Places to visit in East Anglia during your self-catering holiday at the Tallow Factory

 Colchester

 The nearest town of Colchester was the seat of Boadicea, Warrior Queen of Iceni who bravely yet vainly mobilized her people to fight the invading Roman legions.  After she was vanquished, Colchester, Britain’s oldest recorded town became the capital of the Roman colony of Britannia.   The legacy of these ancient times can still be seen in the Roman Walls, which encircle the town, and in the many artifacts on display in the Castle Museum.  While you are in Colchester, visit Tymperleys Clock Museum: One of the largest collections of clocks in Britain, all made between 1640-1840, the beginning of the era when time became money and so had to counted – hence the clocks. http://www.colchestermuseums.org.uk/tymperley/tymp_index.html Colchester is also home to one of the best Zoos in Europe. As viewers of the channel 5 series Zoo days must know, the Colchester Zoo has a marvelous collection of animals, making a visit here a wonderful outing for children. What is more, the crew who filmed Zoo Days stayed at the Tallow Factory while the series was being shot. Here is what they wrote in our visitor’s book.

Long Melford 

If you like visiting historic mansions, Long Melford is a rewarding trip  40 mins drive from Dedham.  This small but well endowed town which sprang up alongside the road which the Romans built to unify their British colony boasts two remarkable Tudor Mansions. One, Melford Hall,  is very posh with an impressive collection of fine furniture and paintings http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-melfordhall.htm), the other, Kentwell Hall, still in the process of restoration (http://www.longmelford.co.uk/     and famous for its annual Living History Events  which reconstruct life in the 15^th century, giving locals the chance to act out their fantasies, and visitors the chance to hob knob with the lords and peasants of yesteryear. It is all good fun, picturesque and educational. Long Melford is also renowned for its Antique Shops, many of which can be found lining the old Roman street which runs the entire length of the town. While you are there, check out the beautiful 500 year old wool church with its medieval stained glass windows   erected on the profits of the ancient local wool trade.

 Lavenham

Lavenham, a short drive from Long Melford describes itself as England’s finest medieval village.  It boasts more than 300 listed historic buildings with the centerpiece the beautiful Guildhall of Corpus Christi.  This truly magnificent timber framed building http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-lavenham houses a local history museum which will teach you all there is know about what was once one of England’s richest towns plus the wool trade on which all the wealth was built. When Lavenham was rich, East Anglia was the one of the most prosperous parts of Britain but all this changed with the birth of industrialism when the centre of the British economy shifted to the factory towns of the north.  From then on Suffolk became a sleepy rural backwater. The lack of development here after the 18^th century is what allowed its ancient and beautiful character.

Audley End near Saffron Walden   

Audley End (35 miles from Dedham) is one of England’s greatest Jacobean Houses http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.12088  Built on the site of Walden Abbey, which Henry VIII had given to Thomas Audley in 1538,   Audley End became a virtual Royal Palace. Today it is about a third of its former size but still there are 30 ‘lavishly decorated rooms’ with paintings by Holbein and Canaletto to visit. Former owners include King Charles II who purchased it in 1668 as a country retreat where he could indulge his passion for the sport of kings, Newmarket http://www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk/ the home of British Racing is nearby. There is something for everyone here, a miniature railway, Victorian collections of shells, animals, magnificent grounds including an organic kitchen garden and of course the elaborate furnishings of the house itself. 

Cambridge  

If you are an overseas guest, we recommend you take a trip to Cambridge while staying in your self-catering cottage in Dedham. Why?  Because it is the place of which it is said, nowhere in Britain is so much architectural and historic beauty packed into so small a space. Set off early, for it may take up to 2 hours to get there but it is worth it.   Make sure you visit   King College Chapel and Wren Library. Walk along the backs beside the River Cam or better still get someone to punt you. If you have time, visit the Fitzwilliam Museum ( http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/ )or walk to Granchester along the riverbank and take high tea in the Old Orchard. http://www.orchard-grantchester.com/history.html