Elmswell Station Walk

Station walk - By Michael Anderton

Background

The villages of Woolpit and Elmswell stand either side of a shallow valley and were once linked by an old tramway used to transport

bricks from the brick kilns in Woolpit to the station at Elmswell. Although Elmswell is a working village with local industry combined with village life, this walk provides an opportunity to quickly get out into the countryside to gain access to some sweeping views across the central Suffolk landscape. The name Elmswell comes from the Old English words elm and wella meaning Elm Trees by the Spring (or well).

The railway came to Elmswell in 1846 when the official special train from Ipswich to Bury St. Edmunds passed through on the 7th December. The line was notable for its stations designed by Frederick Barnes and built by local contractors. The original station at Elmswell consisted of a single storey red brick building with fine Dutch gables and high chimneys on the north side of the track, but unfortunately this was completely demolished in 1974. Only the secondary building on the south side remains, now appropriately occupied by a travel agent. However, the full extent of the two platforms remain and are still in use for passengers to board the trains that now use this unmanned halt.

Walk Route

At the start of the walk stands the double faced village sign on Crown Mill Green, with each side showing a different period in the history of Elmswell. On one side the visit of King Henry VI in 1433 is depicted and shows the Lancastrian king being welcomed by

the Abbot of Bury St Edmunds. In the foreground is a Benedictine monk setting a snare for a rabbit, a former source of food that must have given Warren Lane on the walk some prominence. The other side of the sign shows the coming of the railway, the agricultural heritage of the area, the pigs that represent the Bacon Factory and the Almshouses, while St. John the Baptist's church appears on both sides. The sign was unveiled on June 30th 1995 and has a number of additional plates around the base recording other village events.

From the station turn right along Station Road to the junction by the telephone kiosk and village shop and then right on School Road. After about 150 metres and before reaching the Railway Tavern, turn left on Rose Lane, following the stony lane to the end and out to an area of open grass. Take the left fork to continue between fences leading to Church Road and crossing straight over to continue along Spong Lane. This section of the walk marks the original route of the tramway that once brought the produce of the Woolpit brickfields to the railhead at Elmswell.

Follow the end of the stony drive round to the right and then bear left by a tall laurel hedge to emerge out to the open field. Cross the field diagonally to the right where there is a good view across the A14 of Woolpit Church. Cross the second field, again diagonally to the right and heading directly towards the spire of Woolpit church ahead. To the right Elmswell's church of St. John can be seen standing guard on the high ground at the entrance to the village.

At the corner of the woodland turn left into the trees through a wooden barrier, following the path along the edge of the ditch on the left. This is the Kiln Meadow Wildlife Site (more details on the website at www.kilnmeadow.btinternet.co.uk), owned by Anglian Water the site is managed jointly by Elmswell Parish Council and Anglian Water. Cross a footbridge by the

corner of the sewage works and follow the footpath alongside a chain link fence to reach Kiln Lane. A Roman kiln was discovered here when the sewage works were excavated in the 1960s.

Turn left and follow the lane past Kiln Farm to Warren Lane, cross to the track opposite and follow this up to Warren Mill House, the white building that can be seen on the horizon. At the corner of the property take the path to the left, following the garden fence and hedge on your right. At the end of the property continue straight on along the field edge, following the electricity poles to reach the Wetherden Road. Turn right for about 100 metres, walking on the right and taking great care of the approaching traffic, turning left at a gate and stile into an area of grassland.

At the entrance is a notice, including a map, advising that this a Conservation Walks area and open to the public for recreation. The former arable land is being returned to grassland for grazing in the traditional manner without the use of chemicals. With the help of grant aid the landscape is being further improved by planting areas of woodland and improving the hedgerows. Public access is available over the whole area of land shown on the map and provides good links with the adjoining footpath network, although cattle may be found in the fields at times.

Bear left down across the open grass to a stile and footbridge in the corner, crossing a second stile to reach the next field. Continue in the second field along the left hedge and fence to a third stile in the corner leading to the third field. Follow the left hedge and fence again to eventually cross the final stile in the left corner by the railway fence. At this point the walk continues left along a section of permissive path along the field edge alongside the railway fence and leading to a bridge. However, there is a Public Right of Way across the railway and over cultivated fields if preferred.

At the red brick bridge climb the steps to the grass track and turn right to cross the railway, following the old lane on the other side, leading around to the left and on towards the village. At the houses turn left on a field edge path along the line of the garden fences. At the corner of the field at the railway fence turn right on a path between the fence and houses to eventually emerge on the Ashfield Road, close to the railway crossing and station at the start of the walk.

To complete your visit to Elmswell it is worth while visiting the parish church of St. John the Baptist standing guard on the side of the hill at the entrance to the village. Overlooking its neighbour across the valley, the spire of St. Mary's at Woolpit is quite a prominent feature on the other side. At the side of Elmswell church you will find a row of 17th century Almshouses with a commemorative plate on the wall. The following detail is given 'Sir Robert Gardner Kt. sometime lord of these manors of Elmswell and Woolpit founded this almshouse in ye time of his life anno 1614 and gave unto it sufficient maintenance for six poor women widows to continue for ever'.