Suffolk - WHAT TO DO

Historic Villages

'Tinker'

This page is still being worked on

'Tinker' asks you not to be cross - she is working as hard as she can, to get it finished !!

www.grove-cottages.co.uk

Long Melford for antiques, this is where the TV character Lovejoy carried out his work; check the Antique's Fair's timetable that I supply or look out for AA signs, because the one here and at Lavenham are well worth visiting for bargains.

Melford Hall

Kentwell Hall

There are 2 stately homes in Long Melford - Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall - both are very beautiful and have many events in them as well as being generally open to the public.

One of the most impressive events is the Kentwell Hall fascinating re-creation of Tudor life, where as many as 250 skilled artisans, actors, craftsmen and children make the whole place come to life in a marvelously vivid way as they 'work' the kitchens, the brewery, the dairy, the apothecary. Tend to the sick and those in labor, test their combat skills, entertain visitors and practice their music and gossip among one another and visitors in 'Olde English'.

I have spent some great evenings picnicking beside the lake over looking the Mansion, with hundreds of others as the sun sets and the Glen Miller tribute band plays into the night lit by our little lamps. These events are usually attended by visitors in period dress from the 40's many bring their vintage cars and old uniforms - magic. more info at www.kentwellhall.co.uk .

All the little villages around are very picturesque - Kersey - Chelsworth - Bildeston - Long Melford - Lavenham - Monks Eleigh - Brent Eleigh - Chelsworth - Polsted - Nayland - Stoke-by-Nayland, etc, etc. just explore.

Lavenham Widely regarded as the best example of an intact Medieval Village, this important 'Wool Town' was once one of the richest in England and is cluttered with many magnificent Medieval buildings.

There is an excellent Butchers at the bottom of the high Street and the marvelous 'granary pat' bread that I supply at The Grove Cottages come from the old fashioned bakery Sparling & Frieres, they bake bread as it should be baked in Market Place, which is a stunning village square that transports you straight back to Medieval times with the magnificent Guild hall - which now houses a very interesting museum & The marvelous 'Little Hall' which is another National Trust building and often open.

The very excellent Great House French Restaurant is also in the Market Place and there is a very nice pub called 'The Angel' where a thirsty walker can get a drink and a sandwich most of the day, The pub has a fine restaurant which is open every evening with the host playing the piano live on a Friday and Saturday night.

The Wildlife Gallery ; As you walk down the High Street you will find 'The Wildlife Gallery' on the left. This has some very interesting exhibitions featuring artists such as Harry Becker a local artist painting Suffolk rural life about 1880's - 1920's.

Beckers evocative work is only now being recognized for its importance and the Gallery is heavily featuring this artist in the run up to the launch of it's 'definitive book' on his work.

There are a number of very pleasant walks around Lavenham, the tourist centre there has a guided tour and there are some footpaths which make a fine circular walk around the interesting landscape and back to Lavenham.

My 'walk' which is marked on the maps I supply at The Grove Cottages, starts in the nearby village of Brent Eleigh and comes into Lavenham at it's famous and imposing Wool Church, after refreshments at one of the fine pubs and a snoop around Lavenham (not forgetting the old antique book shop) my walk takes you back on the green lane via an other fine church to the very excellent Cock pub in Brent Eleigh for a short respite and stroll back to the car. This walk is about 50 minutes in either direction.

Flatford Mill is easy to get to; straight through Hadleigh until you reach it. Visit Constable's famous sources of inspiration and take a walk around the pretty countryside and villages there.

Village Fetes and Open Garden weekends

are well worth checking out especially Bildeston, Hadleigh, Lavenham, Rougham and Chelsworth, all of which are quite famous now.

Mark

The Grove Cottages