The Old Monkey - Sleeps 2
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About the cottage
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Star Rating 
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Details
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Checklist
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Open Christmas / New Year | |
Central heating | |
17" Television |  |
Telephone |
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Garden-Secure | |
Barbeque | |
DVD player | |
Cooker and hob |
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Off road parking | |
1 bathroom | |
CD player | |
Washing machine |
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Secure storage for bikes | |
Shower | |
Bed linen provided | |
Clothes dryer |
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Bikes provided | |
Microwave | |
Towels provided | |
Clothes airer / washing line |
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Ground floor bedroom | |
Fridge | |
Breakfast basket provided | ||
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Ground floor bathrooom | |
Freezer / compartment | |
Basics of tea, coffee, sugar provided | ||
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Open fire | |
Iron and Board | |
Internet Access * |
The Old Monkey Sleeps a couple and accepts Pets
A little 'Bolt-Hole' to enjoy Suffolk from: I think this lovely place will really appeal to a lot of my guests, especially those desperate for a couple of days away from the city who want who always ask how far the nearest pub, restaurant, shop, walk, cycle route is - because this place really ticks all those boxes.
The Old Monkey is a tiny but a very cosy and romantic place to stay. It has every modern convenience but still retains masses of original charm and character.
It is situated on the edge of the ancient Suffolk Market Town of Hadleigh, which has a market every Friday and is full of lovely ‘original shops’, the only clone being the convenient Co-Op supermarket, all the buildings in the high Street are beautifully preserved and there are some outstanding examples of early architecture.
There are lovely walks straight into the countryside from The Old Monkey and The South Suffolk Cycle route is just 200 yards away behind the house up the old disused Railway track.
Flatford Mill, where Constable painted ‘The Haywain’ is just a short drive down the road and is somewhere we all love to go to.
The main room has a cosy open log fire and a big comfy sofa to relax into, there is a lovely old table to enjoy evening meals in front of the fire.
The stairs winding up into the bedroom give away the age of the building and people with mobility problems should not book this cottage - for the able bodied it is just another bit of the lovely character of The Old Monkey.
The bedroom has a high arched ceiling displaying all the beautiful ancient beams.
The contemporary Kitchen makes the preparation of meals very easy and is complete with microwave, washing machine, electric hob and oven.
There is a modern small power shower bathroom and central heating is throughout all the rooms.
All prices include vat, towels, soap, linen, heating, a 'Proper English Breakfast' welcome pack and a supply of breakfast basics like real coffee and tea etc.
The cottage is a complete little home and facilities include modern heating, TV, DVD player, books, games and a fully equipped kitchen including electric hob and oven and a microwave.
A travel cot is provided for babies (please bring your own bedding)
Well behaved pets are always welcome, please refer to this web page All About Bringing Pets for charges and how this cottage may suit your pet.
* Internet Access is gained from The George pub (ask behind bar for access) where you can enjoy breakfast etc and it is only a 10 minute amble away or the library which is slightly closer.
Photo taken in Snow Cottage
We can now offer you the hedonistic enjoyment of a really While you are staying with us why not have a special Graeme Cavey is a local naturlist who would be very
lovely massage in this cottage, please click this link for treat and go Sailing for the day. happy to include you on his nature walks.
more information. Click for Massage info Click for days out sailing Click for Guided Nature Walks
The guest accommodation occupies the part of the old house that you can see in the image below , where there is a nice courtyard to park in and a tiny private garden to enjoy.
The front of the The Old Monkey with the courtyard for guests to park in.
The view out of Town with the beams of The Old Monkey on the left - where the trees are in the distance, is where the town finishes.
The whole house with the Old Monkey entrance on the right 
The Old Monkey on the right as you look into Town 
Please check out my local information guide on the 'What To Do' web pages above left.
There is also a lot of useful information on Hadleigh on their home website at http://www.hadleigh.org.uk
This is a very cosy place, ideal for a short break to recharge your batteries and enjoy Suffolk's Hidden treasures.
Please contact me with any further questions or booking enquiries.
About Local Area
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About Suffolk
In Charles Dickens's days, boys living in Scotland and here in East Anglia would be allowed to leave boarding school a day early because it took so long to get back home to those places.
Even though we are just 60 miles from London, this area was always very inaccessible and remained so until very recent times.
Now the local mainline train journey to London is a mere 45 minutes and a car journey takes about an hour and a half.
But still Suffolk has retained an unusually strong independent rural atmosphere and one of the great joys of the area are the beautiful little hamlets that even locals get lost getting to though the meandering 'spiders web' of tiny lanes and byroads. Many of these villages are wonderfully preserved in their medieval origins, our local village of Lavenham being a fantastic example.
The area is very rich in History from the Saxon treasure of Sutton Hoo and the rebel Queen Boadicea who defeated the Romans, right up to the many expeditions of Settlers leaving for America - in fact the First Governor of Massachusetts came from this tiny hamlet of Edwardstone when I am based at The Old Grove Farm.
The landscape and the Architectural beauty of the area has long inspired Artists to work and move here. The greatest English landscape painter John Constable painted all his famous masterpieces along the Stour which is just 5 miles from The Grove Cottages. His work undoubtedly created this landscape as the quintessential English Landscape, which is one reason why visitors to the area feel so at home.
Flatford Mill where many of Constables most well known works of art such as 'The Haywain' were painted is now a National Trust area devoted to this artist and preserving his memory and the area he made so famous.
The Great Portrait painter Thomas Gainsborough lived in Sudbury which is the closest town to us and it is a real pleasure to visit his home which is now a very interesting museum and exciting showplace for local artists and events, it also has a wonderful print making workshop where courses on all kinds of printmaking are constantly held and very much sought after.
The great artist Sir Alfred Munnings, famous for his portraits of Rural Suffolk Life lived and had his studio close to the river Stour at Dedham and these are now an interesting museum devoted to him and his works of art.
For more information, please visit: my 'What to Do' Web Pages where I have an extensive insiders guide to South Suffolk
Above are a few photos I took around the area of Lavenham, Long Melford and Polsted - The seaside is at Aldeburgh which is a totally unspoilt seaside village, famous for its Arts events and good food - it is about 50 minutes from Lavenham.
Below is a recent article about the Suffolk Coast
Joanna Symons, Telegraph Travel Newspaper January 2nd 2010.
'Popular though the Lake District and West Country are as tourist destinations, they can be rather damp. If you want to reduce the risk of a rainy holiday, statistics show that you should head east.
Suffolk for instance, had only about a third as much rainfall as the Lake District last summer. It also happens to have one of the loveliest stretches of coastline in Britain.
The Met office regional statistics per annum.
The Lake District Suffolk
Rain fall 2300 - 3900mm 600 - 660 mm
What did the guests say:
Wonderful stay in the heart of a beautiful slice of old England !
Friday, 9th of April, 2010, Nick and Paula:
A very comfortable stay at this lovely little cottage. Full of character.
Friday, 9th of April, 2010, Philip and Hilary:
A great find !
Sunday, 4th of April, 2010, Em and Andy:
The website doesn't do this lovely little cottage justice. It's even more beautiful in reality.
Sunday, 28th of March, 2010, Rebecca:
A lovely cosy cottage - perfect for exploring Constable Country.
Monday, 15th of March, 2010, Tony and Sylvia:
Well equipped cottage. Friendly people. Pretty and interesting area - lots to see. Lovely walks nearly, especially railway walk.
Friday, 26th of February, 2010, Tracy:
We stayed at The Old Monkey on a cold wet weekend in February. The cottage was wonderful - romantic with the log fire and very cosy. Hadleigh (a short walk away) has some lovely local shops. Do come.
Friday, 19th of February, 2010, Richard and Hannah:
A cosy and homely cottage that more than made up for the cold, February weather.
Friday, 12th of February, 2010, Sharon and Ian:
Beautiful cottage, beautiful surroundings, Hadleigh is a must see! The perfect setting for our first valentines together. Excellent hosts. Will definately be using Grove Cottages again. Big Thankyou!
Friday, 5th of February, 2010, Pete and Emily:
Lovely cottage full of character and a great base to explore Suffolk from. Warm welcome received on arrival.
Friday, 29th of January, 2010, Helen and Philip:
Welcoming fire, cosy and comfortable atmosphere - instantly felt right at home!
Monday, 18th of January, 2010, Emma and Paul:
Lovely character cottage.
Friday, 20th of November, 2009, Paul and Michelle:
A lovely romantic cosy cottage, perfect for a romantic weekend away.
Monday, 9th of November, 2009, Louisa:
A lovely cosy cottage and a great break away from it all.
Friday, 6th of November, 2009, Rachel:
Enjoyable small break in a small cottage with lots of character and charm.
Monday, 26th of October, 2009, Sarah:
What a wonderful cottage in a lovely location ! Very relaxing.
Saturday, 19th of September, 2009, Lisa:
We had a wonderful stay - a really sweet little cottage that was perfect for a weekend away - I'm only sorry we didn't have longer !
Friday, 18th of September, 2009, Tim:
The Old Monkey is compact and quirky. Nice and central to all the attractions. The George Pub has to be the most friendliest pub I have ever been in!
Monday, 14th of September, 2009, Anthony:
Lovely cottage, beautiful surrounding countryside.
Sunday, 6th of September, 2009, Martin:
Hadleigh is an undiscovered gem of a place and The Old Monkey is the ideal spot from which to enjoy the town and its villages.
Friday, 10th of July, 2009, Esther:
Gabriels is a lovely cottage with lots of space and all the goods you need for a super stay!
Saturday, 27th of June, 2009, Michele and Richard:
A warm welcome and a lovely little garden! The Anchor at Nayland was really excellent, as described on your website.
Sunday, 21st of June, 2009, Fran and Rich:
We have had a lovely week at the Old Monkey. The cottage is cosy and characterful and a great base to explore the country. Everything is on your doorstep!
Friday, 5th of June, 2009, Annika and Morgan:
Lovely cottage with everything you might need - including garden and parking!
Sunday, 24th of May, 2009, Malcolm and Patricia:
The Old Monkey is well situated and very quiet - an ideal location for exploring and walking.
Sunday, 19th of April, 2009, Emma:
Fantastic cottage, ideally placed for exploring south Suffolk - the cottage was clean, warm and had a real sense of country luxury. We loved our week there!
Tuesday, 14th of April, 2009, Chris:
We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the cottage. We had a lovely warm welcome from Catherine. The breakfast basket was superb. The lit open fire on arrival was delightful.
Tuesday, 14th of April, 2009, Victoria and Kevin:
A welcome change from normal life. Have loved relaxing on the comfy sofa in front of the roaring fire.
Friday, 30th of January, 2009, Catherine:
Home from home - a relaxing week in ancient surroundings.
Friday, 16th of January, 2009, Louise:
The Old Monkey has bags of character and just what we wanted! The local information was invaluable and we loved our day out to Dunwich.
Friday, 9th of January, 2009, Jane:
Fantastic cottage - really cosy and functional - welcome retreat from the city - lovely hosts.
Monday, 8th of December, 2008, Amy:
Cosy & Quaint - just what we needed to escape the city!
Sunday, 23rd of November, 2008, Mike & Kate:
A relaxing break in this fantastic time machine. A winning formula!
Friday, 7th of November, 2008, Kirsty & Andy:
We have had a very relaxing stay at The Old Monkey; our requirements were simple - get away from home, relax, unwind, log fires, walks to pubs, lovely countryside, warm welcome. It ticked all those boxes. Thank you very much.
Monday, 3rd of November, 2008, Fiona:
We went for a long lovely, but cold and wet walk and it was great to come back to such a cosy cottage, with a lovely open fire. Thanks for a much needed break!
Friday, 10th of October, 2008, Helen:
The cottage is magical, full of charm and character. I received a very warm welcome. Lots of useful information in the cottage. 2 days of peace and tranquillity in beautiful surroundings. 10 out of 10.
Sunday, 5th of October, 2008, Mandie:
Wonderful, quaint cottage. Very cosy and comfortable with everything you could need. Location is great with quiet surroundings. Great log fire! 10/10 Met all our expectations - our first time away was a wonderful experience. Thank You!!
Friday, 5th of September, 2008, Mr & Mrs Markham:
The most delightful cottage and town with such a warm feeling of character. The whole Grove Cottages experience has been excellent and we will certainly use them again for a repeat visit to Suffolk. A*, 10/10
Thursday, 28th of August, 2008, Daisy & Adrian:
Just what we needed, exactly what we were after, The Old Monkey is great ! We shall definitely be booking a grove cottage again !
Thursday, 5th of June, 2008, Julie & Trevor:
The Old Monkey is absolutely SPLENDID!!
Wednesday, 4th of June, 2008, Steve & Chris:
Friendly people, lovely countryside and excellent pubs with great food. A character cottage to stay in. We would come back here, that's a fact!!
Monday, 7th of April, 2008, Verity & Dennis:
Lovely cottage, beautifully kept & well presented. Very pleasant to arrive to a lit fire - thanks! Thoroughly enjoyable stay with bright sunshine - and snow!
Friday, 15th of February, 2008, Allen & Andrew:
We have had a lovely time. The Old Monkey was perfect for us and we loved Hadleigh. The lit fire, Miles Davis playing & some fresh local supplies were a very much welcomed surprise. Very special. Thank you.
Friday, 25th of January, 2008, Elaine:
Fantastic cottage, great for a romantic break and great location. Could not ask for more. Thank you!
Friday, 25th of January, 2008, Jo:
The Old Monkey is a quiet,cosy retreat for 2. Great for a autumn/winter break. Hadleigh has some lovely buildings and great walks with plenty of pubs.
The Grove Cottages holiday cottages have many unique original features like 18th Century Bake ovens and working kitchen ranges, traditional Suffolk Brick floors, wattle and daub walls, 16th Century thatched roofs, massive Inglenook fireplaces, log fires, millstones and exposed beams galore and they are all lovingly restored and period furnished so that they are a joy just to be in.
The Grove Cottages holiday homes are situated in South Suffolk / East Anglia which is less than 2 hours from London or an hour from Cambridge and where the famous English Landscape painter John Constable was born and created such masterpieces as 'The Haywain'.
The Grove Cottages are available all year for weekend and midweek short breaks as well as weekly holidays and the accommodation sleeps from 2 to 6.
We are 4 star rated and provide bikes for our guests to explore the beautiful English countryside.
Please look through our site and you will find out why our guests love it so much here.
Thank you and Happy Hols !
Mark
Company Address: The Grove, Priory Green, Edwardstone, Suffolk, CO10 5PP; tel: 01787 211115; email: info@grove-cottages.co.uk.
'The Grove Cottages' is a registered Trade Mark; © 2009 The Grove Cottages
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