Lavenham Part 8

My last post on Lavenham  - begins with the village sign - I bet you are glad that I did not post all 500 photos! Don't panic I still have many photos from the places around that we visited.

I'll finish this visit to Lavenham by visiting the Parish church. Built around 1485 it is an example of a splendid late Medieval wool church, boasting a wealth of beautiful carvings in oak and stone, two rare and historic parcloses, and fine Victorian stained glass windows. It records the wealth of the 15th century local wool cloth industry and thanksgiving for a Tudor victory at the battle of Bosworth.

John de Vere, Lord of the Manor at Lavenham, was a commander in the Duke of Richmond's winning army against Richard III at the battle of Bosworth in 1485. Richmond became King Henry VII and de Vere (13th Earl of Oxford) came back to Lavenham, deciding to build a new church helped by Thomas Spring II.

The trimmed Box hedges are quite impressive

The exterior showing much of the history in the architecture

Thomas Spring's parclosure which surrounds his tomb

We visited the church a second time on the day that the tower was open to the public.

I have never seen such a tight and narrow spiral staircase. Someone has to stand at the bottom and be in touch by 'walky-talky' with someone standing not only at the top but at every stopping off level as it is not possible for anyone to ascend the steps if someone is coming down. 

I found it quite claustrophobic but here we are watching the bells being rung up the first 70 steps 

The view of the village from the top of the tower another 120 steps further up

Finishing with the Swan Hotel built in the 15th century

The front

The side

The interior gardens

The interior was quiet when I took these photos as a wedding party was about to arrive

So goodbye to Lavenham

What a Tearoom! Lavenham Part 7

Of all the tearooms in Lavenham this one for me was the best

It was just a couple of doors down from our cottage and we popped in for tea late one afternoon and were so welcomed even though it was winding down

Apologies all round  because the scones were all finished but there was the delicious aroma of the next batch baking in the oven

No problem though as Alan ordered an Almond slice which came with strawberries and cream and I ordered a Lemon cream sponge with strawberries

It was a fascinating place and it was hard to tell just what was for sale and what was 'part of the furniture!'

The kitchen was in view behind the curtain

and I was told I was free to wander through to the back

The owner telling some local boys that it was time to leave

I think one would say it was a place where a home, shop and tearoom meet, the margins being very blurred

Very relaxing and enjoyable

I did mention in an earlier post that there were many tearooms in this one village and even the wool shop and butchers combined a teashop and/or tea garden.

This one was right next door to our cottage, a book and card shop with a tea area at the back of the shop

and a small tea garden outside

Our cottage garden was on the other side of the wall on the left

Two more

and another situated in a kitchen gadget shop

Never come across so many (including the ones in previous posts) in such a small area in my life!

The Guildhall - Lavenham Part 6

Away from generally wandering around Lavenham and homing in on some places of interest, the first being The Guildhall.
Built about 1530, it is one of four guildhalls that once existed in Lavenham. The Guildhall and the two adjoining buildings together form a section of an  early Tudor street.  

The building is now owned by The National Trust and the tearoom at one end is a rare example of a Tudor shop, goods being traded through the two arched windows, and the Guildhall itself demonstrates the skill of the late mediaeval carpenters and wood carvers.

The primary objects of Lavenham gilds were religious - they were not trade associations. The gilds were dissolved at the Reformation. During Queen Mary's reign, in 1555, prisoners were housed in the building and from 1596 to the late 1600s it was the Town Hall, afterwards becoming a prison which closed in 1787. Later, it served as a workhouse, an almshouse and, in  the 19th century, a wool store.

Let's go inside

and first down  into the cellars

then to the top floor to see a little of life in the past

looking out onto the Market Place

then out into the garden at the back

here we see remnants of the prison

and here the mortuary with funeral cart

(still more to come)