In the 1960s this place was THE village for artists and poets etc. My Grammar school friend Ally, whose father was Lawrence Self, a well known artist of the time, used to holiday here every summer, which I thought odd then as it was only an hour from home - that was before I knew about it's arty/hippy reputation. (Laurence Self eventually split with my friends Mum and re-married and nowhere on line is there any mention of the 4 children he had with his first wife!)
Now it gets crammed full with visitors in summer. In the early 90's when the children were still small enough for beach days it's where we went from the smallholding - being the nearest sandy place.
Later they used to put up signs on Summer weekends (there's only one road in and out of the village) to say 'The Village is Full!" . Now they put people off visiting by turning all the car parks to ones where you need a phone app to pay and stay. I didn't!
The bridge I'm standing on to take the photo is one where people go crabbing. The World Crabbing Championships were held here for many years until they became so popular the village was overwhelmed and they finished in 2010.
Colin had to come here with a boat and other members of the Bridge Department to check the bridges every other year. The water was too high for crabbing when I was there and for getting a boat under the bridge.
Walberswick looks lovely, a place to go out of season probably. So many coastal villages are overwhelmed by tourists aren't they.
ReplyDeleteI have happy memories of crabbing as a child when visiting relatives.
Penny
The children loved going crabbing here when they were small, shame it's got so busy
DeleteWe used to go crabbing in Scarborough, off the Pier. Happy days. I remember Paul Heiney for his splendid Suffolk Punches and tv appearances.
ReplyDeleteI too would have been deterred by having to use an app to park. It's bad enough when I have to pay by card and not cash. They make things too complicated by making people head-counted by car ID. Whatever was wrong with paying 50p or whatever and passing your parking ticket on to someone coming in, if you were only there 10 minutes or something? Had this very conversation with someone (a similar age to me) the other day. My money paid for it, my choice to "pay it on".
There's a long list of parking apps but I've not added any to my phone yet - I suppose I will have to one day
DeleteIt looks a nice place anyway, but obviously VERY popular over the years.
ReplyDeletePaul Heiney and Libby Purves were two of my favourite radio "voices". I'd love to meet them in person!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know if I should speak to him or not but there was no one around so I did
DeleteThey always seem like a lovely couple and Walberswick is a smashing little place.
ReplyDeleteI'm not exactly sure where they live now, somewhere not far from Walberswick I guess.
DeleteOut first weekend away together was to Walberswick, we stayed in a place just off the beach that was back in 1991. It was lovely and quite quiet in an early June. We loved it there. I have only visited for a day trip since then, the last time in November last when it was unusually sunny. Like Southwold it is too popular now. Carole R
ReplyDeleteSouthwold town end gets completely jammed up with traffic and people walking - luckily there is usually parking space on the big car park near the pier
DeleteI like the Walberswick signpost with all the markers of Queen Elizabeth's reign.
ReplyDeleteMust be lots of Royalists in Walberswick!
DeleteI like it that you spoke to PH and he probably did too.
ReplyDeleteParking apps what an unnecessary pain they are and now subject to scams, what's wrong with a few coins 😀
Alison in Devon x
I don't want to get started on apps in general and parking apps in particular!
ReplyDeleteLibby Purves wrote (among other books) 'how not to be a perfect Mummy' which saved my sanity as mother of toddlers!
I want to thank you for a recent post about books, especially books about reading. I'm now deep into Susan Hill's year of reading her books already in the house, really enjoyable, and I've found good recommendations, too. The Hill was only available as an actual book, no Kindle, luckily with big enough print. So your post was a great service to this reader.
ReplyDeleteIt’s such a wonderful name for a village! Catriona
ReplyDeleteI wont use apps to pay to park any more after being scammed and having to change my credit card because of one. Luckily M&S were on the ball and stopped payments after the third one came out weeks after I had 'paid to park'. Now it's cash or card only. How lovely to meet Paul Heiney, he always seems like a very friendly chap.
ReplyDeleteOh a claim to fame Sue! Hate those parking apps with a passion.
ReplyDeleteThis is my neck of the woods! I knew Walberswick before it was discovered although there were arty types living there for the peace and quiet. From your description I don't think I would like it as much now. I'm not good in crowds.
ReplyDeleteWalberswick sounds like a nice seaside community. Visiting a few shops and art galleries as well as walking the beach makes a very good holiday, especially off-season when the crowds thin.
ReplyDeleteIt seems many car parks have parking apps instead of parking lot attendants. I'm thinking eventually they will all be automated.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a lovely seaside village. Too bad that it got so busy over the years.
God bless.