Lakenheath

Lakenheath is a village and civil parish in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. It has a population of 4,691 according to the 2011 Census, and is situated close to the county boundaries of both Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, and at the meeting point of The Fens and the Breckland natural environments. Lakenheath is host to the largest United States Air Force base in the United Kingdom, RAF Lakenheath. Lakenheath Fen Nature Reserve, created in 1996, restored wetlands from agricultural fields that were growing carrots. In May 2007, it was reported that cranes were nesting in the site for the first time since the fen lands were drained in the 16th century. The village has a single Victorian primary school, constructed in 1878, which was extended in 1969, again in 2004 and most recently in 2010/2011. There is a small shopping street on which a variety of multi-cultural shops, restaurants, and services are available. Horse-riding services are also present. The village has a modern library with various amenities. Along this main road there is a small hotel, skate park, and a children's play park. Lakenheath has one pub (The Brewers Tap) though historically it had at least sixteen more. The Royal British Legion was a members-only club, but closed in April 2012. The Villagers managed to raise the funds to purchase the property, and it now houses The Lakenheath Peace Memorial Hall, with a 130 seat theatre and stage, The Old Legion (Lakenheath) Community centre and bar. It is now dedicated to providing a safe place for families and children of the village to exercise and enjoy. Lakenheath is remarkable for its medieval church, built about 900 years ago in wood, eventually being rebuilt in the local flint construction style. The church on the exterior has an embattled parapet that has an array of gargoyles and other carved faces at the string course at the base. The interior includes medieval paintings and carvings on the pews. The faces of the church's…