Have struggled to begin posting on Lavenham for 2 reasons. One, there have been many things to take up my time including birthdays with B.B.Q's, Grand children staying,various mission outreaches, catching up with the garden and life in general.
This last week has been too hot to sit at my computer with the temperature hitting 90f and extremely high humidity and of course no air conditioning unless one is sitting in the car.
The second reason is that I took over 300 photos of Lavenham alone and even though I won't be posting them all I could not decide how to organise them as staying in the village for a week and taking shots on different occasions it felt like a muddle.
I have therefore decided just to post them mostly in the order they were taken with just a few under certain headings.
This last week has been too hot to sit at my computer with the temperature hitting 90f and extremely high humidity and of course no air conditioning unless one is sitting in the car.
The second reason is that I took over 300 photos of Lavenham alone and even though I won't be posting them all I could not decide how to organise them as staying in the village for a week and taking shots on different occasions it felt like a muddle.
I have therefore decided just to post them mostly in the order they were taken with just a few under certain headings.
We stayed in a beautifully modernised luxury cottage on the High Street so all our needs were within a few minutes walking distance.
Of course we visited gardens and country houses etc. in the area but initially I will be concentrating on the village itself.
Just one and a half hours drive from home, Lavenham in Suffolk is one of England's finest mediaeval villages. It has over 340 listed buildings, mainly because it's rich industrial past gave rise to really wealthy merchants and trades people who invested in property.
Lavenham was the 14th wealthiest town in England in 1524 with13 cloth making businesses
The village is awash with Tearooms, this one combining with a knitting and wool shop
Even the butchers had a tea garden
This wool Emporium was interesting and sat just 2 doors from where we were staying
It sold the most beautiful garments hand knitted from Alpaca wool
I did not feel it right to photo the garments inside
I learned that the colours were not dyed but were the natural colour of the wool. Needless to say very exclusive and expensive
A craft shop and tearoom
Shops and houses all intermingled
and this one obviously waiting for it's new owners
This crooked house is now a Tapestry gallery
The Greyhound Pub that sold the best 'takeaway' fish and chips I have ever tasted
A kind of 'allsorts' shop
The Swan Hotel (more on that in a later post)
The Curiosity Corner Shop
That's 37 pictures so enough for one post I think
Do come back, there are many, many more to delight the eye and you certainly won't be disappointed with the Market Place
25 comments:
It looks like an amazing place to visit and it must have been wonderful to stay there.
Sad to say, I have never been there. But what a beautiful place it is with those wonderful crooked houses leaning gently on one another.
Very interesting, Barbara! I am off to look at a map. I am curious. How did the houses get to look so crooked?
Gracie x
Hi Barbara,
This is such a picturesque village; you really captured the charm of the buildings in your photos. This is the England that I love -- the small villages. London was pretty and so impressive, but I just adore the little villages with their higgledy-piggledy shops and houses, and all the wonderful flowers. I would so love to travel there again one day.
Thanks for sharing -- will be looking forward to seeing the rest of your holiday photos.
Denise
Some of those buildings don't look structurally sound, though since they are allowed to stand, they must be. They really played tricks with my eyes.
The best fish and chips you've ever tasted? What made the difference I am curious to know.
Hope that the temps are moderating. The days are still very warm here, though the nights are cool and pleasant.
What a lovely place to visit and so much to see. Knowing how you love to stop for tea, it must have been hard to choose where. Any thing made with Alpaca wool here is very expensive and of course I always like what ever is the most costly the best. To date I don't own anything made of Alpaca wool. Will be looking forward to more of your pictures. As always!
Hello Barbara
I'm thrilled to read your post on Lavenham - such a beautiful old town brimming with history.
A nursing friend of mine was caring for an elderly lady there and we arranged to meet her for lunch at the historical Swan (where we ate outside and were attacked by wasps)!!!
We were on a trip from NZ and our timetable didn't allow us more than a day there, so it's wonderful for me to see your photos and learn more.
I remember buying a magazine on Suffolk which was lovely - it is one of my favourite parts of England.
Thank you Barbara
cheers
Shane in New Zealand
I love everyone of these photos, the town looks so lovely!
What interesting architecture, Barbara. I love those crooked beams in the Tudor-style houses. (I think that's what it's called with the exposed beams). Lots of character.
It's hard to choose which photos to post sometimes, isn't it? We're currently on vacation in the Rockies and there are so many gorgeous views that I'm snapping photos constantly.
I hope your week is going well.
Thank you.. I love it..love it all!
So quaint. I have always wanted to have a TEA HOUSE and QUILT shoppe together...perhaps..one day.
So glad your trigger finger is okay. I did get the cortizone shot..and it is much better. I think my Thyroid meds now working at night will also help heal.
I'd love for you to send me your home address. I will not publish. Would love to send you something from my home town. I'll include some postcards.
God bless you...take care..
HOPE
Barbara! I'm wildly curious. WHAT is the deal with the crooked houses????? Too cool. So many of them. There has got to be a story.
It certainly looks a lovely place with all those pretty houses and tea shops especially when combined with wool!
There are a few crooked houses there! I was watching a programme about timber framed houses recently, how they 'settle' eventually. I wonder what the interiors look like, it must be a nightmare arranging furniture.
Suffolk has some very pretty houses though, and Lavenham is very picturesque.
I'm never disappointed with your posts, Barb. I do love our travels with you.
Hugs
Good to see you back here, Barbara. Your photos are all so interesting, and those crooked half-timbered buildings make me feel slightly dizzy! I notice that some of them have properly squared windows even though the facade looks like it might tumble away at any moment!
Wow, what a fascinating village. I know I'd love to stroll through all those knit shops. Yes, alpaca is a beautifl fiber and the various colors of the animals is extensive. I'm currently spinning a white alpace fleece.
What a lovely village to stroll through. Why do they have all the outer timbers on some buildings? Is it for looks or is there a reason. I always wondered about Tutor homes. They go back to King Henry 14-16 century. I know they call it Wattle an Daub. It's the
outside timbers that give the look.
Fish and chips sound great.
yvonne
Fascinating! Thanks for the virtual tour!
As ever, a most super visit to the old country.
I must say I love knitting in Alpaca --it feels so beautifully soft. But then I only knit hats!
Makes me want to rent a little cottage there for a week or so!
Best wishes to you both.
What a charming tour of a village in England. I love it and look forward to more. I continue to enjoy everything British. Mary
I was so intrigued by the wool shop! I spin alpaca and other wools and LOVE the natural, undyed colors! Wish I could shop there!
We visited England in April (I believe), 2000. We spent 2 days in Lavenham, staying at The Angel Hotel, before it was the Angel. The weather was fabulous while we were there - cool and crisp!
We had been in Nottingham prior to that, and had snow, sleet and extreme winds. We arrived in Nottingham, not knowing it was Mum's day. We had lunch at a pub, but the fish, chips and mushy peas were great! Also, a Pepsi with lemon and 2 ice cubes.
Your pictures bring back very warm memories! My cousin was a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, and spent a lot of time in England. She definitely recommended Lavenham, and I'm so glad she did!
What a wonderful place to stay! I got a jumper 2nd hand, made in Guatemala from Alpaca wool. It is lightweight but warmer than sheep wool.
I am looking forward to seeing more of this town. The list on that timber building is amazing. I wonder what happened to make it so severe.
Really enjoyed this post with the charming cottages. You've captured a neat place to visit.
Felt like I was there.
God bless,
d
Hebrew studies sounds very interesting. I did a short course in similar last year and found it very interesting and thought provoking.
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