Halesworth - The Thoroughfare

The Thoroughfare

Prior to 1300 much of this area was a flood plain

Excavations outside the White Hart pub in 1991 discovered part of a causeway - probably dating from the late Saxon period. A piece of oak pile from these excavations is in the Halesworth & District Museum.

There are fine examples of 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th century buildings in the Thoroughfare.

Number 8 is a former ironmonger's. This shop belonged to the grandfather of Sir David Frost and the name of William Frost can still be seen underneath the archway next to the shop. The Thoroughfare is home to many specialist shops and cafes as well as playing host to events throughout the year.

Number 6, thought to be 14th century and sometimes referred to as Dame Margery's, is believed to have been the home of Margaret de Argentein. The beam over the main doorway would have included the Argentein coat of arms

Number 14 is thought to have been the early home of George Lansbury - leader of the Labour Party from 1931 to 1935. His granddaughter is the well-known actress Angela Lansbury.

A block of four shops next to this was originally built in 1474 as the Guildhall. This was the home of the Guild of St John the Baptist and Guild of St Love and St Anthony. The original line of the building can be seen.

20th century renovations discovered a mummified cat in the foundations. It was replaced when the work was completed. A similar mummified cat can be found at the Halesworth Museum. This cat came from one of the maltings in the town. The mummified cats were placed to ward off rats and mice from the grain, or bring good luck

A short distance to the east of the actual town lies the Second World War airfield of Halesworth. The airfield was begun in 1943. Initially the 56th Fighter Group of the United States 8th Army Air Force were stationed there. Later in 1944 it became the base of the 489th Bomb Group flying B24 Liberators. They played a full part in the build up to and during D-Day on 6 June 1944. From July they switched to strategic offensive bombing until November, when they ceased operations to return to America.

Between January and June in 1945 the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron operated from the base flying war weary P47s and B17s. Their mission was to carry dinghies and smoke markers to aid downed crews found at sea.

The airfield closed for flying in February 1946. Today the airfield is owned by Bernard Matthews and while it is still closed for flying except by the turkeys, there is an interesting and well laid out museum staffed by locals who help to keep the memories of those it hosted, alive.