A walk around Framlingham

Markets have been held in from Framlingham since 1270, and market day is Saturday. On the east side of Market Hill, screened by lime trees, is the Guildhall.

The walk takes you further onto the parish Church of St Michael's. The original church was built on this site shortly after the Norman conquest. St Michaels Church is unusual in that its chancel is wider than its nave. The chancel was rebuilt around 1550 to house the tombs of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk, and their family.

Also in the chancel is the black marble tomb of Sir Robert Hitcham, a great benefactor of the town. Close by his tomb is the curious long bench on which the inmates of St Robert's almshouses sat, back to back, during their twice daily attendance at church.

On leaving the church, you will come across an attractive Victorian octagonal letterbox. Only four of these remain in East Anglia and two are in Framlingham, one at the end of Double Street and the other at the foot of Mount Pleasant.

The River Ore flows through Framlingham on its way down from Saxstead Bottom and joins the River Alde near Snape Maltings, continuing down to the sea south of Orford. Ships used to come up the river as far as from Framlingham.

Occupying the skyline opposite the castle is from Framlingham College, opened in 1865 as a memorial to Prince Albert. The college was science-oriented and seen as an innovation in his day. Nowadays it serves as a boarding and day school for boys and girls.

Towards the end of the walk, you approached Framlingham Castle and the Mere. The latter is a large man-made lake that has been the delight of herons and many other water birds since the 12th century.

Finish the walk with a visit to the impressive curtain walled castle with its 13 defence towers, situated on a mound with a deep ditch below. It was built around 1200, by Roger Bigod II, Earl of Norfolk, on land given by Henry I.

Framlingham Castle has been the seat of the Bigod, Mowbray and Howard families. Visitors may climb up to the 40 foot (12 metre) high wall walk from where there are magnificent views over the surrounding countryside and Framlingham itself.