Yoxford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yoxford |
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 St Peter's Church, Yoxford |
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 Yoxford
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| Population | 726 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TM396687 |
| • London | 94 miles (151 km) |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Saxmundham |
| Postcode district | IP17 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Yoxford is a charming village in East Suffolk, England. It's located near the beautiful Heritage Coast, which is famous for its natural beauty. You can also find the Minsmere Reserve (RSPB) nearby, a special place for birds. The towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold are also close by.
Yoxford is well-known for its many antique shops, where you can find old and interesting treasures. The village also inspired the setting for an opera by the famous composer Benjamin Britten. In his opera, Yoxford was called "Loxford."
The name 'Yoxford' comes from old English words. Geoc-ford means 'yoke ford'. This probably means there was a place where a yoke of oxen (two oxen tied together) could cross the ford (a shallow part of a river).
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Where is Yoxford Located?
Yoxford is about 94 miles (151 km) north-east of London. It's also about 25 miles (40 km) north-east of Ipswich. The village is surrounded by the lovely parkland of three large country houses. This area is often called the "Garden of Suffolk" because it's so green and pretty.
The village gets its name from a place where people and animals could cross the nearby River Yox. This crossing was wide enough for oxen to pass. Yoxford is also where two important roads meet: the A12 trunk road and the A1120.
What to See and Do in Yoxford
Yoxford has several interesting places to visit.
St Peter's Church
The Church of St Peter has a beautiful outside that was built in the 1400s. Inside, it looks mostly Victorian, from the 1800s. However, you can still see some very old brass plates from the 1400s to 1600s displayed on the walls. These plates are called monumental brasses. The church also has a finely carved font (a basin for baptisms) from the early 1400s and a pulpit (where the preacher stands) from the 1600s.
Other Village Sights
On the edge of Yoxford, you'll find Cockfield Hall. This grand house was once the home of the Blois family. As mentioned, Yoxford is famous for its many antique shops, which are great for exploring. The village also has a general store, a restaurant, and a village hall for community events.
The famous composer Benjamin Britten and writer Eric Crozier are thought to have used Yoxford as their inspiration. They changed the name to Loxford for the setting of Britten's opera, Albert Herring.
Learning in Yoxford
Yoxford and Peasenhall Primary School is where children aged 3 to 11 go to learn. The school has a special Early Year Centre for the youngest students, aged 3 to 6. This school works together with Middleton Primary School and Southwold Primary School. Together, they form the Yox Valley Partnership of Schools.
Places to Stay and Eat
Yoxford has two pubs where you can get food and drinks. One is the Griffin Inn, which is a very old building that reopened in 2013. The other is The King's Head. The Griffin Inn also offers rooms if you want to stay overnight.
Another place to stay is the 18th-century Satis House. Some people mistakenly think this house inspired the Satis House in Charles Dickens's famous book, Great Expectations. However, the book actually describes Restoration House in Rochester, Kent. Yoxford's Satis House was known as Yoxford House until long after Dickens's novel came out.
Every year, on the first Sunday after Easter, Yoxford holds a fun competition. People compete to eat brawn, which is a local dish also called pork cheese. A "Brawn Queen" is chosen from the village. Her first job as Queen is to ceremonially cut the cheese!
Getting Around Yoxford
The village is served by Darsham railway station, which is about one mile (1.6 km) away. From Darsham, you can catch a train on the East Suffolk Line. Trains run every hour on weekdays and every two hours on Sundays. You can travel to Ipswich, where you can connect to trains to London. You can also go to Lowestoft, with connections to Norwich.
Yoxford also has bus services. There are four weekday buses a day between Aldeburgh and Halesworth. There's also a bus service once a day, Monday to Friday, between Leiston and Framlingham. For people with disabilities, there's also a special transport service that you can book when you need it.
Famous People from Yoxford
Many interesting people have lived in Yoxford over the years. Here are a few:
- Lady Katherine Grey (1540–1568): She was the granddaughter of King Henry VIII's sister, Mary Tudor. She was considered a possible successor to her cousin, Elizabeth I of England.
- John Eachard (c. 1636–1697): He was a religious writer and a satirist, known for his witty writings.
- Ann Candler (1740–1814): A poet known as "The Suffolk Cottager."
- James Allen Ransome (1806–1875): He was famous for making agricultural tools and also for his writings.
- Sir Arthur Birch (1837–1914): He held important government roles in the British Empire, including acting as Governor in places like Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Penang.
- Samuel Lomax (1855–1915): A British Army officer who became a Lieutenant General and commanded the 1st Division.
- Flavia Blois (1914–1980): A talented landscape artist.
See also
In Spanish: Yoxford para niños
