Take A Leisurely Tour Around Little Bealings

This pretty village lies three miles west of Woodbridge along the beautiful Fynn Valley and is only six miles from the centre of Ipswich approaching along the Playford Road.

How to get here:

From Ipswich approach along Playford Road, past the Ipswich Town training ground, over the mini roundabout and turn left at the crossroads.  This road has open views across farmland.

From Kesgrave, take Hall Road, past Milsoms and go straight over the crossroads.

From Woodbridge, take Bealings Road beside the Red Lion in Old Martlesham. At the top of the hill, where the road goes over the A12 the name changes to Martlesham Road. This road is pleasantly bordered with mature trees and vegetation. At the crossroads, turn right.

From the crossroads, travel down the hill, through an archway of trees, over the railway crossing. On the left, the old station buildings are now home to the Mallard Business Centre.

Carry on down along The Street and you come to the bridge over the River Fynn.  This river was once wide enough to take small boats but is now a pretty stream flanked by tall trees such as Alder and Sycamore.

Look to your right beyond a fence, over a meadow, where there may be grazing cows or sheep. In spring, the vista is truly beautiful.  The trees, a melody of soft greens with the shapes of the topmost branches of oak, poplar and beech etched across the skyline. Travel on a little further and you come to Sandy Lane on your left. There on the corner is the former local hostelry, was previously known as the Admiral's Head, not as might be supposed named for Lord Nelson but Rear Admiral Pelham. The building dates from the 17th century and is one of the oldest in the village. In times past it was the focal point for the many farm workers to meet and relax after a hard-day's toil.  There is hope that this will one day be open to serve weary travellers. 

Venture a little way up Sandy Lane and there you will find the very popular Bealings County Primary School. Set in an old building of traditional design, this is a thoroughly modern school with a high academic attainment.

Go back into The Street, turning left, and hidden just to the right, is the eponymous Angela Cobbold Memorial Hall. Angela Cobbold regretted that there was no Church Hall but sadly, she died with her wish unfulfilled. Her mother bought the small piece of land nearly opposite the church so that the Hall could be built in memory of her daughter.

From here the road rises and there, on the left is All Saints Church. A row of splendid lime trees stand sentinel along its border. The Church is set most pleasingly at the base of a hill with the graveyard sweeping up behind it. This is a pretty unassuming little church with no airs and graces. Enter and rest for a few minutes; feel the tranquillity.

Travel on up the hill for a few yards to Holly Lane on the left and there on the corner, is Bealings Village Hall cut into the hillside set below the adjoining John Belstead Playingfield.

Turn left into Holly Lane. Look to the right where the most impressive view reveals a lacework of fields and trees in a palette of rich earthen colours.  Great Bealings church has no spire and is hidden behind the trees across the fields to the right. 

The view is lovely in any season and is very popular with landscape artists.

Author: Ferial Rogers

Updated: May 2021