Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Woodbridge

Woodbridge is an attractive old market town in Suffolk, 8 miles from Ipswich.

The name has no connection with wood, but is named after the Anglo-Saxon god Wotan.

Woodbridge is situated at the head of the estuary of the River Deben, and its traditional industries were shipbuilding and sail making.

St. Mary's Church, with its tall flint tower, rising to 108 feet, is in the oldest part of the town.

Market Hill, beside the church, was of course originally where the market took place, but this has now moved to nearer the river.

The Shire Hall, on Market Hill, is an imposing building, built in 1575, with Dutch gables added in about 1700. The lower floor was once used by market traders.

The handsome Tide Mill is very rare, and was a working mill until 1957, when the waterwheel broke. It has now been restored to full working order, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1110, when the first mill was recorded on the site.

At the Bell Inn is an old steelyard, or weighing machine.

Thomas Beckford was a local benefactor whose name is commemorated in almshouses.

Edward Fitzgerald, translator of "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam", was born nearby and lived in Woodbridge. Brian Eno, rock singer and producer, was born in the town.

A little outside the town is the Sutton Hoo Royal burial site.