As you continue northwards, you would be forgiven for
not realising you have crossed the border into Suffolk; the landscape gives nothing away and the countryside is very similar. Like its neighbour, Suffolk is a county of contrasts, ranging from seaside towns to the business centre of Ipswich and massive country manors to quaint village greens. It is, literally, a true taste of England, – home to small vineyards and micro breweries, farmers’ markets and artisan produce. It is what you picture in your mind when you think of old England. Lavenham, to the southwest of the
county, is a beautiful example of this olde world charm and one of the best and largest medieval villages in the country, with its magnifi cent Guildhall of Corpus Christi. Once a great centre for the wool trade, this village was one of the richest places in England, evidence of which can even be seen today in the timber-framed buildings that are still standing and line its streets. Wool and cloth played a huge part in the
prosperity of other towns and villages in this part of Suffolk, including Sudbury and Bury St Edmunds. Perhaps surprisingly, Sudbury also became a leading centre for silk weaving in the 18th century and is still home to several silk weavers today. Sudbury silk has been used in several Royal wedding dresses, including that of Diana, Princess of Wales. The Georgian splendour of Bury St Edmunds vies with its remaining medieval buildings, Norman tower, Regency
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Theatre, and cathedral (Suffolk’s only cathedral) to catch the eye of visitors, but in truth it’s the amalgamation of them all, along with the greenery of Abbey Gardens, housing what remains of the 11th-century abbey, and the friendly banter heard in the open-air markets, that gives this place its charm. Examples of architecture from all
periods of history abound across Suffolk and are a delight to discover, for the layman as well as the expert. Framlingham Castle, built between 1150 and 1210, may be no more than a shell, but wander along its wall walk and you are transported back to the past, to when Mary Tudor, who lived at the castle, learned she had become queen in 1553. Experience the Elizabethan splendour of Seckford Hall in Woodbridge (now a luxury hotel) and the eccentricity of Ickworth House and its rotunda, begun in the late 18th century. Visit the restored early 16th-century Kentwell Hall, or gaze at the ornate skyline of Melford Hall,
once home to the Hyde Parker family and often visited by their cousin, one Beatrix Potter. A visit to Newmarket is a must. This town is home to the
Sport of Kings and you won’t go more than a few minutes without seeing something to do with horses. There are around 5,000 Thoroughbreds based in Newmarket and its environs, almost 70 miles of gallops, more than 50 stud farms including The National Stud, two racecourses and
BRITAIN 13
Above: St Leonard's Church in Horringer. Left: Honey for sale at Barwells food shop in Abbeygate, Bury St Edmunds
PHOTOS: © VISITBRITAIN/JOANNA HENDERSON/LOOP IMAGES/CHRIS HERRING
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