Communities steeped in history - Connected for centuries
Wickham Market & its Villages
Explore the heritage towns and thriving small historic villages around Wickham Market in Suffolk – never far down the country next lane, but always so charmingly different.
So close to the coast & more
Wickham Market is close to Framlingham and Orford Castles, riverside Woodbridge, Leiston near Sizewell and less than 30 minutes’ drive from the popular resort of Aldeburgh. The Deben Peninsula and coastline, heaths and forests nearby are designated areas of National Landscape.
Well-connected by road & rail
Conveniently located near (but not on!) the A12, Wickham Market village has its own train station, located at Campsea Ashe. ‘Katch’ demand responsive transport (additional to scheduled bus services) supports residents, visitors and walkers, linking the village with its station and communities on route to popular destinations in Framlingham and Snape.
Wickham Market
The large historic village of Wickham Market has regular markets, a range of essential shops, services and a supermarket, plus a variety of places to eat and takeaways.
The thriving, proactive community has a wide range of sports, social and support clubs as well as programmes of events at venues throughout the village including The George community pub and activities room.
Directory Community Useful Info Clubs & Groups History See & DoCampsea Ashe
2.5 miles east of Wickham Market
So is it Campsea Ashe? Campsea Ash? Or Campsey Ashe? On road signs, timetables and maps, the jury’s still out on the ‘correct’ spelling of the village home of Wickham Market station!
The traditional auction house ‘sale’ is a popular weekly meeting place, and there’s history around every corner – Ashe Abbey and Ashe Park (private residences), St John the Baptist’s Church and friendly café and meeting rooms, Station House. The village has a pub and shop.
Hacheston, (Marlesford & Parham)
2.2 miles north (and north-east!) of Wickham Market
Hacheston (and Lower Hacheston) edge Wickham Market and like their village neighbours, Marlesford and Parham have fine churches which are definitely worth a visit. The wildlife area and play equipment at Hacheston village hall are popular with families and Marlesford’s farm shop and café are firm favourites with foodies. Don’t miss out on a walk along Parham heights down to the church, or the fascinating wartime museums at Parham’s historic airfield.
Little Glemham, (Blaxhall & Snape)
3 miles north-east of Wickham Market
Straddling the A12 and edging Tunstall Forest, Little Glemham is dominated by Glemham Park which hosts popular outdoor events from classic car or country shows to antiques fairs in the shadow of private house, Glemham Hall.
George Ewart Evans immortalised the rural farming communities of nearby Blaxhall in ‘Ask The Fellows Who Cut The Hay‘ – their songs are still to be heard in the village’s popular ‘folky’ pub. Don’t miss stained glass by Margaret Rope in St Peter’s, Blaxhall’s mysterious ‘growing stone’, or detour to Snape Bridge, home of Britten Pears Arts at Snape Maltings.
Easton
2.5 miles north-west of Wickham Market
The charming Victorian estate village of Easton is renowned for its ‘olde England-styled’ cottages including thatched round houses, but its serpentine wall steals the show. Once encircling the Scottish Duke of Hamilton’s fine Queen Anne mansion, the 2.5 mile (4 km) wall is possibly the longest of its kind in the world. The mansion was demolished in 1924, but look out for its stable block (with thistle weather vane) and be sure to visit All Saints’ church.
The Victorian ‘model’ farm is now a super family-friendly farm park with accommodation.
Letheringham
4 miles west of Wickham Market
There’s something truly timeless about this little village by the River Deben with its moated farmhouse manor and long barn alongside the watermill and cluster of cottages by the tiny triangle of village green. Head up to its higher ground for some impressive history at the Priory Church of St Mary founded in 1194, including a brick Tudor gatehouse in the churchyard wall, and a Norman archway (inside the church) which once led to the priory cloister.
‘Akenfield’ villages
3-6 miles west of Wickham Market
‘Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village‘ was written by Ronald Blythe in 1969 and followed by a film loosely based on the book. Both evoked the trials and outwardly perceived idyllic nature of rural farming life. ‘Akenfield’ was partly based on Charsfield village near Wickham Market. Over time, the area’s undulating landscapes together with its other rural villages – Monewden, Hoo, Kettleburgh and Brandeston – have become known as ‘Akenfield Country’. Don’t miss Monewden’s untouched hay and wild flower meadows – Martin Meadows Nature Reserve!
Pettistree
1 mile south of Wickham Market
If you love food, plants and fascinating nuggets of history, you’ll love Pettistree. Check out the cool café at the former coaching inn. Pick out a pot or two at the impressive Suffolk Plant Centre. Or dine out in possibly the oldest pub in Suffolk, believed to have been a guildhall. The village has quirky cricket connections, a moated triangular green and lonely brick dovecote, plus traces of Anglo-Saxon settlement patterns – part of the ancient Manor of Byng which was granted a market charter almost 200 years before Wickham Market!
Ufford
2.5 miles south of Wickham Market
Another Deben Valley village of two halves, with Lower Ufford leading down past Tudor and thatched houses to the fine Church of St Mary the Assumption and the river. The village has links to the Earls of Suffolk – the rich and powerful Ufford family – dating back to the 1300s. Don’t miss the magnificent carved pew ends or the towering font cover inside the church – or the village stocks by its gate! Housing plus a golf course, spa hotel and even a crazy golf course now fill the parklands of Ufford Place, a stately hall demolished in 1956.
Rendlesham
6-8.5 miles south-east of Wickham Market
Close to the River Deben, ‘Old’ Rendlesham is the rural home of the hugely historic St Gregory’s Church, near lands believed to be linked to the Anglo-Saxon warrior king buried in a ship at Sutton Hoo. The legacies of a former American airbase make up ‘New’ Rendlesham. A Cold War Museum is located on the airfield which edges the expansive Rendlesham Forest. A firm family favourite, the forest has play equipment, camping and waymarked bike and walking trails – including one sharing sites where UFOs were seen!
Plan your visit – Enjoy exploring Wickham Market
Nearby Attractions
Must-sees near Wickham Market
GETTING ABOUT
Maps & Need to Know Info
CYCLE ROUTES & RIDES
In & Around Wickham Market
WALKS & TRAILS
In & Around Wickham Market
PLACES TO STAY
In & Around Wickham Market
PLACES TO EAT & DRINK
In & Around Wickham Market
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
In & Around Wickham Market
