

Saxmundham area

The cyclists make their way through Snape, Benhall and Saxmundham from about 2.30pm.


Snape Maltings, located on the River Alde, is an art and music venue. The maltings were built by the Victorian entrepreneur Newson Garrett. The malting of barley continued at the site until its closure in 1965. Benjamin Britten, who established the Aldeburgh Festival in 1948, was looking for a larger venue and leased the largest building at the maltings. The Snape Maltings Concert Hall was opened by HM Queen Elizabeth in 1967. From then the maltings have developed into an outstanding venue for music and the arts. Find out more about Snape Maltings and upcoming events here.


Why not visit the walled gardens that were once attached to the Benhall Lodge estate? Old Benhall Lodge was built in 1638 by Sir Edward Duke. It was demolished by the new owner of the estate, Edward Hollond, who built the current Benhall Lodge in 1815. The walled garden was built around the same time as the new Benhall Lodge and would have provided fruit and vegetables to the estate. Discover more about the Benhall Estate and Hollond family in collection HA408 held at Ipswich Record Office, covering the dates 1566 to 1956.


Why not explore the history of Saxmundham by visiting Saxmundham Museum or walking the town trail? The town trail begins at Saxmundham’s railway station and winds its way through the town. Discover the cottage where Victorian landscape painter Henry Bright lived, the gravestone of the sculptor Thomas Thurlow and finally the historic Market Place.