Melton

Station walk - by Michael Anderton

Background

Melton station is on the East Suffolk Line, connecting Suffolk's two largest towns and forming a rough

dividing line between the coastal region and the rest of the county. The completed railway was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway in 1859 but faced closure during the cuts of the 1960's. Thanks to the efforts of local campaigners, the line was saved but these cuts signalled the end of manned stations. Access to the single platform is still available from the station forecourt but the building is now in private hands and is the premises of a very successful butchery business. The station also has the honour of being the nearest to the ship burial site at Sutton Hoo, recently opened to the public by the National Trust.

Walk Route

From the station cross the road and walk left on the roadside footway, turning right up Station Road

towards the church of St. Andrews, one of two churches in the village with the same dedication. This new church with its stone tower and spire was designed by the architect Fredrick Barnes, responsible also for, among many other buildings, the stations at Needham Market and Stowmarket. As the early village expanded towards Woodbridge, the old church was left some distance from the centre and rather than restore and enlarge it, the parish decided to build a new one at the centre of the village. Inside you will find the original sacrament font, brought from the old St. Andrews church in 1860.

Turn right up the footpath to the right of the church, this starts as a stoney track and becomes a grass path between hedges. At the junction at the top of the rise turn right, walking along the backs of the houses and through the trees to the next path junction. Turn left up the slope between the trees to an open field and then along a wide field edge path, following the line of electricity poles.

At the brow of the hill Melton Old Church can be seen ahead and Bromeswell Church across the river to the right. The path eventually becomes a track and continues out past the drive to Decoy Farm to reach the road; turn right and follow this reasonably quiet road into Uff

ord. There is an opportunity to take the path across the golf course on the left if you prefer to get off the road and risk the flying golf balls, the path runs in a straight line diagonally across to join the road on the other side. However, to visit the redundant Melton Old Church, continue along the road to the first bend, the church and large graveyard are beautifully maintained by the Melton Old Church Society.

The church has been out of use for over a century but the burial ground is still in use as can be seen by the recent graves. Inside is a collection of seven World War I crosses, returned to England with the remains of the dead and normally destroyed when replaced by permanent crosses.

Continue along the lane to the Post Office in Ufford and turn left on the roadside footway at the road junction. Turn right to the church, opposite Ufford Place, this area abounds in old buildings and interesting sights such as modernised almshouses, thatched cottages and outside the church gate the 18th century whipping post and stocks have been preserved.

Enter the churchyard through the kissing gate and follow the path to the right of the church. The church is usually open and provides an opportunity to visit its famous 15th century carved wooden font cover, at over 18 feet in height, it is said to be the most beautiful in the world. When William Dowsing, the Suffolk Puritan iconoclast, visited the church in 1643 he was so impressed with the cover that he spared it from too much damage.

Continue past the church door to another kissing gate in the corner of the churchyard. This grassy path between railings and fence leads out to the village street close to the White Lion pub, turn left and follow the road to a red brick bridge over the river, just after the speed derestriction signs.

On the other side of the river turn right over a footbridge and follow the riverside footpath to a stile. Bear

left along the left edge of the meadow, keeping parallel to a watercourse on the left, to reach a substantial footbridge with steps and a stile at each end. This gives access to the railway crossing point and another stile and narrow footbridge on the other side to reach the field edge.

The recorded route of the public right of way goes diagonally right across the field to a footbridge that can be seen on the other side, cross the bridge and turn left along the field edge to reach a grassy track.

Turn right along the track, which is lined with cricket bat willows, to reach the road in Bromeswell, turn right and walk to the first junction. Turn right on Common Lane, passing the cricket bat works entrance, and on towards the A1152 road. Just before the lane rises to meet the road turn right on a footpath through the trees and reed beds. This path is on a boardwalk through the reeds and may be a little

overgrown at certain times of the year but can be avoided if necessary by keeping to the road and following round to the right.

Turn right over the Wilford Bridge and past the Wilford Bridge pub to reach the Melton Riverside picnic site. There is an information board here with details of the wildlife habitats and the local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The path along the riverside offers views across the River Deben and down towards Woodbridge. Continue along the roadside footway and across the railway to return to the start.

Thank you for taking the time to explore this walk. We would love to hear your comments about this site and about your day out.

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