Bungay

The ancient town of Bungay, with its wealth of historic sites is a tranquil tourist spot, well worth a visit.

Situated in a loop of the River Waveney, Bungay commands extensive views over lush water meadows fringed with silver green willows, and grazed by cattle in the summer months.

This time capsule of a town boasts a Roman well, a Saxon church, the remains of a Norman castle and Benedictine priory, and a fine lead-domed Butter Cross. The townscape is dominated by the majestic tower of St. Mary’s Church, serving as a symbol of Bungay’s rich heritage. These and many other sights can be visited by following the Bungay Town Trail.

Culture vultures will love the town’s Georgian Fisher Theatre offering a wide programme of activities.  The town also boasts a varied events calendar with garden and food and drink markets, music and even a festival to honour the towns association with the legend of the Black Shuck .

A unique shopping experience awaits visitors with a tempting array of individual independent and specialist shops. When you’re ready for a break, you will find plenty of choice in Bungay’s restaurants, cafes and tearooms.  For more information on Bungay’s fine array of food and drink plus trails, maps and stories visit Bungay Food & Drink · Welcome to Bungay

To find out more about this charming market town please visit https://bungay-suffolk.co.uk/

Bungay legend

The town of Bungay is rich in folklore; St. Mary’s Church in particular beholds a dark legend. On a stormy Sunday in 1577 records claim that the devil appeared at the church in disguise as a black dog, which attacked the congregation. An old verse records ‘All down the church in midst of fire, the hellish monster flew, and, passing onward to the quire, he many people slew’. Look out for depictions of Black Shuck around the town.

Town Reeve

Did you know that Bungay is the only place in the UK with an active Town Reeve? Until the formation of the Urban District Council in 1910 the local government in Bungay was carried out by the Town Reeve and Feoffees, an ancient institution which has its origins in the Saxon civic authority.

The earliest surviving record of a Town Reeve in Bungay, William Brooke, appears in the St. Mary’s Churchwarden’s Book in 1536, now in the Suffolk Record Office. The Town Reeve today is nominated annually by the predecessor. No voting takes place and the name of the successor is kept a secret until the handover of office at the public meeting in December.

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