Suffolk is well-known for its archaeology, stunning coastline and picturesque villages. But it also has some intriguing secrets to uncover.
So whether you’re staying in one of our fantastic holiday cottages in Suffolk or want to learn more about the area, here are 10 fun facts about Suffolk that you may not know.
Home to the smallest pub in Britain
Located in the historic Suffolk town of Bury St Edmunds, The Nutshell holds the Guinness World Record as Britain’s smallest pub. It measures just 15ft by 7ft and has enough room for approximately 20 people.
Suffolk has its own breed of horse
The Suffolk Punch is a critically endangered breed of horse, with fewer than 300 left in the world. In wartime, this beautiful chestnut colour heavy horse was used to pull artillery and vehicles. Today, you might be lucky enough to see one at an agricultural show.
It’s the furthest point East in the UK
Lowestoft has become a huge tourist hotspot in recent years. It sits proudly in the northernmost part of the Suffolk coastline. People visit the town to experience the first place to see the sunrise in the UK. There’s plenty of activities for holidaymakers to enjoy in Lowestoft, from museums, a theatre, wildlife park and theme park.
An inspirational place for storytelling
It’s believed that JK Rowling took inspiration from Suffolk for the non-magical scenes that feature in the famous Harry Potter series. Harry Potter’s muggle (non-wizard) home is actually set in Lavenham, a tiny medieval village in Suffolk.
Suffolk provides large amounts of silk to the UK
The Suffolk town of Sudbury is a major silk manufacturing centre that has been running for more than 200 years. The four working mills produce over 100 tons of silk every year.
World record holder for fastest Winkle picking
Dean Gould from Felixstowe, Suffolk set a world record in 1997 when he picked 50 winkle shells in 1 minute, 22.34 seconds. 25 years later, the record is yet to be beaten.
The birthplace of a classic nursery rhyme
In the 19th century, Jane Taylor from Lavenham, Suffolk wrote the popular children’s nursery rhyme, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’.
A novel location
Charles Dickens enjoyed visiting the beautiful town of Ipswich so much that he based his 1836 novel, The Pickwick Papers here. There are several well-known Suffolk landmarks that feature in his work.
Home to the world’s first lawnmower
The Suffolk Punch cylinder lawnmower was introduced in 1954 by agricultural machinery manufacturer Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies. It was one of the first mowers to be fitted with a powerful 4-stroke petrol engine.
A voyage’s end
The final resting place of naval architect Sir Thomas Slade can be found in St Clement’s churchyard, Ipswich. Slade is most famous for his design work on designing HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.
With so much to discover, it’s clear to see why Suffolk is often referred to as the “curious county”.
Our great selection of Suffolk holiday cottages make a perfect holiday retreat.
What will you discover?
