Explore the hidden gems and historical landmarks along our picturesque village routes. Here we explore the Heart of Rattlesden Ramble.

Institute House is on your left across the road walking along on Lower Road.
Institute House was the maltsters house originally, connected to the maltings next door, which is now the Village Hall.

For many years Institute House was occupied by Basil Flack (a local thatcher) and Mrs Cissie Flack. They were hall caretakers and no doubt for convenience in that role there was a door and passage from Institute House into the Village Hall.

Rattlesden Village Hall (is on your left, walking along Lower Road)
Originally a Maltings, the building was gifted in 1902 for use as a Reading Room, a quiet area to read used in Victorian and Edwardian times to improve literacy and provide an alternative to the pub. After WW1, they became less fashionable and many, like ours, became the church or village hall.

The village hall has hosted many community events and clubs over the years, with badminton played here since the 1950s. The hall has now been established and re-purposed as a Pre-School.

Rattlesden Community shop and Post Office (is viewable on your left (St Nicholas Close) as you walk along Lower Road)

The shop opened in March 1996 and joined the Post Office in the underused lounge of the St Nicholas Sheltered Housing Scheme, which had been built in the 1960s. This successful volunteer-led community shop is always worth a visit for pre- or post-walk refreshments.

Rattlesden Baptist Chapel (Viewable from the Whalebones and School Road junction – the Baptist Church also features on the Half Moon and Rising Sun Trail)

Originally built in 1808 and enlarged in 1815, it was extensively rebuilt in 1892. Opposite is The Old Manse which historically housed some of past Baptist Ministers. The Manse in School Lane is now their residence.

Directions – you are walking to the right at the junction towards School Road.

The ‘Whalebones’ (viewed from the junction of Lower Road/School Road).

Whalebone arches became popular in late 18th- and early 19th-century coastal areas as a link to the whaling industry, but in other areas for ornamental purposes.

It is not known when the Rattlesden whalebones were erected, or by whom, but they are an important symbol of the village. Locals often recall using the movement of the whalebones to predict the weather.

The originals were replaced in 2000 by the current wooden replicas, carved by a local craftsman.
Whalebone Cottage (Viewed from the junction of Lower Road/School Road).

George Smith, a prominent local builder of the time, built this property before he died in 1876.
In the 1881 census, it was first listed as Whalebone Cottage.

The house was once occupied by the organist of St Paul’s Cathedral, Mr Foss, who lived there after WW2 and gave some locals piano lessons.

Church Cottage / The Old Shop (Howletts & Sons) is viewable on your left as you walk on.

These premises, and some of the land to the back and side, were for many years the site for Howletts shop, which included general stores, butchers and a slaughterhouse. They were established in 1884 (a few years at Poy Street) and finally closed in the 1960s.

St Nicholas Church 
There is no trace of the early Norman church building mentioned in the Domesday Book. Today’s church does, however dates to the 13th century. The earliest feature of the church is the 13th century doorway, while the aisles and striking west tower date to the 14th century. There is an impressive font of that age still in the Church.

St Nicholas has a fine interior. In particular the two further stained-glass windows were added in the 1930’s, with an Adoration of the Angels at the east end of the south aisle, and up in the chancel a most curious memorial to a rector of Rattlesden, Joseph Russell Olerenshaw. It depicts him photographically as St Nicholas. On the left panel, Thomas Rattlesden greets Henry VII outside the gates of Bury Abbey, whilst on the right St Edmund of East Anglia is martyred.

Marking the importance of the American service personnel stationed at Rattlesden during WWII, there is a dedicated chapel in the church. Visitors should note the iron ring on the south door is famously said to be made from an anchor found on the meadow by the river

Rattlesden Hall (now Hall Farmhouse) is one of largest farms historically.

Probably the site of Rattlesden Manor and bequeathed to the Abbey of St Ethelreda, Ely in the 13th century. The abbots of Ely held the land until the 16th century, when it was taken over by Queen Elizabeth 1, who subsequently sold it to the Revett family and it has passed through various owners since.

The Hall dates from the 17th Century and together with the surrounding land was leased or owned as a working farm until the late 20th century.

Glebelands (the Old Rectory, High Street) is visible on your right.
The current building was built in 1892 to replace the original rectory which was then about 300-400 years old. It had been empty for some years and stories of ghosts were rife. In fact, the remains of a skeleton and fragments of coffin were discovered under the pantry floor. It is believed to be of Robert Bumpstead, died 1780 in debt, and buried here to prevent his body being seized by creditors. It is now a private residence.

Rattlesden Cemetery
The cemetery began to be used as a parish burial ground in 1905. It includes the WW1 memorial near the entrance and at the north end of the site is a new WW1 commemoration with 27 planted oaks marking the ‘fallen’ servicemen of Rattlesden village.

Cemetery Green and the Village Sign
The large oak in the centre of the triangular green was planted in 1937 to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V.

The Rattlesden Village Sign details the features and heritage of the village- river, church, anchor and whalebones. Beneath the head of the sign sits a plate featuring the 12th-century St John the Evangelist figurine, found in one of the local village fields.

The village sign was made by local craftsman Edward Hitchcock and was designed by Linda Wood.

Rattlesden Playing Field (Haughley Meadow, Orwell Meadow)
The springs are thought to have been the source of the River Orwell.
Rattlesden Football and Cricket Clubs have used the field over the years, with the football club particularly successful in the 1950s and 60s.

On the site is Rattlesden Pavilion, a sports and recreation venue rebuilt in 2010. replacing a former A14 workers’ hut converted for use by local volunteers (the Community Council).

Birds Green 
Features a long and picturesque run of thatched cottage houses.
Opposite these cottages, on the land now occupied by bungalows, was a tenter yard (identified from a 16th Century map), an area used to dry woollen cloth by stretching it out to keep its size and shape.

Suffolk House (The Corner Shop) 
Suffolk House was known as the Corner shop and was another police station.
At the junction of Lower Road look to your right and you will see Moot House close to Church Lane.

Moot House
In the village of Rattlesden stands this fine old building which dates from about 1430. But long before that the Saxons met in the open air to debate important decisions relating to their communities at what they termed ‘moot hills.

Later there were buildings constructed on these sites and they became known as “moot halls” but their purpose was much the same. However, the landscape historian must beware of jumping to conclusions here because sometimes the halls were built at different locations to the original hills.

Whether the Rattlesden Moot House is one such is a ‘moot point’! (moot point coming from the same root and meaning something which is debatable). Its position right next to the parish church suggests that the site is of ancient significance. It also served in the past as a Guild Hall, a building that fulfilled a similar role as a central organisational hub for the settlement. By the way, notice the fancy bargeboards on the gable end