Rendlesham combines Anglo-Saxon history with medieval church architecture and walking trails. Two points are especially important for planning your trip: the archaeological site is on private farmland and is not open to the public; the virtual exhibition offers a digital insight into the former royal settlement. If you’d like to explore the outdoors, you can also choose between a circular route, a longer long-distance trail and a shorter path in nearby Rendlesham Forest.
The royal settlement and its history
The Anglo-Saxon royal settlement at Rendlesham existed from the 5th to the 8th century. From 570 to 720, it was the centre from which a significant province of the Kingdom of the East Angles was governed. The two dates mark different aspects: the settlement’s long existence and the more narrowly defined period of its political role. So if you’re interested in this early history, Rendlesham offers more than a single historical point of interest. However, the archaeological site itself cannot be included in plans as a place open to public visitors.
The virtual exhibition “Rendlesham Revealed” presents the settlement’s development through a 400-year journey through time. It features more than 150 archaeological objects from the settlement, including food remains and gold jewellery. This brings evidence of everyday life together with finds made of precious materials. The exhibition provides digital access to a history whose archaeological site is on private land.
Church architecture and local history
The churches also tell different chapters of the area’s history. The Church of St Gregory the Great has a square west tower, a nave, a chancel and a 14th-century porch. Above the porch is a parvis chamber. St Felix of Dunwich in Rendlesham began as a chapel at RAF Bentwaters in the 1940s. The two churches therefore represent different historical contexts: medieval architectural forms on the one hand, and origins as a base chapel on the other.
Another historical landmark is the Augustinian nunnery in Rendlesham. It was founded in 1195 for 21 nuns, existed for almost 400 years and was dissolved in 1536. Together with the history of the Anglo-Saxon settlement and details about the Church of St Gregory the Great, this gives the area’s history a broad timespan, without limiting it to a single period.
Walking trails of different lengths
The circular “In the Footsteps of Kings” route is 7 miles (11 km) long and passes across open fields, through meadows and into woodland. The “Through the Deben Valley” long-distance trail covers 9 miles (14.5 km). It follows part of the circular route before continuing from Rendlesham to Melton railway station (IP12 2PA). The two trails therefore differ both in length and in their described routes: one is a circular route through varied landscapes, while the longer trail ends at Melton railway station. Both routes in the official walking offer lead to Rendlesham Church.
The “Rendlesham Revealed” trail combines walking with local history and follows the “In the Footsteps of Kings” route. QR codes along the trail unlock audio and video content about discoveries in Rendlesham. The audio trail also includes a section on the history of the 14th-century Church of St Gregory the Great, as well as Anglo-Saxon burial customs and the burial sites of Anglo-Saxon kings. This means you can encounter historical topics not only in the virtual exhibition, but also in the trail’s content.
Nearby Rendlesham Forest
Nearby is Rendlesham Forest in Tangham, Suffolk, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The forest has walking and cycling trails, play areas and picnic spots. It is also home to the UFO Trail, an easy 3-mile (4.8 km) route through woodland, heathland and wetlands. Compared with the 7- and 9-mile routes, it is the shorter of the trails mentioned here; the easy rating applies to this trail. If you’re planning around specific route details, check the latest route information before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Needham Market, Carlton Colville, West Row, Hollesley, Bramford, Occold, Saxtead, Bardwell.
For the main travel overview: Suffolk.
