| On
the coast and with the River
Blyth and Buss Creek on two
sides. Southwold’s water
transport has thrived. Indeed,
sailing boats have used the
Harbour for years, and later,
steamers called at the Pier.
The River has had a ferry since
the Middle Ages, mainly a rowing
boat, but steam driven at the
turn of the 19th century.
When the
horse was the only means of
land travel other than walking,
Southwold’s people depended
on carts or coaches. The first
stagecoach service began in
1822, connecting the town
with coaching routes to London
over 100 miles away. For those
in a hurry, post horses were
available to hire privately.
Motorised public transport
services for Southwold, started
in 1904 with a bus service
to Lowestoft.
After several
false starts, Southwold’s
own railway opened in 1879,
winding through the Blyth
Valley to Halesworth. Public
demand was initially high,
and the company did well.
But with worn-out track and
equipment, and ever-increasing
competition from road transport,
the railway eventually closed
in 1929.
Use the
links below to explore Southwold’s
transport history in more
detail.
By
Rail
By
Road
By
water |
