Southwold Sailors' Reading Room

“In those days Southwold beach and harbour were filled with fishing boats, and it was these hardy old salts who were the founder members of the reading room,” says the inscription inside the Reading Room.

Now a registered charity it is still a members’ organisation which is proud to number fishermen, lifeboatmen and coastguards among its membership.

The museum gives a fascinating glimpse of Southwold’s maritime history and it is full of models, photographs and items donated over the years.

LISTEN/READ MORE ABOUT THE SAILOR'S READING ROOM AND THE HISTORY OF SOUTHWOLD FROM JOHN 'DUSSO' WINTER AND GEORGE BUMSTEAD.  CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE >>

Southwold Museum

You will see this museum a little later in the walk, it’s in Victoria Street, opposite Bartholomew Green. It has a wide ranging and eclectic collection of artefacts, pictures, natural history displays and exhibitions relating to Southwold’s history.

Southwold Museum

Big Eggo

Currently on display is a temporary exhibition on the wonderful world of Reg Carter, who was a Southwold born artist and illustrator. He produced hundreds of postcards in his life time and was also an illustrator for comics, including The Beano. He did the illustrations for Big Eggo the ostrich who was always hunting for his egg.

The ghost of a red-head

You can also see an automata depicting the story of the Earl of Sandwich and the servant girl. In May 1672 on the eve of the Battle of Sole Bay, the Duke of York established his headquarters at Sutherland House. It’s said that the Earl of Sandwich met and fell in love with a red-headed serving girl there. They spent the night together and as a result the Earl was late for the battle.

He was killed during the fighting and his body was washed up further down the coast. He was only recognisable because he was still wearing the Order of the Garter. The servant girl was bereft and is still said to roam the corridors of Sutherland House awaiting her lover’s return.

LISTEN/READ MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN SEE AT SOUTHWOLD MUSEUM FROM DAVID DE KRETSER, CURATOR.  CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE >>

Largest piece of amber found in UK

The Amber Museum

You will see this museum when you get to the Market Place. It is the only museum dedicated to the history of amber, which is petrified tree resin.

You can see the largest piece of amber ever found in Great Britain. It was ‘caught’ by fishermen off Covehithe. Amber can be bought for as little as £10 but there is one piece of Baltic amber in the shop adjacent to the museum which is about 40 million years old. It has up to 50 insect inclusions and to buy it would cost you £950!

Amulets

Amber was once used for medicinal purposes. The Greeks wore amber amulets around their necks to prevent fever, and ground amber was thought to be a remedy for the plague, convulsive disorders and hysteria. Scottish mothers believed that amber provided protection from evil spirits.

LISTEN TO MORE ABOUT THE AMBER MUSEUM.  NICK PANDOLFI TALKS TO ROBIN FOURNEL.  CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE >>

Alfred Corry Museum

The Alfred Corry Museum

Built at a cost of £490.7s.6d in 1893 the Alfred Corry was Southwold’s most famous lifeboat. She was launched 41 times and saved 47 lives. The museum, which is housed in the old Cromer Lifeboat shed, is not on this walk, but it’s well worth a visit. It’s only a short detour to the harbour entrance in Ferry Road, where the Alfred Corry is situated.

To continue with the walk….turn right out of the Sailor’s Reading Room and continue along East Cliff. Take time to look at some of the inscriptions on the seats - you may even see a fresh bunch of flowers placed on one of the seats to commemorate a special person or a particular date.

If you don’t want to take the score down onto the promenade (which may be too steep for wheelchairs and buggies) you can approach Gun Hill by staying on the cliff top and walking around behind the houses.