Pictorial Kesgrave 1994 - Part 1
Contents
Keith Beecroft Copyright 2008
The Village sign designed by Albert Ribbans of Rushmere St. Andrew depicting one of the Cedar Trees, a notable feature of the Kesgrave Church Yard. The sign was presented to the Village by the Kesgrave Womans Institute in 1966 to commemorate the Institutes Golden Jubilee.
Originally sited at the old Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre adjacent to the Main Road, then at the new Community Centre at Twelve Acre Approach and is now on the green outside The Walk.
Kesgrave Boundary Sign, Located on the Main Road adjacent to Holly Road, indicating the Parish West boundary.
Cast Iron Milestone, recast in the early 1990s after damage, situated on the north side of the Main Road west of the High School. A bygone from the times when the Main Road was part of the London to Great Yarmouth A12 trunk road.
'Pump House' - situated at the Sinks Pond, north of the Main Road, containing water pumps which delivered water for the Grange Farm irrigation system. The south side shows a painting of Saint Francis of Assisi, originally painted by Irwin Smith in 1943 while serving in the United Services. Renovated in 1984.
The north wall of the Pump House was decorated in 1950 by John Mc Guiness, an art student from Leiston and shows Saint Christopher and the child Jesus. Renovated in 1985 by Michael Head.
All Saints Church dates from about 1180, built of rubble in the early English style. The lower part of the Tower is of flint (13th Century) while the upper part is of red brick (16th century). Extensions to the south side were completed in the 1970s to cater for the increasing population of the Parish.
The Bell Inn, built adjacent to the Church, was probably a Hostel in years gone by. Ideally situated on the main London to Gt. Yarmouth road to serve the physical needs of the traveller while the Church served the spiritual needs.
Former Vicarage, situated opposite the Church on the north side of the Main Road, now a private dwelling. The extensive grounds saw many a garden party and Church function organised by the former occupiers.
The New Vicarage, Bell Lane, built for the Rev. David Hares when he vacated the former Vicarage opposite the Church.
Doctor Watsons Cottage, located at the corner of Doctor Watsons Lane, which runs from the Main Road close to the Bell Lane Junction, north towards Playford Road. Dr. Watson was a farm labourer working for the Fison family who ran Bell Farm at the time. The origin of the honorary 'Doctor' has been attributed to his abilities with sick horses. The nickname is said however, to go back to his school days, when he is reported to have bandaged a school fellows knee when he fell on the road near the school. The Lane corner was formally known as 'Old Scarletts Corner'.
Kesgrave 'Dream Bungalows'. In the 1920-30s a number of these bungalows were built in the Parish, consisting of just two rooms and constructed using locally produced Gayfer Concrete building blocks. The dwellings were intended to be sold to town people who required a dream home in a rural location. Many still remain but most, if not all have been extended and modernised.
'The Walk' Sheltered Accommodation, consisting of self contained flats and bungalows, was built by the Suffolk Coastal District Council in the early 1970s. The complex is built on the site formally occupied by Kesgrave House, owned by the Fison Family. Kesgrave House was demolished in 1971 when the Bell Lane to Main Road junction was diverted west of the site. Since 1992 the site has been administered by the Suffolk Heritage Housing Association.
Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre, consisting of 6.25 acres of land, bought by the Parish Council in 1947 with monies raised by voluntary efforts of the local people, was designated a War Memorial. The Village Hall, Changing Rooms and Function Buildings were demolished in 1991 to make way for the second access roundabout to the Grange Farm Housing Development, after a new community complex was built at Twelve Acre Approach.
The Village Hall was built by volunteers with money raised by donation, the hard efforts of a fund raising committee and a grant. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs. Hervey, who donated £1000, from Little Bealings, in August 1957. Construction continued over a period of five years with the first function being a wedding reception held in March 1962.
The Community Centre also contained the British Legion Hall, The Scout Hut, senior and junior Football Pitches, Tennis Courts and a Cycle Speedway Track. Most activity groups in the Parish held functions at the Centre.
Kesgrave Cycle Speedway Track, home of the Kesgrave Panthers from the early 1950s, once proudly boasting that they were the only local track to have floodlighting, a public address system and their own starting/storage shed.
The Junior Football Pitch is shown beyond.
Scout Hut, located on land owned by Church and situated behind the Church Hall. The brick built hut replaces an old Nissen Hut that served as the 1st Kesgrave Scout Headquarters for many years. The existing hut originally had a flat roof, but the advantages of the storage space in a pitch roof was soon realised. An old rail wagon in the background was used as an additional store.
British Legion Hall, Located adjacent to the Scout Hut on the same Church owned land. Built in the late 1950s and extended since then.
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