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Visit to Lavenham, Suffolk.
On Saturday 31st July Joy Clinton (Society Events Organiser) arranged a coach trip for members of the Historical Society to visit the village of Lavenham in Suffolk, famous as for its medieval cottages and the legacy of the very wealthy wool merchants who made Lavenham a centre for their industry in the 16th century.
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The Party, disembarked from the coach and ready for the tour.
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We gathered in the Market Place and were divided into two groups, each with a tour guide to lead them.
The market place has a ‘15th century ‘Market Cross’ where our guide told us that bear-bating took place right into the Tudor periods, |
Group one
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Group two
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This Market area is dominated by the 16th century Guildhall, (behind) which is now owned by the National Trust and is a museum of local history. (and where refreshments were arranged for our party).
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An example of a rich merchant house. circa 1500's
Many building are half-timbered and painted over with a pale lime wash covering both the timbers and the wall infill, such as the Guildhall (two pictures up). We were told that it was only in Victorian times that owners began to pick out the timbers with black paint, turning timbered buildings into what we recognise today.
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One view of the village from the church roof
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Three on top:
Nick Lee, Allan Powell and Michael Talbot
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The church of St Peter and St Paul's,
known as a 'Wool Church
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The church of St Peter and Paul’s which is known colloquially as a ‘wool church’ which whilst it retains a 14th century chancel, was mostly built during the 15th and 16th centuries, paid for by the wool merchants. A major benefactor of the church was John de Vere, the 13th Earl of Oxford, whose star design, taken from his family crest is liberally carved around the church. One day a year the church tower is open to the public and this happened to be the day we visited. Some of our party climbed to the top of the 141-foot tower, the tallest tower in Suffolk where a magnificent view over the village and the surrounding area made the climb worthwhile.
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30/8/04
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