Medieval timbered houses. Lavenham in Suffolk. I remember visiting this town on a cold day, funnily enough there are no photos of the church of St.Peter and Paul, but we definitely went in because I remember someone cleaning up the bat mess on the floor. Bats are of course privileged creatures and not allowed to be exterminated, even if they do mess up our churches. As a matter of interest Lavenham was one of the richest towns in Medieval times because of the wool trade. One of my interests is the construction of old houses and the diversity you experience round the countryside. Wood, plaster, stone and brick gives ample opportunity for originality. The lopsided appearance of timber built houses has an extra appeal as they always look as if they are falling down.
You will notice that the buildings have an overhang, this is called a 'jetty' and there are several architectural reasons for this, but my favourite is that when the contents of the 'piss pots' were thrown out of the top windows you could protect yourself by walking next to the house.
The inn is called the Swan, many pubs are, and it must be to do with the fact that a swan was eaten during medieval times by Henry viii. I always remember in the television adaption of 'Wolf Hall' written by Hilary Mantel, that king Henry killed one of two birds on the lake and ate it, it was perhaps symbolic of his ability to divorce his wives, for as everyone knows swans mate for life. Luckily swans live under royal protection and now no one can kill them.
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| The Swan Inn |
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| Who cannot love a fierce dragon |
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| I find this beautiful silver grey wood beguiling, but wonder if the wood has been bleached? |
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| Herringbone brick inserted. At a later stage? |
You don't see one for years, then 10 come along all at once.
ReplyDeleteI take it you are talking about swans and not wives? They can be quite aggressive swans, especially to dogs.
ReplyDeleteI love Lavenham - it is not so long since my last visit when the farmer and I spent a week in Aldeburgh. In fact I love Suffolk churches altogether but now I get them all mixed up I am afraid. I don't expect I shall go again. Hope you are surviving.
ReplyDeleteNorfolk and Suffolk in their flat landscapes are so different to the rest of England, much quieter and few towns.
DeleteWhat lovely buildings! I have never been to Lavenham, we don't have many buildings like that where I live. I do love the quirky angles you get on old buildings and the rooms inside never have a straight wall or a right angle anywhere.
ReplyDeleteYes wallpaper and fitted carpets are definitely not at home in them.
DeleteThe silk for my bridesmaids came from Lavenham. Gorgeous place Arilx
ReplyDeleteThat is a lovely memory Aril, I did not know they made silk there. Funnily enough when we were there a wedding reception was happening at the Swan, and all the females came out with those silly hats and short dresses, colourful as a flock of birds.
DeleteThe only time I saw swans was in Chester, when visiting with my daughter. I didn't know the story about Henry, the symbolism or the fact of so many pubs being named The Swan -- all fascinating. The birds are romantic and compelling... I'm thinking of "The Ugly Duckling" story that I've read to my children so many times, and even "Swan Lake," which I *think* started as the ballet but then was made into a story later.
ReplyDeleteMany children's books have been written of that story, and I did a sort of research project on the ones in our county library a few years ago. There are so many other picture books of fairy stories and folk tales that started out backward, it appears: First, an artist finds the theme of "Swan Lake" a good one to work from, then they illustrate the possible book, then someone writes the words to go with it. Most of the time either the illustrations are second-rate, or the story is poorly written in some way. I think there was one "Swan Lake" story that had few pictures of swans... or maybe that was "The Nightingale"... Ha! I am such a book critic. But most of my experience with swans has been literary ;-)
I'm always interested in what you have to share about architecture and wish I could delve into it more. It intrigues me to think of all the people who have lived in old houses, and to think of the stories they hold. Thank you for sharing your explorations.
Hello Joanna, Great information about your researches into swans. I think many things in Britain are swamped in folklore and history. My favourite swan story is the 'Children of Lir', an Irish folktale about 6 sons turned into swan by a wicked stepmother. Their sister has to make 6 jackets of nettles to save them.
DeleteThanks for the tip - I am going to look into that one. The idea of nettle jackets intrigues me!
DeleteI have never been to Lavenham so thanks for taking me there. In the past, English building styles and methods would have been so regionally heterogeneous. Now it's all the same with modern buildings. You can't tell where you are.
ReplyDeleteYou start at the centre of a town or village and then move out. For instance, church, manor house for villages. Guildhall, market place for towns. It is not always as simple as that but landscape studies help.
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