A six-month campaign by the Hadleigh Society, with the support of The Tree Council and local residents, has safeguarded a small, attractive, medieval, sunken lane, known as a 'holloway', on the edge of Hadleigh.

Concerned residents first notified the Society that the rural bridleway was under potential threat from housing development last summer.

Detailed research carried out by Society members revealed that the track was, in fact, of late medieval origin and has been known as Bacon Lane for some 500 years. As a result of this study, the lane has now been given protected status as a 'non-designated Heritage Asset' in Hadleigh's Local List of buildings and properties that help define the town's past cultural heritage. The lane is also now well recorded in Suffolk's Historic Environment Record as an important local archaeological feature. 

Society chair Richard Flecther at Bacon Lane (Picture: Hadleigh Society)

"The bridleway is a small, historic gem with its canopy of hedges and trees, and related wildlife," commented Richard Fletcher, chairman of The Hadleigh Society.

An ambitious plan of establishing new hedging along parts of the sunken lane to re-create the magical leafy canopy to the lane has just been completed. This was carried out by residents and local volunteers from the Hadleigh Environmental Action Team, (HEAT) with the help of a grant from The Tree Council.

"This will hopefully secure the lane's continued distinctive rural character and enhance both the town's cultural heritage and its natural environment," said Mr Fletcher. 

For further information contact: Richard Fletcher, chair & secretary of the Hadleigh Society - [email protected] or call 07856 899367:

·      The Hadleigh Society was formed in 1982 with its primary aim: To protect and enhance Hadleigh's heritage and environment by supporting and promoting high standards in planning, conservation, regeneration and development of features deemed to be of historical or environmental significance in the town.