Yaxley, Suffolk

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Yaxley
Yaxley shown within Suffolk
OS grid reference	TM121739
District	Mid Suffolk
Shire county	Suffolk
Region	East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	EYE
Postcode district	IP23
Dialling code	01379
Police	Suffolk
Fire	Suffolk
Ambulance	East of England
European Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
List of places: UK • England • Suffolk

Coordinates: 52°19′20″N 1°06′39″E / 52.32219, 1.11082

Yaxley is a small village just west of Eye in Suffolk, England. The name means 'cuckoo-clearing'.

[edit] Church of St. Mary

Pevsner said of the 12th Century Church that the north porch was 'one of the most swagger in Suffolk'. The church has the remnants of a large medieval doom painting . High up on the wall above the door hangs a Sexton's Wheel. This curious survival is a device whereby those wishing to fast for a whole year from one of the six Lady days could choose one at random by catching one of six strings attached to named spokes after the Sexton had set the wheels revolving.

[edit] Local Houses

Yaxley Hall

Ashton Cottage in Church Lane, once the village school, was for many years the home of choreographer Frederick Ashton. He was born in Valley Farm House on Old Ipswich Road, until recently a property of the Henniker-Major family.

Yaxley Manor, built for John Fanner in 1520, is of timber frame construction, clad in brickwork.

Bull's Hall is named after William de Bulle, owner in 1328; the present timber-framed and jettied hall dates back to 1570.

16th century Yaxley Hall has a fanciful Gothick facade and, according to Pevsner, 'a composite picture' including older range with mullioned and transomed windows. Two wings burnt down in 1922. Recently, the famous haunted painting of Henrietta Nelson has returned after an absence of nearly a century.