Halesworth’s Super September

September is going to be a busy month in Halesworth. A packed line up of events kicks off with the Halesworth 800 celebrations and ends with a thought-provoking climate action conference.

Halesworth 800
2 September
The Town Council is organising a fun day to celebrate Halesworth’s 800th Birthday (the signing of the Market Charter 1223).
There will be lots going on: medieval re-enactors in the park, knights, archery, an executioner, storytelling, music, plays, street entertainers, a parade through the town using banners designed by local schoolchildren, trails round the town, stalls in the market place, competitions, face painting, a Punch and Judy show and much more besides… including a re-enacting of the signing of the Market Charter.

Halesworth Heritage Happening
9, 10 and 16 September
Halesworth Heritage Happening 2023, our contribution to the national Heritage Open Days (HODs) festival administered by the National Trust, takes place over the weekend of 9-10 September, followed by a full programme of events on Saturday 16 September. Following hard on the heels of Halesworth 800, this is very much a time to celebrate our town’s heritage and history.
The national HODs group has this year chosen Creativity Unwrapped as its theme and many of our events celebrate this, beginning with an open house event and ‘Inspired by Walpole Old Chapel’, an exhibition of artworks relating to the Chapel as well as a creative workshop.
On Saturday 16 September at The Cut, we will be screening a selection of films of the town’s past from the Halesworth Museum archives. We hope this event might encourage Halesworth residents to dig out their own home movies to add to the archive. Whether it be sporting or arts events, festive occasions, local industries or anything else that in some way captures a moment in time in the town’s life, the museum would love to hear from you.
We are staying outdoors for much of our programme with fascinating guided and self-guided walks and tours – culminating in ‘Twilight songs and evening stroll’. On Millennium Green, the Halesworth Community Choir will greet the twilight with songs of Vaughan Williams and then volunteers from the Green will unwrap a walk through some of the less travelled areas on the Green. Look out for moths and bats along the way and if we’re really lucky the Green’s resident owls might be hunting.
St Mary’s Church plays a big part in the HODs day on Saturday 16 September with guided tours, exhibitions and talks. It will be open 9am-5pm with light refreshments available.
The church will be the setting for displays from Halesworth Camera Club, Beccles Camera Club and examination and course work by pupils of Bungay High School; art from Artbox – Exploring the imagination and Mencap – The voice of learning disability; and Lark Images – photography and handmade books inspired by nature by Chris and Valerie Wheeler.
There will also be a display of original art work – From Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll to Alice Through the Pillar Box – by local artist, writer and philatelist, Gerald King, from his imaginative creation of the stamps and postal history of Wonderland. At 2pm, Gerald King will answer questions about his work.
The St Mary’s programme continues throughout the day with bell ringing, guided tours, a visit by the Repair Cafe, an exhibition of English royal heraldry for coronation year and, at 3pm, Alan Greening will give a short talk on the regeneration of St Mary’s, discussing the effects of the ingress of rainwater on the fabric of the building.
See the Halesworth Heritage Happening brochure enclosed with this copy of Community News for the full programme.

Regeneration of St Mary’s Church, Halesworth: Exhibition of Proposals
Saturday 9 September-Sunday 1 October
You are invited to visit St Mary’s to give your views, opinions and suggestions during the exhibition of the vision, challenges and proposals. The PCC, Friends and Steering Group are working to re-establish the interior of St Mary’s as a regionally significant, awe-inspiring, community hub of heritage.
The building will be expected to express spirituality, sanctuary and creativity generally. It will reference the town’s brewing history and Blyth Valley location specifically, incorporating the Hookers with their Kew connection, George Lansbury’s efforts for social justice and the Buxton anti-slavery campaigns.
Five major projects will be incorporated: heating, lighting and insulation; kitchen, toilets and storage; flooring; a suitable organ that is sustainable; and heritage care, including the bells, the ringing chamber and tower repair and maintenance.
On completion the aim will be a regionally significant, low maintenance and environmentally aware, accessible and provisioned, central exhibition space and performance venue, not too far from car parking and public transport, part of the thriving market town of Halesworth.

Autumn Gardens
9 September, 11am-4.30
Halesworth in Bloom are pleased to announce a small selection of Autumn Gardens open to view. From an extensive waterside garden to a pretty modern courtyard garden, come and enjoy their early September colours. Free Garden Guide Maps (including opening times and accessibility info) will be available from the Library or the Angel. No entry charges, donations welcome on the day. With many thanks to those generously opening their garden gates.

Halesworth to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway Open Day
Blythburgh Station, Sunday 10 September, 10.30am-4pm
The Halesworth to Southwold Railway opened in 1879 and closed in 1929. It connected the growing resort of Southwold, and the villages along the Blyth Valley, with the main line at Halesworth, using engineering creativity to choose a very unusual three-foot gauge, to provide satisfactory freight and passenger provision while keeping costs down.
It used many wagons and coaches with the Cleminson’s patent flexible wheelbase, a creative invention which allowed lightweight rolling stock to traverse sharp curves. Also creative – in engineering and in aesthetic terms – were the tramway-style coaches which allowed access without a platform, and the double-armed signals which were safe but low-cost.
On 10 September 2023, the Halesworth to Southwold Narrow Gauge Railway CIO will be opening Blythburgh station which is gradually being restored by volunteers from total dereliction. The last original railway building (the award winning Goods Shed) will be open, and a display of found artefacts for archaeology on the site is inside. The restored main line and sidings, and the adjacent platform as well as the restored foundations of the station building, can be examined. This day will also mark the launch of our battery-electric locomotive into service – it will be the first time any locomotive has operated on the railway’s main line since 1929 (the loco is operational but still under restoration). We can’t provide rides yet!
There will also be a large live steam model railway, and in the adjacent Village Hall more model railways, a display of the work done and planned, railway books and DVDs, and light refreshments. There is some parking onsite with an overflow parking area a short walk away.
The entire event is free – including the tea, coffee and cake; donations are gratefully received. Sleepers for the restored track in the station can be sponsored on the day and sponsors’ names will be permanently displayed.
Blythburgh station can be found off the A12 in Blythburgh village: turn opposite the White Hart pub.

Climate Action Conference
St Mary’s Church, 29 September-1 October
This three day event will explore how climate change will impact Halesworth and surrounding villages, and what we as communities and individuals can do about it.
The weekend begins with a panel discussion (Friday 29 September, 6.30-9.30) alongside an exhibition showcasing local projects both large and small.
Saturday (30 September) will be a day of workshops and exchanging ideas with topics including regional policy and plans by church, state and trusts; active community projects; and real life examples of practical changes that we can make at home.
The conference winds up on Sunday (1 October) with Celebration of Creation, a church service at St Mary’s. This will be followed by ‘wild picnics’ and closing entertainment.