Lavenham Guildhall

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Events 2009

To book any of the events below telephone for a booking form 0844 556 9296

Discover Medieval Lavenham

A Blue-badge guided walk around the historic centre of this unique medieval village. Join us for coffee & shortbread in our pretty Tearoom, where the Guildhall Manager will give a short talk about the building before you set off to discover the hidden gems of Lavenham. Your guide will leave you at the church of St Peter & St Paul, one of the finest parish churches in England, where you will be greeted by one of their ‘Welcomers’ for an introduction to this splendid building. The tour lasts around two hours.

Walks will take place on the following dates at 10.30am. £7 per person. Booking essential

Thursday 16 April
Monday 18 May
Wednesday 17 June
Friday 17 July
Tuesday 18 August
Friday 18 September

Cloth-making Exhibition Days
Lavenham was once one of the wealthiest towns in medieval England, thanks to a thriving industry in cloth production. Join the Lavenham Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers as they reveal the secrets of these ancient crafts.

Saturday 4 April – 11am-4pm - From Fleece to Yarn.
Taking a new fleece, the Guild will show us the various processes involved in turning it into something to wear.

Saturday 20 June – 11am-4pm - Colour
Since time immemorial, plants have been used to produce colour. The Guild will reveal the secrets of dyeing, using natural (and some surprising!) mediums, re-creating the famous Lavenham Blue.

Saturday 19 September – 11am-4pm - Weaving Day
Do you know your warp from your weft? The Guild demonstrate various looms, including peg looms, inkle looms and traditional hand looms. Why not have a go yourself?

Normal entry costs apply, no booking required.

An Evening with the National Trust
Join us for the third series of talks at the Guildhall, where an experienced speaker will talk about the properties, gardens and role of the National Trust, followed by refreshments and home-made cakes.

Wednesday 13 May – Oxburgh Hall
In its tranquil moated setting Oxburgh, with its impressive Gatehouse, epitomises the romance of English medievalism. In surprising contrast the interior is mostly in Victorian style. Outside, the grounds contain a chapel, a colourful parterre and an orchard with old varieties of fruit trees.

Wednesday 10 June – Gardens of the National Trust
An illustrated talk on the acquisition, restoration and conservation of some of the most beautiful and important gardens in the country.

Wednesday 8 July – Felbrigg Hall
Originally an early 17th century house, Felbrigg’s charm owes much to its variety of architectural styles as well as its beautifully restored walled garden and magnificent woods.

Wednesday 12 August – Putting the house to bed
At the end of the open season National Trust properties are a hive of activity. This talk goes behind the closed doors to reveal the secrets of National Trust housekeeping.

Talks start at 7.30pm. £5 per person, booking essential


Discovery Days
Friday 24 July, 11am–4pm – Tudor Times
Journey back in time to discover how the Tudors lived in Lavenham. Decide whether you would have liked to be a poor peasant or a rich merchant!

Thursday 20 August, 11am–4pm – Wartime Lavenham
Explore life as an evacuee from London in Lavenham. Make your own name tag and ration book – and don’t forget to bring your teddy! What would you pack in your suitcase?

Normal entry costs + £2 per child, no booking required.

Lecture Lunches
Join us at the Guildhall for an informative talk followed by lunch in our lovely beamed Tearoom. Price includes refreshments, home-made soup and hot pudding and entry to the museum.

Wednesday 4 November – ‘Boom and Bust in Medieval Lavenham’
Lavenham is one of the best preserved medieval villages in England. This illustrated talk by Jane Gosling, the Guildhall’s manager, will look at how it came to be one of the wealthiest towns in Tudor England, leaving behind a unique legacy of buildings.

Wednesday 2 December - ‘Pageants, Priests and Purgatory’
When people think of Guilds, they usually associate them with a trade or craft. Yet most guilds in medieval England were far more concerned with their members’ souls than their livelihoods. Jane Gosling will explain their origins and purpose, and talk about the fine halls they built using our own wonderful example to illustrate her points.

Talks start at 10.45am. Price £12.50 per person. Booking essential.