Doors at 2pm to give time to purchase your refreshments from the arts centre cafe/bar for a start just after 3pm
Organised by Sudbury Town Council in partnership with Sudbury Arts Centre
Please join us for a free talk and Q&A as part of Heritage Open Days 2024 in Sudbury celebrating Routes-Networks-Connections with local history experts:
- Ashley Cooper (roads),
- Gavin Moulton (rail) and
- Jim Lunn (river).
The talk will focus on how these routes have shaped the Town of Sudbury over the centuries. The talk will be chronological with Ashley Cooper speaking about the roads in and out of Sudbury and the trading routes that have developed over centuries. From the pre-historic defences, to the Saxon Great Ditch to the formation of Friars Street and the old town right up the present day problems of the encroachment of vehicular traffic in ancient town centres. Jim Lunn from The River Stour Trust will be discussing how the Stour has shaped Sudbury, from defensive decisions on early settlements to the Stour Navigation Act, to the impact of the coming of the railway, later birth of The River Stour Trust and new lease of life in the tourism, ecological and leisure sectors. We close with local railway expert and enthusiast, Gavin Moulton who will be speaking on the coming of the railway to Sudbury in the mid-1850s, the boost to trade and leisure travel and our present day terminus station on The Gainsborough Line.
The presentations will be followed by an audience Q&A and panel discussion, so please come equipped with you queries and any photos / ephemera you’d like to share on the subject of Sudbury’s roads-river-rail.
More on Sudbury’s Heritage Open Days 2024 programme can be found at: www.sudbury-tc.gov.uk/hods
