Steeped in history, explore market towns surrounded by open countryside, famous for inspiring artists like John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. The heart of Suffolk has fascinating museums and important and unique listed buildings. Marvel at the grandeur and craftsmanship of the country houses, relax in their gardens, and soak up their history.
Crow’s Hall is a brick-built, moated, medieval manor house. Unlike many other country estates, it has never been formally designed and is an unusual survival of a small, early country house landscape.
The layout and planting of Crow’s Hall island gardens are the work of award-winning, Suffolk garden designer, Xa Tollemache.
The grounds include the main moat and two further moats, and their owner-led house and garden tours are a unique opportunity to discover more.
At Helmingham Hall and Gardens near Stowmarket, you can see for yourself the splendour of the magnificent house and landscaping. The estate is testament to its 500 years history and evolution at the hands of the many generations of the Tollemarche family who continue to make it their home.
Perhaps not surprisingly, its incredible history includes painter, John Constable, who’s brother was steward of the Tollemache woodlands. Constable lived for some time at Helmingham Rectory and painted a number of versions of A Dell in Helmingham Park. The oak tree it features with its singular curved trunk, still stands today.
Kentwell Hall near Sudbury, is one of the finest moated Tudor houses in England. Set in over 25 acres of gardens and parkland, it has numerous historic buildings. Explore its chequered history and rescue in 1971 by the Phillips family, who embarked on a labour of love to bring it back to life. Experience for yourself their unique living history re-creations, inviting visitors to fully immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells of the past.
Explore the 300 year history of Melford Hall, near Sudbury, from the days when it was home to Benedictine Monks. Discover the royal connections and its journey to become the family residence it remains today. Learn about the stories of their famous cousin Beatrix Potter and the inspiration for some of her best loved characters.
The Food Museum, based in Stowmarket, is the UK’s only museum dedicated to food. It connects visitors with where food comes from and the impact of our choices: past, present, and future. Cooking demonstrations, exhibitions, events and festivals all feature here. Discover their a year-round programme based on the heritage of food and the communities who produce it.
Over 160,000 boys passed through the gates of Royal Navy Training Establishment. HMS Ganges in Shotley Gate is a museum dedicated to their experience. Entirely volunteer run, the many former Ganges boys providing support are full of stories and anecdotes. The museum gives you a unique opportunity to learn about their experience.
The museum’s collection includes early twentieth century shop interiors together with window displays, artefacts, costumes; information on domesticity, farming and rural life in Suffolk and local ‘field finds’, including fossils. One unusual display not to miss is a complete Victorian privy.
Little Hall Museum is in the historic wool town of Lavenham and the former home of twins Robert and Thomas Gayer-Anderson. They were prolific collectors of historical artefacts from around the world. The building is a 14th-century hall house and one of the oldest in the area, well worth a visit to explore their intriguing story and eclectic restoration.
Long Melford Heritage Trust is a small and inspiring local charity run by volunteers. Since opening in 2012 the centre has had a deep impact on the local community.
The museums mission is to explore over 2000 years of Long Melford’s history and heritage.
For something a little different, visit The Mid Suffolk Light Railway and discover some of the fascinating stories from its Victorian origins through to its Edwardian heyday. Its ongoing revival as a museum helps to protect the unique part of our English railway history. Visit on a steam day to experience travel from generations past and stay for a drink in their railway carriage bar or café.
Add a walk to your visit… https://www.discoversuffolk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Wetheringsett-cum-Brockford-1.pdf
Sir Alfred Munnings was born in the heart of Suffolk and became known as one of England’s finest painters of horses, as well as a vociferous critic of modernism. His former home in Dedham Castle house and gardens, is the place to explore the life and work of this prolific East Anglian artist in the building he called ‘the house of my dreams’.
The Red Feather Club is a museum operated by the 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association in faithfully restored buildings on one of the communal sites of the 95th. The only Eighth Air Force Bomb Group to receive the Distinguished Unit Citation three times, it commemorates the vital contribution they made to the war effort.
The 95th flew 334 missions between May 1943 and May 1945 and was the first American Bomb Group to perform a daylight raid on Berlin. They claimed 425 enemy aircraft destroyed, the highest number by any USAAF Bomb Group in WW2.
The Guildhall in Lavenham is a spectacular timber framed, medieval building in the heart of one of England’s oldest villages. Rubbing shoulders with many other medieval buildings it reflects its wealthy, wool trading history. Its past functions have embraced workhouse, prison and social club, and it now stands as a local history museum open to visitors.
This museum in Wattisham houses an extensive photographic record, models, artefacts and memorabilia depicting the history and squadrons based at the station from 1937 to the present day. Planes on display include Meteor WD686, Hunter XG194 and the Phantom XT914.
On the upper floor of an early 16th century cottage is Suffolk’s smallest museum with temporary exhibitions alongside two permanent displays. The first shows the famous Woolpit Brickmaking Works presented as a 3D model of the site as it was in its later days, with a collection of bricks, tiles, photos and various tools used in the trade. The second display is a reconstruction of a Victorian kitchen with artefacts, which might have been used in everyday life up to the 1920s.
