Library, Bridge Street, Halesworth - 01986 875095 Council Offices, London Road, Halesworth - 01986 874517 help@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Prior to 1300 much of this area was a flood plain.

Excavations outside the White Hart pub in 1991 discovered part of a causeway - probably dating from the late Saxon period. A piece of oak pile from these excavations is in the Halesworth & District Museum.

There are fine examples of 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th century buildings in the Thoroughfare.

Number 8 is a former ironmonger's. This shop belonged to the grandfather of Sir David Frost and the name of William Frost can still be seen underneath the archway next to the shop. The Thoroughfare is home to many specialist shops and cafes as well as playing host to events throughout the year.

Number 6, thought to be 14th century and sometimes referred to as Dame Margery's, is believed to have been the home of Margaret de Argentein. The beam over the main doorway would have included the Argentein coat of arms[citation needed]

Number 14 is thought to have been the early home of George Lansbury - leader of the Labour Party from 1931 to 1935. His granddaughter is the well-known actress Angela Lansbury.

A short distance to the east of the actual town lies the Second World War airfield of Halesworth. The airfield began in 1943. Initially the 56th Fighter Group of the United States 8th Army Air Force were stationed there. Later in 1944 it became the base of the 489th Bomb Group flying B24 Liberators. They played a full part in the buildup to and during D-Day on 6 June 1944. From July they switched to strategic offensive bombing until November, when they ceased operations to return to America.

Between January and June in 1945 the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron operated from the base flying war weary P47s and B17s. Their mission was to carry dinghies and smoke markers to aid downed crews found at sea.

The airfield closed for flying in February 1946. Today the airfield is owned by Bernard Matthews and while it is still closed for flying except by the turkeys, there is an interesting and well laid out museum staffed by locals who help to keep the memories of those it hosted, alive.

A Halesworth bank used to issue its own banknotes. A 5 guinea banknote, issued by the Suffolk and Halesworth Bank in 1799, has recently been recovered.