A lovely Spring morning. Lazy start to the day with brunch at 10am and then decided to visit Sudbury which is about 50 miles away in Suffolk. The usual chauffeuse followed the navigators instructions quite successfully despite finishing up in an industrial estate en route Oops!! Found free parking in Sudbury which is unusual. Called into the Tourist Information Centre and picked up a map of the town. There was a market in the Market Square which added to the beauty of this lovely old town. Found Gainsborough's House and enjoyed a wander through this well maintained 16th building with many of Gainsborough's portraits and landscapes adorning the walls. Gainsborough lived here in the 18th century before moving to Bath and subsequently London. One of the most remarkable paintings was of a boy and girl which had, at some time past, been cut in two so that it was represented by a separate portrait of the girl's face, while most of her lower body was still in the boy's portrait.
Walked through the market place where Carol set a record by not buying anything! Photo above is the Gainsborough statue. Had a very nice Pizza for lunch and walked down to the River Stour past the cricket ground where we watched the match in progress for some time.Ah!the sound of leather on the willow!
Melford Hall was close by and we were amused to find that it is the home of the Hyde Parker family. When I suggested to the guide that as they were Hyde Parkers' maybe they were originally vagrants from Hyde Park, he was not amused! A great naval family, they had a history of Admirals going back many years. The house was built in the 16th Century by William Cordell who was Master of the Rolls (obviously not THE CAR) to Queen Elizabeth 1st, and she was entertained there in 1578. It is not a very impressive building architecturally, but internally it was very welcoming and homely.
It's other claim to fame is the association with Beatrix Potter who was related to the Hyde Parkers and often visited. One room contains many of her sketches and watercolours of the house and estate. Another unusual exhibit was a velum survey map of the Estate commissioned in 1580. A charming garden completed the venue beautifully.
And so home to Langdon Hills and a quiet Sunday and another first. The weather was so nice that Len put on his shorts for the first time in ages - My God - those white legs!!!!
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