Location

Long Melford, Suffolk

Off the A134. 4m N of Sudbury, 14m S of Bury St Edmunds, 1m NNW of Long Melford off A134.

Kentwell Hall is a beautiful redbrick Tudor Manor House surrounded by a broad moat.

Built by the Clopton Family, from wealth made in the wool trade, Kentwell has an air of timeless tranquillity. The exterior is little altered in 450 years. The interior was remodelled by Hopper in 1825 and his work has been embellished and enhanced in restoration by the present owners. Hopper's interiors, notably the Great Hall and Dining Room, emphasise their Tudor provenance, but the Drawing Room and Library are simply and restrainedly classical; all are eminently habitable.

Kentwell, as well as being a family home, conveys a deep feeling of the Tudor period with the service areas: great kitchen, bakery, dairy and forge always fully equipped in 16th century style. Kentwell's unique 16th century atmosphere and large collection of 16th century artefacts make it an ideal location for films and videos.

The gardens are part of Kentwell's delight. Intimate yet spacious, you are seldom far from a moat, clipped yews (some 30ft high) or mellow brick wall. There is a fine walled garden with original 17th century layout and a well established large Herb Garden and Potager.

The farm is run organically and is set around timber-framed buildings and stocked with rare breed farm animals.

Home to the award winning 'Re-creations of Tudor Domestic Life' when visitors meet numerous 'Tudors' with dress, speech, activities and locations appropriate for the 16th century. These take place on selected weekends between April and September.

Facilities & Amenities

Shop. Corporate events include conferences and 'company days', when the whole company or a division can come for a specially devised one-day programme of fun, stimulation and challenges. A wide range of Tudor activities can be arranged for visitors, including longbow shooting, working bakery, dairy and still-room, spinning, etc. or even clay pigeon shooting in the Park. No photographs in house.

Genuine Tudor-style banquets, wedding receptions, formal but friendly luncheons and dinners.

Disabled visitors may alight at house, with prior notice. Disabled WC.

Home-made food. The Undercroft comfortably seats 96. Overcroft can accommodate up to 300.

Ample parking.

There is a highly developed schools programme dealing with 700 parties per year. Schools can visit a re-creation of Tudor life, re-create Tudor life themselves for the day or take one of the tours conducted by experienced guides on the House, Garden, Farm or aspects of each.

No dogs allowed.