Wickham Market

Station walk - by Michael Anderton

Background

Travellers stepping off the train at Wickham Market station to visit the small town must be quite confused to find that they are

in the village of Campsea Ashe, some 2 miles from their intended destination. But that is indeed the case because Wickham Market Station is in the centre of the village of Campsea Ashe, no doubt because of the route chosen by the surveyors and railway builders back in 1859 when the line first opened. The importance of the station to the area can be seen by the long platform on the other side of the track, large station building, now a private house and the other remains of works, sidings and buildings that would have once been part of this busy country station complex.

The walk explores the minor roads and paths between the station and the town, providing a series of loops to explore.

Walk Route

From the station turn right over the railway bridge, using the verge as much as possible to avoid the traffic on the road. At the e

arly 14th century parish church of St. John the Baptist turn right through the churchyard and walk through to the gate in the wall at the rear. The village sign featuring the ash tree that gives Campsea Ashe its name, Campsea being a field or enclosure, is a short way along the road to the left. Opposite the churchyard gate is Smithy House and the former village blacksmith's forge.

Turn right along the lane and, 350 metres after passing the entrance to Chantry Farm, turn right through a gap in the hedge on a cross field Bridleway. Head for the other side of the field to a point to the right of Copperas Barn Farm to join a track ahead. Continue straight on along the track to reach a railway bridge at the end and, after walking under the bridge, bear right along the right fork of the road.

Ignore the kissing gate at the first path on the left and walk on as far as The Oaks. Turn left through a wicket gate and follow the path down through the trees. The wood contains a wide variety of mixed woodland, including scattered exotics like copper beech and laburnum, more commonly found in gardens and parks. Walk on past a f

ourway path junction to another gate at the bottom of the wood and cross the footbridge with white railings over the River Deben.

Continue straight on over a second footbridge to join a wide field edge path heading up towards Wickham Market. Turn right at Fowls Watering and follow the track to turn left through an underpass below the A12 dual carriageway. At the other side follow Mill Lane straight up the hill, passing the base of the old windmill on the left at Mill House. At the junction with Chapel Lane turn right to the High Street, turning right again past the Post Office to reach Market Hill, the original market square.

Wickham Market was once an important town on the old London to Yarmouth coaching route, it takes its name from the Old English 'vicus' and 'ham' meaning a settlement or possibly a dairy farm. At the top of Market Hill stands the red brick former White Hart Hotel, once providing for the needs of travellers passing through, but sadly no longer in use as an inn. The Domes

day Book records the name of the settlement as Wickham, the word Market was added at a later date when the town became a trading centre for the surrounding communities. Before a bridge was built the road crossed the River Deben via a ford and a settlement developed to eventually grow into the small town that sits on the hill today. Technically Wickham Market is not a town, even though it has a population of nearly 2500, as it is only served by a Parish Council.

For the return route, walk through the churchyard of Wickham Market's All Saints Church to reach the gateway in the churchyard wallat the rear leading to a path ahead between hedge and railings. At the row of Suffolk white brick cottages at the end turn left, following the narrow path between fence and hedge to eventually reach a kissing gate. Follow the path with care between barbed wire fences to reach a stile, then across a section of meadow to another stile leading out to Spring Lane on the other side.

Turn right down the lane and, at the junction, turn left to walk under the A12 again via the underpass. At the other side turn left along a track to reach the River Deben and turn right along the wide riverside path.

With its source west of Debenham, p

robably on Mendlesham airfield, the river runs for about 32 miles to discharge into the North Sea at Felixstowe Ferry. Flowing through this unspoilt countryside, it slowly meanders through a wide shallow valley to Wilford Bridge where the river becomes navigable for the last 12 miles to the sea. This lower section provides a wonderful tidal waterway for recreational boating for craft of all shapes and sizes.

Follow the river to reach a wooden footbridge and, after crossing, turn left over the main bridge over the River Deben and on through the wicket gate to the fourway junction of paths in The Oaks. Turn left through the trees to reach a stile and turn right up the steps close to Quill Farm. Follow the path between fences to reach the farm drive and turn right to reach the road junction. Continue straight on along Mill Lane,

walking into the village centre and the junction with the B1078. Walk on past the Dog and Duck Inn to return to the start at the station.

The Dog and Duck Inn was formerly the Talbot Inn, named after a 15th century black and white hunting and tracking dog, used by the Talbot family on their coat of arms. The spotted dog is still shown on the new pub sign. Other refreshment is available from the Village Post Office and Stores, some 400 metres along the B1078 road towards Wickham Market.

Thank you for taking the time to explore this walk.

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