Little Hall Lavenham

Step inside Little Hall, one of the oldest timber-framed buildings in the best preserved of the Suffolk cloth towns. Its history mirrors the changing fortunes of Lavenham. Built in the 14th century for a family of clothiers, enlarged and improved in the 15th century, it was then 'modernised' in Tudor times with fireplace, upper floor over the central hall and glazed windows. Picture the austerity of the house six hundred years ago and contrast the starkness of the Middle Ages with the beautiful furnishings and artifacts in the house today. Wander through the seven rooms and discover the treasures of Little Hall including the study with exotic Persian panels and the spectacular upper chamber with its striking crown-post. The Gayer-Anderson twin brothers, soldiers with a shared interest in art and collecting, and themselves talented artists in drawing, painting and sculpture, rescued Little Hall in the 1920-30s. They restored the house and made it their home, filling it with an eclectic mix of antiques, pictures, books, china and art. The house retains the feel of a family home from the middle of the last century with many of their personal possessions remaining in Little Hall while their antiquities were donated to museums worldwide. Robert Gayer-Anderson became an Egyptologist of distinction and was given the honorary title of 'Pasha' by King Farouk for his service to Egypt. View his brother's bronze replica of the British Museum's famous Gayer--Anderson cat representing the goddess Bastet. Hear from our friendly, informative guides how the brothers bought the house, what they found, what they resolved to do and how they did it.