Historic Lavenham
Suffolk's best preserved historic town
A great place to dine and enjoy a traditional and friendly pub atmosphere.
We are also the premiere cycle hire facility in the area.
You can now enjoy tranditional Real Ales and genuine home cooked food within these walls.
The Road to Enlightenment
The Greyhound is a traditional English pub set in the heart of Lavenham, England's best-preserved Mediaeval village, in mid Suffolk. When first built around 1324, it was of single storey construction with a Great Hall in which was an open fire, with a dining table and bench seating. From the Great Hall a door opened onto the Master Bedroom in which the family slept.
The upper stories are thought to have been added in the mid 14th Century. This we can assume was carried out by somebody of considerable standing as the exposed ceiling beams are close together, a means of showing off wealth.
Lavenham was very much a working town with most of its considerable income derived from the wool and weaving industry. It was reputed to be the seventh richest town in England and the fourteenth richest in Europe. Much of the wealth is evidenced by the extremely large church paid for by the rich wool merchants.
Lavenham
Lavenham is England's best preserved medieval town, built on the proceeds of the wool trade in the 15th to 17th centuries. The wealth of beautiful timber-framed buildings and perfectly preserved streets is breathtaking.
Below are a selection of photos of the village and its facilities. For more information see www.lavenham.co.uk and www.visit-suffolk.org.uk, which has a page for Lavenham as well as giving pointers for other attractions in the county.
If you are looking for bed-and-breakfast accommodation we recommend No 27: www.lavenham-bb.co.uk.
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The Guildhall of Corpus Christi at Lavenham is a
Tudor building in the heart of a remarkably preserved small medieval town.
During the boom years of the cloth trade in the 15th
and 16th centuries, the residents of Lavenham paid even more in
tax than the city of York. The village today is famed for its wealth of surviving timber-framed
buildings, which make it one of the best-preserved medieval villages in England. One of the finest
of these buildings is the Guildhall of Corpus Christi.
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The Church of St Peter and St Paul sitting in pride of place and overlooking the entire town. Reputed to
present the tallest church tower in the whole of Suffolk.
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The
Swan Hotel is a
wonderful place in which to celebrate a variety of special occasions, including romantic weddings,
christenings and family get-togethers.
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Just one of the wonderful houses on Lady Street. A typical example of the
well preserved architecture within the town.
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Curiosity Corner and Memsaab Restaurant, just two of the diverse establishments
that are dotted around the town.
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Market Square, west side.
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Shops on High Street.
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Munnings Tearooms.
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The Great House (French restaurant).
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Prentice Street.
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Water Street.
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Tourist Office and houses on Lady Street.
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Kentwell Hall, Long Melford.