Thursday 20 August 2009

GOING TO PIECES IN SOUTHWOLD

We've had some enjoyable days out over the summer holidays. One of nicest local places to visit is Southwold, which is about 30 miles from our home. Unfortunately the East Anglian roads north of Ipswich leave a lot to be desired in terms of speed from A to B and that 30 mile trip takes a good [or should that be "bad"] hour. However it is worth the tedious drive behind drivers who we assume have never dared ventured beyond 3rd gear.

Southwold is a delightful and genteel resort on the Suffolk coast. Nothing is brash or garish, just a beautiful restored pier selling tasteful sounvenirs, gaily painted beachhuts lining a promenade behind a sandy beach and a photogenic white lighthouse.
Here are two photos taken from the pier [click on them to enlarge] - the first photo is looking south towards the town:


the second photo is looking north over beach huts and the beach:


Here is a view from the southern part of the beach looking back towards the pier:


In one of the estate agent's windows we saw a beach hut advertised for sale by sealed bids with a guide price of £50,000. Further down the coast at Walton and Clacton they can't shift them at £5,000! Mind you, £50k for a wooden hut with no running water ain't cheap is it?

Southwold is a delightful place for a day out or even a weekend away. Unfortunately it is well off the beaten track unless you happen to live in East Anglia so for those of you who don't, I hope you enjoy the photos.

By this stage though you are probably wondering why the header to this post refers to "going to pieces"? Well, as we wandered through the town passed the lighthouse I saw a sign on a church hall "The world's largest commercial jigsaw puzzle - 24,000 pieces". Intrigued we went inside to have a look. Earlier this year they assembled this enormous jigsaw puzzle measuring about 14ft by 5ft. Apparently they did it in a record time and will be officially in the Guinness Book of Records. The jigsaw puzzle was only on view for two days so we were fortunate to call by at the right time. Here is a photo of the jigsaw puzzle:


The photo doesn't do justice to the detail and vivid colours. As it is a commercial jigsaw puzzle you could buy one yourself to make up - if you had both the space, a large enough table and a phenomenal amount of patience. Here's a link if you fancy buying it (for US$280) and that link has a much better photo of the jigsaw puzzle on it.

11 comments:

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

£50k for a beach hut? Crikey, that's incredible.

Love the photos. It looks a fabulous place to visit, glad you've had such a great time.

whiteparkcattlesociety said...

Hi Troy, we have just added your blog to our Local Blog list on the www.WaveneyValleyBlog.com Any chance of a reciprocal link? Kind regards Nigel

Elaine Denning said...

I'll echo Debs. 50k? Wow.

The photos are lovely. The jigsaw wouldn't fit in my front room!

Valerie said...

24,000 piece jigsaw, Wow! I thought 3,000 was a lot. That would be a real challenge and I would definitely be up for it. Southwold looks a charming resort. Wish it was nearer to me.

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Was in Southwold earlier this summer. have visited Cromer, Blackpool, Whitby, Morecambe, Scarborough, Lytham, Mundesly, Wells, Abersoch, Conway etc this year. Guess where Southwold rates.

Troy said...

Debs - they will probably be £100k in a few years and I'll wish I bought one (or more). It would be nice to see some of your favourite places in Jersey on your blog. That's somewhere we still intend to visit one day (the island, not your blog which of course I already visit regularly).

imajaz - hello and welcome. Just taken a look at your Waveney Valley blog - a mine of useful local information - and will put in a link on my blog. I hope I don't get a lot of abuse from your local slow drivers though!

Elaine - Maybe you could do it in parts and then put it over two walls (obviously minding doors and windows!).

Valerie - a think "a real challenge" sums it up well.

Ken - you've done quite a bit of travelling this year and been to some great places! I like all around Abersoch on the Lleyn Peninsula in North Wales and also Conway. I have a soft spot for both Whitby and Scarborough. We went to Blackpool once and never stopped (turned round in Fleetwood) and I've never been to Morcambe. Isn't that where they stand all their dead up in the bus-shelters?
Hope you put Southwold up with the best of your other places.

Edith Sitwell said...

Hi Troy, What amazing pictures. Thank you for sharing them with us.

DJ Kirkby said...

I love doing jigsaws!

Troy said...

Edith - thanks for calling by and thanks for kind comment regarding my photos. Cropping the seaside photos to be long and narrow I think improves them.

DJ - if you don't fancy the challenge of 24,000 pieces you can get a 4,000 piece slice of that puzzle via this link
http://www.jigsawgallery.com/details.php?refnum=ED13429

Ladybird World Mother said...

Southwold is gorgeous... we made that long old trip through the Suffolk highways and by-ways some years ago... well worth it. My sister has a beach hut at Walton!! £5000 is right!! Have a friend who sold theirs in Wales for £85K. Can you Believe It....
Wonder how much they are in Brightlingsea??!!

Troy said...

LWM - the beach huts at Mudeford near Bournemouth go for £150K+ although they are bigger and can be used for overnight stays.
I suspect the Brightlingsea huts may be cheap because screaming kids in noisy speedboats disturb their peace? Tough!