Little Hall, Lavenham, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Little Hall is a timber-framed medieval house on Market Place in Lavenham, Suffolk, and one of the oldest of the town's many listed buildings. It was built in the 14th century, probably as the home and workplace of a family of cloth merchants, and it shows how the wool trade shaped this small town.

The story behind it

Lavenham has more than 320 listed timber-framed buildings, and Little Hall is among the oldest. It dates from the 14th century and was probably the home and workplace of the Causton family, who were clothiers. It may be one of the places where Lavenham's famous blue broadcloth was made. That cloth was sold far beyond Suffolk and made the town very prosperous.

The wealth did not last. The local wool trade declined, and Lavenham grew poor. Other towns rebuilt their houses in Georgian and Victorian styles, but Lavenham could not afford to. That is largely why so many medieval buildings survive here today, and why the streets around Market Place look the way they do.

What to look for

• The timber frame of the house itself, with its dark beams and the plaster between them, is a good example of the medieval building style that fills the town.
• The way the upper storeys and walls lean and settle shows how old the structure is and how it has aged without being rebuilt.
• Market Place around it was once the centre of the town's business, so look at the open space in front and picture it busy with traders.
• The Guildhall of Corpus Christi stands on the same square, so you can compare two great buildings from the town's cloth-making age within a few steps.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes to look at the outside and the square, and longer if you plan to go in.
• Check current opening hours before you go if you want to see the inside, as access can vary through the year.
• Morning is usually quieter, and low afternoon light is kind to the timber and plasterwork.
• Little Hall is close to the Guildhall and the lanes around Market Place, so combine them in one unhurried walk.

See it on a quest

The quest Lavenham Highlights passes this part of town on foot. Little Hall is one stop on a longer route through the area, and the app tells you about each place as you arrive. At each stop you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the buildings properly instead of just walking past. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.