A Walk Around Lavenham

 Following my visit to Lavenham Church  here are a few more photos of the ancient town of Lavenham in South Suffolk.

Lavenham is often said to be one of the best examples of a medieval wool town. The wealth meant many fine houses were built in the 15C and early 16C. In the late 16th century Dutch refugees in Colchester began weaving a cheaper and more fashionable cloth and the woollen trade in Lavenham gradually came to a halt. There was no money for home improvements so houses remained un-modernised and the layout of the town hardly changed for 400 years.

Lavenham also isn't on any major roads and the rail link to Sudbury has long gone.So it was only when cars and coach tours became popular that people started to visit to photograph the history.

The much photographed Crooked House at 7 High Street no longer in use as an Art Gallery or a Tea Room

 

Homes in the main street leading up to the church ( avoiding the parked cars)

 And how they look  from the other side of the road with cars right out the front.

A row of  (probably) Almshouses opposite the church

Below is the famous Swan Hotel

The huge Guildhall  dominates one side of the market square. (The link goes to National Trust website)

Below is The Little Hall

Little Hall, built in the 1390s, was once home to the Causton family. Since then the house has changed a lot from being divided up to house six different families in the 1700s to being restored and used as a museum today.

 

Below is The Market Cross in the centre of the Market Square ( there was a family with children sitting on the steps on the other side so I had to go right round to take this photo which turned out to be in the shadows - making a terrible photo.)  

I found out about it HERE

Lavenham boasts a 16^th century market cross. Market crosses were erected to indicate that an area had been designated as being a market square by a bishop, or a baron, or the monarch. Lavenham’s market cross is made of stone. A three stepped pyramid supports a slender column surmounted by a stone sphere

It wasn't too busy being  a chilly, on and off foggy morning in November when everything is closed but in the summer its heaving.

 

Here's the link to the Wiki page if you want to read more 

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Sue