Halesworth Town Trail
Station Road
This was originally Bungay Road and ran from Quay Street past the hospital, out towards Bungay. The Victorian letterbox on the wall is originally from the Post Office in the Thoroughfare.
Magnolia House was built in the late 18th Century. The house was the home of John Woodcock who owned the Bridge Street Brewery, established in 1770. He later sold this to Hooker who in turn sold it to Stead. Magnolia House was later occupied by Sir William Aitken, MP, his wife Penelope and their children Jonathon and Marie. Jonathon also became an MP but lost everything when he was imprisioned for perjury.
In 1854 the first rail track to Halesworth from Haddiscoe via Beccles terminated at the level crossing in Old Station Road. Halesworth station was built in 1859. The platform needed to be extended to accommodate the longer trains and a moveable platform was installed in 1888 to enable traffic to continue to use the main Bungay Road, except when a train was in the station.
This unique piece of engineering was renovated in 1999. It is believed to be the only one remaining in the country.
The station is now the home of the Halesworth & District Museum where more information on the railway is available. This small Museum is full of information, objects and archaeology which tells the history of the local area. The Museum has a wide range of resources for Family History, Local History and Railway researchers.
View the Town Trail on the Halesworth Map