|
Welcome to the Walberswick Parish
Council website |
Walberswick
lies on the South bank of the River Blyth, a ferry's ride
from Southwold. It is tucked away at the end of the B1387, amidst a
thousand acres of coast, heath and marshland listed as an Area of
Outstanding Natural
Beauty.
The ferry, which takes people across the Blyth in the summer
months, is rowed by the fifth generation of the same family. There
is also a foot and cycle path where the old railway ran across the
bailey bridge - but the only way by car to Southwold is back up to
the A12 and through Blythburgh, making a trip of some seven
miles.
From the 13th Century right up
to the First World War, Walberswick was a busy port trading in
fish, cheese, corn, bacon and timber. Over the 15th and 16th
centuries, the village has had three churches in succession.. The
surviving one, St Andrews, is tucked into the old ruins of a much
larger church which demonstrates vividly how prosperous the village
must once have been. Silt and the ever-changing coastline caused
the decline of fishing and trading; and today's village is growing
increasingly concerned about its existing sea
defences.
In the C19th the romantic
ruins, the pretty village, the river, the beach, the surrounding
marshes and the open skies attracted many artists - the most
well-known being Philip Wilson Steer and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
There is still a thriving artistic community whose members exhibit
regularly in the village and some of the better known galleries
further afield.
The
village attracts summer visitors and half the houses are holiday
homes. There
are
shops, galleries, tea-rooms and two pubs. The summer fete on The
Green and the British Open Crabbing
Championships in August are immensely popular and
give generous support to various charities including St
Andrew's church and the
Sea Defence
Group.
| |