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Thanks to a flourishing trade in wool in the 14th and 15th centuries, the ancient town of Lavenham in Suffolk, was once the fourteenth wealthiest town in England, despite its diminutive size.<\/p>\n
With its immaculate timber-framed buildings and beautiful church, it is now regarded as \u2018England\u2019s finest medieval town\u2019.<\/p>\n
The wool church built in the 1520\u2019s has the tallest church tower in England. Most of the buildings date from the 15th century and have remained untouched and the town is largely intact as it was back then.<\/p>\n
The crowning glory on the market place is the timber-framed Guildhall, looked after by the National Trust.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> The beautiful, unique little British seaside town…with no sea in sight<\/strong><\/p>\n Built by the Guild of Corpus Christi in 1530, a religious group of local merchants, it was one of three that were founded to regulate the wool trade. You can learn about the town\u2019s local history and the wool industry in the museum inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Guildhall has had a chequered history since. It was home to the Lavenham Council in the 17th century, before being turned into a prison, wool store and local workhouse.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 1911 it was restored and was used as a home for evacuees during WW2 and in 1951, it was passed to the National Trust.<\/p>\n This adorable picture-postcard town is one of the best preserved in the area and home to over 300 timbered buildings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n The rich terracotta-coloured Little Hall is a fine example of a medieval wool merchant\u2019s house.<\/p>\n Some buildings dramatically lean, with quickly angled gables and sagging red-tiled roofs. In Church Street, many of the houses are leaning several feet from the vertical and family emblems are proudly embossed on the halls, houses and cottages.<\/p>\n Thanks to the town\u2019s unique character, it featured as Godric\u2019s Hollow in the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.<\/p>\n Standing in the High Street, The Swan Hotel and Spa is an excellent example of the period\u2019s architecture. The fifteenth-century hotel was once a coaching inn, with stabling for around 50 horses.<\/p>\n It was \u2018saved\u2019 from its dilapidated state in the early 20th century and is now the premier place to stay in town. Don\u2019t rush your Lavenham visit – it\u2019s definitely somewhere to savour slowly by exploring some of the many independently owned boutiques, craft shops and galleries – not to mention the historic architecture.\u00a0<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/25\/590x\/secondary\/Lavenham-house-4965338.jpg?r=1695059077215\")
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