Interesting facts about Suffolk
Suffolk is full of exciting places and hidden gems. Whether you’re a local or looking to stay there, there are many interesting facts about Suffolk that are likely to surprise you. Here are some things about what has been known as the ‘Curious City’.
The famous faces
The gentle coastlines and fertile farmland have produced more than just lovely holiday photos over the year. Suffolk has been home to many famous faces.
Writer George Orwell; TV cook Delia Smith; actors Bob Hoskins, June Brown and Ralph Fiennes; comedian Griff Rhys Jones; composer Benjamin Britten and TV presenter Jimmy Doherty are just a few of the names to have been born in the country or have a home here. We also can’t forget the super-famous Ed Sheeran, who was born in Framlingham and currently resides there, releasing a song about the town’s 12th century castle.
The furthest east you can go
Lowestoft is home to the most easterly point in the UK. If you’re an early bird, head to the beautiful ‘Ness Point’ – the first place to view the sunrise in the entire country. How romantic is that?
The location is marked with a circular stone plaque that shows the distance to cities in Europe and Britain’s other cardinal points.
Made in Suffolk
Fan of chocolate and beer? Suffolk may well produce some of your favourite items. Two major brewers reside here – Adnams, based in Southwold, and Greene King in Bury St Edmunds. Aspall produces cider in the village of Aspall, and Copella makes fruit juice at its farm in Boxford.
The Muntons plant in Stowmarket makes the malt for the honeycomb centres of Maltesers. Stowmarket is also home to the electrical firm Bosch.
At a huge plant in Bury St Edmunds, sugar beet is turned into white granulated and baking sugars for the Silver Spoon.
The King of East Anglia
Commonly known as St Edmund, Edmund the Martyr was King of East Anglia before the Norman conquest until his death in 869. According to legend, he refused to share power with heathen non-Christians and was tied to a tree, shot with arrows and beheaded.
His remains were taken to Bury St Edmunds, with the abbey being built as his shrine and becoming one of the most famous pilgrimage locations in England.
Some quickfire facts…
- Norfolk and Suffolk get their names from the ‘North folk’ and ‘South folk’ of East Anglia, formed in the 5th century
- The Nutshell Pub in Bury St Edmunds claims to be Britain’s smallest pub. Its bar is 15ft by 7ft. The record for the most people squeezed in stands at 102.
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was written by Jane Taylor in Lavenham, Suffolk, in 1806.
- Lavenham is featured in Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Part 1 & 2, known as Harry Potter’s birthplace.
With all of these fantastic facts about Suffolk, we’re sure you’ll agree that Suffolk’s the perfect UK holiday destination!
