Bildeston, at the centre of a triangle formed by Ipswich, Sudbury and Stowmarket, is the village that moved. There had probably been a settlement up the steep slope above the current village since the Dark Ages, with the church at its centre and a manor house at its side. In 1264 Matthew de Loveyne, then Lord of the Manor, was given a charter to hold a market on the route between Hadleigh and Stowmarket, and it was probably this, plus the growing need for water for the booming cloth industry, that prompted the migration of the village down the Brett valley. Bildeston enjoyed prosperity in medieval times, producing a blue cloth in great demand in London. The result of the move is that the church of St Mary Magdalene stands in splendid isolation half a mile above the village. The original tower collapsed in 1975, and its squat replacement jars a little with the grandeur of the 15th century body of the church, but it is worth the steep walk to see the carved door and the contrast of the Perpendicular period architecture and its east windows in the Decorated style. The village itself, now with a population of around 1,000, has plenty of quaint old buildings, and a smart square with Victorian clock-tower. Around the square there are examples of Suffolk colour washed buildings, some Georgian, some older, and the High Street has a fine 15th century pub, the timber framed Crown, said to be haunted.
Doctor
Dr Brown & Partners
The Surgery
Market
Pub and Bar
Crown Hotel
Kings Head
Red Lion Inn
Restaurant
School
Bildeston County Primary School
Places to Stay near Bildeston
Angel Hotel (4.77 miles)
The Angel at Lavenham is a Tudor inn set in the market place at the centre of one of England's finest medieval villages.
Between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury, the inn with ... More
Great House Hotel (4.77 miles)
Swan Hotel (The) (4.80 miles)
Twenty Seven (4.87 miles)
27 Church Street is a 16th Century Grade II listed detached house a few minutes' walk from the village centre. It has a landscaped private rear garden which guests are ... More
Cedars Hotel (6.45 miles)
The Cedars Hotel is a privately owned, family run Hotel which takes pride in offering a warm welcome and a personal service to every visitor, holidaymaker and businessman alike. Originally ... More
Hintlesham Hall (6.60 miles)
Situated in the heart of rural East Anglia, Hintlesham Hall is a stunning 16th century Elizabethan manor house with an elegant Georgian facade, standing in beautiful grounds. The Hall is luxuriously furnished with antiques and ... More | visit website
The Case Restaurant with Rooms (7.18 miles)
Polstead Lodge (7.35 miles)
Polstead Lodge is a family run business set in the heart of Constable Country in the Dedham Vale and is an area of outstanding natural beauty, the perfect place to ... More
Hungercut Hall (7.62 miles)
This small, privately-run establishment has just 4 bedrooms available to guests and is the perfect retreat whether working away from home or visiting the beautiful surroundings. Formerly a medieval courthouse, Hungercut Hall ... More
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