Halesworth & its Facilities

Halesworth is a charming market town just 8 miles inland from the popular coastal town of Southwold and the Suffolk Heritage Coast. Very conveniently located between coast and countryside as well as fantastically well placed to explore the region.

Stable End Cottage is only 10 -15 minutes walk from town so no need to worry about drink/driving if eating out!

There has been a community at Halesworth for 1000 years or more and it was an important centre for malting and brewing in the 19th century. There are many fine buildings including Elizabethan Almshouses and the town has a charming mixture of architecture and a quintessential Englishness. The River Blyth is home to families of ducks that like to waddle about the streets. The Town Trail has been devised as a gentle walk taking in the various places of historic interest. Railway buffs may be interested in the Stations’ unique moveable platforms.

A couple of miles from Halesworth is Holton Airfield, one of many WW2 airfields in the region. There is a Museum on the outskirts of the town and the town hosts regular ‘nostalgia’ visits by visiting former US aircrew and their families.

To quote from an article in The Sunday Telegraph under ‘Vanishing Britain’ which, while not actually naming Halesworth, is clearly recognisable to those who know it…!
“…It is not big, probably with a population of a few thousand, but has a decent shading of light industry on the outskirts, so something gets made here. At the first roundabout is the inevitable supermarket but not of a size to vacuum up the entire high street.
What did I notice first? Pride. Can you remember when you last saw this in a small town? There was no graffiti here, not even in the public lavatories.
A large framed notice stood in the high street on which not just the architectural features but every shop was listed and located. I passed the barber’s. He had arranged a window display of his old implements, the long razors and the clippers. I called at a health food store, one of those rare interesting ones stocking booze. The owner, a Spaniard, had organic sake for sale. There seemed to be no chain stores.
Two Chinese takeaways and one Indian. An old coaching inn with an Italian menu put up by someone who clearly knew Italian food. A decent independent off-licence. A good second-hand bookshop. A wonderful Sue Ryder.
And old lanes which had not been straightened into brutal geometry but which wandered as they had always wandered, past crinkle-crankle 18th century walls to a river where there were ducks and a garden that had been allowed to run wild. Nothing had been imposed on this little town…”.
Byron Rogers

Facilities in Halesworth

Although a small community of 6000 people or so, Halesworth is well served by rail, has a local hospital and a surprising variety of eating-out places.

• A good range of small shops for everyday food & household purchases inc a Supermarket, Delicatessen, Organic Food Centre, and a weekly open-air market
• Parking
• Two late-night general stores inc video/DVD rental
• A 17th century Coaching Inn now the Angel Hotel and 2 Public Houses
• A good choice of eating out inc. at the Public Houses and the Italian restaurant at the Hotel and the Wine Bar. Also 2 Chinese Take-Aways, 2 Fish & Chips, a Kebab House, a Thai Restaurant. Several tea/coffee venues.
• Small local Hospital and Surgery. Chemist. Vetinerary Surgery. Opticians.
• Barclays, Lloyds & HSBC Banks. (Nearest Nat West Bank in Beccles).
• Hairdressers / beauty salons / tanning & toning centres
• Art Gallery, Museum & Arts Centre
• Independent wine merchant
• Library
• Cyber café
• Train station & taxis
• Churches (CoE, RC, Methodist, UR)
• Golf course
• Tennis courts
• Equestrian Centre
• Trout lake
• Skateboard Park

Good walking for dogs.
Footpath maps available at Stable End Cottage.