Lavenham
Lavenham has a proud history of being one of the foremost cloth making centres in England from the fourteenth to the 16th century and the many magnificent buildings that remain are a testimony to the town being the fourteenth wealthiest in England.
Now Lavenham ranks amongst the most beautiful of villages; set in the lush green Suffolk countryside it makes the ideal weekend getaway.
The buildings are fascinating – some are huge and imposing, others are tiny and some are crooked! Take a wander up and down the streets to marvel at the architecture and make sure you visit those that are open to the public:
The Church of St Peter and St Paul dates from between 1486 and 1525 and its size is a good indication of the wealth of Lavenham at that time.
The Guildhall of Corpus Christi, owned by the National Trust, is a 16th-century timber framed building overlooking the market place. The Guildhall houses a museum offering insights into local life. Outside is a walled garden with examples of plants used in the Tudor cloth industry plus a village lock-up and mortuary.
Little Hall is a lovely example of 15th-century hall house with a crown-post roof. It contains the Gayer-Anderson collection of furniture, pictures, sculptures and ceramics.
The Wildlife Art Gallery is a must-see as it is one of the leading wildlife art galleries in the country with exhibitions from top artists such as Robert Gilmore and Eileen Soper.
Guided walks are available weekends from end March-end November.
Must see and do
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