossible to build on St Michael’s Church, and it had to be

placed away from the slope running to Puddingmoor and built on the eastside of the Church. There are commanding views from the top of the 97foot Tower, but you have to be careful what time of day you visit as whenthe clock strikes, the noise is deafening!There are 122 steps running up the 97 foot Tower which may make you feela little dizzy. There is a room a third of the way from the top for the bellringers, which is a nice stop to get your bearings and possibly have a rest.Building works on the Tower began on 1st January 1500 under the directionof the monks of the Abbey of St Edmundsbury. It was thought that originallythe Tower was meant to have a steeple and spire, but after 40 years ofbuilding, work was brought to a halt by the Reformation and the confusionsurrounding that period. The Tower was built in four stages, supported by deep foundations, very thick wallsfaced with Roche Abbey stone and huge buttresses, and there is a newel staircase at each corner of the Tower.Amazing detail can be seen in the tracery and ornamental niches and panels of the stonework showing the highskill of the stonemason. The entrance is similar to the south porch of the church featuring the arms of local familieswho contributed substantially to the building project and include Garney-Redes and Bowes.The original build allowed for only two clock faces which were installed in the 18th Century on the north andsouth sides, but a century later another was added to the east side and all were raised to a higher level. Thesedays the clock is run by electricity and is computerised, allowing the twice-yearly change between GreenwichMean Time and British Summer Time to be made easily and quickly by S Michlmayr & Co of Norwich.History of the BellsThere is little information of the bells pre-1762, but it was presumed there was at least one bell when the towerwas roofed and floored in the late 15th Century, and it was unlikely that there were more than four. These bellswere either cast by the Norwich Bell Foundry or by a foundry at Bury St Edmunds. By the 18th Century therewere a peal of eight bells with the heaviest weighing in at 15 hundredweight (750kg) with the first full peal during1735, two more in 1735 and a later one in 1736. A full peal consists of at least 5,000 changes and would havetaken three hours.In 1762 an expensive, brand new heavier ring of ten bells replaced the eight. The heaviest of these was 25hundredweight (1,250kg) and were cast by Richard Lester and Thomas Pack at Whitechapel Bell Foundry inLondon, but bells do not last forever and the No 3 bell was replaced in 1804. In 1909 all ten bells werecompletely restored by Messrs Taylor & Co, Loughborough and rehung on a new steel frame. The ringingchamber is on the first level and the belfry on the third floor. The remainder of the existing bells have beenreplaced during 2012 after raising funds through local donations.During its long life the Church Bell Tower has undergone significant enhancements to preserve its rich fabricwhilst allowing it to be used for 21st Century activities. Funding from English Heritage, the Beccles TownlandsTrust and Waveney District Council has allowed for greater access to the Tower. The Bell Tower is used constantlyby Charitable organisations and Beccles Business & Tourism Association hold open days and are extremelypopular during the summer months.

11

Town SignsT he original town sign, one of the first to be erected in Suffolk, was

carved in 1936 by Miss Judy Quinton Barber, the well-known Norfolksculptress whose work is to be found in a number of churches and

public buildings. It depicts the presentation of the charter by Queen Elizabeth1 to John Baas, the first Port Reeve of Beccles, in 1584. Dr Henry Wood-Hill,Mayor of Beccles, had the sign installed at the end of Ballygate. In 1980 thesign was so badly damaged by vandals that a replica had to be produced toreplace it. The original version, skilfully restored and repainted by Mr ArthurJosling of Beccles, is now on display at the Beccles & District Museum inBallygate. Pride in Beccles have, over the past two years, helped fund andinstall replica signs at each entrance to Beccles from the main roads at GeorgeWestwood Way, London Road, Ellough Road and Northgate (this particularsign was sponsored by the Bean family who used to reside in Northgate).

Pride in BecclesP ride in Beccles, set up through the Town Council, is a group made up from members of Waveney Norse,

Beccles Society, the Town Council and members of the public who meet regularly to discuss the town’sneeds for floral displays and areas requiring regeneration. The aim of the Pride in Beccles group is to

improve the general environment of the town in relation to both planted areas and the street scene. What Pridein Beccles have been able to do and will continue to do, sometimes in partnership with other groups such asthe Town, District or County Council as well as Beccles Community Arts, is to redevelop tired areas.

The War Memorial area has been opened up and greatly improved and the garden at the base of the Towerhas been planted, along with the Lowestoft Road and Ellough Road junction. The Shelter and its garden areahas been sympathetically integrated into Exchange Square and inside the Shelter are panels in which artwork fromthe local school is displayed. Recently, four replicas of the Town Sign have been placed at the main entrancesto Beccles.

During the past year the main interest of Pride in Beccles has been the further development of Kilbrack, which isan old Cemetery, with the planting of crab-apple trees and flowering shrubs in front of the newly installed fencing.An Information Board will be placed beside the path running through the grassed area reminding users of thehistory of Kilbrack as a Cemetery in the first part of the 19th Century. There is also a tribute to Edwin Cooper,a well-known painter of that time who is buried here.

Three seats on the banks of the River Waveney were provided by Beccles Helping Hands, a local organisation.

Five flower towers were provided by Waveney Norse and the planting throughout the year was funded by theTown Council’s Pride in Beccles Working Party.

The dream for the future is to include real development for the Quay area. Anyone interested in these or otherareas of Beccles is very welcome to become part of the team making up Pride in Beccles. Please contact BecclesTown Council, Town Hall, The Walk, Beccles NR34 9AJ 01502 712109.

The Bell Tower

From 2012 the school welcomed year seven and year eight pupils. In 2000 the school was awardedSpecialist Technology Status and successfully maintained this through to 2004-2005 which has resultedin much improved resourcing across the whole school.

Nowadays the school places great emphasis on the celebration of achievement and has a rewards systemwhich has been developed through the school council. Pupils, parents and staff enjoy the opportunityto recognise achievement at annual awards and celebration evenings. Partnership is the key to a child’ssuccess and regular meetings with parents to discuss progress and continued school events help to createdeeper continuity between home and school.

Pupils have a rich variety of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities. Academic review days are heldtwice a year and give opportunity to pupils, parents and staff to review progress and set targets. Theschool still firmly believes in a philosophy of ‘Achievement for All’ which aims to allow individuals toflourish, developing many of the necessary skills required beyond the school environment.

13

Historic BecclesConservation and Heritage Protection

A few years ago, Beccles was successful in being awarded funding under the Market TownsInitiative Scheme. A significant proportion of monies from the Heritage Economic RegenerationScheme has been spent on regenerating key buildings in Beccles, namely the Church Bell

Tower and Beccles Public Hall. The Public Hall had been given sympathetic restoration works preservingthe architectural character of the building. There are now more changing facilities for users of the hall, suchas the Waveney Light Opera Group and Spotlight.

The Church Tower was improved to give better access for visitors and tourist information is available.There are guides who take you safely to the top and once there the view is amazing, taking in the townand the surrounding marshes and villages. There are pre-arranged advertised times during the summermonths when this facility is accessible to everyone and these are listed on the Beccles Bell Towerwebsite.

The Beccles Society, a group of people who are interested in local heritage, are key to helpingpreserve Beccles’ rich history but also are mindful of plans being made for the community to enjoy inthe future.

Sir John Leman High School, Ringsfield Road

The Sir John Leman High School was founded in 1631 by Sir John Leman, then Lord Mayor of Londonand Prime Warden of the Fishmongers’ Company. As a Free School 44 boys from Beccles, two fromRingsfield and two from Gillingham were educated there each year in its fine original building in Ballygate,now the Beccles Town Museum.

In 1910 the school moved to its present site in Ringsfield Road and became co-educational. Over thenext 60 years the school rose from 80 to nearly 500 pupils. It became the Sir John Leman GrammarSchool and counted among its finest scholars Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, Nobel Prize winner forChemistry in 1964 (a plaque dedicated to Dorothy Hodgkin is to be found on the Beccles Town Hallwall). Sir John Mills the famous actor also attended.

In 1971 the School became a Comprehensive Upper School serving a large area of the Waveney Valley,South Norfolk and beyond. Now the school has grown in size to accommodate over 1,300 studentswith over 300 in the Sixth Form. New buildings have been added, a thriving Sports Centre developedand the School is the centre for adult education in the community.

12

Former Sir John Leman School, now Beccles Museum

Ancient Historic Walkway found on the Marsh TrailBeccles Town Council own the Marsh Trail, a beautiful series of 3 walks starting from Beccles Quay. InJuly 2006 when flood defence works were being undertaken on the banks of the River Waveney ancienttimbers were uncovered, but these were initially mistaken for modern fencing. After investigation byArchaeologists from the University of Birmingham and an archaeologist from Suffolk County Council, theydiscovered that these posts were part of a 4,000 year old ancient walkway across marshland crossing overinto Norfolk. English Heritage stated that this was a nationally important find and all archaeologists werevery excited and encouraged the Broadland Environmental Services Ltd (BESL), who were carrying outthe flood defence works, to look in more detail. BESL paid for a three-week dig to try to find out moreinformation on this Iron Age structure which, for ancient builders and craftsmen, was on par with creatingStonehenge or the Cerne Abbas Giant.

The area of the walkway is 16’ wide, capable of carrying carts, the equivalent of a motorway andarchaeologists were stunned to find it was in use from the Bronze Age in around 1,000 BC, through theIron Age and to Roman times and at least the 4th Century AD. This was discovered due to the postsbeing so well preserved by the marshy ground that the type of tools they used to cut the wood can beclearly seen. Some of the remains are currently on view in the Beccles Museum, Ballygate.

14

William Clowes, Printers 1803-todayUpon visiting the shopping precinct in Newgate, on the side of the Tesco building there is a wonderfulmural dedicated to Clowes printing works. Founded in 1803 and based in London, by 1829 it was thelargest printing works in the world. Clowes pioneered several printing and binding processes and in1873 acquired the business of the Caxton Printing Works in Beccles, merging with the London companyin 1880.

In 1941 Beccles became the main home of the company after the London property was destroyed throughenemy action. Over the years the company has changed hands on several occasions, but still continuesto operate and at one time had the largest Print Museum in England. This sadly had to be dispersed whenthe factory was sold, and the museum had to close.

The Mural was initiated by former employees of Clowes, namely Mr Peter Medley, ex managing directorassisted by Mr Ron Walding whose father, Bert Walding, had been one of those who brought the PrintMuseum together. Tesco had put £10,000 towards a piece of artwork to be displayed on the buildingas a memorial to Clowes and all those who had worked there—it was said that someone from every familyin Beccles had worked for Clowes at some time. Working closely with Beccles Town Council employee,Mrs Jula Janney, Mr Medley and Mr Walding advertised for artists with the brief of trying to portraythe life and times of Clowes in Beccles. Members of the public voted on the artwork, by four local artists,which was displayed in the Atrium at Tescos during the summer of 2007. After the count one artist stoodout—Mr Charles Martin, and on a chilly December day in 2007 the mural was installed. It reallyemphasised what Clowes was all about through the ages, and it has been said that some people thinkthey recognise themselves in the characters seen pouring out of the factory gates at the end of a days work.At one time Clowes employed over 1,200 people, mostly from the Beccles area. The memory of WmClowes Printers on this site will always be close to the hearts of Beccles people and, with this mural toremind the future generations, will never be forgotten. Today, Clowes has downsized considerably andrelocated to the industrial estate at Ellough where it still employs local people who produce fine booksand other printed material.

15

Beccles Business & Tourism Association

B eccles remains one of the fastest growing market towns in the country, due to the increase in businessesboth in the town centre and the outlying business parks which have seen vast amounts of investmentin new and existing companies. This will progress into the future with the creation of the new Enterprise

Zone which has been set up at Ellough near the existing business parks. We continue to work with the localDistrict Councils, Town Council, Waveney Business Forum and the relevant Tourism groups. Networking andkeeping up with the bigger picture countrywide is very important to ensure Beccles businesses are heard.

In late 2012 the Beccles Tourism Forum joined with the Business Association which means that all thebusinesses in the area benefit from enhanced training, networking and the relevant support when required.The Association is very active; always looking at the bigger picture, especially as tourism is playing a largerpart in attracting visitors to the Waveney Valley, which last year launched its own destination branding toincrease the number of visitors to the area.

With these changes happening, support to the many independent local retailers is more important than everas they pride themselves in offering a good service and unique specialised goods. Accommodation is varied,from small welcoming guests houses to larger hotels, supported by some excellent restaurants and coffee shops.

We have some great tourist attractions in Beccles and the Waveney Valley with the Lido, Beccles Public Hall,the Go-Karting racetrack, UK Parachuting and, for more peaceful activities; fishing, the Bell Tower for viewsover the Valley, the Museum, walking, canoeing, cycling and boating all in and around the town.

In the last year the BBTA have been successful in obtaining grants for LEADER funding which has beenused to improve the Beccles Tourist Information centre, provide interpretation material at the Bell Tower;print new tourist maps and local information signage boards; install video screens at major locations and audiotours, all to help the visitors and the community to enjoy the area. We also support and run many localevents, such as the Late Night Christmas Shopping evening, the Duck Race and the Antique Street Markets.

In the coming year we are taking a major role with Beccles Town Council, in the creation of a new Beccleswebsite (www.beccles.info) to ensure those looking at Beccles and the surrounding area know exactly whatis on offer in the way of shops, leisure activities, businesses, employment opportunities and the many otherattractions in the Waveney Valley. It is hoped that all businesses in the town and business parks will be listedgiving a very good overview of what is on offer. Our aim is to attract more people to work, live, shop andrelax in Beccles and the surrounding area, enjoying the uniqueness that Beccles and the Waveney Valley haveto offer.

A personal message from Christine Pinsent, Chair of BBTA – “We would like to take this opportunity ofthanking all the local community and visitors to Beccles for supporting the local independent retailers and for‘Shopping Local’. This is so important to the local economy, so please continue to do so and keep Becclesthe great place it is.” For more information please contact 01502 715771

16 17

Waveney Meadow

18 19

The Town Trail

The layout of Beccles is that of a typical medieval market town and much of the present road systemremains the same as it was some 500 years ago.

The Heritage Trail endeavours to include much of this aspect of the town, and to highlight our moreinteresting and historical features and buildings. Some twenty buildings have wall plaques, and thesemake useful ‘stepping stones’ for the Trail.

The Trail takes a circular route, with several optional diversions, so you can start at any point, but forconvenience it is starting and finishing in Old Market.

The suffix ‘gate’ in the road names simply means ‘street or road’, and not ‘gate’ in the more acceptedsense as found in a walled town.

Blyburgate – the road to BlythburghHungate – a corruption of HoundageBallygate possibly Baileygate – the way to the fortified part of townSaltgate – assumed to relate to the fishing industry which once flourished in the townSheepgate – was originally SheepmarketNewgate and Northgate are self explanatory

Much of the town’s architecture has a strong Flemish influence and many of the fine town houses haveGeorgian facades to what are, in fact, much older buildings.The Bell Tower is separate from the Church and was built some 150 years later than the Church. TheTower is a symbol of the town and can be seen from all the approach roads—it is open at certain timesthroughout the Summer. The cliff at the west end of the Church is a reminder that the river at Beccles istidal.

There is a booklet available at the Town Hall, the Tourist Information Centre and Beccles Museumoutlining the whole trail and pointing out areas of interest and background information.

The Trail is just over a mile long and can be completed in an hour, but of course, you might be longerwith a little bit of shopping on the way round, or an afternoon tea, a dip in the Lido, (found inPuddingmoor), a visit to the Town Museum (Ballygate) or a tour of the Church.

In 1974, due to Government reorganisation, facilities and functions which had been carried out by BecclesBorough Council were transferred over to Waveney District Council (WDC) for implementation, theMarket being one of these. The Borough Council was then renamed Beccles Town Council.

For many years Beccles Council had been applying to WDC for the return of the market and on 4th June 2008they were successful. The Beccles & District Regeneration Ltd (B&DR) underwent discussions with Beccles TownCouncil regarding their proposal to lease the Friday market for 5 years to enable them to carry out the day today running as, because of Charitable Status, funding could be sought for extra facilities for the market.

On 1st April 2009 the transfer to B&DR was completed and a Market Manager was appointed whoalong with the Directors of the Company, were successful in accessing badly needed funding from SuffolkCounty Council. The money granted was used for the installation of electricity pillars in New Market,administration costs for holding larger markets and the purchase of a market stall for renting out to traders.

The B&DR put in for a permanent Road Closure in 2009 but it took almost three years for this to be approved.In August 2011 the market was closed off to traffic from 6am till 4pm on Fridays, but this was an untimely eventas it unfortunately clashed with a dip in the economic climate and businesses in the town centre lobbied theTown Mayor for a change. Therefore, after public consultation was carried out it was proposed to re-openthe road to traffic from 9am until 2pm, allowing time for traders to setup and take down their stalls.

The market continues to expand and has a diverse range of goods available from the fifteen plus stallseach Friday. This is a vast improvement on the four stalls trading there before it was leased to the B&DR.There is plenty of room for parking for those who wish to stop and shop quickly.

The market is held every Friday from 8am to 4pm in New Market.

For further information call Mrs J Janney, Market Manager - 01502 712109 or admin@beccles.info

Beccles & District Regeneration LtdBeccles Charter Market

Beccles Town MapPFREE

PFREE

PFREE

PFREE

PFREE

P

P

P

P

P

Sir John Leman High SchoolIndoor Sports Centre

Albert Pye School

Library

PoliceStation

Roys

TescoSuper-market

MorrisonsSupermarket

CouncilRefuse Tip

To Lowestoft

To Norwich

Family Bargains

WDC Office

Bell Tower

Town Hall

Outdoor HeatedSwimming Pool

Tourist InformationPoint and HarbourMaster

Beccles Museumformerly Leman School

War Memorial

BecclesHospital &

HealthCentre

Waveney MeadowPlay Area

TennisCourts

Beccles Bowls ClubBeccles Sports Club

Beccles Skate ParkBeccles Common

& Golf Course

Railway Station

WC

WC

WC

River Waveney

Kings LynnNorwich

LowestoftThetford

Bury St Edmunds

Ipswich

BECCLESEly

GtYarmouth

THEAVEN

UE

MARSH TRAIL

Beccles Golf Club - Beccles Common

F ounded in around 1899 Beccles Golf Club is a great place to play,situated on Beccles Common it is a challenging course. Located onthe north side of the town it is accessed via Common Lane.

The Club itself is run by volunteers, apart from the part-time GreenKeeper who has transformed the greens back to their former glory throughhis own hard work and dedication. The course has 9 holes varying fromPar 3’s through to a Par 5, all laid out on what many call ‘an inland linkssetting’. Although there are no bunkers or water on the course, gorse isthe main obstacle and with small, fast greens makes regular coursemanagement a requirement for a good round of golf.

The Club is growing fast, not only the men’s section, but also over the last couple of years the Club has seenseveral ladies take up the game. The junior section has some talented youngsters and attendance growsthrough the summer months. The course is available for public use at a small green fee to cover the PublicLiability Insurance of the Club. Affiliated to the EGU and SGU the Club offers official CONGU handicapsto anyone who is a member. Competitions are held every week including handicap qualifiers and socialnights are held throughout the year.

The Club are most fortunate to have a PGA Professional Coach, Mr Martin Elsworthy. If you requirecoaching for beginners, or need to upgrade your skills, then call 07751100816. He has competitive rates andis flexible when arranging lessons.

The course is normally restricted to members on Saturday mornings for competitions and some Sundaymornings for junior coaching, which is open to non-members and children who just want to try golf for thefirst time. The Course is open from 8am till dusk, all visitors are welcome, but consideration must be givenat all times to other Common users.

For further information please contact Ray Walding, Club Secretary on 01502 712244 or 07789 633530.

The Club’s website address is www.becclesgolfclub.co.uk where you can find directions, information onfees, results and fixtures.

BECCLES

GOLF CLUB

1899

The first hole

V isitors to Beccles should make a beeline to Beccles Quay to saunter along the banks of the RiverWaveney along this green and very pleasant route. If you are interested in wildlife, fauna and flora,then this trail is for you. There are three walks available with differing lengths:

Green Walk 4 miles : 2h 30m

This takes you around the perimeter of the marsh following the river and thenupon reaching the Worlingham wall returning across farmland back to thebeginning at the bridge.

Red Walk 3 miles : 1h 45m

This takes you from the bridge, turning right at the Sailing Club and then backacross to the farm buildings joining the green walk back to the bridge.

Blue Walk 1.5 miles : 45 m

This takes you from the bridge, past the Sailing Club turning right and then acrossPuttock Hill and back to the bridge. This walk is suitable for wheelchair users andslow walkers.

If you wish to download a Marsh Trail leaflet, please go to www.beccles.info.Leaflets can be picked up at the Tourist Information at Beccles Quay (01502 713196) and the Town CouncilOffice, The Walk, Beccles NR34 9AJ, (01502 712109). Please note that the Marsh Trail is closed everyother Saturday between 1st October and 31st January as organised shooting is carried out by the localWildfowlers Club.

The Marsh Trail – Beccles Quay

22 23

The QuayB eccles Quay is set in beautiful tranquil surroundings. A place where you can enjoy relaxing walks

around the Quay area and, if the fancy takes you, carry on to the Marsh Trail running along theSuffolk/Norfolk border. You can stop to rest and enjoy the refreshments available at the Quay Café,

watching the Anglers and the world go by. There is a Snooker Club close by and during Carnival time inAugust the Fair comes to this area and there is always plenty to do then. There are many events held on thisarea including the Harvest Moon Free Music Festival in August, the Beccles Duck Race in September andsometimes the Circus in April/May. For further details of events log on to www.beccles.info

The River WaveneyB efore the first millennium, Beccles was a thriving fishing port, paying an annual tithe of 30,000 herrings

to the King. Built on a high promontory in the wide estuary which extended from north of Gt Yarmouthto Lowestoft, leaving an island, which today makes up these two towns. After the Norman Conquest,

the tithe was increased to 60,000 herrings; this became increasingly difficult to fulfil due to the silting-up andchanging sea levels of the estuary which was beginning to dry out. This enabled the River Waveney to beembanked and the land reclaimed and used for marshland grazing.In the 1830’s lock gates were installed at Oulton Broad, enabling coastal trading vessels to by-pass the fixedbridge at St Olaves and travel to Beccles. At this time the Corporation made improvements to the navigationand constructed the Quay as it is today.

The coming of the railways in the 1860’s affected the commercial trade on the river and hopes of Becclesbecoming an inland port were dashed.

The River Waveney is still the lifeblood of the area, with the navigation extending as far as Geldeston. Thetown supports a thriving sailing, rowing and fishing club. There are also two Broads hire yards and one-dayboat hire.

Crafts on the RiverWaveney Stardust Trust Ltd

W aveney Stardust, a forty-two foot [13m] broad-beamed single deck day cruiser, is wheelchairfriendly and has no steps to negotiate. Access is via a gentle ramp and a hydraulic platform lift.A disabled toilet on board is large enough for a wheelchair and a carer when necessary. Cruises

include light refreshments. Meals may be taken ashore at the many riverside pubs or a picnic consumed onboard. Qualified volunteers operate the cruiser, which is maintained to a very high standard for safety andcomfort, for the use of disabled and/or elderly persons with carers, friends and family.A small charge is made for each passenger regardless of age, status or ability. The minimum hire fee isequivalent to six passengers. Parties may consist of between 1 to 12 individuals of whom one or more needsto be either disabled and/or elderly.

Waveney Stardust has been in service for over 16 years.In the last 10 years 37,000 passengers have enjoyed tripsout covering 45,000 miles of the Broadland Waterways.To meet the ever increasing demands on this cruiser asecond boat was commissioned and “Waveney StardustII”, 45’ 9” was launched in October 2011 and is beingvery well used.

All cruises are required to be booked in advance. All day and evening cruises are available seven days aweek, with half days when the days are shorter at the start and end of the season 1st April to 31st December.All bookings are taken by telephone, 07817 920 502 and enquiries may be made via this number or byvisiting our website at www.waveneystardust.co.uk

Leaflets are available listing facilities and other information.

24 25

T o offer you the best time in Beccles during your visit the following events can be enjoyed during theholiday season. (For more information regarding these events log on to the relevant website or visitwww.beccles.info)

AprilWaveney Light Opera GroupGroup – WLOG – two performances April and OctoberBoth performances during the year are held at the Beccles Public Hall in Smallgate and are well advertised.The Public Hall has a booking office and information leaflets can be picked up at local locations in the Town.

History Walks – April through to JulyThese walks for all the family start in April through to July from the Bear & Bells public house in Old Market(please check to confirm start time as this does vary from time to time). All walks cost £4 for adult and £2for accompanied children and tickets have to be purchased in advance. For further information log on towww.beccleshelpinghands.co.uk

MayBeccles Cycle for LifeBeccles Cycle for Life is an annual sponsored charity cycle ride with varying distances from 7, 15, 25, 40 or50 miles! A prize of a bicycle worth £250 for the winner with 50% of the money raised being donated tolocal charities. The event starts at 10am at the Sir John Leman Lower School, Castle Hill, Beccles. For moreinformation log on to www.becclescycleforlife.org

Beccles Antiques Street Market – May and SeptemberOrganised by two members of the Beccles Business Association the Beccles Antiques Street Market is heldannually with over 90 vendors who will be offering a wide and varied selection of antiques for both dealerand collector. This event is well signposted on all routes, and ample parking is available. You will be able toenjoy locally produced hot and cold refreshments along with local traders who remain open during this event.Held on the first Bank Holiday Sunday from 8am-4.30pm in the town centre.All enquiries: Kate Lee 01502 711174/Christine Pinsent 01502 715771 or check the websitewww.beccles.info

Annual Events in BecclesJuneSpotlight Musical Theatre GroupSpotlight are all amateurs, but give amazing professional performances every time. They never fail to delighttheir dedicated audience, so be sure to bag your ticket as soon as you see the advertisement for anyforthcoming performances. For further information on future productions check www.beccles.info orwww.spotlight.org.uk

Beccles Hospital FeteBeccles Hospital Fete has been organised by the Rotary Club of Beccles for the past 50 + years taking overthe Hospital Grounds on the last Saturday afternoon in June. This event is traditionally opened by the Mayorof Beccles accompanied by the Rotary Club President. The grounds are packed with stalls from many localorganisations with games, cakes, bouncy castles and plants. Parravani’s famous ice-cream is available, the BecclesCarnival Queen and Princesses are in attendance and the Beautful Baby Competition is always well supported

AugustBeccles CarnivalA very important date in the Beccles social calendar, this event has been running for many years, originallyin conjunction with the Regatta Sailing week and is held during the third weekend in August. The Carnivalused to run over four days, but due to a drop in attendance and the cost of the fireworks, changes wereimplemented to cut costs and now the event is over one weekend with the Carnival parade being held onSunday afternoon. There are always lots of competitions, stalls, and family entertainment going on at BecclesQuay, and this is the place to go during your stay. Go to Google and type in Beccles Carnival for furtherup-to-date information.

SeptemberBeccles Duck Race – Sunday 1st September 2013This is an extremely enjoyable family fun event and should not be missed! Many hours of work go into thisevent (as in all events) with many hundreds of ducks being sold in the run-up to the day! Corporate duckssponsored by businesses and the Town Council are painted and preened and set loose on the river. Awebsite has been established (just Google Beccles Duck Race). Information Leaflets will be available and asthis causes such a ‘quacking’ stir in Beccles, the media will be advertising it fully. This is a large event, so makesure you get there early to park, or alternatively walk from the town centre. You can buy a duck on the dayand join in with everyone else who will be shouting their own little yellow peril hopefully to victory! This eventis held during the first weekend in September at Beccles Quay.

26 27

Harvest Moon Free Music Festival – Sunday 1st September (usually held the 2nd Saturday in August)This event was the brainchild of Beccles Community Arts, a group of local people whose aim is to put art, inall its forms, into Beccles. The event, in its 6th year, is usually held on the second Saturday in August from noonuntil dusk but for 2013 only is held along with the Beccles Duck Race. This event is growing in popularity as moreand more people get to hear of it. All you need to bring to this event if you wish is a picnic, chairs/blanket, familyand friends then relax and let the music take over. All artists perform free of charge and there is no entrance fee.Food and drink is available during the afternoon and there may be craft stalls selling their wares. The entertainmentis provided by local bands, some new, some well established, all playing their hearts out for you.

Antiques Market – 1st September 2013A very popular event held twice annually in May and September. This year it shares this day with the BecclesDuck Race and the Harvest Moon Free Music Festival both held at Beccles Quay. The Antiques Market is heldin the town centre, and caters for every taste with a diverse, eclectic array of items. There will be many visitorsin Beccles on this day, so get here early and park so that you enjoy all three events.

OctoberGhost Walks/History Walks – March to OctoberThese extremely successful walks take you slowly through the streets of Beccles with the guide relayingstories and folklore of ghostly events from bygone days. The walks are from March-October. The SpecialHalloween Ghost Walk will send shivers down your spine starting from outside the Bear & Bells public housein Old Market at 7.30pm. The History Walks are just as exciting and take you through the centuries revealingthe people and events of the way we were. All walks cost £4 for adults and £2 for accompanied childrenand tickets have to be purchased in advance. For further information please log on towww.beccleshelpinghands.co.uk.

NovemberLate Night Christmas Shopping Event—last Friday in NovemberThis attraction has become more and more popular over the last few years. Originally a late night shoppingevening with a few stalls it has turned into a wonderful, colourful event on a par with many larger towns. Thisevent is organised by members of the Beccles Business and Tourist Association with assistance from theBeccles Lions and the Beccles Helping Hands taking place on the last Friday in November. There are manyattractions during the evening with bands, choirs and displays, the format of this changing each year so thereis always something new. The local Parish Church is decked with holly around the many stalls you can findin there and the local shops open their doors (and some offer a glass of festive cheer). This occasion isalways started by the switching on of the Christmas Lights at 6pm, carried out by a ‘special guest’, turningthe town into a winter wonderland (yes, Beccles gets snow on this day). For further information contact01502 717417 or 01502 711174 or log on to www.beccles.info

Some Local Hotels and Guest HousesANGEL INN, THE High Street, Wangford, Beccles NR34 8RL 01503 578638

ARCHWAY COTTAGE 9 The Street, Geldeston, Beccles NR34 OL 01508 518056

ASH FARM B & B Dairy Lane, Mutford, Beccles NR34 7QJ 01502 476892

BRAMPTON DOG London Road, Brampton NR34 8EA 01502 575645

BUTTERLEY HOUSE Leet Hill Farm, Yarmouth Road, 01508 518301Kirby Cane, Bungay NR35 2HJ

CATHERINE HOUSE 2 Ringsfield Road, Beccles NR34 9PQ 01502 716428

EVELEIGH HOUSE 49 London Road, Beccles NR34 9YR 01502 715214

FAIRFIELDS GUEST Old Lowestoft Rd, Worlingham, Beccles 01502 476261HOUSE NR34 7PD

FLUFF COTTAGE 1 High Street, Wangford, Beccles NR34 8RL 01502 578997

HILL FARM HOUSE B & B London Road, Weston, Beccles 01502 711537NR34 8TE

ORCHARDS RETREAT Beccles Road, Raveningham NR14 6NW 01508 548322

ROSE COTTAGE B & B School Road, Kirby Cane, Bungay NR35 2HL 01508 518534

SALMON’S LEAP Beccles Road, Barnby, Beccles NR34 7QW 01502 476756

SALTGATE HOUSE 5 Saltgate, Beccles NR34 9AN 01502 710889

THE ANGEL HOTEL Thoroughfare, Halesworth IP19 8AH 01986 873365

THE CASTLE INN 35 Earsham Street, Bungay NR35 1AF 01986 892283

THE KING’S HEAD New Market, Beccles NR34 9HA 01502 718730HOTEL (Wetherspoons)

THE KING’S HEAD 2 Market Place, Bungay NR31 1AW 01986 893583HOTEL

WAVENEY HOUSE Puddingmoor, Beccles NR34 9PL 01502 712270HOTEL

28 29

There are many pretty and interesting villages and market towns surrounding Beccles. Apart fromthose specifically mentioned below, Toft Monks, Geldeston, Mutford, Barnby, Aldeby andShipmeadow are well worth a visit.

Barsham – with its round-towered church and seventeenth-century parsonage form a lovely group set backamid tall trees. The churchyard is a wilderness and has been left as a wildlife sanctuary. A rector of Barshamwas the grandfather of Horatio Nelson. In 1806 a dreadful thunderstorm broke above the church andlightning struck through the east window, smashing the mullions and the mensa of the altar. Repairs weremade, and at the same time, the chantry chapel was restored and rededicated. In our own time there wasa worse disaster, when the thatched roof of the nave caught fire and the interior was severely damaged.Much of the detail was added this century: the stuccoed chancel ceiling of 1906, with its roses and lilies,the colourful rood canopy of 1919, and John Fisher’s exuberant stained glass of 1903, with its angels andbaroque swags of wild flowers.

The terracotta tomb chest of Sir Edward Eckingham (d. 1527) was made from the same set of moulds asthose of the Bedingfield monuments at Oxborough (Norfolk). The eastern exterior wall of the churchshould not be missed; it is covered entirely in flush work diamonds, a theme picked up and continued bythe window tracery. The design was probably the work of Joseph Fleming, rector from 1617 to 1636.

Gillingham – Peace has returned to this hamlet a mile from the Suffolk border at Beccles, with thecompletion of the bypass on the A143. Its three churches now lie along a leafy lane that was once thebusy Yarmouth road. The first church you see, climbing the hill, is the unusually tasteful Roman CatholicChurch, built in 1898, of brick, in restrained classical style. The second church, St Mary’s, lies a littlefurther north, and is an attempt to produce a copybook Norman church, built in 1858-9. The tiny navedisplays every type of Romanesque ornamentation, including fat, spirally grooved pillars in the style ofDurham cathedral. The interior is gloomy from the tiny splayed windows filled with Victorian glass but, evenso, the church has an atmosphere all of its own. The third church, All Saints, a hundred yards to thenorth, survives only as an ivy-covered tower, from where there are views eastwards to the JacobeanGillingham Hall.

Loddon – This small market town 7 miles north-west of Beccles, is now bypassed and peaceful, withmany good Georgian red-brick houses and a Gothic fantasy of a school built in 1857. These buildings linethe big square Market Place, with Holy Trinity Church to the east. The church is full of memorials togenerous patrons, among them one of Norfolk’s finest monuments, the figure of Lady Williamson (d.1684), carved in white marble by Joshua Marshall and an entirely realistic portrait of an elderly lady. LadyWilliamson was the biggest single contributor to the rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral after London’s GreatFire of 1666.

Beccles – a fine touring base Hales – A mile to the south-east of Loddon, is the village of Hales. The Church of St Margaret is a beautifuland unspoilt example of simple Norman architecture, consisting of a round tower, thatched nave and anapse, ornamented with graceful black arcading. Scarcely anything later than the 12th Century intrudes; eventhe few windows that were inserted later do not detract from the timeless atmosphere.

Raveningham – a mile east of Hales, consists only of the Hall and St Andrew’s Church. Extensive walledgardens and a large nursery specialising in rare and exotic plants surround the Georgian house. It is open inSummer. The Hall is the home of the Bacon family, and the Church is full of delightful memorial tablets thatremind us proudly and often, that the head of the family is England’s premier Baronet.

North Cove – Two miles east of Beccles, the five-acre Hall gardens, opened under the National GardensScheme, were planted in 1760; the surviving trees have now reached a considerable height. The NormanChurch of St Botolph contains numerous 14th Century wall paintings, including scenes from the Passion,which were touched up when they were discovered in 1874.

Worlingham – has a Hall built early in the 19th Century by Francis Sandys of Ickworth fame, described byNorman Scarfe as ‘perhaps the most beautiful house of manageable size in Suffolk’, but the inside is far morebeautiful than the outside. It is in a nice situation, with parkland and woodland going down to the Waveneymarshes (not open to the public).

Bungay and Halesworth – Both Market Towns which can be accessed very easily by private or publictransport. Both towns retain their traditional flavour with regular markets and events advertised in the local press.The Bungay Town Clerk can be reached on 01986 893148 and Halesworth on 01986 874527. Both willbe only to pleased to help you..

Lowestoft and Gt Yarmouth – These seaside towns are only 10 miles from Beccles and easily accessedthrough public transport. In both areas the beautiful beaches are signposted and have lovely esplanades andentertainment facilities.

Southwold – Close to Beccles is the very popular market town (and much filmed and photographed)Southwold, famous for its Adnam’s Ales and dray horses pulling the traditional carts. Sadly this wonderfulsight is no longer seen at Southwold due to modernisation. The Southwold Town Clerk can be reached on01502 722576.

Norwich – As Beccles is extremely close to the Norfolk border and the Broads, Norwich deserves amention. At only 18-20 miles away, it is our nearest city and has all the major retail outlets, as well as a finecastle (you would need to set aside a whole day for this). Norwich has a diverse purpose-built outdoormarket catering for every need as well as Clubs, pubs and cinemas at Riverside plus two large indoor shoppingareas Chapel Fields and Castle Mall.

30 31

HospitalsBeccles & District War Memorial Hospital, St Mary’s Road NR34 9NQ 01502 719800

James Paget, Gorleston, Gt Yarmouth 01493 452452

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital 01603 286286

Public ServicesAnglian Water, Emergency (Sewage) 08457 145 145Beccles Museum 01502 7 1 5 722Beccles Police Station, London Road, NR34 9TZ 01986 835300Beccles Town Council, The Walk, NR34 9AJ 01502 712109Gas EON (Emergency) 0800 1 1 1 999Citizen’s Advice Bureau, The Walk NR34 9AJ 01502 7 1 7 7 1 5Electricity EON (Emergency) 0800 0568090Essex & Suffolk Water 0845 7820111Health Centre, St Mary’s Road, NR34 9NQ 01502 712662Health Centre, Pharmacy 01502 7 1 7 2 7 8Job Centre, Hungate NR34 9TT 01502 714992Library, Blyburgate NR34 9TF www.suffolk.gov.uk 01502 714073Social Services, Suffolk County Council, Market Street, NR34 9AQ 01502 7 1 7 3 7 3Tourist Information Centre, Beccles Quay 01502 713196Waveney District Council Local Office, Market Street, NR34 9AQ 01502 7 1 3 1 1 3Waveney District Council, High Street, Lowestoft NR32 1HS 01502 562111

Local Banks and Building SocietiesBarclays Bank plc 23C New Market, Beccles 0845 7 5 5 5 5 5 5Halifax Building Society 5 Market Street, Beccles 0845 2 0 3 0 4 0HSBC Bank plc 3 New Market, Beccles 0845 7404404LloydsTSB Bank plc Exchange Square 0845 3000000Nat West 1 Smallgate, Beccles 0845 7888444Nationwide Building Society 1 New Market, Beccles 0845 2661144

Useful InformationPlaces of Worship

Beccles Baptist Church - Minister Dr Derek Johnston 01502 715553Station Road, NR34 9QQ www.becclesbaptistchurch.co.uk

St Benet’s Minister - Father Martin 01502 7131 79St Mary’s Road, Beccles NR34 9NR

Methodist & United Reformed Church - Minister E Bosse 01502 470815Hungate, NR34 9TT www.hungatechurchbeccles.org.uk

New Life Christian Fellowship - Minister Mr J Girdwood 01502 713067Sir John Leman High School, NR34 9PG www.beccles-christian-fellowship.info

St Michael’s Church - Minister Rev J Beauchamp 01502 71231 7The Walk NR34 9AJ

St Luke’s Church - Minister Rev J Beauchamp 01502 71231 7Rigbourne Hill, NR34 9JH

Salvation Army 01502 71323564 Blyburgate, NR34 9TA

Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) 01502 71237915 Smallgate NR34 9AB www.norfolk-quakers.org.uk

32 33

Kilbrack is now a welcoming open space; a home to a variety of birds and insects. Mature trees, flowering shrubs, rose hedge and spring and summer flowers all help tocreate a peaceful place, attractive to people, and an inviting habitat for wildlife. Lime trees produce blossom which attracts bees during the summer months.Horse-Chestnut, well known for producing conkers, are also home to a host of insects which in turn bring a variety of bird life.Oak trees host almost three hundred different insects as well as producing acorns.The Willow tree grows well near water. Here it is beside the drain which follows the route

river Waveney. The Ivy that covers it is a source of food, and protection, for bats, butter-flies, and birds as well as snails and insects.Birds who visit frequently include gold crest, robin, thrush, blackbird, wren, collared dove, jackdaw, tawny owl, great tit, and blue tit.Bats also are regular visitors during summer evenings, mostly little pipistrelle who take advantage of the variety of insects.Spring bulbs, snowdrops, crocus, daffodils and blue bells have been planted recently adding to the existing floral display of lords and ladies, herb robert, aconite, celandine, daisy, cow parsley, nettles, dandelions and various lichen growing on the old grave-stones.

Early in the 19th

enough to cope with the number of burials. The Norwich Diocesan Records show that “ in the reignof King George III it was resolved that the Rector and Churchwardens being possessed of a piece ofland containing one acre(more or less)situated at Blyburgate Street in Beccles” should beconsecrated as a burial ground.A local farmer, Benjamin Smith, was given notice to vacate the land once his corn crop had been harvested. The ground was prepared and a small, square, brick Chapel built by local craftsmen.On Friday September 26th in 1823 the Lord Bishop of Norwich, Henry Bathhurst, consecrated theChapel and the burial ground. Among those buried here are Benjamin Smith(d.1827) who oncefarmed the land; Thomas Woodruffe, who built the Chapel and erected the iron railings; Thomas

Iron railings enclosed the whole area. Two large iron gates graced the entrance from Blyburgate, the same entrance used today by those using the footpath across Kilbrack. Over four hundred peoplewere buried here, their graves marked by a great variety of monuments, tombs, angels andheadstones. The headstones now standing in one corner are all that is left to remind us of thirtyyears of Beccles history.In August 1854, a court meeting in Buckingham Palace officially closed both Kilbrack Cemetery and

Kilbrack CemetryCOOPER OF BECCLESIn the early 18th Century Edwin Cooper was a local sporting artist pat-ronised by some of the aristocrats of the time, including Lord Paget and Sir Thomas Gooch of Benacre Hall. Though he was born in Bury St Edmunds, he spent most of his adult years in Bec-cles and became known as “Cooper of Beccles”. One of the Norwich School of painters and an hon-orary member of the Norwich Society, his interest and talent was in painting race horses, hunters and hounds. The race-course at Great Yarmouth was a favourite place of his.

He painted the family hunters and coursing greyhounds bred by Sir Thomas Gooch. In May 2000, when the art treasures of Benacre Hall were auctioned, some of these were sold for large amounts of money, including one of Sir Thomas on his Shooting Cob and another of his beloved Pointer Dog.

Sporting Magazine said of his work; “the power and symme-try of the horse and the instinct of the dog are everywhere preserved with animation”.

It was also said that he would “paint a picture for a pint of port”. Drinking and gambling may explain why he died in poverty in January 1833 at the relatively young age of 48 years.

Edwin Cooper is buried here in Kilbrack.

KKilbb kk CC ttKKilbbraackk CCeemmettryyof King GenoughEarly in

George III itto cope with

ththe 19

was resolveh the number

d that the ReTr of burials.ector and ChThe Norwich

hurchwardenDiocesan R

s being possecords show

sessed of a pw that “ in the

piece ofe reign

Mature treeKilbrack is

es, floweringnow a welcom

shrubs, roseming open sp

hedge and space; a home t

pring and sumto a variety of

mer flowers af birds and ins

all help to sects.

I th

COOl 18th

OPER OOF BECCCLES

local fAconsecrland conof King G

, Benjaarmerated as a buntaining oneGeorge III it

amin Smith, wurial ground.acre(more owas resolve

was given no

or less)situated that the Re

otice to vaca

ed at Blyburgector and Ch

ate the land o

gate Street ihurchwarden

once his corn

n Beccles” ss being poss

n crop had b

should besessed of a p

been

piece of

which in tuHorse-CheLime treescreate a pe

urn bring a varestnut, well kns produce bloseaceful place,

, g

riety of bird lifenown for produssom which at, attractive to

,

e.ucing conkersttracts bees dpeople, and a

g p

s, are also homuring the sum

an inviting habp g

me to a host ommer months.bitat for wildlife

of insects

e.p

the aristronised sporting Cooper wCentury In the ea

ocrats of the by some ofartist pat-was a localEdwin

arly 18th

farmed tChapel aOn Fridaharveste

Thothe land;and the buriaay Septembe

The groued.

oodromas WAal ground.

in 182ther 26nd was prep

fe, who burufAmong those23 the Lord Bpared and a s

uilt the Chapburied here

Bishop of Nosmall, square

pel and erectare Benjam

orwich, Henrye, brick Cha

ted the iron rmin Smith(d.1y Bathhurst,pel built by lo

Thorailings;827) who onconsecratedocal craftsme

masnced theen.

averiver W

The WillowOak trees

The Ivy t.eney

w tree grows whost almost th

that covers it

well near watehree hundred

is a source of

. Here it is beerferent insedif

f food, and pro

eside the draiects as well as

otection, for b

in which follows producing ac

ats, butter-

ws the route corns.

in Bury SThough BenacreThomasPaget antime, inc

St Edmunds,he was born

e Hall. s Gooch of nd Sir cluding Lord

were busame enIron raili

ried here thntrance usedngs enclose

;

eir graves md today by thed the whole

marked by a gose using th

wo laTTwarea.

,

great varietye footpath aarge iron gat

p

of monumencross Kilbractes graced th

p

nts tombs ack. Over fouhe entrance

angels andr hundred pefrom Blyburg

g ;

eoplegate, the

Bats also adove, jackdBirds whoflies, and b

are regular vis, tawny owdaw

visit frequentlbirds as well a

sitors during swl, great tit, aly include goldas snails and i

summer evenind blue tit.d crest, robin,insects.

ngs, mostly li

thrush, black

ttle pipistrelle

kbird, wren, co

who take

ollared

NorwichBeccles”known acles andadult yeahe spen

School of ”. One of the

as “Cooper ofd becamears in Bec-t most of his

AugusInyears ofheadstowere bu

st 1854, a cof Beccles his

The henes.ried here, th

ourt meeting.story

adstones noeir graves m

in Buckingh

w standing imarked by a g

am Palace o

n one cornegreat variety

ficially closeof

r are all thatof monumen

ed both Kilb

is left to remnts, tombs, a

brack Cemete

mind us of thiangels and

ery and

rty

stones., cowdaisy

adding to tSpring buladvantage

, nettlparsleythe existing flobs, snowdrop

e of the variety

es, dandelionoral display ofs, crocus, dafy of insects.

ns and variousf lords and ladfodils and bluf

s lichen growindies, herb rob

ue bells have b

ng on the oldbert, aconite, cbeen planted

-gravecelandine, recently

horseswas in pinterest Norwichorary mepainters

hunters andpainting race and talent

, hisSocietyember of theand an hon-

stones.

of BenacThby Sir

He paint

course ahounds. horses,

cre Hall were auchomas Gooch. Inted the family hu

armoutYYaat Great -raceThe

hunters and

ctioned, some of n May 2000, whenters and coursin

th was a favourite

these were solden the art treasureng greyhounds b

e place of his.

fores

bred

preservetry of theSporting

Shootinglarge am

ed with animatione horse and the ig Magazine said o

g Cob and anoth,mounts of money

n”.nstinct of the dogof his work; “the

er of his beloved, including one of

g are everywherepower and symm

d Pointer Dog.Thomas on f Sir

eme-

his

Edwin C

years.poverty port”. DIt was al

Cooper is buried h

in January 1833 rinking and gambso said that he w

here in Kilbrack.

at the relatively ybling may explainwould “paint a pic

young age of 48 n why he died incture for a pint of

Hats for weddings and occassions

Coriander 37 New Market Beccles NR34 9HETel: 07747 796 796

Tel: 01986 893834Flixton Road, Bungay, Suffolk NR35 1PD

Trees, Shrubs - Pots - SlabsCompost & Sundries

Open Mon to Sat 9-5Sundays 10-4Café closed Mondays

Three WillowsGarden Centre & New Café

CAFE & SANDWICH BAR

Eat in...Mon-Sat 8.45am to 4pm

We serve freshly prepared, locally sourced, seasonal food.

Breakfast menu available until 11am.

A range of lovely home-made cakes and freshly baked scones.

Our delicious, wholesome daily specials are made to order.

Takeaway...Mon-Sat 8.45am to 3pm

Freshly prepared & generously filled sandwiches, baps & baguettes made to order.

Home-made deli salads, soups, cakes & bakes.

Buffet and Business lunch menus available.

Telephone Orders Welcome. 01502 710979

2-4 Market Row, Beccles

S

apr

E &&FAC

SSa-nMo...nittaEaylhsefrevreseWWe

ood.ffolaonsaes

avu anemtsfakaerB

hylevolofegnarA

R

md,

ABHICWNDAS

4pottom45a8.ttaecoursyllaocd, lerpaer

.m11ailtunelbaila

sed frnasekacdeameomh

R

ylh

n

hylevolofegnarA.seoncd sekba

oh, wiousiclideurO.rr.deo ortdeam

d &

Mo...yy.waayaekaTTaerpaeprylhserFr

msettuegba&psba

ilddH

m

sed frnasekacdeam-eomh

erasliacpesyildaeomseol

ic

3pottom45a8.ttaSSa-nwwidnad sellfiylousreneg&

.rdeo ortdeam

kb&kdl

ylh

,sehc

ai sldedeam-eomH

sseinusd BnatfeufffB

srderOeonpheleTTe01502 710979

oRteark4 M2-

ekba&seka, coups, sdsala

.elbailavausnemhcunls

.eomcleWWe

slecceB,ww,o

.s

NEWDISCOUNT

CARDSAVAILABLE

Have your computerrepaired and get £10 offyour next repair job.Ask for more details

Why not pop in and use our INTERNET CAFE

6A The Walk, Beccles NR34 9AJTelephone: 01502 218114sales@edgecomputersolutions.co.ukwww.edgecomputersolutions.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW WE ALSODO CALL OUTS?WHEREVER YOU ARE WE WILL COME TO YOU!!

COMPUTER & LAPTOP SALES � DELIVERY & INSTALLATION �ONE TO ONE TUITION � BUSINESS & CONSUMER SUPPORT �SERVICING � REPAIRS � DATA RECOVERY � ACCESSORIES �

VIRUS/SPYWARE REMOVAL � HELPFUL TECHNICAL ADVICE �NETWORKING � TV SALES � TV INSTALLATION & SET UP �

M A R T I N S T O R E Y O P T I C I A N Sopthalmic opticians & contact lens practit ioners

82 Northgate, Beccles / 01502 471915www.martinstoreyopticians.com

Glaucoma screening | Thorough eye examinations | Dry eye assessmentsContact lens fitting & aftercare | Visual field testing | 2 for 1 offers available

NHS? Visit us to register for our NHS list now!

Follow the Gillingham road towards Beccles Quay | just over the bridge | park at the quay

The Needlecraft Shop Ltd

Janet Holt & Joan Moore

2, Station Road, Beccles, NR34 9QQ

Tel: 01502 713543• Repairs to all makes by our qualified technicians• Full Class IV • MOT’s to petrol, diesel & gas vehicles• Hand picked quality used cars always available

• High quality bodywork repairs arranged

Unit 1 & 3, Gosford Road, Beccles,Suffolk NR34 9QP

Tel: 01502 711684 Fax: 01502 717848

Transport

Rail Enquiries: 0845 7484950There is a regular service to London (Liverpool Street) and intermediate stations via Ipswich andalso Lowestoft

Coach—National Express—Booking Line 0871 7 8181 78There is a daily service to London throughout the year

Bus Service—Anglian Bus 01502 711 109

Bus Service—First Eastern Counties Buses Ltd 08456 020121

(Please bear in mind that contacts for local transport change quite frequently. Please callthe transport helpline 01473 583358 if you are experiencing difficulty sourcing information).

Taxis:Goldline Taxis 01502 711611L & S (Airport) 01502 710666P J Taxis 01502 719718

P & S 01502 716629PC Travel 01502 710071

SATIS CAFE @EVERGREENS Garden Centre

CAKES BURGERS LITE BITES BIG BITES POSH BITES TEASBREAKFAST AFTERNOON TEA COFFEE SANDWICHES

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN! KEVIN & DAVID OF SATIS HOUSE HOTEL INYOXFORD HAVE OPENED A FABULOUS NEW CAFE AT EVERGREENS GARDEN

CENTRE IN BECCLES. JOIN THEM FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AFTERNOON TEAOR JUST A CUPPA & A SLICE OF CAKE!

Evergreens Garden Centre, Weston, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 8TTBookings - 01502 711147

OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY 9.30am–4pm SUNDAY 10am–4pmNEW OUTDOOR TERRACE!

www.familygardencentre.com

London Road, Weston

Beccles, Suffolk NR34 8TT

01502 712613

FORAS

Ferns

Bamboos

Perennials

Shrubs

Trees

We offer a

large selection

of silk flowers,

arrangements,

vases, gifts

and florist

sundries.

Arrangements

can also be

made to order

42a Blyburgate, Beccleswww.jewellery-room.co.uk

T: 01502 217896

C R A F T E D B Y L O C A L A N DB R I T I S H D E S I G N E R S

S T U N N I N GH A N D M A D EJ E W E L L E R Y

See our designer collections from Linda McDonald, Gemma Clarke,

Mila Jewellery and many more,or visit our on-site

jewellery repair workshopOur repairs services include:

Jewellery repairs • Cleaning & refurbishingRing sizing • Bespoke designs • Engraving

Watch servicing • Pearl restringing and much more...

J E W E L L E RH A N D M AS T U N N I N

B R I T I S H D E SC R A F T E D B Y L O C A L

R Y

Watch servicing • PeaRing sizing • Bes

ery repairsllJeweOur repai

jewellery ror visi

Mila JewellLinda McDon

See our design

D EN G

L A N D

arl restringing and much more...spoke designs • Engraving

• Cleaning & refurbishingirs services include:

repair workshopit our on-sitelery and many more,nald, Gemma Clarke,ner collections from

www.jew42a Blyb

T: 01

g

wellery-room.co.ukburgate, Beccles

1502 217896

g g

Saxons AlternativeTherapy Centre

•Aromatherapy•Reflexology•Reiki•Homeopathy•Acupuncture•Chiropody•Sports Therapy•Counselling•Hypnotherapy•Shiatsu•Ear Candling•Nutrition

•McTimoneyChiropractic &Beauty Treatments•NLP, EFT & BriefSolution-FocusedTherapy•Ayurvedic Medicine& Massage•Kinesiology•Bowen Technique•Chinese Acupressure

35 New Market, Beccles, SuffolkTelephone: 01502 717417www.saxontherapy.co.uk

AbsoluteBeauty, Hair,

Nails and Tanning

1-5 Hungate,

Beccles,

Suffolk,

NR34 9TT

Tel: 01502 714454Teresa RichesProprietor

BECCLESGOLF CLUB9 Hole Golf Course

Membership AvailableGreen Fees Welcome

Common Lane, Beccles NR34 9BXFor further information please contact the Secretary

Tel 01502 712244, 07896 087297

Golf: The Game to Play Beccles: The Place to Play

BECCLES

GOLF CLUB

1899

Bob Knights– Family Butcher –

BLYTHBURGH FREE RANGE PORKPrime Beef � Pork � Lamb� Homemade Sausages

� Ham � Salt Beef � Roast Pork� Tongue � Corn Beef

ALSO: Wild Boar � Venison � Ostrich

3a Market Street, BecclesTel: 01502 717145

RONIE’S CAFÉHOME COOKED FOODS

14 HungateBeccles

NR34 9TT

Tel: 01502 710457

Open Mon - Sat 9.00am - 3.00pm

MICHAELS CYCLESCYCLE REPAIRS & SERVICING

LOCAL COLLECTION & DELIVERYAll ages & budgets, including Probike,

Schwinn, Falcon, Claud Butler,Recumbents, Adult Tricycles,

BMX & Electric Bikes

Tel: 01502 717413Mob: 07789 205945

2 Smallgate,Beccles, NR34 9AB

1000’s of cotton and wool jumpersLadies’ separates

Labels include: Alice Collins• Tulchan • Emreco • Poppy

• Pomodoro and many more.

11 Blyburgate, Beccles

Tel: (01502) 716120(Early closing Wednesday)

Just JumpersSPECIALIST IN KNITWEAR

Colin Reeve plumbing & heating engineer

44 Puddingmoor, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9PLtel/fax 01502 710536mobile 07788 563683aquagasanglia@btinternet.com

PLUMBING + HEATING

AquaGas (Anglia) Ltd

AntiquesBLYBURGATE

27-29 Blyburgate

Open Tuesday,Thursday - Saturday

10am to 4pm

Tel: 01502 711174

We buy & sell antiques& collectables.

Free valuation &friendly service.

Ride ‘N’ DriveEQUESTRIAN SUPPLIES

One of the largest equestrian outlets on the East CoastStockists of Country Clothing � Footwear � Gloves etc.

Riding Clothes � Jodhpurs � Jackets � Show & TweedFootwear � Show Shirts � Ties etc.

Saddlery � Bridles etc � Driving Harnesses � ...it’s endless!

Horse Feeds from Allen and Page � Dodson & HorellSpillers � Baileys etc.

Very large selection of proprietory products � Hoof OilSaddle Soaps � Neatsfoot Oil etc.

Open 7 days a week, Monday-Saturday 8am to 5pmSunday 10am to 4pm

COME ALONG & BROWSE

Tinkers Lane, Henstead, Nr Beccles, Suffolk NR34 7LB

Tel: 01502 740771

Sunday 10am to 4pmSunday 10am to 3.30pm

Country Cards

Telephone 07798 718361 / 07786 708069Open 9am–5pm Monday to Saturday

We supply a wide range ofgreetings cards from 59pand all your party needs

BALLOONS FOR ALL OCCASIONS21A NEW MARKET, BECCLES NR34 9HD

The Fishmonger at No. 4For all your fresh and frozen seafood

requirementsNo 4 Smallgate, Beccles NR34 9AB

Open: Tue-Fri 9am–4pm, Sat 9am–2pmTelephone: 01502 713087

Email: thefishmongeratno4@btconnect.com

The Car ShopBeccles

Good Quality Partsat Discounted Prices

01502 71038528-30 Blyburgate,Beccles, NR34 9TB

MODERNSELFDRIVEDAY BOATSFOR HIRE

H. E. HIPPERSON LTDGillingham Dam, Beccles

Suffolk NR34 0EB

Telephone (01502) 712166

Marine Engineers & Boat BuildersMoorings SlippingRepairs Storage

Directors: J R Harrison N O Harrison

Builders &ContractorsThe Pound Yard, Pound RoadBeccles, Suffolk NR34 9DA

Tel: 01502 713563 Fax: 01502 711681Email: colin@crispcontractors.co.uk

Residential Commercial Agricultural

Built Environment Estate Management

Holiday Lettings Outside Auctions Auction Rooms

DURRANTSSINCE 1853

www.durrants.com01379 642233

Offices in Beccles, Diss, Harleston, Halesworth, Southwold and Mayfair Office, London

Auction Rooms at Beccles

Follow us on Find us on

DSINCE 1853