B1352

Route

The B1352 is part of the historic coaching route from Colchester to Harwich, while modern traffic takes the A120 further south, running along the south edge of the Stour Estuary.

The road has two starting points on the A137 about 2/3 of a mile apart. The more southerly starts at a mini-roundabout and heads east through Lawford before skirting the south of Manningtree. After going over the Harwich Branch Line the road reaches a T-junction opposite Mistley Towers (the remains of a former church). The road to the left is the other branch, which runs west from here through the centre of Manningtree to end at a roundabout by the station.

The B1352 continues east, crossing the railway line again by Mistley station and then zigzagging through New Mistley. A brief rural section takes the road through Bradfield, after which the road winds across the fields before meeting the A120 at a roundabout on the far side of Ramsey.

Dovercourt

The road quickly becomes residential as it passes through Dovercourt, the part of Harwich people live in. The B1414 comes in from the right and multiplexes with us past the cemetery to turn off to the right by a war memorial. The road to Parkeston Quay, now unclassified but at one time the A604, turns off left at a mini-roundabout and then we continue past the houses into the centre of town. The B1414 meets us a final time, crossing at traffic lights, then the B1352 continues along the High Street, passing a park on the right.

The road now starts bending to the left as it runs into Harwich proper. After passing a turn to the station the road enters the town centre. It passes the High Lighthouse then runs along West Street, ending on the Quay at a mini-roundabout on the A120.

History

The original route of the B1352, with the present route in red

The original route of the B1352 was created on 1st April, 1924, and ran from what was the A133 at Elmstree Market to the then A135 at Ramsey.

Around 1946 (by which time the A135 had been renumbered as an extension of the A604), it swapped places with the A604 from Ramsey to the A137 at Manningtree, which was then extended over the old A135/A604 route back into Colchester. The spur to Manningtree station, was renumbered from A137 at this time.

In the 1990s, following the upgrading of the A120 to take over the old A604 route on a new alignment into Harwich, the B1352 was extended into the town centre.