Westleton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It is located 4 miles (6 km) north of Leiston and 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Saxmundham near the North Sea coast. The village is on the edge of the Suffolk Sandlings, an area of lowland heathland. The village lies along the B1125 road, 2 miles (3 km) to the east of the A12 and Darsham railway station.
Westleton | |
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![]() Westleton village | |
Location within Suffolk | |
Population | 349 (2011)[1] |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Saxmundham |
Postcode district | IP17 |
UK Parliament | |
Westleton Heath National Nature Reserve is 0.5 miles (1 km) north east of the village. The heath is crossed by a minor road from Westleton to the coastal village of Dunwich, 2 miles (3 km) to the east. The famous Minsmere RSPB reserve lies immediately to the east of the village.
![](http://178.128.105.246/cars-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/St_Peter%27s_Church%2C_Westleton-geograph.org.uk-2128040.jpg/180px-St_Peter%27s_Church%2C_Westleton-geograph.org.uk-2128040.jpg)
The fourteenth-century village church of St Peter in Westleton was built by monks from Sibton Abbey near Saxmundham. The church has twice seen the collapse of its tower: in 1776 under the strain of hurricane winds; and during World War II, when the smaller wooden replacement had to be demolished following bomb damage.[2][3] It is a grade II* listed building.[4]
Westleton retains some other basic services, helped by its proximity to the coast and Minsmere. These include a post office, two bookshops, a garage and two pubs, the White Horse and The Crown. The latter is a historic coaching inn dating from the 12th century.[5] The bookshop, Chapel Books, has been depicted in print in Julie Myerson's 2003 novel, Something Might Happen, as the location for a seduction scene.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Suffolk, William White, Robert Leader, Sheffield, 1855
- ^ "Westleton church". Westleton. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ Historic England. "ST PETER'S CHURCH (1283793)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ^ Welcome to Westleton Parish Council's website, Westleton Parish Council. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
External links
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