BURY ST EDMUNDS

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We heard on the radio that there was to be a Christmas Market at Bury St Edmunds, and as it is only 50 miles away we took off yesterday at 8.30 and duly arrived an hour later. It was scarf/gloves and topcoat weather!

We parked on the edge of the centre of town, and walked into a market square which we discovered was the normal Saturday market. The produce stalls were exceptional - fresh raspberries at 2pound for 2 punnets was irresistable.

A short walk through beautiful old narrow lanes brought us to the site of the Christmas Market where there was entertainment laid on as well as a French market providing lots of food options. Cassoulet/croque monsieur/fish soup -all very yummy. Morris Dancers performed non stop -and a female choir sang carols and popular songs beautifully.

We tore ourselves away from all this to see the remains of the 7th Century abbey. Remains is the right word as the photos show. The top ones show a reconstruction of the original south transept of the abbey and the next one the present remains. The window at the rear is clearly identifiable.

The town's name comes from the fact that King Edmund died and was buried here in Medeival times. The town is also famous for being the centre where 25 Barons met and swore to make King John sign the famous Magna Carta the birth of democracy.