![Abbey Gardens credit Shawn Pearce 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Abbey-Gardens-credit-Shawn-Pearce-1500x390.jpg?w=1504&h=390&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1654787686&s=8dd422aa8571a86233bcb073f1838324)
Back to Blogs
Discover
5 Things to Spot in The Abbey Gardens
Here's our top 5 things to look out for in the Abbey Gardens
1. The Legend of St Edmund Book
![Legend of St Edmund Abbey Gardens oak book Mark Cordell 965x540](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Full-Width-Images/Legend-of-St-Edmund-Abbey-Gardens-oak-book-Mark-Cordell-965x540.jpg?w=965&h=543&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1653641160&s=17500166d9129ca391074467dae1acd4)
A wonderful oak book by Den Humphrey inscribed with the legend of St Edmund and the wolf can be found in the Abbey Gardens by the café.
2. The Wing of a 'Flying Fortress Bomber'
![Appleby Rose Garden Abbey Gardens 965x540](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Full-Width-Images/Appleby-Rose-Garden-Abbey-Gardens-965x540.jpg?w=965&h=543&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1653485517&s=cb76fcd7bccfe1d0e3d3d31d58fb1f8f)
In the Appleby Rose Garden you'll find a bench made from the wing of an American 'Flying Fortress Bomber' and a memorial stone. Both pay tribute to the many US servicemen and women stationed in Suffolk and the 3,000 GI's who were stationed at RAF Bury St Edmunds (now Rougham Airfield).
The rose garden is named after John Appleby, an American serviceman who served with the 487th Bomb Group in Lavenham, and who wrote the book Suffolk Summer.
3. The Saint Edmund Rose
![St Edmund Rose in the Abbey Gardens Sue Warren 965x540](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Full-Width-Images/St-Edmund-Rose-in-the-Abbey-Gardens-Sue-Warren-965x540.jpg?w=965&h=543&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1654514036&s=fff9fe8d7228936dd89a4b0d2ecd14de)
Nestled behind the Flying Fortress Bomber bench in the Appleby Rose Garden is the Saint Edmund Rose. It was planted in 2005 in commemoration of the completion of St Edmundsbury Cathedral's new Millennium Tower and the visit of HRH, Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
4. Our Liberty
![Our Liberty Abbey Gardens Sue Warren 965x540](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Full-Width-Images/Our-Liberty-Abbey-Gardens-Sue-Warren-965x540.jpg?w=965&h=543&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1654785128&s=375cdeb7f1c76fc44cf5d7c93cd9ada1)
The ‘Our Liberty’ memorial, designed by Suffolk artist Nigel Kaines, marks the meeting of the barons who came together at the Abbey of St Edmund in 1214 to sign the Charter of Liberties, the precursor to the Magna Carta.
The memorial includes the spears and banners of the barons with bronze scrollwork displaying shields carrying the important commemorative events. The design is supported on original stone from the Abbey – stones which might have been witness to the arrival of the barons all those years ago.
5. Sundial Fountain
![Sundial Planter Abbey Gardens Sue Warren 965x540](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Full-Width-Images/Sundial-Planter-Abbey-Gardens-Sue-Warren-965x540.jpg?w=965&h=543&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1654785006&s=69de03119f00a0fc0ca3a47ec1cae2bc)
This Victorian drinking fountain, with sundial cube on the top, was gifted to the people of Bury St Edmunds in 1871 by the 3rd Marquess of Bristol, owner of the Ickworth Estate. It is an extremely early example - quite possibly the earliest in the country - of a sundial that allowed the town clocks to be set to GMT rather than the local mean time. Originally located at the south end of The Traverse, it was moved to the Abbey Gardens in 1939. No longer a fountain it is now a beautiful planter.
Related Blogs
![Discover Suffolk's County Flower - the Oxlip](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Oxlip-1500x390-Darin-Smith.jpg?w=1500&h=390&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1713196647&s=9df8092799abad218ecb96d446aef6ee)
News
Discover Suffolk's County…
Did you know that Suffolk has a county flower? The…
![Walks at Rougham](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Rougham-Walks-1500x390.jpg?w=1500&h=390&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1712144610&s=e63b8d64b0f25e65e21d3a2e83427319)
News
Walks at Rougham
Rougham Estate offers 18 miles of public footpaths,…
![Cycle the Wolf Way](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Wolf-Way-hero-1500x390.jpg?w=1500&h=390&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1711455959&s=c567fd11eaa7d23707983c60cead28d7)
News
Cycle the Wolf Way
Winding its way around many of the best bridleways,…
News
Perfect Picnic Spots
With stunning countryside and gardens, there are many…
![A weekend of cycling in Bury St Edmunds and Beyond](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Cycling-breaks-header-image.jpg?w=1500&h=390&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1685542793&s=68d9549c4bf5d5450123083c972f6cb4)
News
A weekend of cycling in Bury…
Take a look at some of the best cycle routes in the…
Latest news
News
Bury St Edmunds Parks awarded Green Flag Status!
Bury St Edmunds Parks awarded Green Flag status!
![Burys Best By Bike hero 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Burys-Best-By-Bike-hero-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.3452&fp-y=0.4554&dm=1720602549&s=9a9a607225afcb57e27b70aed3143ca2)
News
New Sightseeing PedalCab Rides Launched to Delight Visitors to Bury St Edmunds this Summer
Join Ecocarriers Bury St Edmunds for a Bury's Best, By Bike PedalCab rides around the town's iconic historic sights!
![Abbey gardens hero 1500x390 2024](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Abbey-gardens-hero-1500x390-2024.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1720702975&s=6175c66b51bf48449190bb1b2d89b1c9)
News
Abbey Gardens in Top 20 Most Visited Free Attractions in England and Top in the East of England
The historic Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds with the ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund is in the Top 20 most visited free attractions in England and the top free attraction in the East of…
News
Unmissable Events for Families this Summer
Whether you're heading here for a summer holiday or simply looking for a fun day out, these unmissable family events and activities are sure to keep everyone entertained!
![Theatre in The Park hero image 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Theatre-in-The-Park-hero-image-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1720428255&s=a499c13c9b8a61672deeb0e8b804fcbc)
News
Get Ready for Theatre in The Parks This Summer
The popular outdoor theatre season returns for 2024 with a new programme of performances in the beautiful Abbey Gardens and West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village.
![Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Bury-St-Edmunds-Tour-Guides-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1705586876&s=862b6e66ef83e0437ac2329bae7af599)
News
Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides in the top 10% of attractions worldwide
Reviews of Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides via Tripadvisor have resulted in them being rated in the top 10% attractions worldwide, classing them as a winner in the Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2024.
![Suffolk Regiment Museum 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Suffolk-Regiment-Museum-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1716203507&s=bddc78c644c3d3ae7bcf76dd9a646667)
News
Suffolk Regiment Museum Re-Opens After Refurbishment
The Suffolk Regiment Museum has reopened its doors to visitors after an eight-month long refurbishment.
![Pickwick Afternoon Tea 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Pickwick-Afternoon-Tea-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&crop=focalpoint&fp-x=0.485&fp-y=0.5262&dm=1718272069&s=a600ffc1b248685e08a90eb5030ab358)
News
The Angel Hotel Launches a new Dickens-themed themed afternoon tea experience
The Angel Hotel launches new themed afternoon tea experience based on the life & works of Charles Dickens.
![Cathedral Gin hero 1500x390](https://bury-stedmunds.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Main-Images/Cathedral-Gin-hero-1500x390.jpg?w=728&h=376&q=95&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1717754453&s=49cc6a4596077ef8a04159bf9e6f6d67)
News
Cathedral Launches Three Gins
St Edmundsbury Cathedral has partnered with Heart of Suffolk Distillery to produce three Cathedral-inspired gins.