Dalham: Walking and History

Dalham lies in a hilly landscape between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds. The village combines three circular walks of different lengths with buildings and traces of different centuries. When planning your trip, you can choose your focus: walks through the countryside, architectural history, or a combination of both. These themes appeal both to travellers who prefer a circular walk and to visitors interested in local history.

Circular Walks and Getting There

The Dalham Hall and Beech Row circular walk is two miles long and starts at the Affleck Arms. It is a clearly named option among the walks on offer; the walking guide includes three circular walks of different lengths in total. The different distances help you choose a route to suit the distance you want to cover. If you plan to take this walk, check the route details before setting out. The circular walks follow footpaths, bridleways, field tracks and quiet roads. This is one reason to consider more than just the distance when planning: follow current signs and rights-of-way guidance on site.

Dalham is served by the 312 bus route between Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket. Check the current timetable before travelling.

St Mary’s: Building History and Wall Paintings

St Mary’s Church in Dalham is listed as a Grade I building. Most of the existing fabric dates from two building phases: the early or mid-14th century and the late 15th century. Its history is therefore not centred on a single year of construction, but on development over several centuries. The wall paintings in St Mary the Virgin depict the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Works of Mercy. The paintings have been conserved. Their themes set wrongdoing against acts of mercy, giving the church a visual dimension in addition to its architecture.

The Malt Kiln and Dalham Hall

The Malt Kiln dates from the 19th century and was once used for brewing beer. It is one of two surviving maltings in Suffolk. It therefore brings together a former commercial use and a regionally rare surviving building type. Dalham Hall was built in 1705 for Simon Patrick, Bishop of Ely. The date places the building in a different era; naming Simon Patrick links its building history to a specific person and ecclesiastical office.

Taken together, the dates provide a guide to different periods in the village’s history: the medieval building phases at St Mary’s, Dalham Hall from 1705, and the Malt Kiln from the 19th century. The themes also differ: the church combines architecture with religious imagery, while the Malt Kiln recalls its former use. During your stay, you can decide whether to focus on the walk lengths, building history, or the different historical functions.

Discover more destinations: Hessett, Assington, Leavenheath, Dunwich, Reydon, Rickinghall, Framlingham, Shimpling.

See the main travel overview: Suffolk.