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Discover: Hadleigh

Hadleigh is one of Suffolk Famous Wool towns bringing riches and a wonderful Architectural History at its zenith in the Medieval Period. Today there are over 250 important historic buildings in Hadleigh.

Hadleigh Town

As you stroll along the High Street a glance up to the first floor level will often show you some beautiful pargeting: decorative plaster work on the front of buildings. The Church which was immortalised by Thomas Gainsborough in his painting ‘Hadleigh Church’ is next door to a beautiful Deanery Tower which is open to the public on Heritage Open days and a fabulous 15th Century Guildhall.

4.5 mile circular walk around Hadleigh takes in both the pretty railway walk and the lovely Riverside walk.

The High Street is especially satisfying as it does not contain cloned shops but independent traders and boutiques.

Food and Drink

You will find real butcher and delicatessens, bakers, a show piece off licence run by Adnams the Southwold Brewers a big cycle centre, various restaurants and Gastro Pubs and numerous interesting small shops.

The Hadleigh Show

The oldest Country Show in East Anglia comes round every May: The Hadleigh Show, it has been going for 175 years and is still a sell out with its displays and exhibitions of local crafts and produce which showcase the best Suffolk has to offer.Arts & Crafts

In the Art World Hadleigh has some interesting Connections not only to John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough but Lucian Freud and Maggi Hambling both attended the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing on the outskirts of the town before it closed in 1960’s.

 

Nearby Hadleigh

Within a few minutes driving from Hadleigh you have the beautiful Medieval Hamlet of Kersey and a little further Lavenham which is England’s best preserved Medieval village, and easy drive away is Flatford Mill home of John Constable and where he painted The Haywain, Long Melford home to the Lovejoys series and a haven for Antique hunters with 2 beautiful Stately homes: Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall. The port of Ipswich is only 20 minutes down the road and connects you straight into London by train in 60 minutes.