The Crooked House, Lavenham
The inspiration behind the famous nursery rhyme.
7 High St, Lavenham, Sudbury CO10 9PR
600 years of History
The Crooked House dates back to 1395 and the reign of King Richard II. Originally built as part of a medieval hall house, The Crooked House today offers a glimpse into the history of England and the fascinating story of Lavenham.
In the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, Lavenham was one of the richest communities in England. Its wealth derived from the wool trade and the popular ‘Lavenham Blew’ cloth, which was sold as far away as Russia. Despite its population being no more than 2,000 people, Lavenham paid more tax than the great cities of Lincoln and York and its wealthy wool merchants built to reflect their status, with grand hall houses and lavish guildhalls constructed across the village. The Crooked House is a surviving part of one such hall house, with its magnificent oak beams reflecting the ambition of its early owners.
A Royal Favourite
Over the centuries, Lavenham has played host to numerous royal visits and celebrations. In 1487, King Henry VII fined the village’s residents for displaying too much wealth during his visit. In 1578, The Crooked House would have greeted Queen Elizabeth I on her Royal Progress of East Anglia, a grand tour complete with pageants, processions, feasts and banquets.
Lavenham was the estate of the Queen’s court favourite, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. Famed for his patronage of the arts and himself a poet and playwright, some believe the talented Earl of Oxford was the real author of works attributed to William Shakespeare.
Preserved by Poverty
The miraculous survival of The Crooked House and so much of medieval Lavenham is due to the dramatic decline in the village’s fortunes. As more fashionable weavers moved to nearby Colchester, once rich Lavenham became poor and its residents unable to keep up with the latest architectural styles. Few could afford smart new Georgian and Victorian facades and so the ‘outdated’ medieval buildings remained. The result today is Britain’s best-preserved medieval village – an enchantingly picturesque place.
The Beatles to Harry Potter
Through the centuries, Lavenham has always been a creative and cultural hub – from weaving and dyeing to poetry and painting. The popular nursery ryhme, ‘There was a Crooked Man’ was inspired by The Crooked House, and the 18th century poet Jane Taylor wrote ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ in the village. The artist John Constable went to school in Lavenham and, more recently, the village was the location for John Lennon’s film ‘Apotheosis’ and for Godric’s Hollow in the Harry Potter films.
Today, Lavenham is once again a prosperous place and thriving community. At its heart, The Crooked House stands proudly as a historic home, welcoming guests to its antiques and interiors showroom and programme of cultural events. Its fairytale facade makes it one of the most Instagrammed houses in Britain, continuing to inspire new generations, 600 years on.
The stories that have shaped our houses
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