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Stratford St Mary has a good range of facilities for a small village, including a pub (with a second under redevelopment) a farm shop and café, a primary school,a pre-school and a small garage with a post office and village shop.
Public Transport
Buses
The village is served by bus services travelling between Ipswich and Colchester (see 'Useful Info page here). Also go to www.suffolkonboard.com for more information, including an-up-to-date timetable.
Trains
Main line railway services between London and Norwich can be accessed at both Ipswich and Colchester with the nearest statiojn being Manningtree, 5.5 miles away.
Garage Services
Vale Garage in Upper Street offering a full range of servicing options and petrol and diesel fuel. .
They can be contacted on 01206 323103.
Post Office and Shop
The village post office and shop are located at Vale Garage, as above.
Other post offices are located at East Bergholt and Capel St Mary.
Farm Shop and Café
Hall Farm shop and café is situated next to the Parish Church in Church Road (known locally as the Millennium Avenue for its beautiful display of spring flowering cherry trees). It is open 7 days a week and offers a broad range of locally sourced fresh produce, a butcher, a delicatessen and gourmet food. Please go tohall farm shop for further information.
Gardens and Recreation Ground
The village has two lovely publicly accessible garden areas: The Millennium Garden and the River Garden.
The Millennium Garden, located at the junction of Lower Street and Upper Street, was created by residents to celebrate the start of the new millennium in 2000. It is currently maintained by a volunteer group called VillageLife, with funding from the Parish Council. The garden features benches where both residents and visitors can take a break, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.
The River Garden is situated opposite the Swan public house on Lower Street. This area of riverbank was recently taken under the responsibility of the Parish Council. It has been developed into a community amenity that offers access to the river for activities like boating or simply enjoying the serene atmosphere of the river.
Additionally, there is a recreation ground in the village that includes a children's playground.
This recreation ground was gifted to the village in 1928 along with a building known as the Institute Hall. Referred to locally as the Institute Field, this area provides a spacious and safe play area for children. The facilities include football goal posts, a basketball practice pitch with a post and hoop, and even a Zip-Wire for older children to enjoy.
It's important to note that this area is unsupervised, so parents are reminded to ensure appropriate supervision based on their children's age and abilities when using these facilities.
Benches are also available in this area for parents to relax while keeping an eye on their youngsters at play.
Playground
Within the Institute Field, there is an enclosed playground for smaller children with a variety of swings, climbing and sliding equipment on a safe bark surface. The playground had an overhaul in April 2017. The playground is inspected annually by an independent playgrounds inspection company and also risk assessed periodically.
Waste Management
Stratford St Mary recognises the importance of conserving the environment by means of recycling, reuse and disposal.
Glass: There are two bottle banks accepting mixed glass and are sited in the car park of The Anchor public house (Upper Street) and at the Farm Shop at Hall Farm.
Paper & Clothes: A paper and magazine bank and also a clothes recycling bin are situated just inside the gates of the primary school in Strickmere.
Compost: Residents are encouraged to compost their vegetable matter in their own back gardens. Babergh District Council has teamed up with getcomposting.com to provide an exclusive offer of reduced priced home compost bins, Water Butts and accessories. To find out more and to view the full range of products go to: www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444.
Garden Waste: A brown bin service is available from Babergh District Council, for a fee (currently £50 per annum). Bins are emptied every two weeks.
Other recycling: Paper, plastics, cardboard, aluminum and steel tins may be placed in the Blue Bin. These are collected every other week, alternating with the residual rubbish (check collection day).
Dog waste bins: Bins have been positioned around the village at:
- The junction of School Lane with Upper Street;
- The Institute Car Park;
- The Millennium Garden and
- The Weir, Lower Street.
- It is also acceptable to deposit bagged dog waste in any litter bin. It is illegal to leave dog waste in the street.
Doctors
The Constable Country Medical Practice is the nearest doctor's practice, located both in East Bergholt and Capel St Mary at The Medical Centre, Heath Road, East Bergholt, CO7 6RT. Surgery opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm. Tel: 01206 298272 and 36 The Street, Capel St Mary, IP9 2EE. Surgery opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm. Tel: 01473 310203. Website: www.constablecountrymedicalpractice.co.uk. There is also a doctor's practice at Ardleigh.
Chemists
The nearest dispensing chemists are:
Dedham Pharmacy, High Street, Dedham, CO7 6DE. Tel: 01206 322109. Website: www.dedhampharmacy.co.uk.
Day Lewis Pharmacy, Gaston Street, East Bergholt, CO7 6SE. Tel: 01206 298267. Website: www.daylewis.co.uk
And at the Constable Country Medical Practice, 36 The Street, Capel St Mary. Tel: 01473 310203.
Dental Surgeries
There are 2 dental surgeries local to the village. Dedham Dental Surgery, Princel Lane, Dedham, CO7 6HD. Tel: 01206 322498 and Capel Dental Practice, 63 Thorney Road, Capel St Mary, IP9 2LL. Tel: 01473 311130. Website: www.capeldental.co.uk.
Veterinary Services
Penrose & Partners is situated in the old police house opposite The Anchor pub in Upper Street. They are open Monday-Friday 8.45am-12.30pm and 2.30pm-6.30pm (4pm on Wednesday). Tel: 01206 323414. They are closed on a Saturday but their main branch at 70 Brinkley Lane, Highwoods, Colchester is open. Tel: 01206 842608. Website: www.penrosevets.co.uk
Churches
There are 2 churches in the village, the Parish Church of St Mary and the Evangelical Chapel in Upper Street.
Contact details for Stratford St Mary Church:
Contact Rev’d Manette Crossman on 07947 737789 or email revmcrossman@gmail.com to discuss baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals
or Churchwarden Mrs Sandy Ranson on 0770 6602749 or email sandyranson29@gmail.com
Contact details for the Evangelical Chapel:
Phil Wyncoll on 01473 310728. Email: philipwyncoll@btinternet.com. Website: www.stratfordstmarychapel.com
Halls available to hire
We have 2 halls which may be hired for a wide range of social functions and are used by various groups from the village. They are the Institute Hall, situated in Higham Road and The Parish Rooms, situated in Upper Street. Contact details are as follows:
Chairman: Bill Davies on 01206 322990
Booking Secretary: Steve Kite, email: ssminstitute.bookings@gmail.com
Current Rates are:
Regular Use £12.50; Casual use: Daytime £15.00; Evening £30.00; Whole Day £45.00. Caravan groups: £50 per day or part day.
The Parish Rooms
Letting fees are as follows:
1 session £17.00; 2 consecutive sessions £30.00; All day £38.00.
A session is 5 hours, i.e. morning/afternoon/evening. Heating and lighting are included.
Special rates can be arranged for regular bookings.
Contact:Paul Ranson 01206322156 or 07870 38818 ssmparishroom.bookings@gmail.com
Pubs
We currently have one pub in the village, The Anchor in Upper Street with The Swan due to open later this year, after extensive renovations but with Black Horse in Lower Street closed at present, following the sad death of the landlord.
The Anchor on 01206 322143.
Mobile Library
Stratford St Mary is on Route 11. The bus stops every 4 weeks on Wednesdays.
Black Horse - 11.05am to 11.20am
Tally Ho Corner - 11.25am to 11.45am
Strickmere (School Lane end) - 11.50am to 12.10pm.
The customer service line 01473 283838 is staffed 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and can handle any library customer queries renewals and reservations to any general library queries. An answerphone is available outside of operating hours and people can also email help@suffolklibraries.co.uk.
There is also a library at Capel St Mary.