Lavenham Guildhall

Lavenham Guildhall, Suffolk

One of the most spectacular timber framed buildings of medieval England at the heart of village life

More about this place

Lavenham Guildhall Table of battery lanterns turned on with window behindL

Lavenham by lantern light 

November sees the return of our popular Lantern Walks; a chance to leave the throng behind and experience Lavenham in a different light. Strange, engaging and fascinating stories from the past await you on our tour by lantern light.

Lavenham visitor studying text

Priests, Policemen, Cloth, Magic, Soup and stories 

As the seasons change we’re delighted to present a fascinating series of four lecture lunches within the atmospheric setting of the Guildhall. Discover medieval tales of rags to riches and back again, Victorian stories of arson, lawlessness and policing and buildings protected by magic!

Image showing the display of the Taylor family clothing in the Community Room at Lavenham Guildhall

You may not know the name, but you’ll most definitely know the rhyme 

One of Lavenham’s more celebrated transient residents was Jane Taylor. Who was Jane Taylor you might ask? Well you probably won’t know her name, but you’ll most certainly have heard of the famous poem and nursery rhyme she wrote: Twinkle, twinkle little star. Come and see her life celebrated in a new exhibition at the Guildhall.

Lavenham Station on last day of service 10th April 1961

History and nature on the same track 

Amazingly there were trains running between Melford and Lavenham and beyond for more than one hundred years until its closure in the 1960s. The arrival of the railway brought great change to both communities, and was vital during the war years. Discover the rich legacy of steam and learn about the flora and fauna that have taken over the tracks. Click through to read more.

Upper storey and gable of Lavenham Guildhall, Suffolk

Discover true stories 

Lavenham Guildhall, is one of the finest timber-framed buildings in Britain and reflects the great wealth of Lavenham's early 16 century heyday.

St Peter and St Paul Church, Lavenham, Suffolk

Things to see and do 

You’ll make your visit to Lavenham even more memorable when you discover the characters and history of the place. Get the full rundown of all that you might enjoy while you’re here.

See Rammeses the mummified cat in the lavenham guildhall

500 years of history 

What have a mummified cat, a rare Elizabethan horseshoe cabinet, a mortuary and a christening dress from 1860 have in common? Well they’re all to be found at Lavenham Guildhall. Discover five centuries of history through the stories and exploits of the people who shaped the Guildhall. You’d be surprised at what you’ll discover.

Ranson's mock up studio at Lavenham Guildhall, Suffolk

A tailor whose real love was photography and conservation 

Step back through generations of black and white stills and film imagery at The Guildhall. Francis Lingard Ranson was instrumental in founding The Lavenham Preservation Society and his fascinating pictorial legacy echoes the Lavenham you see today.

Visitors on a group tour of the village with the Lavenham Guildhall, Suffolk

Walking stretches the mind 

Ready for a new discovery? Lavenham has had a turbulent five hundred years of history; this quintessential Suffolk gem has seen it all, from wealth and Hollywood glamour to extreme hardship and poverty.

Brown Argus butterflies in the wood, in Lavenham, Sufolk
Lavenham Guildhall front in market square in the sunshine
Lavenham Guildhall

Lavenham woodland walk, near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk 

Spot butterflies in Dyehouse Field, also known as the Woodland Project, and lots of bird species along the disused railway line as you follow this circular walk starting at the Guildhall.

Lavenham to Long Melford railway walk, near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk 

Walk amid wildflowers, birds and animals along the disused Great Eastern railway line between two medieval ‘wool’ villages, starting at the Guildhall and finishing at Melford Hall, Long Melford.

Lavenham 'Crooked Houses' walk, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk 

Children over six will love to spot the hidden characters and find the patterns on this easy one-mile walk around Lavenham. Collect your compass from the Guildhall before you start. A £10 deposit applies.

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Lavenham Guildhall

What's on 

Christmas Lights on outside Christmas tree Lavenham Guildhall Lavenham

Lavenham Christmas fair at the Guildhall 

Take a trip to Lavenham at the beginning of December and you'll discover the Market Square transformed into the annual Lavenham Christmas Fair, with the whole village coming together to welcome visitors from all over East Anglia and beyond.

Upcoming events

See all events

Boom & Bust in Medieval Lavenham

Tue 20 Nov 2018
10:45-12:30
Lavenham grew to be one of the richest towns in Tudor England and is one of the best preserved medieval villages. Learn about how it made its money and why it retains such a wealth of historic buildings.

Lavenham by Lantern Light

Wed 21 Nov 2018
18:30-20:00
See the medieval village of Lavenham in a whole new light on our Lantern Walk. The beautiful timber-framed buildings will come alive as you listen to the history of this hidden gem.

Spinning Demonstrations

Thu 22 Nov 2018
11:00-17:00
Visit Lavenham Guildhall on one of our spinning days and see our wonderful volunteers in action; demonstrating the traditional art of spinning wool into the yarn we see and recognise today.

Pageants, Priests and Purgatory - Lecture Lunch

Tue 27 Nov 2018
10:45-12:30
Join us for coffee and an informative illustrated talk by Jane Gosling; followed by lunch in our lovely beamed tea-room.

The Magical Protection of Buildings

Tue 04 Dec 2018
10:45-12:30
In our high-tech world, it’s hard to comprehend the fears and superstitions of the past . The belief that witches and demons were hell-bent on destroying buildings and crops made people resort to ever more bizarre ways to protect themselves.

Lavenham Christmas Fair

Fri 07 Dec 2018
17:30-20:30
At the beginning of December for three days only, the Market Square is completely transformed to create the annual Lavenham Christmas Fair; the whole village coming together to welcome visitors from all over East Anglia and beyond.
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Lavenham Guildhall

History

Old photo of Lavenham Guildhall with old woman

History of Lavenham Guildhall 

Discover how the town’s fortunes altered from its 16th-century glory days. Learn how the changes affected the upkeep of the timber-framed buildings, including the Guildhall, which has changed its uses many times over the years.

Wooden sign of bridewell conditions

Orphaned and in trouble at Lavenham 

Our project researchers were amongst a group of fantastic volunteers who have been delving into the Guildhall’s history. They’ve discovered many sad and evocative stories. One in particular was the connections between 12 year old Ann and the property.

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Lavenham Guildhall

Our work

Lavenham Guildhall front in market square in the sunshine

Conservation on a grand scale 

As part of our work at the Guildhall, we inspect the outside of the building as well as the collection inside. Everything is regularly looked at, inside and out by our building surveyors and conservators. We check for insect and pest damage, wood, brick and plaster deterioration and of course wear and tear in the exhibits themselves.

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Lavenham Guildhall

Eating and shopping

Tearoom at Lavenham Guildhall Suffolk

Eat in or take something away 

Treat yourself to a cuppa and a freshly baked cake in our Tudor tea-room or take home a souvenir from our shop which has a fine selection of gifts and cards. Or how about a locally grown plant?

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Lavenham Guildhall

Get involved

Volunteer Room Guides at the Guildhall Lavenham

Join our team 

Volunteers from all sorts of backgrounds help us look after our special places. Whatever you'd like to achieve whether it is a one-off or a longer term commitment for yourself, or with friends and family, we'd love you to be part of it.

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