Formerly a market town, Long Melford is a Parish delightfully
situated on a tributary of the river Stour, there was a settlement
here in Roman times, being as it was situated on the junction of a
major Roman Road network, excavations over many years have revealed
several Roman graves and many items of interest.
In Medieval times Long Melford flourished as a centre of the cloth
weaving industry, the beautiful Church of the Holy Trinity being
rebuilt between 1467 - 1497 with money from wealthy families,
notably the Martyns of Melford Place, and the Cloptons of Kentwell
Hall. The church contains many monuments to the Martyn,
Clopton, Cordell and other wealthy families formerly seated
here.
Long Melford has two Mansion Houses, Melford Hall situated on the
Green is the ancestral home of the Hyde-Parker family, whose family
Baronetcy was created in 1681, Admiral Sir Hyde Parker commanded
the Fleet at the battle of Copenhagen in 1801, Vice Admiral Horatio
Nelson was his second in command. Kentwell Hall (Kantawalla in the
Doomsday book) a beautiful Tudor mansion is approached by an avenue
of Lime trees nearly a mile long, both mansions are open to the
public.
The Green covering an area of approx 14 acres was in former days
used for grazing animals, has on it a small red brick building that
houses the conduit or spring that from time immemorial has supplied
Melford Hall with water. At the top of the Green is a large red
brick building in the Tudor style this is the Old Hospital which
was founded by Sir William Cordell in 1578 to house the poor men of
the Parish, and at the bottom of the Green is another red brick
building which is the old school erected in 1861 and now used for a
wide variety of social events.
Today Long Melford famous for having the longest village street in
England offers visitors a wide range of things to see and do,
whether you are interested in historic buildings, antiques,
life-style shopping, good food or the latest fashions. There are
several fine hotels, a number of excellent restaurants and shops
that are the envy of East Anglia.
For more information about Long Melford visit:
www.longmelford.co.uk
Many thanks to John Nunn of Long Melford who
sent in this feature (Photos courtesy of Mr Barry Samuels -
www.beenthere-donethat.org.uk/suffolk.html)
If you would like your village featured on Village of the Month
then email
kerry.burn@onesuffolk.co.uk.
