NOVEMBER NEWS
November news from Butley Priory
November News
Hedges being cut, autumn bonfires, Nigel and Baz have been hard at work. The new garden gates are wonderful (thank you Clem) and the new turf in the Priory garden looks good enough to eat. Kimmy, our head housekeeper hasn’t stopped changing sheets, dusting and polishing, she deserves a medal (and a holiday on a sun lounger) along with her mother Tracey and Babs. Emma has been in Turkey and Daniela has been holding the fort in our swanky new office (or at least we think so) in the old billard room. We’ve been back to back with house lets and weddings so looking forward to a slightly quieter November to get the “to do list” done.
Keeper’s Cottage
We are very excited to be offering Gatekeeper’s Cottage, next to the Priory, for up to six guests from December onwards.
Once the old stables, the Cottage was converted in the 19th century to a summerhouse for the Priory. It is small but charming: painted floors, creams and whites, and a private garden. It consists of two double bedroom and two ensuite bathrooms upstairs. A good-sized kitchen with a scrubbed farmhouse table for six, door leads on to the south-facing garden. Sitting room with a comfy sofa bed. There’s also a small swimming pool (or more of a plunge pool) and a studio in the garden with a double bed and bathroom. The studio won’t be ready until early spring. Weddings and brides next year will get first pick, but contact us for availability, low season and mid-week. Look at our website for more photographs and information.
Aldeburgh Documentary Festival is on 12-14 November at the Aldeburgh cinema – always a dazzling and fascinating array of documentaries, some getting their first showing, and usually introduced by the teams who made them. Look out for ‘Writing with Fire’ the story of Khabar Lahariya, India’s only newspaper run by Dalit women – the untouchables. ‘An evening of the Beatles’ with Craig Brown, and ‘The Truffle Hunters’, set in the forests of Piedmont in Italy; old men with their beloved dogs searching for the elusive and priceless white Alba truffle. Book tickets at www.aldeburghcinema.co.uk
OCTOBER NEWS
October news from Butley Priory
September put to bed. Such a great summer with back-to-back weddings and staycations. No hitches, or none we care to mention. It’s been a blast and we’ve loved it all, from rock n’ roll to dreamy weddings, family reunions to naughty hen parties. We are very pleased with our new office in the old billiard room opposite Butley Abbey Farmhouse, now up and running. The Farmhouse is pretty much booked up until Christmas; the Priory still has some free days. It’s very cosy and atmospheric in the autumn and winter: log fires in the Great Hall, Drawing Room and the exquisite Pilgrims bar. We have big plans for the grounds and garden, landscaping and replanting.
Autumn to do, musings and wish list
Priory – inside
Sumptuous new sofas, cream or grey? Umm….impractical colour…. nothing else quite works with our white interiors. Tricky. Need to be light in weight for moving in and out of the Great Hall.
Embroidered towelling dressing gowns for wedding guests. Ordered.
Outside:
Priory garden, new terrace – under the shady Portuguese laurel. Urgent. Replace bell gate (underway).
New turf for the back of the garden behind the metal cherry and rose arch. Garden seats for back corners of garden, wrought iron? (Use existing one from front of Priory?).
East kitchen garden – wrought iron (or rattan – more comfortable, leaning towards rattan).
Four large and beautiful terracotta pots (or move existing round terracotta pots to kitchen area and replace terrace pots). Need to go to Italy with truck! Plant them up for the Autumn – winter pansies?
Need to change plants 3/4 annually
Front of priory
60 Hidcote lavender plants for gravel.
Replace Lutyens bench top of grass walk, which has been eaten by ants.
Two new 3-seater benches for gravel.
Butley Abbey Farmhouse
Outside Rattan corner sofas and table set.
Fire pit (ordered). Where best to place it?
Repair wall opposite farmhouse and replant flowerbed. Lavender, Verbena and white Gaura, swirling butterflies – they like our sandy soil. New garden gate beyond rose garden.
Replant fruit orchard (bearing in mind it would be the perfect location for a swimming pool…..). Plant more specimen trees in the garden: magnolia’s galore, amelanchier, Judas tree, forest pansy, prunus, strawberry tree, mulberry, weeping purple acer – spring and autumn colour. More fun than shopping for clothes.
Inside farmhouse – pretty perfect, touch up some bathroom paint.
Butley Priory Office
Pots for outside new Butley Priory office. Sorted. Blue pots with dusky pink hydrangeas, shades of the Caribbean next to our green doors.
Meadow behind Priory – landscaped, Brian and Adrian in hot demand; we are waiting patiently. New trees: oak, copper beech, cherry, crab apple and Jacquemonti silver birch. Estate metal tree guards to keep the munch jack at bay. Ancient Priory arch and flint walls repaired and ivy stripped off. Clear monks’ fishpond area of debris, plant more willows.
BP office sign – urgent! Office blinds (west facing, sunlight blinding) and extra large rug (ordered). Move the piano from the Priory to the office? Staff want larger fridge.
We are going to be busy.
SEPTEMBER NEWS
September news from Butley Priory
Oh for an Indian summer, we have weddings back to back until October. Autumn projects include more work in the Priory garden, new compost bins (thrilling), tackling the meadow between the Priory and Butley Abbey Farmhouse. We are planting trees, oaks, beeches and cherries, amongst the spring wild flowers, restoring ivy clad old walls and the ancient arch where the Abbey once stood. We are delighted that Kimmy our house keeper and Nigel our gardener/handy man and their two small boys our moving into a cottage on site.
Events on around Butley this autumn
Aldeburgh Literary festival 10th- 12th September
This year the 20th Aldeburgh Literary Festival has been moved from March to September 10th- 12th at the Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh. Tickets are snapped up fast, so book on line or turn up to an event and join the queue for returns. Names this year include Alex Younger, Terence Blacker, Craig Brown, Amber Rudd, William Sieghart, Ester Freud, John Mullan and Charles Saumarez Smith. www.aldeburghliteraryfestival.co.uk
Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival 25th -26th September
Not to be missed for food lovers is a gourmet weekend at Snape Maltings. A magnificent celebration of Suffolk’s finest food and drink… as a county we certainly have a vast variety of local and distinctive food and drink to offer. From Adnams brewery to Maples Farm’s own milled flour, Fen Dairy cheeses and raw butter from their herd of Montbeliarde girls, to gin from Fishers distillery in Aldeburgh, to whet your appetite. The event includes wild cooking for children (guessing stuff from the hedgerows), interactive family area with stage, food photography, and master classes from our best chefs, street food and live music. Book tickets www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk/the-festival/tickets/
Snape Maltings Concert Hall
Britten Pears Arts at Snape is bursting with autumn events. Some of Suffolk’s best young musician will appear in a Gala concert with the Suffolk Youth orchestra, Suffolk Wind Orchestra and Suffolk Young Strings on 5th September, 5pm. Festival of New 2021, 10th/11th September is a weekend of innovative music and sound developed at Snape and Aldeburgh residencies this year are being showcased.
Hot tickets for October include: October 3rd pianist Mitsuko Uchida, October 16th; a residency open session, a new operatic work with the Romania gymnast Nadia Comanceci; October 17th is an evening with the country music duo The Shires, Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes. Book tickets ASAP. www.brittenpearsarts.org/whats-on
HighTide
Further afield but worth the hike is East England’s theatre forum for new writers and productions touring the UK and festivals. The emphasis is cutting edge, contemporary and exploring the political landscape. For podcasts, current news and programmes look www.hightide.org.uk
Suffolk Academy of dance and performing arts
Aldeburgh Cinema
Check the website for the ever-changing programme. We love this small art house cinema where you can take in a glass of wine and watch the latest movies, foreign films, nostalgic golden oldies and children’s matinees in the holidays. Become a friend of this much loved and admired charitable institution.
Riverside Cinema/Theatre/Restaurant, Woodbridge
Another cool art house cinema just twenty minutes away from Butley in Woodbridge. Suffolk based Hollywood director Paul Greengrass is the new patron. Over a hundred years old, the cinema offers a varied programme from foreign films to NT Romeo & Juliet live. www.theriverside.co.uk/cinema/
Private chefs for house lets
We can highly recommend two local chefs for private parties at Butley Priory and Butley Abbey Farmhouse.
Chloe Glazier runs Doorstep Dining, www.doorstepdining.com, which will cook beautifully for guests up to 40 with a great team of waiting staff. Contact hello@doorstepdining.com; 07807 832763
Hay Hay are based close by in Orford. Nina cooks wonderful food and caters for private parties, buffets, and afternoon tea. Middle Eastern a speciality. www.hayhaysuffolk.co.uk; 07947313156
AUGUST NEWS
August news from Butley Priory
Summer holidays are here and we have put together some suggestions of what to do around Butley. For hot days the nearest swimming place is Butley Creek at Butley Ferry jetty (just over a mile away). Check the tides, jelly shoes and only for strong swimmers. Or to keep cool head for Shingle street or Thorpeness beach which has some sand. Or stay in the peaceful shady gardens at the Priory or the Farmhouse with book under a tree.
Suffolk Punch Trust, Hollesley, IP2 3JR (01394 411327) A jolly family outing, open six days a week (not Tuesdays), 10 – 5pm. The Barthrop family introduced the Suffolk Punch to their farm in Hollesley in 1759. These majestic horses have been part of Suffolk farming life for over 260 years. Plenty to keep you occupied with farm walks, pets paddock for children, heritage garden, café, shop, and museum but of best of all the horses (and sometimes foals) to admire.
Sutton Hoo, Sutton, Sutton, Woodbridge, IP12 3DJ (01394 389700) National Trust gem, the site of the 6th century undisturbed ship burial discovered by amateur architect Basil Brown in 1938. The stunning Anglo Saxon artefacts are now in the British museum. There’s an excellent visitor centre (and restaurant), a 27m long life size replica of the ship, with replicas of the treasures in the museum. Visit the arts and craft house where Mrs Edith Pretty lived, and of course the burial mounds with observation towers
Poplar Park, Poplar Farm, Hollesley, IP12 3NA 01394 411023 Riding school with direct access into Rendlesham Forest . Our favourite two horses are gentle giant Bud (former race horse, measures 17 hands) with the best canter and Mylo (31 years old cob, and retired). We fostered them during lock down.
Butley Ferry – Sponsored by the Alde & Ore Association (07913 672499) the ferry (a rowing boat, takes up to 4 passengers and 2 bicycles per crossing)) has been in operation for centuries ferrying passengers across Butley Creek to the ancient river walls that wind and stretch 40 km. From here it’s two miles to Orford by foot along the river wall or bicycle along a sandy track past Pinneys fish huts and down Gedgrave Road. Manned by volunteers the ferry runs from 11- 4pm at weekends and bank holidays during May to September, but not on windy days.
Rendlesham Forest - There are wonderful walks through the forest. Follow the UFO trail to find the crash spot where allegedly a UFO crashed in December 1980. It’s the most famous and written about UFO sighting in the UK. Strange flashing lights were seen in the forest by airman from the American airbase in Woodbridge including their commander Lt Col Charles Halt. A crashed aircraft and little green dead aliens were seen dangling in the trees. Halt’s report was taken seriously, thoroughly investigated and classified. However, nothing was ever found. The US airman may have been confused by Orford lighthouse, poachers and a satellite coming down into the sea, all fuelled by some wacky baccy…… it was concluded to have been a hoax.
Orford Castle run by English Heritage (0370 333 1181) was built between 1165-1175 by Henry II. The perfect rainy day outing. The keep is in excellent condition with five layers to explore connected by winding spiral staircases, including dank dungeons, where a mythical merman was held captive until he escaped. From the roof there are terrific views over Orford Ness and out to sea. Museum and a tiny shop (geared for children) for a little bit of retail therapy.
Orford Ness – National Trust Nature Reserve owned by the National Trust. The Ferry runs every day from 10am from Orford quay. (You need to book) Take a picnic, WCs but no other facilities. The waymarked trails meander through the landscape, shingle and brackish lagoons, mud flays and marshes. There’s a herd of Herdwick sheep looked after by the TV star, border collie, Sweep. The only dog allowed on Orford Ness. Birds, seals, wild flowers an extraordinary wilderness. Orford Ness is also famous for its curious pagodas where cold war military activities took place, including testing the atomic trigger. A group of artists are exhibiting their work “Afterness” until the end of October – visit artangel.org.uk for information and booking.
Crabbing on Orford Quay Buy your crabbing lines, net and bacon from the Orford Village shop and head down to Orford quay. Once your bucket is full, empty the crabs gently out on the slip way and watch them race down back to the sea. Our record is 12 crabs. Butley Ferry is also an excellent spot for crabbing and just a 30-minute walk from the Priory/farmhouse.
Quayside Orford river trips
Regardless, 07900 230579 Take a hour long river trip on this old fishing boat, and circumnavigate Havergate Island, the RSPB reserve, a 7-mile cruise with commentary on the area. Maximum 29 passengers (private trips available). See daily blackboard on the quayside for times, hourly during peek times.
The Lady Florence, Craig or Chris: 01473 558712 or 07831 698298. A very pleasant way to cruise the River Alde on this 1944 former admiralty supply boat. She takes up to 12 passengers, for breakfast, dinner or lunch (private groups available). She operates all year round. A good commentary about nature and history.
Tilly, 07793 307337 This small fishing boat takes up to 12 passengers around Havergate island, an hour’s voyage with commentary. Expect to see seals, curlews, avocets, terns, godwits and sandpipers enjoying the mud flats. Bring binoculars. Trips run between April and October. (Private hire also available).
Snape Maltings – Snape, IP17 1SP, 01728 688302 World-class music and concert hall, pub (Plough & Sail) café, independent shops, galleries, home store, food store and garden shop. Farmers Market first Saturday of every month.
Aldeburgh Golf Club, Aldeburgh, IP15 5PE 01728 452890 Founded in 1884, par 68, a top-notch heathland course (two courses), stunning situation overlooking the River Alde.
Thorpeness Golf Club 01728 452176 Created in 1922, the legendary golf architect James Bird designed this 70-par heath land course and 5 times open champion James Bird.
The Meare at Thorpeness An idyllic place for children (and adults) to while away an afternoon. This shallow 60-acre lake was built in the 1913 when Thorpeness was developed as a holiday resort. Canoes, kayaks and rowing boats to explore the tiny islands and Peter Pans Neverland. Open from 8.30 to 5.30pm daily until October half term.
JULY NEWS
July news from Butley Priory
Our very own Dig and developments
Another vibrant month with weddings, staycations, a wedding at the farmhouse, our first, using the thatched summerhouse. Gunilla Hailes (Together Flowers) from Iken festooned it with beautiful summer flowers, it looked rustic and charming. Isla and Matt tied the knot and Marshall their two-year old son, when not distracted by his tiny set of golf clubs, was the ring bearer.
We are planning to develop the farm buildings, which lie unused, for our wedding business. We hope to create a stunning wedding venue in the 12th century former refectory barn where the monks would have eaten at long trestle tables, mostly in silence, for over 300 years.
Butley Abbey farmhouse is built on the site of a former Augustinian Abbey, founded in 1171. In the 1320s it was the second wealthiest monastic house in East Anglia. It was built on the main route between Ipswich and Orford castle to provide bed and breakfast for important travellers, hospitality and alms. A community of 36 canons (ordained priests rather than monks) lived here and trained young priests to go out into the community.
A wall once surrounded the Abbey and its buildings covering 20 acres. All that remains of the Abbey is the Priory Gatehouse, now a wedding venue, a solitary magnificent stone arch covered in ivy and two handsome barns, now inhabited by pigeons, and some modern disused farm buildings. Up until the 1970s it was a bustling farmyard with pigs and venerable Suffolk Punches. The Suffolk Punch Trust incidentally is just up the road at Hollesley with an excellent visitor centre.
The Abbey was a substantial complex with the central cruciform church, cloisters, dormitories, chapter house, common room, library, cellars, storage areas and kitchens. There were administration offices, servant’s accommodation, a school, an infirmary for the sick, and a burial ground. The monks were entirely self sufficient, with vineyards, hops for beer, orchards and fishponds (which still survive) filled with carp, fields with cattle, sheep and pigs. A bake house, brew house, dairy, poultry house, dovecote, stables and barns for the livestock. There was a latrine and lavatorium block. A water mill ground corn, cloth making workshops and a dye house.
In 1537 Henry VIII dissolved the Priory during the English Reformation. Over the centuries the old buildings and the large church were gradually taken apart and reused by local people. Suffolk has almost no natural stone of its own, and most of the Priory buildings were built of stone brought on barges across the sea from Caen in Normandy. Unsurprisingly, the abandoned Priory became a sort of quarry, the stones melting away into the local community. On the B1078 between Tunstall and Rendlesham, for example, another stone arch can be seen, sold off and carried away centuries ago.
After the dissolution of the monasteries during the Reformation in 1538 the Priory estate passed from the Crown to the Duke of Suffolk, who married Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII. She was a regular visitor, and is recorded as enjoying summer picnics in the gardens of the Gatehouse. The Priory was sold on to a wealthy merchant from Hadleigh, William Forthe. He extended the Gatehouse and built himself a comfortable country house attached to it. It remained in the Forthe family until 1684, and then passed through number of other hands. It was used as the local vicarage in the 19th century and then finally bought, in a sorry state, by Dr Monty Rendall in 1926. Dr Rendall was the retired Headmaster of Winchester College, and he sank all his money into restoring it, very beautifully, living there till the end of his long life in 1951. He also oversaw an extensive archaeological dig among the foundations of all the old Priory buildings and established the layout of the whole institution. The Greenwell family bought it from him in 1932, and various families lived there until it became a wedding venue in the 1980s.
A family story relates that the late Lady Greenwell much disliked one of the tenants, who had forbidden her from darkening their doors. She disguised herself with a wig and eccentric attire and anonymously joined an historical group who were being given a tour of the Priory. She afterwards wrote an effusive thank you letter.
New archaeological work is about to start at Butley, and will doubtless turn up plenty more of historic interest.
JUNE NEWS
June news from Butley Priory
June was full on, two weddings, holiday lets in the Priory and Farmhouse – all went swimmingly, delightful guests to stay and some not so delightful. Our May bridal shoot went well the Priory looked fabulous. The photographs speak for themselves. Thank you the Suffolk team of wedding suppliers and Aaron from Avisuals for the drone video of Butley Abbey Farmhouse, complete with birds singing.
Where to eat around Butley
We are spoilt for choice around Butley Priory and Butley Abbey Farmhouse for eating out (or in). We have some fantastic pubs, restaurants and takeaways, many using our local farm to fork produce. Here are some of our favourites in a roughly ten-mile radius.
BUTLEY - The Oyster Inn. Your local pub, just one mile away.. Ancient pub with bare wood floors, sunny garden and fine honest pub grub. Bumper burgers, BLTS and Piri Piri Chicken and take out.
WOODBRIDGE - Maria Elia at the Merchant’s Table, 10 Church Street, Woodbridge Wonderful Greek chef, the menu changes weekly. Order on Wednesday collect Friday lunchtime. Might be Middle Eastern kebabs and spicy mushroom Shawarma or ouzo and lemon cured salmon or paper wrapped slow roasted lamb marinated in garlic, oregano and lemon with fennel seed tzatziki, spice roast carrots with tahini and coriander – sounds good? mariaelia@me.com; 079705043423; themerchantstable.co.uk
SHOTTISHAM – Sorrel Horse (01394 411617). 15th century picture post card village pub (log fires when its chilly), live music and a new pizza oven producing delicious pizza’s. Innovative menu, try the spider crab gratin, wild garlic cod Kiev, or a reliable Suffolk Ploughman’s. Small garden, dog and child friendly.
MELTON - The Unruly Pig (01394 460310). This popular Gastro pub, with a garden has a string of awards. Not the most scenic spot on the main road but the food is tasty and the staff caring. We like the smoked eel and lardon toastie, juicy burgers, monk fish with clams and jersey royals – good children’s menu.
SNAPE - Plough & Sail (01728 688413). Downside, on a busy road…. however, a good solid pub run by brothers Alex and Ollie Burnside, serving reliable pub staples (local produce), with a twist. Slap next to Snape Maltings concert hall and glorious shopping emporium – an experience not to be missed especially on a rainy day.
BLAXHALL – The Ship (01728 688316). Proper local rustic pub with a curious history. You might have caught glimpses Ralph Fiennes, Toby Jones or McKenzie Crook under the radar when filming The Dig or the Detectorists. Homemade Pizza, ham egg and chips and scampi type of thing. There’s also a friendly poltergeist, with a sense of humour, who chucks sugar lumps about.
ORFORD - The King’s Head (01394 450271) Susanne and Ian Ballantine, run this terrific and popular pub - the locals (fishermen, cricket team) favourite spot. Pub garden, car park and dog friendly. Tasty burgers, local bangers, fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding. Pub quizzes and live music.
ORFORD - Jolly Sailor (01394 450243). Four hundred years old, this quaint and pretty pub is near the quayside (public cap park opposite), good-sized garden out the back, dog and child friendly.
ORFORD - Butley-Orford Oysterage (01394 450277). The restaurant is almost 60 years old, owned and run by the Pinney family. Booking is essential for this much loved and unfussy restaurant. We love the angels on horseback (oysters and bacon) and the fish pie. There’s a private room upstairs for parties.
ORFORD - Crown & Castle (01394 450205). Posh restaurant with a nice atmosphere, using local produce in the kitchen: line caught fish and succulent Suffolk beef. Vegetarians will like the Primavera risotto.
ORFORD - Fish & Chips – Moving Plaice (07493 359369) - outside Orford School, on Wednesdays (5pm -7.30pm). Delicious - ask for lashings of salt and vinegar.
ALDEBURGH - The Lighthouse (01728 453377). 25 years old and going strong, Sam runs this busy atmospheric Aldeburgh institution. Local suppliers only, fresh fish, lamb and beef, all look pretty on the plate. Next to the cinema it’s the place to go pre-movie.
ALDEBURGH - l’Escargot sur Mer( www.lescargotsurmer.com). Book on line, a new Aldeburgh sensation, sister of the fabled Soho L’Escargot. Light and breezy, signature snails and seafood pasta. Delightful waiters, George runs it with charm… one could almost be in St Tropez.
ALDEBURGH - Sea Spices, at the White Lion Hotel (01728 451800). Indian restaurant (and take-away) with excellent food served but unexciting interior, saved by the view of the beach and sea if you get a table upstairs. Sound menu… we like the Butter Chicken, Sea food Curry, Achari Baigan (aubergine, masala) excellent cheese naan and East Suffolk Muntjac Vindaloo for the more adventurous. We liked the quick service.
ALDEBURGH - The Brudenell (01728 452071). Snazzy hotel and restaurant smack on the sea front, with sunny terrace over looking the pebbly beach. Plenty of local fare, including Cod and bouillabaisse sauce, grilled lobster, Wild halibut and Cromer crab. Next door is FISHER GIN DISTILLERY, where you can have a private tour and tasting.
KELSALE - PINCH, Maple Farm Kitchen www.eatpiinch.com/@pinch.suffolk. A little further a field but worth the hike for a ready-made meal kit by chef Alice Norman - beautiful little boxes packed with stuff, try Pappardelle & Wild Boar with rough asparagus and sea herb butter and blackcurrant shrub. Maple Farm is also the dream organic farm shop.
