Our coach outing took us to Kentwell Hall and gardens. Kentwell is privately owned and is affiliated to Historic Houses. The current owner boarded our coach and gave us a wonderful introduction to his home, enthusiastic about Kentwell and what improvements his family have made over the last 50 years, then we were free to explore as a private viewing of this Grade 1 listed Tudor Manor house together with the gardens which made for a very special day.
Kentwell has a rich history, mentioned in Domesday 1086, though scant knowledge is known of that period.
The house as we see it today is largely due to the 300 years of ownership by the Clopton family who through the successive generations gives us Kentwell Hall completed by 1578.
John Clopton 1446-1497 was a rich cloth merchant and largely responsible for the rebuilding of Long Melford Church which began in 1467 on the site of a previous church. This was our next stop, viewing this magnificent church with its medieval stained-glass windows, this late 15th century glass is said to be some of the finest in England and is very carefully being restored.
I think I speak for all who made the trip into the Suffolk countryside it was a very enjoyable day and the weather was kind to us which was a bonus.