Bacton, Suffolk

Bacton is a Civil Parish and village in Suffolk, England, about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of Stowmarket. The village appeared as 'Bachetuna' in the Domesday Book.

Map of Bacton, Stowmarket, UK

At the centre of the village is the Twelfth Century St Mary's Church featuring a medieval wall painting. There are two schools, primary and middle, with the middle school scheduled to close under the move to a two-tier system; a village hall built at the end of the nineteenth century; an active bowls club; football club with a large number of teams, and a local Scout group. On Shop Green is a Londis general store and post office, and a petrol and service station for car sales, servicing and repairs (Lamberts Service Station). On the Northern outskirts of the village is a car dealership (Jefferies) also selling country clothing and Steiff collectable teddybears, and Finbow's Yard, home to a hardware store, car dealers, furniture shop, cycle shop and several other businesses. Immediately across the road in the neighbouring village of Cotton is a plant sales shop and a gift shop and bistro style coffee shop.

The village straddles the Great Eastern Main Line between London and Norwich and originally was served by Finningham railway station which was closed in the Beeching cuts of the sixties but rail access to London via Stowmarket in 80 minutes has encouraged an influx of townies into what was previously a very localised community. The village is served by the 456 bus route which calls in once every other hour (Monday to Saturday) on its way between Stowmarket and Diss, six days a week. Larger modern housing exists alongside typical Suffolk cottage type property.

The parish of Bacton includes the village, the adjoining hamlet of Earl's Green and the outlying settlements of Bacton Green, Canham's Green, Cow Green and Ford's Green. Together with Tailor's Green and Shop Green within Bacton village, the parish has seven registered village greens. A Parish Plan was produced in 2009.

Outside the Londis shop there is a small pond which can freely be fished for goldfish, roach, koi and mirror carp. The koi average around five pounds, while there is allegedly a large mirror carp of twenty pounds in the pond.

The village hall is located just across the road from the church and is a regular meeting place for the village's Brownies. The primary school is another meeting point but for the Rainbows. The Pre-School group has its own adjacent premises.

Bacton United '89 FC opened their new facilities in July 2010 at Brickwall meadow on Broad Road. There are two adult sized pitches, a junior pitch and a clubhouse. The adult first team, reserves and 'A' team all play in the Suffolk & Ipswich football league and share the use of the main pitches. There are also several junior teams of all age groups playing at Brickwall meadow and other local pitches.