Close, But No Haywain!

After a lazy breakfast, we visited Lavenham in Suffolk this morning. Apart from being a very picturesque Tudor village full of timber-framed houses, which tilt at all angles, it also boasts a fine early 16th Century Guildhall (see extra).

We remembered that it also was home to a very illustrious Spring family (Tess’s maiden name) who were Tudor cloth merchants and the equivalent of multi-millionaires in their day. We recalled Tess’s parents attending a convention there of people sharing the surname many years ago and returning with a copy of the family coat of arms, though we have no idea if they were actually descended from this particular branch of Springs.

Still it was interesting to read about the history of the village and the family’s role in it and to see the family to do and stained glass window with the coat of arms in the very grand local church (both also in extras) which was built by the Springs and other wealthy families.

After lunch in the pub opposite the church  we drove to Flatford and it’s mill, from in front of which Constable painted his famous painting The Haywain. The main blip was taken from the exact spot, though there was no sign of cart or carter!

From here we walked along the river to Dedham and back, stopping for cake and refreshments before heading back to Wivenhoe.