Pictures of Blythburgh

About Blythburgh

This is a peaceful, pleasant place that was once a 15th-century port. The River Blyth, was the scene of industry as wool was loaded for export to other regions and other lands. The port had it's own jail and minted it's own coins. The town prospered in those far off days but at the end of the 15th-century the town experienced hardship when new and larger ships could no longer navigate the river, and trade fell away. Blythburgh was struck by fire in 1676 and not a lot of what was the then village, was left. One building that did survive is the majestic church of The Holy Trinity which dates mainly from the 15th-century. The church has a contemporary font, carved stalls, and benches with the Seven Deadly Sins instead of poppy-heads. The tie-beam roof covers a 127ft nave. The lofty tower belonged to an earlier church and formerly had a steeple. Floodlit, it is an imperious sight and can be seen for miles around.

More latterly, during the dark days of the 2nd World War, a shattered aircraft fell from the skies. The plane was piloted by Joseph Kennedy, elder brother of John F. Kennedy who rose to become President of the United States of America. The lovely old church windows suffered from the blast of the crash. The church also suffered at the hands of Cromwell and his men, they marched on the church, smashing windows and monuments, they blasted the glorious carved angels soaring among the rafters and roofbeams. To this day, there are visible marks in the nave, showing where in 1644, the puritans tethered horses. A rare wooden figure, Jack-o'-the-Clock, strikes a bell just before the start of each service.

The town is an interesting mixture of period houses and quaint cottages, some buildings are still adorned with beautiful Dutch-styled gables, a tribute to East-Anglia's long established trading links with Holland. In it's lovely position at the head of the River Blyth, in close proximity to the coast, the town makes an ideal base from which to tour the stunning coastal scenery and magnificent countryside.