Bures

Bures is the place that reunites both Bures St Mary in Suffolk and Bures Hamlet in Essex, two important parishes which lie on the River Stour, bordering Essex from Suffolk; Bures is bordered by the South and the North of Suffolk, and it’s placed right in the middle of the “Constable� country, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The obvious peculiarity of Bures is of course the direct result of the fact that it is divided down the centre by a county boundary. Plus, its many old buildings and well-preserved monuments are living proof of the town’s old history.

Speaking of which, the Domesaday Books talk about the village, naming it “Bura� and even “Bure,� thought to be derived from the Old English word “bur’, which meant either “bower� or “cottage,� but the Celtic origins of the name are not be ignored either. Accordingly, Bura could find its origins in the Celtic word that can be translated into “boundary.� Returning to its old history, the initial village had a church with about 18 acres of free land, and it went through a Norman Conquest back in 1066. In 1218 the Archbishop of Canterbury had St Stephens Chapel dedicated to his honor; the building is one of the oldest buildings in the peculiar village split in half, followed by St Mary’s Church. The year 1659 referred to the village as “Bewers,� and after that the old place gained its current name of Bures. The Victorian era transformed the village into an industrial one, when, thanks to its amazing developments, it became completely self sufficient, featuring its own Brickworks, Tannery, Abbatoir, Gas Works or Electricity Generators. The many workers who had plenty of tasks to handle also had more than eight different Public Houses where they could rest and regain their strength.

Later on, the village of Bures gained its own railway line, much needed for the safe transportation of the goods that were being manufactured there. The fact that all plots of land are currently used to satisfy the needs of the incoming commuting public has also helped the railway line develop a lot. The number of passengers went through the roof, therefore important investments needed to be made.

Even though in the past the village was home for many important retail shops such as Barclays Bank or Blacksmiths and even Co-op stores, today Bures is only home for two retail stores and a post office. There are 75 listed buildings, and the center of the village hosts most of them. Most of these buildings date back from the 16th and17th century. There are also two splendid Nature Reserves in Bures, Spuses Vale which is property of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Arger Fen, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Another aspect that is worth mentioning in regards to Bures is the many activities the small village holds every year, such as the Open Garden weekend, the Jazz by the Stour, Carnival & Fete, the Horticultural Show, the Autumn Street Fair or the exciting. Dog shows.

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