Manningtree and Mistley tourist information

Manningtree, England's smallest town, and its smaller near neighbour Mistley, is on the south bank of the River Stour, just as the river opens out down toward Felixstowe and Harwich. You can walk from here into Suffolk to Flattford Mill.

The area was once important for the brewing and malting industries, long since gone.

Georgian facades in the town, hiding older buildings. Also of note are the weavers cottages and the old inns.

Market days on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the square.

Manningtree's claim to fame is as the starting point of the infamous career of Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General of the 17th century, who is buried at Mistley Heath.

Over at Mistley, a small village, once the site of a proposed spa. The scheme was thought up by Richard Rigby who used the famous architect Robert Adam. Original maltings and quay can still been seen. Watch out for the Swan Basin in the High Street, part of the spa project.

Please note that the "secret bunker" at Mistley closed to the public in Dec 2002.