Westleton
| Westleton | |
 Westleton village |
|
  Westleton |
|
| Population | 349 (2011)[1] |
|---|---|
| Shire county | Suffolk |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Saxmundham |
| Postcode district | IP17 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Coordinates: 52°15′54″N 1°34′31″E / 52.264982°N 1.575395°E
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) miles 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 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.
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 fell under the weight of a bomb.[2] It is a grade II* listed building.[3]
Westleton retains some other basic services, helped by its proximity to the coast and Minsmere. A Post Office, two pubs, including The Crown, a historic coaching inn dating to the 12th Century, a bookshop and a garage remain.[4] The bookshop, Chapel Books, has been immortalised in print in Julie Myerson's 2003 novel, Something Might Happen, as the location for a seduction scene.
Westleton received publicity after it was revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had spent the night preceding their first wedding anniversary at the Crown in April 2012.
References
- ↑ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ↑ History, Gazeteer, and Directory of Suffolk, William White, Robert Leader, Sheffield, 1855
- ↑ "Name: ST PETER'S CHURCH List entry Number: 1283793". English Heritage. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ↑ Welcome to Westleton Parish Council's website, Westleton Parish Council. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westleton. |