Little Hall Demonstration Day

Little Hall are delighted to be hosting a demonstration day on Sunday 27th August 2023. Local craftspeople will be in the Hall and garden from 11am until 4pm explaining how they produce their wares using age old techniques. Lavenham itself has been a centre for making and creating throughout its history of spinning, weaving, dyeing and mat making. Part of Little Hall’s charm is to be found in the examples of the Gayer Andersons’ craft skills in carpentry and woodwork. Indeed, the dresser in the dining room was designed and made by the Colonel Gayer Anderson in 1905. The library has examples of leather and cloth bound books, the windows show the skills of glaziers, and Nellie Smith (housekeeper during the art hostel years) embroidered the panel based on a design by Stephen Spender which is now displayed in the dormitory and a fine example of needlework.

On demonstration day a display by bookbinder Paul Garcia of various styles and types of handmade books will be in the Well Room. Paul Garcia is a member of the Society of Bookbinders which is a charity whose aim is to preserve and teach the craft of hand bookbinding. Stuart Race who is the owner of “The Woolpatch” in Long Melford and supplies the Little Hall shop with his beautiful woad dyed wool hanks will be demonstrating how he dyes yarn in the garden. “Pastures Ewe” will be sharing their techniques for turning rare breed, cruelty free British sheep fleeces into rugs, throws and pet beds.

A member of “Into the Fold” a local textile group will be using a spinning wheel for making wool yarn. The library will be the setting for our own volunteers who continue to care for the book collection and use special techniques for preserving antiquarian books. We hope you can join us for this special day, Sunday 27th August between 11 am and 4pm.

Little Hall is open for the August Bank holiday weekend on Saturday 26th 1pm-4pm, Sunday 27th 11am-4pm and Monday 28th 1pm4pm. For the rest of the season Little Hall is open in the afternoons from 1pm-4pm, Tuesday to Sunday until the end of October. Remember if you are resident in Lavenham you can buy a card for just £2.00 which enables you to visit free of charge at any time during opening hours.

For more information, please consult www.littlehall.org.uk

Owned by Suffolk Buildings Preservation Trust Charity number 265212