Tuesday, 11 May 2010

LONG MELFORD

The last time we visited Long Melford, a few years back, we just drove through it really on the way to some place else - so we didn't get a chance to actually visit. This time, however, we did and though we got there late on Saturday afternoon, when all the antique shops had closed we did get to browse in and out of some quaint gift shops and stop for tea at a lovely little tea room.

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Long Melford is one l-o-n-g stretch of road...

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filled with old pubs and inns...

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The Bull - built in 1450 and has been an inn since 1570

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                        The Crown Inn

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Beautiful old buildings - Gappmaiers Restaurant

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Antique shops - Noel Mercer Antiques

Long Melford, a former wool town in the Middle Ages, is a lovely village in the heart of the Suffolk countryside.  It's claim to fame lies in being the Antiques Capital of Suffolk and it's wide, tree-lined street has a wealth of interesting gift and antique shops, some of which were featured in the 80's British TV series "Lovejoy".

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old timber framed window

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pretty shop windows displaying their wares

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shop window displaying Golly's tea party

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Fabulous gift shop - was like an Aladdin's Cave full of wonderful treasures to buy.

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pretty, dainty, beautiful things

I loved walking along the street looking at all the old buildings and wondering about their history.   There is a delight to see in every direction, from the rickety old buildings surrounded by timber framed windows and the oak beamed fronts to the charming doors and house name plaques on the walls. Some even had dates on them which was good to see.

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doors...

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house names...

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and year plaques

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these buildings were built in 1868 according to the plaque

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terraced buildings painted in delicate pastel tones

Long Melford is also fortunate to have two stately homes: Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall (which often hosts Tudor weekends).  Suffolk wool towns such as Lavenham are nearby.

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