Westleton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Suffolk. It is located 4 miles (6 km) north of Leiston and 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Saxmundham near the North Sea coast. The village is on the edge of the Suffolk Sandlings, an area of lowland heathland. The village lies along the B1125 road, 2 miles (3 km) to the east of the A12 and Darsham railway station.

Westleton
Westleton village
Westleton is located in Suffolk
Westleton
Westleton
Location within Suffolk
Population349 (2011)[1]
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSaxmundham
Postcode districtIP17
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Suffolk
52°15′54″N 1°34′31″E / 52.264982°N 1.575395°E / 52.264982; 1.575395

Westleton Heath National Nature Reserve is 0.5 miles (1 km) north east of the village. The heath is crossed by a minor road from Westleton to the coastal village of Dunwich, 2 miles (3 km) to the east. The famous Minsmere RSPB reserve lies immediately to the east of the village.

St Peter's church

The fourteenth-century village church of St Peter in Westleton was built by monks from Sibton Abbey near Saxmundham. The church has twice seen the collapse of its tower: in 1776 under the strain of hurricane winds; and during World War II, when the smaller wooden replacement had to be demolished following bomb damage.[2][3] It is a grade II* listed building.[4]

Westleton retains some other basic services, helped by its proximity to the coast and Minsmere. These include a post office, two bookshops, a garage and two pubs, the White Horse and The Crown. The latter is a historic coaching inn dating from the 12th century.[5] The bookshop, Chapel Books, has been depicted in print in Julie Myerson's 2003 novel, Something Might Happen, as the location for a seduction scene.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  2. ^ History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Suffolk, William White, Robert Leader, Sheffield, 1855
  3. ^ "Westleton church". Westleton. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  4. ^ Historic England. "ST PETER'S CHURCH (1283793)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  5. ^ Welcome to Westleton Parish Council's website, Westleton Parish Council. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
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