Toft Monks and Maypole Green

Joe Jackson

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Toft Monks is a tiny village just off the A143, about eleven miles south-west of Great Yarmouth and about four miles north-east of Beccles. This gentle stroll explores a section of countryside to the south and west of the village and passes along some ancient monuments along the way. Also do keep an ear and eye out for the local wildlife, which includes deer and woodpeckers.

Starting off at the village church (which is completely on its own and built in the 13th Century) the route follows a path through some nearby fields. Over to the left about 100m from the path is a Medieval Moated Site. During normal weather it might be difficult to see the earthworks but after heavy rain the moat actually fills up with water and you can make it out fairly clearly (as it was when I first walked the route). As no excavations have ever taken place there, archaeologists are unsure if it is the site of a medieval manor-house or possibly a Benedictine priory.

The route then follows some quiet country lanes round towards the water tower just past College Farm. After passing the tower you might notice a Medieval Moated Site just on the left. English Heritage states that this might be the location of St Mary's College founded in 1350 and excavations in the late 1960s revealed a medieval occupation layer. Slightly further along the walk, the route then passes Priory Farm, which on the south front has a date of 1548, although the building is thought to date from the 17th Century and the masonry stolen from another location.

England - East England - Norfolk - Countryside