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Congratulations Fressingfield -
winner of Mid Suffolk
Village of the Year 2008
and also finalist for
the Suffolk heat - Prue Rush, chairman of the parish
council, will receive the award at the Music Festival concert
on Thursday 25 September
The 4th Fressingfield
Music Festival
2008
Wednesday 24 to Saturday 27
September
Rural Ruminations
from Fressingfield
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Fressingfield is a pretty village in high Suffolk, 12 miles east of
Diss and the A140 and just 40 minutes drive from the coast at
Southwold. It has a population of over 900, a mixture of long
established local families, who have lived here for generations,
and a substantial number of people who have moved into the
area from London and the home counties since electrification of the
Norwich to Liverpool Street line in the 1980s.
The village is compact, at the junction of 5 roads, with shops,
churches, garage, medical centre and school all within easy walking
distance, with open countryside beyond.
It is still predominantly an agricultural community, mainly
arable, pig and poultry farming but although many small businesses
thrive in the village, many residents commute to local towns or
indeed to London for work. We have a real village community, with a
wide range of activities, making Fressingfield attractive to all
ages. The modern primary school, with its nursery unit, serves 130
children from this and surrounding villages. We have 2 toddler
groups and a private nursery for the under fives; also brownies,
beavers, cubs and scouts as well as thriving church youth
clubs.
For the slightly older, there are the Women's Institute, Mothers'
Union, Royal British Legion and over 50s Luncheon Club amongst
others. All welcome new members!
The Sports and Social Club provides a well stocked bar for its
regulars, as well as being home to the Bowls Cub, Tennis Club,
darts team and Friendly Club. Adjoining it are tennis courts, a
football pitch, bowling green and a well-equipped children's play
area.
We have at the moment 2 shops, the
Fressingfield Stores and The
Pottery. The modern medical centre houses 3 doctors and
attending team, a dispensary and a full range of clinics.
There are 3 lively churches in the village, with
Anglican, Baptist and Methodist congregations joining together
regularly under the banner 'Fressingfield for Christ'.
Fressingfield has long been known for good food
and drink. We once had 5 public houses. Today we are served by The
Swan Inn and the famous restaurant,
The Fox and
Goose, situated in what was formerly the Elizabethan
Guildhall. We even have our
own
vineyard!
Fressingfield is the perfect base from which to explore both
Norfolk and Suffolk. There is accommodation for visitors to
the area at
Priory House, Elm Lodge,
Oak Hill
Granary, Jolly Farmers,
Street Farm Cottage,
Gables
Farm and Chippenhall Hall,
Whitehall is a
recently registered, quiet and friendly caravan site, just
outside the village.
Many events take place regularly around us. Last year
we celebrated the third Fressingfield Garden
Festival and this September sees the fourth
Fressingfield Music Festival. Our Inter-Village Games
cater for the more athletic. We have 3 carol services at
Christmas time, an annual Ladies' Lunch and Ladies' Supper,
organised by the men of the village; also Men's Breakfasts, served
by the ladies, the School Christmas Fair and many fundraising
activities, including the reincarnation of the Fressingfield Fete
this year. The annual New Year's Day Sponsored Dog Walk has to date
raised more than £40,000 for Macmillan cancer relief.
We have a lively parish council, with 13 elected members.
Meetings are held at the Sancroft Hall, 7.30pm on the third Tuesday
of January, March, May, July, September, and November. Everyone is
very welcome. The town of Harleston, with many more
activities, is only 4 miles away.
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