Haughley Park House

We went to an event held at Haughley Park, near Stowmarket, called Weird and Wonderful Wood. It included demonstrations and displays on anything and everything to do with wood which was all extremely interesting but I thought the piece de resistance was Haughley Park House.
A privately owned Grade 1 listed Jacobean manor house, built in 1620 by Sir John Solyard whose family had been granted the land by Mary Tudor, sister of King Henry VIII. For around two centuries it remained in the same family, the centre of a 2500 acre agricultural farm, mostly tenanted.
In 1924 it was owned by a retired tea planter and animal lover. On his death it was left to London Zoo for use as a safari park, however it was turned down as unsuitable!! 1956 saw the near demolition of the house, until Alfred Williams MBE bought the site for his poultry processing business, namely John Rannoch Ltd. The house to be used as offices and his private residence. After Alfred's death his son Robert Williams moved in with his family. The John Rannoch business was sold in 2002 but the Williams family retain ownership of the land and buildings.
A barn built in 1600 is licenced for civil ceremonies and the gardens and park are open to the public on special days.