Coordinates: 52°20′15″N 1°40′10″E / 52.3376°N 1.6695°E
| Reydon | |
 Blackshore Mill |
|
  Reydon
Reydon shown within Suffolk |
|
| Population | 2,567 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Waveney |
| Shire county | Suffolk |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOUTHWOLD |
| Postcode district | IP18 |
| Dialling code | 01502 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Suffolk Coastal |
| List of places: UK • England • Suffolk | |
Reydon is a village adjacent to but inland from Southwold and 2½ miles (4⅔ km) south east of Wangford in Suffolk, England. The name roughly means Rye Hill (Rey meaning Rye and Don as an old English word for hill or rise).[1]
The parish church is St Margaret of Antioch[2].
There are three main roads through Reydon, around which the village is based. These are:
- A1095 Halesworth Road (Leading to Blythburgh and Halesworth)
- B1126 Wangford Road (Leading to Wangford)
- B1127 Lowestoft Road (Leading to Wrentham and Lowestoft)
Contents |
Village Services
There are only two shops in Reydon. In 2007 the Royal Mail decided to remove the post office facilities as part of a plan to reduce financial losses. Although this move was strongly opposed by many people living in Reydon, the post office closed on 11 February, 2008, although the associated shop continues.
Reydon also has one Public House (and hotel with restaurant) known as The Randolph Hotel. It was briefly renamed "The Cricketers", due to the adjacent locality of Southwold's former Eversley School cricket ground and playing fields. It reverted to its original name after a few years.
Schools
Reydon High School closed some years ago, with students now being bussed to other schools in the area and the land sold for housing development. However, Reydon Primary School is still running with children from the Reydon, Wrentham, Wangford and Southwold going there.
Another major school in Reydon is St. Felix. This was an all girls public school but now takes pupils of both sexes from ages 1 to 18.
Development & Building
Reydon has in recent years seen much new housing construction, due mainly to the rising house prices in Southwold and the popularity of Reydon as a retirement village. This is likely to continue on sites such as the former Eversley School playing field and other vacant plots earmarked throughout the village.
The resultant increase in population means that Reydon now has many more permanent inhabitants than Southwold; where once the reverse was true.
The increasing number of homes has also led to the loss of much of Reydon's previous "small village" feeling. Additionally, the inflated house prices in Southwold have led to a number of properties in Reydon being purchased for holiday homes and second homes. These are often unoccupied for long periods of time. It is claimed that this has contributed to the loss of community. However, it is unlikely that it will affect the increase in permanent population; at least in the short term.
In 2004 a 4400 m² distribution center for Adnams Brewery was constructed on the western edge of Reydon on the site of an old open cast sand quarry.
The Church of St Margaret
The parish church is dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch. It is situated on the B1126 Wangford Road, to the North West of the village. One of the most striking features is the large bronze angel which gives no names only, ‘To Fanny my beloved wife’. The present building is mainly from the early 14th century. The Tower was built in the period of about, c. 1325. The Chancel was made more elaborate in the 15th century, and has many niches in the window splays, made to carry images of saints. The Church suffered damage at the Reformation and the Civil War and was much altered in succeeding centuries.[3][4][5]
The church had a drastic ‘restoration’ and re-roofing over the years 1875 - 1887, which deprived it of most of its ancient furniture and architecture. The roof is of simple design and not ornate. The Royal Arms are of Anne, 1713. In 1988 a large extension was built onto the north side of the nave using the original north door which was discovered when the organ was moved into the chancel to allow for the building. The building is the parish room and is used several times a week and provides a venue for community life. The rood loft stairs are open but are partly bricked up at the top.[3][4][5]
The organ is Victorian and is in the chancel because there is no space in the nave, but it does ‘clutter’ the space and distracts you from the modern but wonderful stained glass. The stained glass is all Victorian. Behind the organ is a blocked up opening which is also apparent from outside. This was the entrance to a small chapel, but this has now completely vanished. The font is of no great age and is situated in the base of the tower, were it was placed in 1988 to remove it from the nave were it was supposedly in the way of people wanting to gain access to the new church room. The font cover was given in 1922 and is not in the best state of repair. It used to be suspended from the ceiling in the nave and was opened with a system of weights; the wood in the roof still shows this.[3][4][5]
In 1999, the Parish of Reydon became part of the Sole Bay Team Ministry.[6]
The Church Bells of St Margaret
The Tower originally held 3 bells, two of which were sold in 1792 to repair the church. In 1991 an appeal was launched for the restoration of the Tower and the replacement of these two bells along with a further three bells to bring the total number up to six. In December 1996, a Service of Dedication took place for the New Peal of Bells. The original 15th century bell, ‘Gabriel’, has now been joined by ‘Michael’, ‘Raphael’, ‘Peter’, ‘Mary’ and ‘Seraph’. The five new bells were all cast at the world famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1995 and 1996. The tenor bell (the heaviest) weighs just over 10 hundredweight or 517 kilograms and the treble (the smallest) weighs around 3 and a half hundredweight. The bells hang in a two tier cast iron frame with the fifth above the tenor in the upper tier. The bells are hung for the traditional English art of change ringing. All the bells are hung on ball bearings. The bells are rung from the ground floor with the font in the centre of the rope circle. The tower is affiliated to the Suffolk Guild of Ringers. The bells are rung regularly for practice, Sunday services, weddings and other special occasions by a friendly band of ringers.[4][7]
References
- ^ Taken from East Anglian Daily Times. 20th October 2007. Page 37
- ^ The Suffolk Churches Site. Retrieved 2009-01-26
- ^ a b c Taken from 'A photographic and historical guide to the Parish Churches of East Suffolk' compiled by Adrian S. Pye. 27th January 2009. Page 213
- ^ a b c d Taken from The Sole Bay Team Ministry. 27th January 2009.
- ^ a b c Taken from The Suffolk Churches Site. 27th January 2009.
- ^ Taken from The Sole Bay Team Ministry. 27th January 2009.
- ^ Taken from Doves Guide. 27th January 2009.
External links
- Reydon Primary School
- St. Felix School
- The Sole Bay Team Ministery
- The Randolph Hotel
- Hoare Lea description of the environmentally friendly distribution center
- Adnams PLC
- Rev. John Youngs - founder of Southold, NY, born in Reydon
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