Beccles, Suffolk

An ancient and historic market town, Beccles continues to thrive today. Situated beside the River Waveney the town benefits from its connection with the Broads waterways.

Its well-equipped harbour and pleasant Quay riverside frontage make it a very popular location for tourists, who can approach the town by river, rail, or road. The town has a busy and varied shopping centre, with a good mix of well-known chain stores, and independent specialist shops.

The town centre is dominated by the lofty bell-tower of St. Michael's church, dating from 1500 which has recently been renovated and now serves as a Tourist Information point. Guided tours are organised to the top of the tower which provides superb panoramic views over the beautiful surrounding countryside.

Another fine historic building is Leman House, founded as a boys grammar school in 1631 by Sir John Leman, who became a Lord Mayor of London. The building is now the town museum and features varied displays of historic material, relating to milling and malting, the river, printing, the railway, workhouse and prisons.

There is also a superb detailed model of the town as it was in 1841. Apart from the museum, the town is well served for the interpretation and preservation of its heritage by the Beccles Society, which also works towards the improvement of local amenities.

Market day is on Fridays, when the town centre is filled with colourful stalls selling local produce. A stroll around the streets reveals a wide range of architectural styles, dating from mediaeval to modern times, with some particularly fine Georgian facades.

Beccles Fen borders the town, and comprises marsh, wildlife, farmland, a common, and excellent golf-course. The area is particularly for walking and cycling, and the Beccles Marsh Trail has been established by Suffolk Wildlife Trust to provide varied routes to explore the countryside. Beccles has everything that an historic market town can offer, and more, combining a vibrant blend of old and new.

As the Town's Guide Book proclaims -
"Beccles is a town where visitors will find a warm welcome offered with a sense of fun!"

More information about Beccles can be found on the Beccles website

Waveney Valley Blog - www.waveneyvalleyblog.com

The Waveney Valley Blog was set up by Nigel and Susan Bedingfield and it contains very interesting facts and detail about this wonderful area in which we live. For those of you who do not understand what a Blog is then this is taken from the website

"Blog means a web log, which is a daily addition of information and media, it can be about anything, the Waveney Valley Blog is about everything to do with people and communities in the region, so anyone can use the Blog, either to add information or to seek information. The information can be factual as per community related information, photographic records of past and present, what’s on, or fictitious stories and yarns.

This Blog also features local business editorials that inform the regular browsers of the Blog about who can do what and where. Everything being added to the Blog is stored to create a library of information and interest, a web log that can be looked back on for research or amusement.

We hope this helps to explain it, and we look forward to receiving anything you would like to add."