Volunteering in the Village
If you live or work in or around Snape and are interested in helping in any
aspect of village life perhaps, for example, becoming involved with running or
developing the playing field, please contact the Parish Clerk on 01728 688849
or e-mail mel19snape@aol.com
Snape is a small village set on the north of the River Alde 5 miles from the
North Sea coastal town of Aldeburgh. Set in an area of outstanding natural
beauty the parish comprises of around 300 households and 1700 acres of land of
which about 300 are open heath and common land.
The village has a rich history that includes the site of a Saxon burial ship,
discovered in 1862 and dating back to between AD410 and AD650; it is also
listed in the Domesday Book survey ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086. By
1155 the village had a Priory built by William Martell, a local landowner, who
later took part in the Third Crusade. The Priory remained open until 1525 when
Cardinal Wolsey closed it and stripped its assets to use, at least in part, to
set up Ipswich School.
In more recent times Snape has become famous for its association with
Benjamin Britten who, in 1948, established the Aldeburgh Festival. Britten
lived in Snape for a time and it was when he was here that he wrote much of his
first opera, Peter Grimes. The Festival was so successful that by the 1960s it
had grown to the extent that Britten sought to build a concert hall for it.
This lead, in the mid 1960s, to the lease and conversion of the largest malt
house in a redundant maltings set in a beautiful setting at Snape Bridge on the
River Alde. The Snape Maltings Concert Hall was opened by the Queen in 1967 and
along with the Aldeburgh Festival it is now famous the world over.
For more information on Snape, it's earlier fascinating history as well as
current events, news and other information, please select the appropriate link
from the menu.
St Johns Church Snape is supporting Open Churches Week
with the following events:
* A flower festival and photographic exhibition based on “Growing up in
Snape”, from Saturday 17th July to Sunday 25th July.
* A “Big Sing” (of popular songs such as those sung by Abba and
others) takes place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 21st July, with Joyce at the organ.
Refreshments will be provided.
* On Sunday 18th July lunches will be served in the churchyard after the 11am
service.