Bury St Edmunds in Books

Abbey 1000 - Martyn Taylor

Based on his popular weekly columns in the Bury Free Press newspapers to promote the celebrations for the 1,000th anniversary of the Abbey in Bury St Edmunds, Martyn takes us on a journey through the Abbey's pivotal moments and themes.

Bury St Edmunds in 50 Buildings - Martyn Taylor

Local historian, author and tour guide Martyn Taylor, explores Bury St Edmunds in 50 Buildings through a selection of its greatest architectural treasures.

From the remains of our famous abbey to the new Gothic Revival cathedral tower, built as part of the Millennium Project between 2000 and 2005, this study celebrates Bury St Edmunds’ architectural heritage in an accessible way. Martyn Taylor guides readers on a tour of the town’s historic buildings and modern architectural marvels.

Martyn has also written many other books on Bury St Edmunds over a number of years.

The Guildhall Bury St Edmunds: 850 Years Serving the Town - Terry O’Donoghue and Rowan Harris

Co-written by Bury Town Tour Guide Terry O’Donoghue and historian Rowan Harris, this richly illustrated and thoroughly researched volume celebrates the incredible history of the Guildhall — one of the oldest continuously used civic buildings in Britain.

From housing kidnapped monks in the Middle Ages to hosting weddings and community events today, the Guildhall has always been at the heart of Bury life.

Discover dramatic court cases, medieval feasts, and the chaos of the Civil War. Meet colourful characters like the corrupt Feoffee Arundel Coke, whose murderous plots nearly tore a family apart.

Step inside the declassified Royal Observer Corps Operations Room and explore how local men and women at the Guildhall played a vital role in the Battle of Britain.

To place an order email: admin@burystedmundsguildhall.org.uk

The Story of Bury St Edmunds Athenaeum: an Elegant Structure and its Persons of Quality - Adrian Tindall

The Bury St Edmunds Athenaeum proudly overlooks Angel Hill. The present building was one of the first Georgian Assembly Houses in East Anglia, but at its heart is a deeper story - one of Tudor lives and more than four hundred years of transformations.

During its long life, The Athenaeum has also been a Subscription Rooms, a Victorian literary institute, a Great War cinema, a World War II Services Club, A TV and film set and, in more recent times, a venue for dinners, conferences, balls and weddings.

Many 'Persons of Quality' have a place in its story, from social reformers to literary and musical giants including Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Jenny Lind, Bob Marley and the prominent suffragist Millicent Fawcett.

This brilliant book is written by another of the town's Tour Guides Adrian Tindall.

Bury St Edmunds (Town and City Memories) - Clive Paine

Discover how Bury St Edmunds was in years gone by! This book contains some fantastic period photographs from the world-famous Francis Frith Collection depicted in this lavishly illustrated book, written by local author and historian Clive Paine.

Rich in detail, the photographs are a fascinating portrait of Bury St Edmunds in years gone by.

A History of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds 1182-1256 and A History of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds 1257-1301' - Antonia Gransden

St Edmund's Abbey in Bury St Edmunds was one of the most highly privileged and wealthiest religious houses in medieval England, one closely involved with the central government; its history is an integral part of English history. This book 'A History of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds 1182-1256 and A History of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds 1257-1301' by Antonia Gransden, published in two volumes, offers a historical account of the abbey and a socio-political account of the importance of abbeys in medieval England.

Antonia worked for a number of years at the British Museum, and one day there, when retrieving manuscripts from readers, she was handed a copy of the Chronicle of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds. She was fascinated by it and she began the long task of tracing the abbey’s history.

Antonia completed the two volumes at the age of 86. Her knowledge of the Abbey's history was probably greater than anyone who has ever lived.

Edmund: In Search of England's Lost King - Francis Young

What buried secret lies beneath the stones of one of England's greatest former churches and shrines in Bury St Edmunds? The ruins of the Benedictine Abbey of Bury St Edmunds are a memorial to the largest Romanesque church ever built.

For Bury St Edmunds, as Dr Francis Young reveals in his book Edmund: In Search of England's Lost King, is the probable site of the body – placed in an 'iron chest' but lost during the Dissolution of the Monasteries – of Edmund: martyred monarch of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of East Anglia and, well before St George, England's first patron saint.

https://drfrancisyoung.com/publications/

The Abbey of Bury St Edmunds History, Legacy and Discovery - Francis Young

In this first complete history of the Abbey from foundation to dissolution, Francis Young draws on a wide variety of sources to explore the development of the Abbey over the centuries, disentangling the complex ruins that surround the surviving churches of St Mary and St James (the Cathedral).

He considers the religious and political influence of the Abbots, the Abbey's wealth and regional power, and the draw of its relics. Five centuries after the Reformation, as the millennium of the Abbey's foundation in 1020 approaches, its impact on Bury St Edmunds and the country at large is still palpable. The book is fully illustrated, with plans and sketches of the Abbey in centuries past as well as modern photographs of its remains.

A Trial of Witches: A Seventeenth Century Witchcraft Prosecution - by Ivan Bunn and Gilbert Geis

In 1662, Amy Denny and Rose Cullender were accused of witchcraft, and, in one of the most important of such cases in England, stood trial and were hanged in Bury St Edmunds. A Trial of Witches is a complete account of this sensational trial and an analysis of the court procedures, and the larger social, cultural and political concerns of the period.

In a critique of the official process, the book details how the erroneous conclusions of the trial were achieved. The authors consider the key participants in the case, including the judge and medical witness, their institutional importance, their part in the fate of the women and their future careers.

Through detailed research of primary sources, the authors explore the important implications of this case for the understanding of hysteria, group mentality, social forces and the witchcraft phenomenon as a whole.

Haunted Bury St Edmunds - Alan Murdle

Journey through the darker side of Bury St Edmunds, a town steeped in ancient history and ghostly goings on.

The book is written by Alan Murdie, a ghost and paranormal investigator, author, and former chairman of the Ghost Club, who was born at Fornham St Martin near Bury St Edmunds.

This book marked the 70th anniversary of the death of M.R. James, a famous author of ghost stories. M. R. James work as a medievalist scholar remains highly respected in scholarly circles. Indeed, the success of his stories was founded on his antiquarian talents and knowledge. His discovery of a manuscript fragment led to excavations in the ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund in 1902, in which the graves of several 12th Century abbots were discovered.

If you enjoy the book, you'll love the town's Ghostly and Macabre Tour which runs from Halloween to the end of March!

Memories of Rougham Airfield and the 94th Bombardment Group - Clifford Hall

This is Cliff's personal memories and recollections of his time living next to a WWII, USAAF Air Base at Rougham, formerly RAF Bury St Edmunds. The book starts from the beginning of the war and the arrival of the 322nd Bombardment Group followed by the 94th Bombardment Group who arrived, 13th July 1943.

After you've read the book, why not visit the Rougham Control Tower Aviation Museum? The museum opened in 1992, and houses a fascinating collection of memorabilia including photos, artefacts, uniforms, letters, and photographs, which tell the story of Rougham Airfield and the US personnel stationed there.

The Suffolk Cook Book

This one is for the foodies! A taste of Suffolk, this cookbook includes recipes from Suffolk's foodie town of Bury St Edmunds!

With a foreword by Jimmy Doherty from Jimmy’s Farm The Suffolk Cook Book celebrates the culinary diversity of the county of Suffolk. The 192 page cook book features more than 40 stunning recipes from local restaurants, cafes, delis, pubs and food producers including some of Suffolk's finest food establishments including Maison Bleue in Bury St Edmunds.

Old Inns and Beerhouses of Bury St Edmunds - Gerry Nixon

With an incredible and unrivalled brewing history dating back 1,000 years, historic Bury St Edmunds is the perfect place to experience delicious real ale and unique craft beer.

Beer lovers will want to make a tasting tour at the Greene King Beer Cafe a priority for their visit as Bury St Edmunds is the home of Greene King which has been brewing award-winning beers in the town for over 200 years.

There’s also a great range of beers to try at pubs with micro-breweries and an Ale Trail! But if you want to discover the history of Bury's beer drinking days then Gerry Nixon's Old Inns and Beerhouses of Bury St Edmunds will tell you all there is to know!

Not a book, but a wealth of information on Bury St Edmunds! The St Edmundsbury Chronicle has become an enormous compendium of free information on Bury’s history. Chronicle 2000 began life as a personal millennium project.

David Addy, the author, found that the task needed to be greater than a list of dates, and so the project over-ran its target date of 2000 by several years. It is still being refined and amended in 2013.

Find it at http://www.stedmundsburychronicle.co.uk/

A Time of Witches - Madeline Martin

A New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel, A Time of Witches is set across two timelines, exploring the lives of women separated by centuries but connected through themes of family, identity, fear and the power of female relationships.

In present-day Savannah, USA, Lilith Legare’s life is unravelling. Meanwhile, in Bury St Edmunds in 1645, Sybil Brantham stands accused of witchcraft.

Through these parallel stories, Madeline explores the human cost of persecution and the lasting consequences of fear and prejudice. The novel draws on the history of the Bury St Edmunds witch trials to create an atmospheric story that connects the past with the present.

The character of Sybil also carries a local connection: she was named after Sybil Andrews (1898–1992), the renowned artist born in Bury St Edmunds who became internationally recognised for her modernist linocut prints.

Bury St Edmunds is more than a historical backdrop to the novel. Its past is woven into the story, making the town an important part of the book’s identity.

Bringing a story rooted in real events to life required detailed research, and Madeline drew on the knowledge of local people with a deep understanding of the town’s history.

Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides John Saunders, Lynn Whitehead, Terry O’Donoghue and Stephen Moody shared their expertise through guided tours, helping Madeline explore the history and context of the witch trials.

She also spent time at Moyse’s Hall Museum, where Dan Clarke shared his extensive knowledge of the town’s past. Guildhall herbalist Dr Sue Thompson provided insight into the area’s herbal history, adding another dimension to Madeline’s research.

These encounters helped Madeline build a richer understanding of the historical setting and the lives of the people who inhabited it.

Find out more From America to Bury St Edmunds: The Story Behind Madeline Martin’s A Time of Witches.

The Hardwick Heath Killer, Missing Boy, Trophy Killer ((DI Nicki Hardcastle mysteries) - by Michelle Kidd

Meet Detective Nicki Hardcastle in this Bury St Edmunds-Based Crime Series from Michelle Kidd set in her hometown.

The Hardwick Heath Killer - names after Bury's very own Hardwick Heath - Two grisly murders. Three days apart. One brutal killer?

Trophy Killer - Three grisly crime scenes. Body parts strewn across the pretty market town of Bury St Edmunds. Detective Nicki Hardcastle tackles her darkest case yet.

Missing Boy - A missing child. A killer on the loose. A past that refuses to die.

https://www.michellekiddauthor.com/

The Lightbody Legacy and The Lightbody Request by Carolyn Ruffles

The Lightbody Mystery Series including Lightbody Legacy and The Lightbody Request by Carolyn Ruffles is set in the fictional Suffolk village of Wickthorpe. But the village of Woolpit near Bury St Edmunds, which has its own mystery, where Carolyn grew up was the inspiration for the setting. A former teacher, Carolyn lives in Norfolk but was a pupil of Culford School near Bury St Edmunds.

The Lightbody Legacy

In 1645, in the Suffolk village of Wickthorpe, Martha Lightbody is accused of practising witchcraft and condemned to ‘trial by drowning’. Before she vanishes beneath the surface of Dark Water Lake, never to be seen again, she places a curse upon the men responsible. The mystery of her disappearance, and the curse, become village folklore. More than three hundred years later, in 1988, when a young girl drowns, sixteen-year-old Deborah Ryecroft is accused of being an incarnation of the original Wickthorpe Witch. She leaves the village, vowing never to return. Now in her late forties, circumstances bring Deborah back to Wickthorpe where she receives a mixed reception. Whilst some villagers want her out, others, including neighbour, Tom Oldfield, are more welcoming. But then anonymous, threatening notes start dropping through her door … And another body is discovered in Dark Water Lake.

The Lightbody Request

After the shocking events of the previous summer, life in the Suffolk village of Wickthorpe resumes its normal rhythms. Emma Oldridge’s love for vet, Rick Billington, remains unrequited; long-suffering Ava Green continues to care for her ungrateful mother, Enid; and Honoraria Simpson-Fairchild adopts a new approach in her quest for a man. However, questions about a girl’s drowning remain unanswered, and dark secrets simmer behind closed doors. When a book written two hundred years ago, The Life & Times of Martha Lightbody, is discovered, some hope it will resolve the myth of the Wickthorpe Witch, once and for all. Others seek to use the book for their own ends. Plots and superstition abound as the twists and turns of Martha’s story unfold.
And another body is discovered in Dark Water Lake …

https://carolynrufflesauthor.com/

There's A Head In My Bed - Hatty Ashton

An illustrated children's book for ages 3 to 7 . . .to 70 written by Bury St Edmunds children's author and actress Hatty Ashton and illustrated by Joshua Rosewarne.

The book is a bit of British history brought to life with charming characters and ridiculous rhymes, inspired by the legend of St Edmund and the Wolf.

This silly adventure follows St Ed's rolling head after it's been thrown into the woods by the Vikings. Ed meets the local wildlife while searching for his body, that is stuck to a tree, all horrid and snotty! Will he find it?

https://hattyashton.com/author/

Abbey and Eddie visit Bugingham Palace

Written by the Reverend Dr Karen Smith, Abbey and Eddie visit Bugingham Palace, is an engaging story encourages children to care for the natural world around them.

When Abbey and her brother Eddie explore the gardens near St Edmundsbury Cathedral, they stumble upon an eco-garden and a bustling bug hotel! With beautiful illustrations, a fun colouring page, and easy instructions from The SAW (Science-Art-Writing) Trust, the book is available to purchase online and in bookshops including the Cathedral Shop.

Celebrating books and writing in the heart of East Anglia, Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival was founded in 2017 and curates a sparkling literary line-up of authors and writers talks and workshops every year in October.

https://www.burylitfest.co.uk/