Hessett’s building history is reflected in a wide variety of details: a surviving inn developed over several centuries, timber framing, a curved doorway and a square moat. There is also the Angels & Pinnacles walk between St Mary’s in Woolpit and St Ethelbert’s Church in Hessett. This offers two distinct focuses for planning a trip: individual historic buildings and features, or a walk connecting Hessett with Woolpit.

Historic houses and their details

The surviving Five Bells Inn building dates from the 16th to the 19th century. Its development is considered unusual compared with Suffolk’s vernacular farmhouses from the late medieval to post-medieval period. The Inn therefore represents a building history spanning several centuries.

Pipers Cottage is a timber-framed house with a plastered exterior, dating from the early or mid-16th century. This gives it a more specific timeframe than the Five Bells Inn: here, a period within the 16th century is identified, whereas the Inn’s development spans several centuries.

Church Cottage has a different feature that catches the eye: its vaulted main entrance doorway, with its pronounced ogee-shaped arch, survives. “Ogee” describes a double-curved, S-shaped profile. Here, the term describes the shape of the doorway arch and draws attention to a single building element rather than the dating of an entire house.

Base-cruck construction is used in the cross-wing at Wilwyn. Evidence in the original structure may indicate that it was built in the 14th century. This dating remains a possibility; unlike the houses with specified dates, the origin of the cross-wing cannot be confidently assigned to a particular century.

Five Bells Cottage is notable for its interior layout: behind the parlour on the right are two service rooms. This is a different aspect of the house’s history from timber framing, exterior plaster or a surviving doorframe. Comparing Hessett’s building styles, visitors can consider both the arrangement of individual rooms and the construction and design of houses.

At the site of the former Hessett Hall is a small, wet and completely intact square moat. Its shape and preservation set it apart from the houses: the moat is another historic trace at the site, but not part of any of the houses mentioned. It adds the former Hall site and a clearly defined archaeological feature to the area’s building history.

Church and walk to Woolpit

St Ethelbert’s Church is open to visitors and for private prayer. Check the latest visitor information before travelling. The Angels & Pinnacles walk goes from St Mary’s Woolpit to the church in Hessett and back along the same route. St Mary’s is the starting point and St Ethelbert’s the destination in Hessett: the route thus connects both churches on a there-and-back walk.

Travelling by public transport is also an option for this walk. Check current bus timetables in advance and the path conditions before setting out. This makes it possible to treat the historic buildings in the village and the walk between Woolpit and Hessett as distinct focuses for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Claydon, Bramford, Kessingland, Debenham, Rendlesham, Clare, Thorpeness, Risby.

For the regional travel overview: Suffolk.