Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 7

[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]

Chapter 7

Hoping for no decommissioned churches today, I set off on a glorious autumn morning (November 4^th, 2006) to take in four more churches in the region north-west of Halesworth.

The car was running nice and quietly after its recent service and the replacement of most of the ignition side (including, at last, the coil), and we made smooth progress to the first church at Chediston.

Munro Cautley has plenty to say about this church and there are a number of interesting aspects, not least the altar rails which look 20^th century in style but are actually early 17^th century!

North for a mile or two took me to the lovely church of Wissett where I was pleased to get the only parking space with a good view of the tower!

I met a lady doing the flowers and she told me that carbon-dating had recently confirmed the tower to be of 11th century construction and that it was now believed to be the oldest parish church round tower in the country. It looked glorious in the sun and was incredibly well made, standing perfectly upright and true.

The north doorway is a delight, and so easily missed without a guidebook, and there is a strange staircase to the rood screen (now gone of course) which starts with a door over seven feet off the ground!

The next church was not easy to find – or at least not if you have pre-set ideas of what you are going to see! I thought I was heading for All Saints South Elmham.

Now All Saints South Elmham is obviously a village named after the church of All Saints, but the ordnance survey map showed no church in the village. The nearest one was to the south, and marked as being in the grounds of Abbey Farm, so I guessed this must be it. I whizzed over the river before checking the map again, and then realised that the farm was just before the bridge, not after. Turning round, I could see the farm entrance and a churchyard with graves, but no church. I thought this might be another redundant church and so I gingerly entered this private property road. Now I could  see the church through the trees but there seemed to be no access to it. I drove right through the farmyard and got to the fields at the rear before giving up and turning back. Fortunately no-one asked me what I thought I was doing!

Now I could see that the churchyard was the other side of a ditch so there must be access from somewhere else. Back on the road I at last saw the frontage to the churchyard – what had made me miss it in the first place was the fact that the church is set well back behind the graveyard, which in turn is set back from the road by a plain area of grassland, as can be seen from the photo. The other surprise was that this was not All Saints Elmham (yet to be located*) – it was Rumburgh Abbey church.

Lots of unusual history here and well worth a visit.

* There is a church marked at Church Farm that is midway between All Saints South Elmham and St. Nicholas South Elmham, and as the latter does not have an entry in the guidebook I am assuming this is All Saints – to be confirmed on a later trip.

Finally I headed south again to visit the “chapel” at Chapel Farm, Linstead Parva, on the crossroad with the B1123. I had passed this church several times in the past but never stopped. The autumn tints made for a lovely picture.

This is the first church I have visited in this series without either tower or steeple, but it was fascinating to visit nonetheless. There was a moving memorial to the crew of a German plane that crashed nearby.

It felt very good to be able to gain entrance to every church in this journey, and this brought the total up to 34 churches visited.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Via Tannington Hall to Crown Corner (Brundish); then on through Brundish Street to Laxfield.

B117 going east until Heveningham where I turned left to Linstead Parva.

Right onto the B1123 until a left turn into Chediston.

North to Wissett, and then left at the junction towards Rumburgh. Through the village to reach the Abbey church on the right.

Returning back through Rumburgh take the first right after the village – this runs down to Linstead Parva.

Finally continue south to Heveningham again, and then home via Wilby.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

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Aston Martin One-77 spotted at Genoa Airport, Italy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Once again, our ‘international’ reporter Jack, from such stories as ‘Jack and the Captain’s Car’ and ‘Jack visits Museo Lamborghini and Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari in Modena, Italy’, has spotted another incredible car whilst on his travels around Italy.

Check out the Aston Martin One -77, worth a whopping £1.5 million ($2 million)

Source: caranddriver.com – The name is made clear when you learn that only 77 were produced, but that’s where this limited-edition road-going race car stops making sense. A carbon-fiber monocoque chassis, a superlight 7.3-litre V-12, and a hand-formed aluminium body put the price tag at almost $2 million.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”The Ultimate Aston Martin”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Source: astonmartin.com

The most exclusive Aston Martin of the ‘Gaydon era’, One-77 was limited to 77 unique examples.

Tantalisingly, the first glimpse the world got of the One-77 hypercar was a maquette of the new car at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, three quarters covered by a grey pin-stripe fabric cover with only a glimpse of the front right side coyly peeping out.

The full picture was revealed at the March 2009 Geneva Motor Show, where a metallic blue mockup and rolling chassis with its entire powertrain were on display.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Automotive Art”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The finished car made its bow in late April 2009 at the Concorso d’Eleganza Ville d’Este on the shores of Lake Como, winning the design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes. Fusing advanced technology with stunning design, the million-pound, 7.3 litre V12 One-77 was revealed as the fastest-ever Aston Martin, with a top speed of 220 mph. It represents what is possibly the world’s most desirable automotive art form, with an immensely rigid lightweight carbon fibre monocoque clad in a seamless bodyshell handcrafted from aluminium at its heart. With all 77 examples sold, production of One-77 was completed in 2012.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Specification”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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An amazing weekend at the ‘Ring’

Just 1 day after the tragic accident which closed the world’s most famous racing circuit…as they say, the show must go on.

Our good friend Jason Saxby, owner of Saxbys Hair Salon, right here in Ipswich frequently takes the trip out to Germany in his beautiful BMW M3 to take on the legendary 21km Nurburgring.

Here they all are, in the blistering heat waiting to set off round the track.

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 6

[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]

Chapter 6

Having spent the morning fitting replacement ignition parts to the Cortina, I decided that the best idea for a test run would be to undertake the sixth of this series of journeys that same afternoon, especially as the weather forecast for the next few days was wet and windy. Thus I set off at 2.00 pm on a bright and calm afternoon towards the area north-east of Worlingworth.

After passing through Laxfield I turned left in the little village of Ubbeston Green to find the original centre of Ubbeston and its church.

On arrival I took the picture, and everything looked fine until I noticed a business plate fixed to the Priest’s door! I soon realised that this was a decommissioned redundant church. One of the employees appeared and I learned that the church had been taken out of service as long ago as the 1970s. He admired the Cortina and said that he had a 1967 Ford Mustang!

On then to Heveningham where I was lucky to be able to take my picture on a rather dangerous bend without any traffic approaching. I then parked the car in the field next to the churchyard (no picture opportunity here because of tree foliage cover –  hence the need for the road shot), and made my way towards the Church.

As I approached I could hear the organ going at full-pelt – a lovely welcome in itself, but doubly so because it also guaranteed entrance! I had been here once before, and armed with my copy of Munro Cautley I was able to pick out all the features this time.

This church is well worth a visit for the unusual manorial pew area, complete with open fireplace!

After a chat with the organist about the meaning of “jupon” (being worn by the effigy inside the church) I went on my way towards Huntingfield.

This I had also visited once before and had good memories, but unfortunately this time the tower was draped in scaffolding and associated green safety screens, so I managed to take the car picture looking through the gate entrance with much of the tower obscured by trees.

This is a church made famous in recent times by the painted ceiling, but it was much too recent (I believe it is Victorian) for Cautley even to mention it! He probably hated it, but would have loved it if it was 400 years old! There is a good story about this ceiling and the church is well worth a visit when the repairs are finished.

I had been warned that a lot of churches around here had been decommissioned, and so it was with my next one at Cookley.

The warning bells rang when I discovered that the only access to the churchyard was via the grounds of a cottage, and I was thankful that their very noisy (and hungry?) dog was contained within the dwelling!

As I feared, the Church was closed and empty, and the grounds maintained as a wildlife area. Still, it gave a nice picture for the series.

I hesitated about whether to go on to Walpole and then come back via Cratfield church because that made six churches – the most in any tour so far – and time was getting on. However I decided to do it.

I had a bit of a sudden entrance to Walpole churchyard! The church is halfway up a steep hill on the main road and I could see that it is not suitable for safe parking or even stopping. I had picked up a couple of cars in the centre of Walpole and they were right behind me as I ascended the hill, looking for the church entrance. When I saw it I committed to my left-turn and immediately found myself driving up the pathway to the church – there was no layby or gate!

This in itself was no great problem – I had successfully avoided blocking the roadway, but then I realised that there was nowhere to turn the car round – I would have to back out into fast-flowing traffic on a steep and narrow main road, blind!

I decided to visit the church first to contemplate the manoeuvre, and then noticed the dreaded orange chute barrels – this too was under repair. However, a bold notice proclaimed that the church was indeed open, so I ventured in.

Cautley has very little to say about this Church (“has suffered terrible treatment”), and so have I, but the spire affair made a pleasant change from towers.

Cratfield is situated in a very awkward position – miles from anywhere and down some pretty narrow approach roads.

Cautley waxes lyrical about its best two features – its records (which you can’t see of course), and its font. He also mentions some old items which have been removed since he wrote his book, which was rather disappointing as they included a Stuart holy table, now replaced in the late 20th century by one made from locally found scrap wood! (possibly from the Great Storm?).

This completed the tour. Four open out of a possible six is a good strike rate.

I made my way back to Worlingworth, arriving at 5.30 pm.

I have now visited 30 Suffolk churches with the Cortina.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Via Tannington Hall to Crown Corner (Brundish); then on through Brundish Street to Laxfield.

B1117 going east until left turn at Ubbeston Green to Ubbeston church.

Minor roads to Heveningham, then north to Huntingfield.

Continuing north, then east through Cookley Green to Cookley church; then continue eastward then right turn to Walpole on the B1117.

Retrace on the B1117 to Heveningham Hall then bear right towards Huntingfield; keep straight on until reaching Cratield – right turn to the church.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

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Welcome to Car Chase Heroes

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Track day experiences in your favourite movie cars!!!

Car Chase Heroes gives you the chance to take to the track in your favourite on screen heroes.

You can choose from a fleet of iconic movie and classic American muscle cars to blast around various track locations across the UK.

Bridge Classic Cars very own John got behind the wheel of the iconic General Lee Dodge Charge from Dukes of Hazard last weekend at Bentwaters Park.

Check out his amazing pictures of the experience.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”12150,12151,12152,12153,12154,12155,12156,12157,12158,12159,12160,12161,12162,12163,12164,12165,12166,12167,12168,12169,12170,12171,12172,12173,12174,12175,12176,12177,12178,12179,12180,12181,12182,12183,12184,12185,12186,12187,12188,12189,12190,12191,12192″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To check out the full diary of events for Car Chase Heroes, click here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Beautiful 1971 Volkswagen Camper in for an MOT

Here we have a stunning 1971 Volkswagen Camper in with us for a MOT test.

1982 Austin Morris Mini history documentation

Along with the impressive folder detailing the expenditure of the rebuild comes a fantastic binder full of colour images relating to the project.

Bank Holiday Monday – Worlingworth Car Treasure Hunt

Monday 29th May 2017 – Bank Holiday Monday

Worlingworth Car Treasure Hunt

Anything planned for Bank Holiday Monday?

If not, why not join the folk of Worlingworth for the day on their leisurely Treasure Hunt – a gentle journey through the lanes of “Secret” Suffolk, with 50 “treasures” to spot from the car and clues to solve along the 65 miles route?

The Hunt starts and finishes at Worlingworth Community Centre, IP13 7HX, commencing at 11.00am.

There is absolutely no racing involved – just enjoy the scenery! – and the likely driving time is about 4 hours. The route includes a 40 minute lunch break at Wissett, so bring a picnic.

There will be toilets available along the way, indicated in the Navigator’s notes. Refreshments will be available afterwards at the Community Centre from 3pm onwards.

All materials will be provided, including answer sheets and route details (not Tulip style). There are no restrictions on the use of SatNavs or O.S. maps, but you don’t need either. Because of the time involved, this is not a suitable event for children, say below 12, but that is up to you. To help with navigation and clue spotting, the ideal number per car is 3 persons (or more).

The entrance fee, payable at the start on the day itself, is £10 per car, and the best answers to the 50 treasures will win the £50 prize for that car’s participants.

If you are interested please contact Bernard Butler by email on bbtablet@btinternet.com  as soon as possible to reserve your place (and certainly before May 25^th to help us assess paperwork needs).

Suffolk Churches – a series of journeys in a Mk 1 Cortina by Bernard Butler – Chapter 5

[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]

Chapter 5

I set off again on a warm and sunny morning in late summer – September 13th 2006. The plan was to visit five churches to the east of Framlingham.

The first stop was at Bruisyard, hidden down remote narrow lanes.

Unusually, this has a round tower, not visible from where I had to take the picture.

The south chapel now appears to double as the vestry, and I was disappointed to find that a large carpet covers the brass to Michael Hare (1611) mentioned in the “bible” I am using – “Suffolk Churches and their Treasures” by H. Munro Cautley.

Then, following the river valley of the Alde that eventually passes Snape on its way to Aldeburgh, I travelled south-east to Rendham.

St. Michael’s church is not highly praised in the book, but it now has a History Corner that could easily take a fascinating hour to enjoy to the full on its own.

The Church Guide is also an excellent read, and I enjoyed this stop very much.

The main problem was parking the Cortina for the picture, as it is on a sharp corner.

Fortunately no traffic came along while I was setting up and taking the picture, and it looks a very peaceful spot in the photo.

Sadly, the third church on the route, Sweffling, was locked. This was a shame after the lovely walk across the grass up to the south porch. It was much better than a gravel pathway, and really made the church stand out as if it had grown out of the hillside. There were beautiful Suffolk views across the fields too.

I managed a peep through the east window, but could not see the item that is probably the cause of the church being locked – apparently there is a boiled-leather chalice case, elaborately tooled, and believed to be 13^th century.

Church number four was down a long descending narrow road, and it was fortunate that there was nothing coming up the other way!

Great Glenham may have been great once, but it is a tiny place now!

Inside, it was the first time I had seen colour in the arched head of the opening to the rood screen loft stairway.

Apart from this, the main feature of interest is the exceptional font with its very detailed and beautiful carving, still very rewarding despite the usual damage done in the 17^th century by the Puritans.

I managed an angled photo this time – the proper parking area being disfigured and obscured by BT vans and the like!

So on to the final church – Cransford.

The book sounded very critical – “drastically and dreadfully restored”! I took a rather pretty picture with the Cortina and just the church tower showing, and walked up the path to the porch – things didn’t look that bad.

Then it all went wrong – the door was locked, my second failure of the day, so I decided to walk round the outside of the building, and now found some of the horrors that the book’s author must have seen – horrible huge plain brick buttresses propping up the badly-cracked south walls; awful cement rendering along the whole of the side of the church; what looked like a shed coming off the south wall of the chancel; etc.

I beat a hasty retreat and set off for home, arriving after a two and a half hours journey in fine, if rather humid, weather.

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Route Details

Onto the A1120 travelling east, via Saxtead Little Green and Saxtead.

Through Dennington and then right onto the B1120 towards Framlingham.

First left, and then second left to Bruisyard church.

Unclassified roads to Rendham; then B119 towards Framlingham again before turning left, soon after the bridge, towards Sweffling.

First left, and left again to reach Great Glenham via country lanes.

Turn round and stay on this road to Cransford, crossing the B1119 along the way.

Finally onwards until reaching the B1120 – thence home.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

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April Promotion Winner Revealed

Thank you very much to everyone who booked to have their MOT with us last month.

Every MOT we carried out in April automatically entered our free prize draw to win a 3 course meal and a bottle of wine for 2 at Aurora Bar & Restaurant, Ipswich.

We can now reveal that the lucky winner of our April promotion is Mr Gittins of Westerfield.

We hope you both enjoy your meal at the beautiful Aurora Bar & Restaurant in Ipswich and we’ll see you again next year, same time!