This month, our village of the month is Bromeswell, a small village three miles from Woodbridge, bounded on the west by the River Deben. Bromeswell is the gateway parish for the environmentally sensitive district known as the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with its protected rural landscape. This delightful, peaceful village lies only a mile or two from the World Heritage Site of Sutton Hoo; the burial Ship of the Saxon King Raedwald.

Environmental Assets

Bromeswell is home to a nature reserve managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust (a nationally recognised site of specific scientific interest), a european and world designated (RAMSAR) special protection area for birds, and has the listed,grade 1 parish church of St Edmund. The village is criss-crossed by many public footpaths including the Sandlings path and its narrow sunken lanes are popular with cyclists, horse riders, ramblers and runners.

Birds

Bromeswell Green is noted for its wet meadows, salt marsh and woodland and is home to many birds. The reserve is part of the Deben Estuary SSSI, at low tide the river attracts hordes of feeding waders including redshank and greenshank. Look out too for the iridescent flashes of kingfisher along the banks. The woodland supports many summer visiting birds like nightingale, whitethroat and black cap. Plaintive cascading song from the willow warbler can be heard April to June. In winter redpoll and siskin feed on alder seeds in the woods. Rides are mown annually to provide ideal conditions for the numerous species of butterfly.

Village History

Bromeswell may owe its origin to its location on a pocket of fertile ground surrounded by heath and marshy land, the nearby Deben providing the power to drive the watermill. Bromeswell’s position on the fairly high ground would preclude the danger of flooding. The proximity of a ford would also influence the choice of site as it became necessary to trade with other settlements. While Woodbridge prospered as a woollen manufacturing town, market centre & port, Bromeswell remained small, an agricultural community, at least from the time of the Domesday Book until well into the 20th century. Today the village remains small, with a population of approximately 260 persons.

Bromeswell in World History

In 1803 Bromeswell Common was the site of a Napoleonic encampment as depicted in a watercolour by G Quinton. By 1804 the garrison had outgrown its tented accommodation in our village and moved to timber barracks at Woodbridge.

In 1940, as part of Mussolini’s air force participation in the Battle of Britain, the only Italian bomber (A BR20) to crash on English soil came to rest near a rifle range on the edge of Rendlesham forest (a BR20) in Bromeswell.

St Edmund’s Church

The parish church of St Edmund also dates back to Saxon times and, like the majority of the Saxon churches originally built of wattle and daub or wood, it was rebuilt by the Normans on the same site – rising ground and near to crossroads. It is a small brick and flint Church which today incorporates structural features of several eras. The interior offers a simple and quiet charm to its visitors.

St Edmund’s is one of the many churches dedicated to the memory of St Edmund who was crowned King of East Anglia in 836. Edmund’s army was defeated by the Danes in 869, he refused to deny his Christian faith and was tortured and killed.

To find out more visit the Bromeswell website

Thanks to john Slegg who sent in this feature, if you would like your village featured on Village of the Month then email kerry.burn@onesuffolk.co.uk.