Latest news with #DodieSmith
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The ancient market town in the UK that inspired a Disney classic
It's also home to a kid-friendly National Trust property SWEET SUFFOLK The ancient market town in the UK that inspired a Disney classic Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUDBURY is a charming ancient town in Suffolk that people may not realise was the inspiration for a hit Disney film. Locations in Sudbury, like the drinking fountain and horse trough by St Peter's Church featured in 101 Dalmatians - because the author lived nearby. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 The charming town of Sudbury inspired a Disney classic Credit: Alamy 5 The old drinking fountain in Market Hill featured in 101 Dalmatians Credit: Alamy Dodie Smith, who was famous for writing the Disney classic 101 Dalmatians, spent her adult life living in the Essex village of Finchingfield. As a result, she used to regularly visit Sudbury, which was half an hour away, to do her shopping. Parts of Sudbury was used for the setting of the classic children's story, including the drinking fountain and horse trough by St Peter's Church. It is mentioned as the place where Pongo and Perdita stop to have a drink while trying to track down the lost puppies. The town is even named in the book, it reads: "Just before midnight they came to the market town of Sudbury. Pongo paused as they crossed the bridge over the River Stour." Walt Disney visited Dodie at her home in Finchingfield called The Barretts. It's rumoured the Grade II listed Georgian manor Greys Hall, in the nearby village of Sible Hedingham, was the inspiration for Cruella de Vil's home. 101 Dalmatians is honoured in The Talbot Trail - which is a series of 14 statues around Sudbury. The trail depicts the town's history, other statues include the town gaol. On Gaol Lane is the statue that was the gateway to Sudbury Court where prisoners were locked up to await trial. Suffolk weekend with the kids 5 Sudbury has its own trail to honour events through the town's history Credit: Alamy 5 The Children's Country House is a National Trust fun house for kids Credit: Alamy There's also 'The Running Boy' which tells the story of James Bigmore, a boy who ran alongside a coach, all the way from Sudbury to Norwich in six hours. Another is the fearsome Queen of the Iceni, Boudicea as well as the artist Thomas Gainsborough. Sudbury is also home to the National Trust property The Children's Country House. It re-opened after a big makeover in 2022 - with its property and gardens all aimed at entertaining kids Unlike most National Trust properties, children are encouraged to go wild, run around and touch everything with no roped-off areas. While features of the historic country home can still be enjoyed, the new wing includes everything from interactive displays to a dressing-up room. One British celeb lives in Suffolk – here are his favourite places to go from smallest pub in UK to beachside brewery. And why Southwold in Suffolk has more than enough for a weekend's exploring.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The ancient market town in the UK that inspired a Disney classic
SUDBURY is a charming ancient town in Suffolk that people may not realise was the inspiration for a hit Disney film. Locations in Sudbury, like the drinking fountain and horse trough by St Peter's Church featured in 101 Dalmatians - because the author lived nearby. 5 5 Dodie Smith, who was famous for writing the Disney classic 101 Dalmatians, spent her adult life living in the Essex village of Finchingfield. As a result, she used to regularly visit Sudbury, which was half an hour away, to do her shopping. Parts of Sudbury was used for the setting of the classic children's story, including the drinking fountain and horse trough by St Peter's Church. It is mentioned as the place where Pongo and Perdita stop to have a drink while trying to track down the lost puppies. The town is even named in the book, it reads: "Just before midnight they came to the market town of Sudbury. Pongo paused as they crossed the bridge over the River Stour." Walt Disney visited Dodie at her home in Finchingfield called The Barretts. It's rumoured the Grade II listed Georgian manor Greys Hall, in the nearby village of Sible Hedingham, was the inspiration for Cruella de Vil's home. 101 Dalmatians is honoured in The Talbot Trail - which is a series of 14 statues around Sudbury. The trail depicts the town's history, other statues include the town gaol. On Gaol Lane is the statue that was the gateway to Sudbury Court where prisoners were locked up to await trial. 5 5 There's also 'The Running Boy' which tells the story of James Bigmore, a boy who ran alongside a coach, all the way from Sudbury to Norwich in six hours. Another is the fearsome Queen of the Iceni, Boudicea as well as the artist Thomas Gainsborough. Sudbury is also home to the National Trust property The Children's Country House. It re-opened after a big makeover in 2022 - with its property and gardens all aimed at entertaining kids Unlike most National Trust properties, children are encouraged to go wild, run around and touch everything with no roped-off areas. While features of the historic country home can still be enjoyed, the new wing includes everything from interactive displays to a dressing-up room. One British celeb lives in Suffolk – here are his favourite places to go from smallest pub in UK to beachside brewery. And why Southwold in Suffolk has more than enough for a weekend's exploring. 5
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
The ancient market town in the UK that inspired a Disney classic
SUDBURY is a charming ancient town in Suffolk that people may not realise was the inspiration for a hit Disney film. Locations in Sudbury, like the drinking fountain and horse trough by St Peter's Church featured in 5 The charming town of Sudbury inspired a Disney classic Credit: Alamy 5 The old drinking fountain in Market Hill featured in 101 Dalmatians Credit: Alamy Dodie Smith, who was famous for writing the Disney classic 101 Dalmatians, spent her adult life living in the Essex village of Finchingfield. As a result, she used to regularly visit Sudbury, which was half an hour away, to do her shopping. Parts of Sudbury was used for the setting of the classic children's story, including the drinking fountain and horse trough by St Peter's Church. It is mentioned as the place where Pongo and Perdita stop to have a drink while trying to track down the lost puppies. Read More on Suffolk The town is even named in the book, it reads: "Just before midnight they came to the market town of Sudbury. Pongo paused as they crossed the bridge over the Walt Disney visited Dodie at her home in Finchingfield called The Barretts. It's rumoured the Grade II listed Georgian manor Greys Hall, in the nearby village of Sible Hedingham, was the inspiration for Cruella de Vil's home. 101 Dalmatians is honoured in The Talbot Trail - which is a series of 14 statues around Sudbury. Most read in News Travel The trail depicts the town's history, other statues include the town gaol. On Gaol Lane is the statue that was the gateway to Sudbury Court where prisoners were locked up to await trial. Suffolk weekend with the kids 5 Sudbury has its own trail to honour events through the town's history Credit: Alamy 5 The Children's Country House is a National Trust fun house for kids Credit: Alamy There's also 'The Running Boy' which tells the story of James Bigmore, a boy who ran alongside a coach, all the way from Sudbury to Another is the fearsome Queen of the Iceni, Boudicea as well as the artist Thomas Gainsborough. Sudbury is also home to the National Trust property It re-opened after a big makeover in 2022 - with its property and gardens all aimed at entertaining kids Unlike most National Trust properties, children are encouraged to go wild, run around and touch everything with no roped-off areas. While features of the historic country home can still be enjoyed, the new wing includes everything from interactive displays to a dressing-up room. One British celeb And why Southwold in Suffolk has more than enough for a weekend's exploring. 5 Sudbury is a town in Suffolk that inspired a Disney classic Credit: Alamy
The Guardian
12-03-2025
- The Guardian
Would you risk stealing a rottweiler? More and more criminals are prepared to …
Name: Dog thefts. Age: As far back as 1952, the British media were reporting a 'dognapping wave', which coincided with a demand for dogs for laboratory experimentation. Noooo! Stolen to be experimented on! Then, in 1956, Dodie Smith wrote The Hundred and One Dalmatians, featuring Cruella de Vil … Noooo! Stolen to make a fur coat! Worse still. True. Puppies, too. Though on the plus side, they were rescued – and it's fiction. Hopefully this wickedness has been stamped out for good? 'Fraid not. According to analysis of police data by Direct Line pet insurance, 1,808 dogs were stolen across the UK last year. Noooo! Stolen for … what? Money, often. The most stolen dog, the French bulldog (51 snatched last year, up 38% on 2023) can cost £5,000 from a legitimate breeder, so they are a popular target for criminals. But it's not like stealing a car – those poor dogs are like someone's babies, almost. Exactly. Adam Burgin, head of Direct Line pet insurance, said victims 'will know the intense stress and trauma that comes with having their beloved pet snatched away from them, often with no closure on knowing what happened to a member of the family'. Because they're never found? Only one in five of the 23,430 dogs stolen in the past decade were recovered. There is some good news though – and some possibly surprising news, too. Can I have the good first, please? I need it. Overall, dog-theft figures have fallen, down 21% on 2023 – possibly due to the introduction last year of the Pet Abduction Act, which makes pet theft a criminal offence in England and Northern Ireland, punishable by up to five years in prison. And the possibly surprising news? Some breeds are bucking the downward trend. Which ones? Well, the biggest rise in thefts, up 180% year on year, is for … rottweilers. What?! Who'd take one of them? They're terrifying! They are also something of a status symbol. Celebrity rottweiler owners have included Robbie Williams, Will Smith, Leonardo DiCaprio … Does he trade them in when they get to around whatever 25 is in dog years? Stop it. At up to 86cm in height and weighing up to 60kg, rottweilers are often used as guard dogs. There's irony in pets kept to prevent burglary getting stolen. Never mind irony, I'd be more concerned about those teeth. With puppies going for two and a half grand, criminals might not see the teeth for the pound signs, as the saying goes. Do say: 'Sorry pal, but you're staying on the lead.' Don't say: 'So sad! What I miss most about her is ... her potential for producing litters of high-value puppies.'
