A Spooky Suffolk to Potsford Gibbet

A circular walk around Wickham Market in Suffolk to take in the spooky sights of Potsford Gibbet.
Jonah Snell was reputedly the last man to be 'hung in chains' at Potsford Gibbet in 1699 as decreed by the cracked plaque that is affixed to the decaying post which is all that remains of the gibbet. His ghost is said to haunt the area and the hill up to the location of the Gibbet is still locally known as Dragarse Hill after he was dragged by his arse up the hill to the Gibbet for his part in the grizzly murders carried out at Letheringham Mill.

Technical sheet

n°42744813
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.86 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 42 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 35 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 39 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 10 m
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Photos

The rather delightful looking Deben Mill in Wickham Market
Glevering Mill

Description of the walk

Start: Junction between Snowdon Hill and Yew Treet Rise, Wickham Market. Grid ref. TM 302 561

(S/E) From the junction, take the main road Northwards out of Wickham Market. Continue past the Mill and a little way up the road there is a track with a bridleway marker on the left.

(1) Take left and keep to the track, past Gallows Hill and onto the road.

(2) Turn left on the road and follow this through to a junction.

(3) Turn left and walk down to Glevering Bridge, a little hump back bridge.

(4) Immediately after the bridge turn right and follow the lane through to the road (B1078).

(5) Turn right and follow the road up the hill. This can be fairly busy but the distance to the entrance to Potsford Wood on the right is not far. Beyond the entrance is the section of road known as Dragarse Hill. The track down the side of the wood has the Potsford Gibbet as it bends to the right. Continue along the track beyond the woods and through open fields.

(6) Keep straight ahead avoiding other footpath markers until it joins a bend in a road at California.

(7) Continue straight ahead to the junction.

(8) Turn left and follow the lane through to Pettistree.

(9) Keep straight ahead at the village green until the Greyhound pub is reached. Turn left and head into the adjoining churchyard.

(10) Follow the footpath across the churchyard, then across a couple of fields, over the road (B1438) and across another field.

(11) Turn left at the end of the field, along a track.

(12) Keep to this, over a road and down to another road. Keep straight ahead.

(13) Take the first footpath on the left which leads up to All Saints Church in Wickham Market. Continue onto the road.

(14) Turn right and walk North to complete the walk. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 22 m - Wickham Market
  2. 1 : km 0.93 - alt. 12 m - Bridleway marker left
  3. 2 : km 1.43 - alt. 18 m - Road left
  4. 3 : km 2.63 - alt. 19 m - Junction - Left
  5. 4 : km 3.13 - alt. 21 m - Bridge
  6. 5 : km 3.63 - alt. 21 m - B1078 road
  7. 6 : km 4.78 - alt. 36 m - Exit woods
  8. 7 : km 5.28 - alt. 30 m - Bend in a road at California
  9. 8 : km 5.58 - alt. 18 m - Junction - Left
  10. 9 : km 6.85 - alt. 34 m - Village green
  11. 10 : km 7.18 - alt. 34 m - Churchyard
  12. 11 : km 7.72 - alt. 29 m - End of the field
  13. 12 : km 8.21 - alt. 27 m - Road junction
  14. 13 : km 9.04 - alt. 22 m - Footpath left toward All Saints Church in Wickham
  15. 14 : km 9.54 - alt. 35 m - Road right
  16. S/E : km 9.86 - alt. 23 m - Wickham Market

Practical information

Start: Junction between Snowdon Hill and Yew Treet Rise, Wickham Market. Grid ref. TM 302 561

Transport : First Group 64 service connects Ipswich, Woodbridge, Wickham Market, Saxmundhamm, Leiston and Aldeburgh.

Refreshments : The Greyhound, Pettistree, Pettistree

Terrain: The route uses country lanes and tracks around to provide an anti-clockwise circuit around Wickham Market

Find more information and walks at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

In the nearby area

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