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

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

John With Son Conner Experiencing The High Performance Driver Training

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last weekend John, along with his son Conner to part in Car Limits – The High Performance Driver Training on North Weald Airfield, Essex.

Alongside their instructor, Andrew Walsh, Conner concuered the high speed bend experiencing both under-steer and over-steer. He learnt the skills to correct them and improve his steering. On the day he learnt balanced and trailing throttle, left foot braking, heel and toe and even how to control the rotation of his car and get it back inline from 90 degrees!

With an amazing choice of cars on the day: Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Lotus’, BMW’s, Aston Martin’s, Jaguar’s. Conner’s chosen vehicle, the Ford Mustang GT.

Check out the photos…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”12549,12550,12551,12552,12553,12554,12555,12556,12557,12558,12559,12560,12561,12562,12563,12564,12565,12566,12567,12568,12569,12570,12571,12572,12573,12574,12575,12576,12577,12578,12579,12580,12581,12582,12583,12584,12585,12586,12587,12588,12589,12590,12591,12592,12593,12594,12595,12596,12597,12598,12599,12600,12601,12602,12603,12604,12605,12606,12607,12608,12609,12610,12611,12612,12613,12614,12615,12616,12617,12618,12619,12620,12621,12622,12623,12624,12625,12626,12627,12628,12629,12630,12631,12632,12633,12634,12635,12636,12637,12638,12639,12640″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Fox Fest 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This weekend was the first ever Fox Fest Suffolk at Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich. We couldn’t have asked for better weather and Pete was down there on the day checking out the trucks and classic cars on display.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”12527,12528,12529,12530,12531,12532,12533,12534,12535,12536,12537,12538,12539,12540,12541,12542,12543,12544″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 8

[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]Yet another sunny warm day, and the first of May, 2007, meant a further foray into the Suffolk countryside was in order.

I set off at about 10 o’clock on what was to turn out to be a 35 miles round trip to the south of the A1120 road.

An unusual feature of this tour was the fact that all five churches were open, although it looked for a time that I had drawn a blank at the very first one. This was Kettleburgh, and to say that it is not easy to find is an understatement!

There are clues like “Church Road”, but no sight of the church until you venture down a private lane that eventually opens out into grassed areas used as camping sites. I drove across one of these fields to get the photograph, and then found there were workmen with lorries busy on the churchyard path. Without trying the door I asked if the church was open and they said it was kept locked. I sat on a bench to read my Cautley and then one of the men came and found me to say that the church was in fact open after all!

One noticeable absence was that of the Commandment Boards – listed in Cautley and also in the church guide. You could see where they normally hang because they had been painted round (!) on the last occasion the walls were done – I hope they haven’t been stolen, and also that I am not number one suspect!

Some of the woodworking is very similar in style to that at Worlingworth, both being  from Stuart times.

After a chat with a camper about the Cortina, and a visit from some curious geese, I made my way back onto the public roads system.

Next stop was Easton church, which, if approaching from the north, is found by going westward, right round the crinkle-crankle wall, with a very pleasant footpath into the grounds.

This has some extraordinary if not unique features, including a private entrance for the owners of the mansion, and canopied and screened pews within the chancel for them too!

Some excellent brasses – look under the carpet for the two earliest (1426 and 1584) near the right-hand side of the alter rail.

This is a very pretty spot and well worth a visit.

Back onto the road past Easton Farm Park in search of Leatheringham church.

The entrance is again obscure, involving turning onto a well-rutted track, and then crossing a field before parking up and walking the last 20 yards. I should think this is well-nigh impassable in winter but the many weeks without rain meant there were only the undulations of the ruts to worry about.

I also took a picture of it from the “main” road, looking back across the fields.

This church is a sorry remainder of what was once a mighty establishment, with even a purpose-built gatehouse approach (still standing) from a now disappeared route, and a flourishing Priory. After the dissolution of the Priory the church gradually fell into neglect and was a total ruin before being restored to its present form – albeit without reconstructing the chancel. All the impressive carved memorials etc have gone apart from a few relics, but you could still imagine what this place had once been.

There is a good notice board showing a drawing of how it was at its peak.

Charsfield had the distinction of being the most “on the main road” of the five churches, and it was not possible to get a very long view, so I parked off the roadside by a field and took the picture – St. George’s flag still flying.

This brought out a couple of chaps from the house opposite who politely asked me what I was doing. Discussion turned to the forthcoming Car Show near Blytheburgh, and it turned out that one of them had a classic of his own – a brute of a car with a ridiculously large engine, so I acknowledged “No Contest!”, and went on my way to the church!

There were attractive brick features, clearly Elizabethanish by date, and the font has a wonderful image of a saint holding a church building in his left hand. I also liked the Norman slit windows in the north and south nave walls.

Back in the car I now proceeded south before taking a right turn onto a beautiful little road that runs along the top of the ridge, overlooking Charsfield and its church:

Inevitably, as I was parked up for this shot a car came along, and it just managed to squeeze past this side of the Cortina. However, this was not to prove the tightest squeeze of the day! (Edit: Notice how short the rape is and how late it is compared with the same crop nowadays, 10 years later in 2017.)

Losing myself in the beautiful countryside and sunshine a little too much, I rather neglected my usually meticulous awareness of where I was with reference to the Ordnance Survey map, and although I reached my intended final church, Monewden, without having to turn back anywhere, it turned out not to be from the direction I had planned, causing me not a little confusion at the first crossroads I reached after I had moved on from Charsfield!

I could see nowhere off the road to park, so squeezed up to the churchyard hedge in order to take the photo* and then entered the church. I had met no traffic for the last few miles and in any case a car could get by reasonably easily in my judgement.

However, I had hardly entered the church when I heard the sound of an approaching lorry – and it sounded big!  I dashed out just in time to see the lorry miss scraping down the side of the Cortina by a whisker!

Somewhat agitated by this experience, I returned to the church, did a very quick look around, bought the guide book, and legged it back to the car and away!

* Footnote:

The more alert reader will have noticed that there is no picture of Monewden church. I discovered this error when editing the series in November 2013. It seems I will have to go back there again one day – I hope the lorry doesn’t!

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Out to Framlingham. Leave Framlingham on the B116, but turn right before the narrow bridge on its outskirts, signed Kettleburgh.

After Kettleburgh church continue west to the crossroads, then left (south-east) to Easton village.

After visiting the church, retrace slightly before bearing left towards and past Easton Farm Park. After a byroad joins from the left, look for the Church sign and so turn left – follow the signs and along the track to the church of Leatheringham.

Back to the road and continue west, and then left (south) to Charsfield.

After the church, continue south but take the first right turn. Eventually a T junction appears – turn right. Monewden church appears quite soon in the distance.

Return via Earl Soham and Bedfield.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Last weekend in Aldeburgh

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Donna, a good friend of Bridge Classic Cars was enjoying a nice day out in Aldeburgh last weekend when she saw this fantastic collection of Morgans.

Thanks for sharing with us.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”12444,12445,12446,12447,12448,12449,12450,12451,12452,12453,12454″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Refurbishing the MOT workshops

Over the bank holiday weekend we closed the doors here at Bridge MOT Centre for work to commence on refurbishing the workshops.

The dirty white walls have been stripped and power washed and refinished in the new Bridge MOT colours.

We’ve applied acid etching to the floors to bring up the years of dirt that has built up and the floors will have a new lick of paint too.

Throughout the refurbishment business is open as usual so there’s no need to delay in getting your car booked in.

Call 01473 743033 or email info@bridgemot.co.uk