Metfield is another lovely sleepy mid Suffolk village. During the Second World War a USAAF Airfield was built less than a mile away housing the 491st Bomb Group. Only a few weeks after commencing operations a massive explosion rocked the airfield and surrounding area when a bomb dump exploded killing five men and totally destroying five B-24 bombers.

A pretty thatched cottage.

The tower and churchyard of Metfield's church of St John the Baptist.

The exterior of Metfield's church may not be one of the prettiest in Suffolk.

But the interior has probably the finest Canopy of honour to the Rood in Suffolk and a 17th century Turret clock, one of the rare working examples of this type of clock in the country.

The present clock was made and installed in the 17th century at a cost of £6.14s.4d. During the 1960s the clock fell into disuse but in 1979 with the aid of grants and a local appeal the clock was fully restored and installed in it's original position at floor level where it can be seen by visitors.

View looking up the main street.

The Primitive Methodist church in the Street was built in 1866.

Lovely jams and preserves for sale outside this cottage.

The Duke William public house.

Memorial to the 491st Bomb Group.

Another memorial plaque, this one is in recognition of the Bomb Dump explosion and the 353rd Fighter Group who used the airfield to experiment with the dangerous techniques of low level ground attack.

Very little evidence of the airfield can be seen today only a few brick buildings and these concrete roadways that were probably aircraft taxiways are all that remain.