Neighbouring Villages of Saxmundham

Saxmundham is surrounded by a number of villages. For any visitor to the area it's useful to know what's around, especially for interesting day trips to take a stroll around the countryside.

Kelsale Cum Carton

This village is located north of Saxmundham, and comprises of two hamlets: Curlew Green and Dorley's Corner. The Parish Church of St Mary includes a beautiful pulpit that dates back to 1631, as well as a statue of Samuel Clouting created by Thomas Thurlow from Saxmundham.

In Carlton Park is the former home of Richard Garrett II, who is buried in the churchyard.

Rendham

Rendham is located three miles to the west of Saxmundham, and was home to a number of notable characters. The clockmaker from Saxmundham, Jerome Bright, attended the church there, and many generations of the family are buried in the village.

The poet George Crabb was once rector of the parish church of St Michael, which is where he wrote poems including The Borough. The subject of this poem was the opera Peter Grimes, by Benjamin Britten, and a local artist, Maggi Hambling, is currently creating a sculpture based around the composer.

The River Alde, flowing through Rendham, was also the location of an important find in 1907. A boy, swimming in the river, came across a bronze head which had been part of a statue of Roman Emperor Claudius. The British Museum now owns the object, and state that it may have originally been located at Colchester. There are a number of theories as to how it got from Colchester to the River Alde in Rendham!

Benhall and Sternfield

These villages are connected to the south of Saxmundham, separated by the river Fromus. There is a local church that is open to visitors in Benhall, including a Jacobean pulpit. The church in Sternfield includes a painting of Christ Healing the Blind Man, by Benjamin West.