9 Man-made Structures- Other to Explore in Suffolk

One of Suffolk’s most treasured buildings, this beautiful Tudor mansion is the jewel in the crown of Ipswich’s historic past, boasting over 500 years of history. It is home to one of the world’s most important collections of Constable’s work and is now the only place in his own region where paintings by him can be seen. The mansion belonged to various noble families throughout its history but was purchased by the Ipswich Borough Council in 1884. Since 1885, the building has been used as a muse

Felixstowe Pier is a pleasure pier in the Edwardian seaside town of Felixstowe, Suffolk, England. The pier opened in August 1905 with a total length of 2,640 feet and its own railway station, and was once one of the longest in the country. Steamer services operated from the pier to various destinations.

FSC Flatford Mill is the first and original field study centre set up in the UK during the 1940’s. It is the Centre for Constable Country, set amidst the quintessentially English countryside of the Dedham Vale in Suffolk and sits on the banks of the River Stour. Flatford Mill runs residential field study visits for school students and provides a very wide range of natural history and art courses.

The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway is a heritage railway in Suffolk, which in its heyday was a branch line which ran for 19 miles from Haughley to Laxfield, in Suffolk. It has a station with restored Mid-Suffolk buildings, a steam train consisting solely of appropriate Victorian coaches (not a Mark 1 in sight!), and a line passing through countryside, which has changed little during the succeeding decades.

Orford Ness is a cuspate foreland shingle spit on the Suffolk coast in Great Britain, linked to the mainland at Aldeburgh and stretching along the coast to Orford and down to North Weir Point, opposite Shingle Street. It is divided from the mainland by the River Alde, and was formed by longshore drift along the coast. In the name of the lighthouse (and the radio transmitting station – see below), 'Orfordness' is written as one word.

The Port of Felixstowe is Britain’s biggest and busiest container port, and one of the largest in Europe. The port handles more than 4million TEUs and welcomes approximately 3,000 ships each year, including the largest container vessels afloat today – crucially, the port provides some of the deepest water close to the open sea of any European port.

Snape Maltings is a group of buildings including a famous concert hall in the village of Snape, Suffolk. Many concerts are given in the Maltings. Every year the Aldeburgh Festival has many of its concerts there. The composer Benjamin Britten used to live in Aldeburgh with the singer Peter Pears. They started a music school for young people. The Britten-Pears Foundation still continues today, with many concerts based in the Maltings.

Southwold Pier is a pier in the coastal town of Southwold in the English county of Suffolk. It is on the northern edge of the town and extends 190 metres into the North Sea. Whilst many English seaside piers are in decline, Southwold Pier is enjoying renewed popularity. It includes a collection of modern coin-operated novelty machines designed and constructed by the inventor Tim Hunkin.

Woodbridge Tide Mill is one of The Suffolk Coast's most iconic buildings, which has stood on the banks of the River Deben for over 800 years. The mill is a Grade I listed building. It is a three-storey building constructed from wood; externally it is clad in white Suffolk boarding and has a Gambrel roof. Its machinery reflects the skills and achievements of the early Industrial Revolution. It has been preserved and is open to the public.