Why does Harleston have so many alleyways? Look at how and why they developed and the huge number of crafts and trades that operated in them. Like many small rural towns, Harleston was self sufficient through most of it’s past. There were many butchers, a real concentration of maltsters and brewers. Not to mention the markets, mineral water bottlers and metal workers. So many of these are still visible in our alleyways or ‘yards’. Some have kept the names of the trades once operated here, in others you need to look more deeply. Come and explore with our local experts.