Dobbs Drift

Dobbs Lane and Dobbs Drift are named after John Dobbs, circa 1750. The story tells of a shepherd who was employed at Hall Farm, Kesgrave, later to be known as Grange Farm, who hanged himself. The tradition was that a suicide should be buried at the junction of a cross-roads complete with a stake through the heart. Dobbs was buried at the bottom of what is now Dobbs Lane, the grave is still marked to this day by a stone. This was at the junction of the four parishes of Kesgrave, Foxhall, Martlesham and Brightwell. Many tales have been told of Dobbs, all unconfirmed, even to the extent that the grave was opened up by revellers from The Bell, with eventually one of them wearing one of Dobb’s teeth on his watch chain!