Stonham Barns – Classic Car Show 2017

Stonham Barns presents Classic Car Show – Sunday 20th August 2017.

Gates open 10:00am until 4:00pm

Entry £7.50 per person – Exhibiting Drivers and Under 5’s FREE

The Classic Car Show is a returning esteemed show, which Stonham Barns is very proud and thrilled to be hosting.

The show is going to be a wonderful day out for all the family with an abundance of things to do and see throughout the day.

Come and see the 100’s of Classic Cars, bikes and trucks that will be at the show; along with Car Club Owners Stands, auto jumble, trade stands for you to browse around, numerous food outlets, bars, fun entertainment and children’s play zone.

Everyone is welcome to come along for the day, whether you are a classic car enthusiast and want to view the beautiful cars, a family wanting to try something different for a day out or someone wanting to show your car for the day, the organisers would love to see you!!

Dogs are welcome on the day as long as they are kept on a lead.

Stonham Barns look forward to welcoming you to the Classic Car Show.

Click here to download/print the Stonham Barns Classic Car Show 2017 leaflet

Check out our diary of events for 2017. If you have an event that you wish for us to include in our event schedule (whether it be car related or not) drop us an email on info@bridgeclassiccars.co.uk.

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 11

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A fine day was promised on May 8^th 2008 and so it turned out to be. Jane was away looking after Jamie, our first grand-son, so I put the dogs in their box and prepared for another adventure in the Cortina.

I set off quite early and headed off towards my first thatched Suffolk church – at Thornham Parva. It was open.

This is a beautiful church inside with a number and variety of notable features.

A visit should be a “must” on anyone’s list, and yet it has taken me four years to “pop down the road” to visit it!  I have driven past a few times, but never stopped to go in.

The wall-paintings are very striking, reminiscent of Worlingworth, and the famous retable is resplendent, protected now by a clear screening, and it is amazingly well-preserved, being 700 years old. It was rediscovered in a stable loft at Thornham Hall in 1927, having been taken out of the church at the dissolution of the monasteries.

A short distance to the north brought me to Yaxley church – a fine building in this now by-passed village. Again, it was open, and I was enjoying today’s venture.

It boasts one of the best “guides” for any church I have come across – twelve sides with many illustrations, yet not expensive – well done Yaxley!

Inside there is a Sexton’s Wheel – unusual nowadays -, and some lively carvings and metalwork. I also learned here that the old tradition was for the men to sit in the north nave, and the women in the south nave.

All of today’s churches are to be found on the lower eastern edge of Ordnance Survey Map number 144, and you can see it is again only a short hop via the busy A140 to my next church – Thrandeston.

Nicely located and away from the houses of this small hamlet, this church was shut because of the need to restore parts which had become dangerous. Perhaps I will see inside another time. Outside on the west wall was an interesting stone carved inscription showing the name Sulyard quite clearly still. I have cut and pasted the following.

John Cornwallis [Parents] was born in 1491 in Brome Hall, Eye, Suffolk, England. He died on 23 Apr 1544 in Ashruge near Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England. He married Mary Sulyard.

Mary Sulyard was born in 1491 in Otes, High Laver, Essex, England. She died in 1544 in Essex, England. She married John Cornwallis.

I then headed north-east towards Stuston, but not before stopping to take a picture of this warning sign.  Sadly, I saw no toads!

I have frequently by-passed Stuston church on my way to Diss –  it is down a narrow track – and was relieved to realise that I was actually making this pilgrimage at last.

However, as I approached the church it became clear that I was going to draw a complete blank here because most of the nave roof was off, and there were builders’ lorries etc blocking the car park. It did not seem fair to take a picture of the church in this state, so I resolved to visit some time in the future when it is all finished. Strange that their nave roof restoration coincides with our own chancel roof restoration at St. Mary’s, Worlingworth.

I crossed the A140 and took the Stradbroke road towards Oakley. I found that the church was up a long hill, away from the village, with no houses nearby. Evidence of Plague Pits recently discovered half-way up the hill suggests that the remaining villagers moved to a new location when the plague devastated the population living around the church – this might well be worth researching further.

The church stands in glorious isolation and deserves a good congregation. Even though Munro Cautley was not taken by anything inside, it has a very good south porch of two storeys, with lovely depictions in glass which are well worth the visit alone.

There are a lot of trees in the churchyard and I could not get any closer than this for my picture, without driving through the gates into the churchyard. The car looks great as usual, although my reflection looks like one of those toads I was to look out for!

Coming past Brome Hall, where Sir John Cornwallis died in 1544 – see Thrandeston above – Brome Street hamlet stops, and then, a little further on, Brome itself begins.

In St. Mary’s Brome is the tomb of Sir John and his wife – Mary, nee Sulyard. The guide here states that she went to live at Thrandeston after his death, but my research showed she died the same year as he did – this may need more clarification, although she could have died very soon after him.

Before I could get out my car I was inspected by the resident (noisy) peacock!

This is an interesting, round-towered (Saxon) church, with another very good leaflet.

As I left, I got into conversation with an “old boy”, and his reminiscences nicely rounded off a very enjoyable tour.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]From Worlingworth through Redlingfield to Eye. Turn left at Eye onto the B1117 and cross the A140 to Thorham Parva.

North from Thornham Parva along a country road and then right at the junction towards Yaxley.

From Yaxley, retrace towards Mellis and turn right just before Mellis at the village green. Right at the T junction into Thrandeston.

Continue east to regain the A140, taking the next left off the main road (B1077) towards Stuston. Its church is first right, down a track.

Regain the B1077 going north and turn right at the roundabout. Take the right exit (third) at the next roundabout, and then first left onto the Stradbroke road (B1118) towards Oakley. You will see Oakley church on the hill on your right – take the unpromising right turn before you arrive in Oakley.

From Oakley church, continue to a right turn and follow the road round into Brome.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

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When Bridge Classic Cars went to Le Mans 24hr

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It is one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world and Bridge Classic Cars were lucky enough to attend this year’s event. Known as ‘The Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency’ the 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest active sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, France.

Source: 24 Hours of Le Mans Official Website

Wednesday 13th June 2017

10am to 3pm – Fringe events – Pitwalk – Anyone with a pit walk ticket can wander around the pits all day and take a look at each team’s set-up for the race. Meanwhile, the mechanics continue working on the cars to get them ready for the practice and qualifying sessions.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”19281,19280,19279,19278,19277,19276,19275,19274,19273,19272,19271,19270,19269,19268,19267,19266,19265,19264,19263,19262,19261,19260,19259,19258,19257,19256,19255,19254,19253,19252,19251,19250,19249,19248,19247,19246,19245,19244,19243,19242,19241,19240,19239,19238,19237,19236,19235,19234,19233,19232,19231,19230,19229,19228,19227,19226,19225,19224,19223,19222,19221,19220,19219,19218,19217,19216,19215,19214,19213,19212,19211,19210,19209,19208,19207,19206,19205,19204,19203,19202,19201,19200,19199,19198,19197,19196,19195,19194″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 10

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the promise of sunshine and above average (for February!) temperatures, I decided that the time was right to get the Cortina out for the first time for many weeks and take a further trip around the churches of Suffolk.

I was apprehensive about whether the car would start, but she burst into life on the third attempt, as was usual after a long lay-off. A quick polish of the dustiest panels and I was on my way south-east through Framlingham to Parham, the first port of call.

Someone was doing a little masonry repair to the tower floor, and we passed the time of day. I spent a long time here and there were a couple of items I had never seen in a church before, including a very old charity collecting box chained to the altar rail.

From Parham I travelled south to the rural village of Marlesford.

This has a very attractive setting and I was just able to drive between the gates and up the pathway for a good picture. This was another example of a large church with huge grounds, pretty full of graves, yet in a rural setting now containing few houses.

On my way out of this village, the O.S. map showed a stream which had to be crossed whichever of the two exit roads were taken. I discovered that the road I had chosen did not attempt to bridge the stream – instead, the stream ran across the road in the form of, appropriately enough, a ford!

Having negotiated this safely, I popped out of the car to take a picture of our adventure!

FORD – it is amazing that this scene is only half a mile from the busy A12.

Rendlesham church north aspect, the damaged wall, and the “stuck-on brake lights”

Crossing the A12, I took the back road to Campsea Ashe and parked on the corner.

I think I have been inside this church before – Cautley has little to say about it, and so have I.

By now you may have noticed that in several pictures the brake lights appear to be on. I did not spot this until I loaded up the pictures. On spotting it I went out to the car but the brake lights were not on (good), even with ignition on (good), even with the engine started (good). However, when I looked again next day I realised that it is the reflector segment which appears lit in the photos – probably reflecting back the flash.

Anyway, back to the tour. The next stop was to be Rendlesham – another church stuck out in the countryside, away from the fast-growing town which bears its name.

As I took my first pictures a man approached from the drive of what I assumed was the Rectory and asked if I was the insurance man! He then realised I was taking a picture of the church, and not of his ancient wall (see picture) that had been knocked down accidentally the day before by a reversing delivery lorry.

When I arrived at the church door I found it was locked, but he had disappeared by then and so I never did see the interesting features of the interior that Cautley describes in his book – a shame.

Rendlesham church north aspect, the damaged wall, and the “stuck-on brake lights”

Rendlesham was the southern limit of the journey and I turned north-east onto the A1152 towards Tunstall.

The church here has a magnificent appearance set lengthways along the B1078, but try as I might I could not see where to park. I can only assume the congregation park where I did in the end – along the church wall on the relatively busy B road.

After this church, I turned north towards Blaxhall and was immediately faced with a choice – right to the village or left to the church, helpfully named Blaxhall Church road.

Fortunately I had already studied the map and realised that yet again this was going to be a church now far removed from the village that gave it its name. This one was about a mile away in rolling countryside!

Surrounded by agricultural fields the setting of this church is difficult to surpass – it is beautiful.

I nodded a greeting towards two fieldworkers nearby. They turned out to be eastern Europeans, a sign of the times, and it seemed somehow incongruous to hear them talking in their native tongue in such a very English and historical setting.

This was an interesting building and the roof inside was a key feature.

This was my fifth open church out of six – exceptional for these times, and I wondered if my luck could hold. Sadly it didn’t, for the next and final church was Little Glemham, set in the grounds of Glenham Hall, and suffering the very common fate of such buildings in being firmly locked against visitors!

The return journey, by the back road to Parham and hence to Framlingham, concluded the four-hours trip.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]South-east out of Worlingworth through Little Saxtead Green, crossing the B1120 going south into Framlingham and on towards Parham on the B1116.

Left at Parham to the church, then continue forward through country lanes to Marlesford.

South out of Marlesford to cross the A12 on country lanes to Campsea Ashe.

Right past the church going south towards Rendlesham.

On from Rendlesham to join the A1152, going east.

Continue to Turnstall and the church, then double back and strike out to the north taking the church road to Blaxhall church (not village).

On, then first left, first left again and look for Church Lane on the right after a little way  – the hidden Little Glenham church is concealed up this track.

On to the A12 – turn eastwards onto it. First left; first right; first left; leads back into Parham. Turn right onto the Framlingham road and home.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

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Our award winning Austin Morris Mini

Here we have the collection of trophies from our award winning Austin Morris Mini. Time to give them all a good clean and polish.

A Rare Find – Rover Metro Cabriolet

Believed to be one of only 100 produced, this lovely little Rover Metro Cabriolet popped in to see us at Bridge MOT today.

Source: AROnline: Read the full article on the Rover Metro Cabriolet

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 9

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During our recent post on our visit to Morston Hall we mentioned meeting Bernard and his wife who had, at home, a Mk1 Ford Cortina.

Bernard told me as a part of his retirement that he travels around Suffolk and visits our churches and photographs his car with the church and writes about the experience.

We are very pleased to be able to share with you their fascinating story. All of the experiences you read of below are from Bernard Butler. Bridge Classic Cars do not claim ownership in any way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina – by Bernard Butler”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the promise of a sunny morning in 2007, I set off early to explore the churches due east of Worlingworth.

The first three were often passed on trips to the seaside, but I had never stopped to go in any of them before.

Peasenhall was the first stop – scene of the dreadful murder of a maid at the beginning of the last century. I found access to be confusing, as although there were two roads passing either side of the church, neither had any direct access to the grounds, so I took the first picture as best  I could from one of these roads.

Eventually I realised that a tiny track, just wide enough for a vehicle, led to the church gate, and took my second picture.

This church, as with all five today, was open.

The most interesting feature was the file record of the churchyard, which also contained all the grave inscriptions. This is an invaluable record* as many can no longer be read easily. One in particular referred to a man who carved his own headstone in wood (before he died of course!).  When I found it in the churchyard it was seriously decayed and no legend was readable any more, but it was a poignant reminder of  “dust to dust,  ……”.

Leaving the village of Peasenhall towards the east, the road rises in a long curve to a peak upon which was build the church of Sibton.

Set in beautiful surroundings, it is now some distance from any habitation and is one of those churches which has very little furniture. It reminded me of Laxfield in that it had a large open area in the nave. There were several items of interest as referred to in Cautley’s book. I walked round the building outside and some of the views of the surrounding countryside were timeless.

* Worlingworth church has recently completed a similar document record of all the grave inscriptions to add to its map of all grave locations.

I continued east on the very old road that was a once a very busy main through-route for many centuries, and arrived at Yoxford.

On arrival, the area from which I wanted to take my photo was fully occupied by other vehicles, so I turned up the road alongside the church to take my first photo. As I did so, a car pulled alongside and we had a short conversation about the Cortina.

Having taken the picture, I could then see that I could now move the car to my intended spot, so I took another picture.

On entering the church, for the first time today I was not alone, as there were two ladies loudly discussing arrangements for some forth-coming event. This slightly cramped my style, but I was able to get around the building and note the brasses for which the church is well-known.

I now joined the main road north towards Great Yarmouth, but quickly turned off (too quickly as it turned out) in my search for the tiny village of Darsham. After consulting the map, I realised what I had done, and – like the 3 Kings – arrived “by another route” into a most picturesque village scene.

Parking up in front of the church, I was met by a resident with the old comment yet again “We had one of those”!

This church contains some very interesting inscriptions on the floor memorials and was well worth the detour.

My final church was north to the other side of the A12, to Bramfield.

Once again my navigation was suspect and in the village I overshot the required turning, but when I eventually arrived outside the church – what a surprise!

Here was a round tower – unusual in Suffolk in itself – completely detached from and askew to the beautifully thatched church.

This was truly the gem in the collection today, and is a must to visit. There are several unusual features, including a magnificent monument from the early 1600s, but the crowning glory is the superb original and unrestored rood screen – Cautley describes it rightly as “the loveliest in Suffolk”.

I took two pictures – one to show the tower (not open), and one to show the thatched roof of the church.

After a very enjoyable morning I took the beautiful country road to Walpole, and then returned to Worlingworth via Stradbroke.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]East out of Worlingworth to Saxtead Little Green and hence to the A1120 going east.

Through Dennington to Peasenhall, Sibton and Yoxford.

From Yoxford I joined the A12 going north but quickly turned off, taking the next right exit after the B1122, towards Westleton.

Fiddled through to Darsham and turned left to arrive outside the church.

Continued west out of Darsham and thus back to the A12, and turned right onto this main road.

Second left (A144) for the fast approach to Bramfield.

In Bramfield, I turned left at the crossroad signposted Walpole, and the church is on the right after a few yards along here.

Continued to Walpole and turned left onto the B1117 towards Stradbroke and home.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

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