AboutFram Issue Three

about fram

HOTEL RESTAURANT BAR

www.framlinghamcrown.co.uk

Issue Three Look no further than aboutfram, the local magazine that packs a Suffolk punch!

SUFFOLK’S CROWNING GLORY Bow down to the splendour of Mary Tudor’s 16th century refuge.

contents who’s about out & about about style about you about interiors

4 Ever increasing circles

28 The generation game

Min Clough discovers why Genevieve Christie is bringing the beat of Brazil to Suffolk.

We meet a family of Thatchers whose skill and knowledge of their craft is now on the ninth generation.

6 Out and about

34 Get into the groove

A round up of local events

Tim Parkinson; making beautiful furniture from Suffolk’s ancient oaks.

12 Shades of autumn

about town about the land

Geraldine Clarke is layering up for autumn.

38 Blooms, bees, butterflies and bindweed

about design

14 Skin & Tonic

After the summer spectacular Sarah-Jane Page looks forward to a mellower season in the garden.

about gardens

Give yourself and your skin a boost this autumn.

18 A meeting of minds

44 Best laid plans The eggstraordinary tale of Richard and Lyle, and their passion for pickled eggs.

about food

22 Get the look

48 Pick of the crop

Add some warming earthy tones to your home with our autumnal interiors emporium.

Warming feasts and tasty treats.

52 about taste

about taste

24 About town

58 Bike about a bit

We bring you the latest news about town.

A glorious bike ride along the back roads.

Danielle Swanson shows us around her beautifully stylish home, once the meeting hall of the local guilds.

Getting in a stew!

round & about

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just the three of us... about us

The season of warming stews and comforting crumbles has arrived, and so in issue 3 of aboutfram we have decided it’s time to pull on our slippers and embrace the rich, earthy tones of autumn.

Editorial Kathy Churchill Sales Sarah Clarke aboutmedia info@aboutmedia.co.uk 01728 723138 www.aboutmedia.co.uk

Design Ferrar Design kerry@ferrar.co.uk 07884 433385 www.ferrar.co.uk

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e homwith e e r A f tation se, ou sul con me’s H o £500 t Es h up t 5 wor ge 5

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a bit about them...

Min Clough A BAFTA award winning documentary maker who has recently returned to live in Suffolk. who’s about pg 4

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Geraldine Clarke A history teacher with a passion for fashion. about style pg 12

Sarah-Jane Page A language tutor and writer of fiction.

Gardening inspires her. about gardens pg 38

Dominic Whiten Coastal Creative Photography is a small, friendly business based near the Suffolk coast.

Rufus Owen Rufus Owen is an experienced property and interiors photographer based in Suffolk.

who’s about pg 4 about the land pg 28 emporium pages www.coastalcreative photography.co.uk M: 07748 765582

about food pg 44 rufus@rufusowen.com M: 07891 937167

KITCHENS

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who’s about

Ever increasing circles There are not many people who’d think to bring a Brazilian arts festival to Suffolk, but for Parham resident Genevieve Christie it seemed the natural thing to do. “You know when sometimes you have an idea and it just grows arms and legs?” Well this one grew and grew, and in 2013 she brought Flipside to Snape.

Flipside is a weekend of Brazilian literature, art, music and dance. It’s the sister to the Flip Festival in Paraty, Brazil, which was set up by husband and wife team Liz Calder & Louis Baum in 2003, and is now the largest literary festival in Brazil. Liz and Louis are friends of Genevieve and her husband John, and the four of them are the team behind Full Circle Editions, publishers of high quality works of fiction, poetry, art and nonfiction, with an East Anglian connection.

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As Genevieve explains, “With the excitement surrounding our Olympics, and the fact that Brazil would be hosting the Olympics in 2016 I thought why not have a sister festival here. Snape was the perfect choice because it is such a wonderful artistic hub, and the beauty of the landscape truly mirrors the setting of Flip in Paraty.

That’s how the name ‘Flipside’ came about, because it was like a mirror image.”

who’s about

Born and bred in Chiswick, West London, Genevieve had been coming to Suffolk to see friends for years, but it wasn’t until she was celebrating a birthday at the Swan in Southwold that she and John decided to start looking for somewhere to live with their two children.“We were looking for a renovation project with a big garden. It took a while, but eventually, in 2006, we found the barn. We didn’t really know anyone in the area, but building your own house is an amazing way to meet people”. After two years hard work they moved into the then unfinished barn just outside Framlingham.

It’s an incredible space, which has due reverence for the barn itself and is surrounded by a beautiful garden, created

by Genevieve. “I was an armchair gardener for 20 years, avidly reading books by Beth Chatto and Dan Pearson and dreaming up my own creations. So when I came here,

I was finally able create my own. It was a completely blank canvas and we have planted every tree and every plant.”

Genevieve worked as a television producer in London, but when they moved to Parham she took time out to settle the family.

Three years later she helped set up Full Circle Editions, with the aim to celebrate East Anglia’s literary and artistic talent.

“We came up with the idea around Liz and Louis’s kitchen table here in Suffolk. We put our heads together and realised that there was a glut of writers and artists in East Anglia, and we wanted to do something that would be nationally relevant. We came up with Full Circle Editions. Last year, at the same kitchen table we put our heads together again and came up with Flipside.”

Flipside is at Snape Maltings over the weekend of the 3rd-5th October www.flipsidefestival.co.uk 5

out & about

October

September 11th-28th Ragnarok Eastern Angles Hush House Times vary 20th-5th Oct Cornucopia Alde Valley, White House Farm Great Glemham 27th Cambridge Footlights Slice of Life Framlingham College Theatre 7:30pm Tickets from Helen on 01728 723127 27th Silbury Hill Sweffling White Horse 7pm 6

27th-28th Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival Snape Maltings 9.30am For details of the fringe events see www.aldeburgh foodanddrink.co.uk

28th A Celebration of Rural Life Stonham Barns 10am-4pm Down on the Farm A Harvest Past.

Long Shop Museum, Leiston 11am-4pm Wedding Open Day Glemham Hall Free entry 10am-4pm

3rd-5th Flipside A family festival with a Brazilian beat Snape Maltings www.flipsidefestival.co.uk

4th Farmers Market Snape Maltings

21st-24th A Season’s Greetings

by FADS A comedy by Alan Ayckbourn.

Framlingham College Theatre.

7:30pm

12th Vintage Market Snape Maltings

24th 80’s Disco Ufford Park £5 per person

11th Sausagefest in Framlingham Town Centre all day

26th Final Fling An autumn steam day at Long Shop Museum

17th Strictly Western A Barn Dance for all the family to be held at Thomas Mills High School. 7-10pm

27th-31st Wicked Witchcraft A thrilling family adventure run by English Heritage Framlingham Castle 11am-4pm

out & about

November 28th-29th Roald Dahl Festival for half term Snape Maltings 29th Youngster Activity Day Half term fun at High Lodge 10am-5pm 30th Suffolk Gardens Plants and the Suffolk Heritage Garden A talk by Sarah Cook, former head gardener of Sissinghurst Framlingham College 7pm

1st Farmers Market Snape Maltings 1st-2nd Gothic Falconry Fabulous falconry displays with a gothic twist run by English Heritage Framlingham Castle 11am-5pm 5th Public Schools and The Great War A Framsoc event at Framlingham College 7:30pm

7th Aldeburgh Poetry Festival Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings

29th Christmas Panto Aladdin High Lodge 3pm and 7pm

www.thepoetrytrust.org

30th Vintage Market Snape Maltings

19th Esther Freud reading from her new novel ‘Mr Mac and Me’ A Framsoc event at Framlingham College 7:30pm 27th Ladies’ Festive Charity Shopping Evening Ufford Park Tickets cost £5 per person and includes an arrival drink and canapés

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Fly with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell on a magical musical adventure

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December 12 - 21 Book now 01728 687110

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The Co-op Juniors Theatre Company 9

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about style

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Shades of autumn Dress for autumn with the latest fashions from in and around Framlingham.

1. Striped wrap

by QED Impulse £39

4. Happy Slippers

by Padders John Self £25

2.Tartan top

by QED Impulse £26

5. Milan handbag Impulse £45

3. Silver and amber drop earrings £30 Silver and amber ring £69.50 Sarah Cole Jewellery Studio www.whitestuff.com

6. Grey tunic dress

by Great Plains Bootiki £60

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www.joules.com

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10

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about style

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7. Fur topped boots

by Joules Ernest Doe £79.94 8. Jade jumper

by GCM Sports Man About Town £32.50

9. Brown leather belt Man About Town

£32.50

10.Boys leather boots

by Start rite John Self £47 11.Men’s jeans by hattric Man About Town £65.25 12.Hoggs of Fife gilet Trulock & Harris £85 13.Blue Man jumper

by White Stuff Bootiki £47.50

Stockists on page 60

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Handbags & gladrags about style

As I write this it is hazy hot, and the last thing I should be thinking about is putting on a statement winter coat and knee length boots. However, that is exactly what I am lusting after for my look this autumn, and I am more than excited as brown, my favourite staple colour, is well and truly in.

So bring out the brown coats, boots and bags, and wear them with whatever you want, because the beauty of the coming season is not just the nod of respect to the sixties, but also that it is the season for contrast. Summer dresses with long sleeved T’s underneath; chunky cardigans with delicate tops, and trainers with suits.

I have fallen asleep this week thinking about wearing a cappuccino coloured silk strappy dress with black biker boots.

Shall I or shan’t I? The added advantage of using the idea of opposites when compiling an outfit is that clothes go so much further. This immediately means that I can justify buying the CCSSD (cappuccino coloured silk strappy dress) as I can wear it all year round. I will wear it with sandals, boots and trainers.

I will wear it with t-shirts, a denim jacket, my chocolate brown leather coat. I will wear it for work and for play.

Plus, I just wanted to tell you that since I last wrote I did buy the gold stilettos that I fell in love with….and it was worth it!

Geraldine Clarke 12

The Retreat B E AU T Y S A LO N Autumn offers* Dermalogica 30 minute facial with a FREE scalp massage £21.50 OPI Gel Color hands AND feet £45.00

Christmas is on the way

Fantastic Menswear

We have Gift Vouchers available for any amount or treatment.

• Smart, casual & accessories • Autumn/winter stock now in • Great gift ideas for Christmas • Formal hire available soon

12 - 14 Well Close Square, Framlingham T : 01728 723445 *Valid until 28th November 2014

Open 7 days Mon-Sat 9.30-5 Sundays 10-4

21a Stonham Barns, IP14 6AT Adrian 07810 487524

Spiral Gallery 'A jewel in Mid Suffolk.'

Spiral Gallery situated in Debenham is celebrating 10 years next month.

Run by husband and wife team Kate Scott and Michael Carpenter, it offers an interesting and affordable range of jewellery, crafts, cards and pictures and exhibitions by featured artists.

Michael's a working jeweller with over 40 years experience, and as well as having his own distinctive jewellery in the shop, he takes on commissions, restyles and repairs, ranging from Platinum and Diamonds to Pewter.

www.spiralgallery.co.uk Opening hours 10am -5pm Monday to Saturday or phone 01728 861699 for an appointment

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Clean up your act

about you

Cleansing is one of the first steps to having great looking skin. Used daily, these fabulous products from Aveda will soon have you all aglow.

Available from Carley Hill Hair

Plump it up

Aveda botanical kinetics purifying crème cleanser £17 Aveda botanical kinetics purifying gel cleaner £17

Skin & Tonic

Summer sun can play havoc with your skin, so invest in a good moisturiser to nourish and replenish and you will soon reap the benefits of a brighter, more radiant complexion.

Korres Wild Rose 24H Moisturising Brightening Cream £20

Korres Wild Rose 24H Moisturising Brightening Cream £20 Melvita Revitalising Rosehip Oil with the seeds of Chilean wild rose, this rich oil regenerates even the most delicate skin £23 Melvita Ultra-Nourishing Body Balm; deliciously scented, leaving even extra-dry skin beautifully soft £23 All available from Framlingham Pharmacy

It’s a man’s world Gentlemen: look good, feel good, smell good with Aveda men’s pure-formance range.

Both available from Carley Hill Hair

Give yourself a boost Top tips from Fiona Mealing of Nutrition Link.

Start your day with a smoothie containing kale, coconut oil, blackberries, natural yogurt and Koko coconut milk for a morning blast of vitamin C and friendly bacteria.

Cook plenty of warming stews full of fresh vegetables, and poach fruits with spices such as ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon.

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Dual action aftershave; 2-in-1 moisturiser and aftershave helps shave minutes off your morning £26.50 Shave cream; moisturising formula preps skin for a close, comfortable shave £16

The perfect

Christmas Party venue with flexibility to suit all

Want to add a little extra sparkle to your Christmas Party? Our popular themed party nights are the perfect way to celebrate the festive season in style.

Ultimate Party Nights from only £38 per person Alternative Party Nights from only £25 per person Easy access from the A12 Discounted accommodation rates

t 0844 499 1632 (local rate) w www.uffordpark.co.uk

Framlingham Travel Our Knowledge is your Peace of Mind

Santa’s Lapland Day Experience Depart Norwich from £489 Adult £439 Child

European Christmas Markets

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Tel: 01728 724836 Web: www.framlinghamtravel.com

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Common Room Café   beautiful, tranquil, rural surroundings fabulous civil ceremonies & receptions

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Quality Coffees, Teas, Breakfasts, Cakes Snacks, Lunches, Sandwiches Sunday Roast Available for private parties Free Wi-Fi & Fully Licensed 

Fynn Valley Golf Club Witnesham, Ipswich. IP6 9JA. 01473 785267 www.fynn-valley.co.uk

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Opening Times Mon - Fri: 8am - 5pm Sat: 9am - 5pm Sun: 9am - 4pm 22 Bridge Street Framlingham | T: 01728 768238 www.thecommonroomfram.com 15

CELEBRATE ON T H E C O A S T T h is C h ri st m as

If you are looking for a delicious venue for your office Christmas Party Night Aldeburgh, Suffolk offers two perfect locations to eat, drink and be merry this Christmas. With lively festive party nights at The White Lion or Merry Silent Nights at The Brudenell.

Enjoy a festive themed Party Night

with live music, and delicious food Two and three course menus from £21 per person

Elton John Tribute Evening 4th & 5th December four course meal £40 per person

Beatles Tribute Evening 11th & 12th December, four course meal £42 per person Call & book on: 01728 452720 For full dates and menu options visit Whitelion.co.uk/parties

Aldeburgh

Merry Silent Nights Join us throughout December for a relaxed festive lunch or dinner with a menu highlighting the best of both the coast and traditional Christmas cheer.

Two course festive lunch £16 per person Three course lunch £19 per person Three course dinner including coffee and mince pies £25 per person Festive dining is available from 3rd-23rd December 2014.

Advance booking required

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Call & book on: 01728 452071 For full details and menu options visit brudenellhotel.co.uk/festivedining

at Thorpeness Country Club A Christmas party venue like no other Thursday ‘Night Fever’ 11th & 18th December, from 7pm £29 per person.

Includes a 2-course meal & disco.

P.A.R.T.Y Nights Friday 5th, 12th & 19th December, from 7pm £39 per person.

Includes a glass of fizz on arrival, a 3-course meal, coffee and a fabulous disco by Crystal Sounds.

Tribute Nights Saturday 6th, 13th & 20th December, from 7pm £45 per person.

Includes a 3-course meal, coffee and one of our fantastic live acts.

Dress code smart/casual

Christmas

Party Nights Party Night

ng Meal with The Glamtastics | Two Course Eveni per person 0 £37.5 | 2014 mber Dece Friday 12th

James Bond Casino Night Michael Buble Tribute Meal with Vibes Disco | Five Course Evening 0 per person Saturday 13th December 2014 | £45.0

with Three Course Evening Meal 0 per person Saturday 20th December 2014 | £40.0

Panto Family Fun Aladdin Saturday 29th November

Showtimes 3pm & 7pm £8 per ticket (under 1’s free) £30 – Family of 4 ticket

BOOK NOW, CALL 01986 784347

WE ARE OpEn tO All 7 dAys A WEEk, sERVInG Breakfasts, Lunches & Sunday Carvery Please contact our Events Team T: 01728 452176 E: events@thorpeness.co.uk www.thorpenesscountryclub.co.uk/christmas

visit the website www.highlodge.co.uk email info@highlodge.co.uk tel 01986 784347 find us just off the A12 near Blythburgh, Suffolk IP17 3QT

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about interiors

A meeting of minds Behind the Georgian facade of a beautiful bow-fronted house in Debenham, Antique Dealer and Interior Designer Danielle Swanson has found the perfect home for her collection of antique textiles.

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about interiors

Grade II Listed, and dating back to the early 15th Century, Trinity Hall has a fascinating past. In Medieval times it was known as the Guildhall of the Holy Trinity, and the whole of the top floor was used as the dining hall for members of the local guilds. Here, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, coppersmiths, weavers and harness makers would have met to decide on matters of local governance. Later it was converted for domestic use, but the shop frontage below remained, and for the last fifty years it has been an antique shop, most recently run by acclaimed photographer Angus MacBean, whose iconic images have graced the album covers of the Beatles.

Before buying Trinity Hall, Danielle had spent the majority of her time living in Massachusetts. “I eloped to the US in the 70’s, and then set up my own antiques business, mainly selling items we collected

on trips to France.� It is a story set in a different, more carefree time, one with more than just a hint of bohemia, and whilst over there Danielle developed her love of interiors. Trinity Hall is the ideal backdrop for her fabulous collections; kitchen cabinets are piled high with sets of white china; drawers bulge with linens, chintzes and silks, and sideboards are adorned with beautiful Islamic bowls and vintage treasures.

Chatting we climb the stairs, so it is only when we reach the top that I realise we are now standing in the original meeting hall.

It is not just the vastness of the hall, or the amazing sense of history the room evokes that causes me to momentarily hold my breath, but rather the unexpected richness and warmth of the interiors. In front of an enormous central fireplace two deep sofas, smothered in plump cushions, beg you to 19

about interiors

sink in and lose yourself for the afternoon.

Low tables and wooden chests hold a fabulous assortment of decorative objects and antique lamps, and to one end a huge mahogany daybed entices you to pick up a long forgotten classic.

A paneled door leads through to the most feminine of master bedrooms. In here the panelling has been painted the softest of greys, the light filtering in through the antique lace-trimmed curtains picking up the detail of the pretty French bedlinen. In the bathroom a luxurious copper bathtub is draped with soft white towels, and a collection of vintage perfume bottles add a touch of nostalgic glamour. A hidden door reveals a spiral staircase that winds up to a delightful attic bedroom, and you can just see the remains of the original door that led out to the brewer’s yard below.

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Danielle has lovingly refreshed and restored this amazing old house, bringing light and life back to the darker corners and filling it with a history of her own creation. The front room is still an occasional shop, many of the items priced in anticipation, and she has recently taken on a small shop in the village. Just before I leave, she opens a door beyond the kitchen and I glimpse inside. It is a stunning room, with ornately carved furniture and gilded mirrors. French doors open out to the courtyard garden and in the corner, a bed is draped with ethnic bedspreads and cushions. “I’m going to run a B&B” she enthuses. I have to resist the temptation to book there and then, and leave with the reassurance that I will definitely be back soon.

Swan House & Garden, open Thurs-Sun Trinity Hall B&B opening November Interior Decoration Consultation 07960 038280

Catherine Haddon INTERIORS

Curtains

SWAN HOUSE & GARDEN Intriguing & Unexpected

• Antiques & 21st C Modern Furniture • Lighting & Textiles • Mirrors & Paintings

Fabrics

• Custom made Furniture

Always interested in buying

Poles

Danielle Swanson 07960 038280

David Bew 07961 977070

& More Open : Thurs & Fri 10am – 4pm Sat 10am – 3pm Above The Fireplace Shop, Crown and Anchor Lane, Framlingham.

Open WEDS - SAT 10.30-5pm : Sundays by appointment TBG Vanilla half988 page 2014_Layout 1 16/07/2014 11:47 Page 1 T 07821 886 August www.catherinehaddon.co.uk 2 Chancery Lane, Debenham, IP146RN

NOW OPEN New showroom at Notcutts Garden Centre Woodbridge Come and see our extensive range of high performance windows and doors.

Woodbridge Notcutts Garden Centre Ipswich Road, Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 4AF 01394 386666

www.burgess-group.com

Bury St Edmunds 8 Fornham Business Court Hall Farm, Bury Drift Fornham St Martin, Suffolk IP31 1SL 01284 760222

Ingatestone The Old Forge 53 High Street, Ingatestone Essex CM4 0AT 01277 350950 21

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about interiors

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Get the look 3

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1. Shaker style reclaimed wooden trug Outside In £12.95 2.Denby flower vase Dix-Sept Antiques £20 3. Enamel plates Dix-Sept Antiques £25 for 3

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4. Art Nouveau figure The Old Mews Gallery £200 5. Voyage cushion Esme’s House £60 6. Folk art chalkware dog £88 Barley twist table £54 Swan House & Garden

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about interiors

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7. Decorative chandelier Two Peas £100 8. Enamel shaker Outside In £6.99 9. Sheepskin rug Ruby Tyger £65 in various colours

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10. Swedish Lotus Gul coffee cups Carley’s Yard £58 11. Enamel baking trays The Cook Shop £24.95 12. Log basket Bill Bulstrode £75 13. French confit pot Swan House & Garden £75 See stockists page 60

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about town

Not a step too far!

Paddy & Scott’s first High Street Coffee Shop will open its doors in Framlingham on Sat October 4th, just a few miles away from where it all started seven years ago in the back of Scott’s garage. In addition to gourmet slow-roasted coffee, be prepared for an exciting food proposition, with food that offers a local twist, some provenance measured in footsteps let alone miles!

The future of Framlingham just got brighter with the launch of Fresh Aspirations Forum. Giving our younger residents the opportunity to work with local businesses, and develop new skills, the group will meet weekly and learn about photography, website building, social media, radio presenting, journalism and filming.

Taking on the mantle at Impulse Although we are sorry to say good bye to Jill and Amy Watts, founders of Impulse, a lovely boutique clothes shop on the Market Hill, we are thrilled that local girl, Amy Clow is taking the business on. Stocking some fabulous new designs, plus a fine array of shoes, bags and accessories, be sure to pop in soon.

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Let it be at Huntingfield Estates

Check-up to suit your routine

Expansion at Huntingfield Estates, with an all new Lettings Department, run under the expert eye of manager Vikki Read, who joins Becky and Donna on the team.

Framlingham Vets has now opened its very swish new doors to the public. As well as being open Monday to Fridays, the surgery will also open 9am-5pm on Saturdays & Sundays for routine appointments.

What a great idea!

History in the making

about about interiors town

Framlingham College has enjoyed further success in the Historical Association’s Young Historian Awards, with William Wright winning first prize in the 2014 Key Stage 4 Local History category. This was the 13th award achieved by a College pupil in this prestigious national competition in the last 5 years.

Framlingham up in lights!

Mackenzie Crook, (The Office, Pirates of The Caribbean) and Toby Jones (Harry Potter, Finding Neverland, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) star in The Detectorists, a brand new show which has been filmed in part right here in Framlingham. This realistically penned TV series tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two men who share a passion for metal detecting! So, to see our town in a different guise, be sure to tune in for episode 1 at 10pm on the 2nd October on BBC 4.

Written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, produced by Channel X and Lola Entertainment.

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CHURCHES

Building on traditional values highly skilled I hard-working I steadfast I local I professional Harness the potential of your building project.

Additions - Alterations - Barn Conversions Call John Ashley-Smith 01728 638661 or Paul Andrew-Smith 07769 906072

www.suffolkpunchconstruction.com

Double Trouble. Wow what a place Fram.com shout As their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).

As their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like). Wow what a place Fram.com shout As their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like). As their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose.

Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, uble. Wow what a place Fram.com shout As their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).

As their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like). Wow what a place Fram.com shout As their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years,

Property to shout about

42 I www.framlingham.com

NEW! NEW EW!! our Barn Bar n Cafe Cafe f is is now open from 8.30am until 5.30pm every day.

Kings of Suffolk, probably the best countryy a! clothing and equestrian store in East Anglia!

SITUATED JUST OFF THE A12 AT WOODBRIDGE WITH PLENTY OF PARKING. NG.

Open Mon – Sat 9.30 – 5pm - Grange Barn, Hasketon, nr Woodbridge IP13 6HN N T 01473 738237 | E sales@kingsofsuffolk.co.uk | www.kingsofsuffolk.co.uk

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CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS REGISTERED AUDITOR Personal and corporate accounting, taxation, vat, book keeping and payroll The Guildhall Market Hill Framlingham Suffolk IP13 9AZ T. 01728 723531 F. 01728 723719 ian.baker@turnerandellerby.com

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Personal and corporate accounting, taxation, vat, book keeping and payroll needs

T. 01728 723365 F. 01728 723719 ian.baker@turnerandellerby.com

The Guildhall Market Hill Framlingham Suffolk IP13 9AZ

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Life

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Land

|

Business

For all that life springs upon us We all need legal services from time to time.

Our friendly and approachable solicitors are on hand to advise you on a host of legal matters such as buying or selling property, developing your business or making a will. We’re here to help.

Call 01473 611211 barkergotelee.co.uk

41 Barrack Sq, Martlesham IP5 3RF Ample free parking

27

about the land

The generation game 28

about the land

Thatching is an ancient craft that has been around for hundreds of years, and for nine generations of the Whatling family, it has also become a way of life.

I drove over to Worlingworth to meet Master Thatcher Paul Whatling, who has been thatching for more years than he would care to remember. “I joined father in the business at sixteen, but had been helping out on the farm since about the age of ten or eleven. On school mornings I would hear him getting the horse and cart ready, whistling as he set off down the lane. I couldn’t wait to join him.” It is a family profession that they can trace back over three hundred years, and, although son Jason is out on a job, I also meet Sam, Paul’s grandson who is now the ninth generation to enter the trade.

Thatching has long been associated with Suffolk, and Whatling & Son specialise in traditional long straw thatching, growing their own wheat straw on the farm. It is harvested a couple of weeks earlier than normal wheat, when the grain is not quite ripened, thus ensuring that the stems are in top condition and at full strength. It is cut with a binder and then stooked up and left to dry, before being threshed and stacked for winter. I always think there is something quite magical about coming across a field of thatching stooks; you half expect Robin Hood to come riding through the glen, or a fair maiden to offer you a flagon of cyder!

29

about the land

Indeed, thatching does date back to medieval times, and it is rather lovely to know that it is a skill relatively untouched by modern technology or machinery.

Only natural materials are used, and Paul, Jason and Sam make most of the tools themselves. The hazel brotches that hold the thatch in place are cut from woodland managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, and then split and whittled by hand, and the mallets are knocked up from spare wood on the farm. “I have had this one since I was a teenager,” explains Jason,“The handle is made from one of grandfather’s old cartwheel spindles, so it will be shame when it finally splits.”

A good thatch should last thirty years, with the ridge needing replacing after roughly eighteen years, and so their handiwork is a lasting testament to their craft. Three 30

generations of hard work can be seen around the local villages, and Sam may well be working on a thatched roof in the future that was laid by his great grandfather.

The Swan pub in Worlingworth is one such example; “I remember father telling me that he agreed to thatch The Swan for two and a half pints a day. Well, by the end I think he owed them money!”

I ask Paul if they all get along: “most of the time,” he says with a wry smile. But I can see that he is immensely proud of the fact that future generations of his family are as passionate about keeping this ancient craft alive as he is, and are dedicated to maintaining the traditional beauty of the Suffolk countryside. www.paulwhatlingthatcher.co.uk T: 07721 757162

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31

32

Advertisement

33

about design

Get into the groove

34

about design

We all mourn the falling of an ancient oak, but for Tim Parkinson of Natural Suffolk Furniture it also evokes the desire to make a beautiful bench or a bespoke handcrafted table.

Tim has always loved making things. Being a farmer’s son he remembers summers messing about in the workshop, sawing up bits of old wood and experimenting with an assorted jumble of tools. “I used to sit and help dad as there was always something that needed fixing on the farm, and spent hours carving wooden swords and shields with my grandfather.” It was these early influences that shaped his love of carpentry, and eventually led him to take a Foundation Degree in Furniture Crafts at the University of Cumbria.

After graduating in 2010, Tim took time out to go travelling, and it was whilst he was on a road trip across the states that he dreamt up the name of his ‘soon to be

company’, Natural Suffolk Furniture. His workshop today is still based at the family farm in Suffolk, a space he shares with his brother James, who is an architectural model maker. As we step inside I am transported back to my woodwork lessons at school; the anguish of honing the perfect dovetail joint and the pride at getting a B- for my shoe cleaning box. Tim shows me one of his recent commissions, an oak bench, sleek in design with clean lines and invisible joinery. Definitely A+!

When Tim first set up the company, he relied on commissions from friends and family, but today he is taking orders from all across the UK. Independent lifestyle shops, such as Vanil in Woodbridge and The Cook 35

about design

Shop in Framlingham, stock his work, including handsome oak trays and solid chopping boards. These smaller pieces help to spread the word, but Tim is keen to take on larger commissions. “I recently designed and built two garden benches for a client using wood from a tree that had fallen down in their garden. It added a lovely poignancy to the project.”

Tim sources his wood locally, either from the farm or neighbouring estates, and uses a mobile saw mill based at Cretingham.

He recently dragged out a magnificent oak that had been struck down by the ‘87 storms and laid in a ditch, sadly forgotten.

Amazingly the wood inside was still in perfect condition, and is now waiting reincarnation as a dining room table or a handcrafted kitchen. Respectful of the material he uses, Tim runs a tree-planting 36

scheme on the farm, and to date they have planted over 3000 native species.

This idea of making bespoke items from wood that has a personal provenance with a client is something that has a certain resonance with Tim. One of his favourite pieces is a two-seater oak bench that he made in memory of his late grandfather.

The sides of the bench curve inwards so that you can chat more easily with your fellow companion, a design inspired by his grandfather’s love of conversation. One can only imagine how proud he would be if he were alive today, and how lovely to have left such a lasting legacy in Tim and his desire to make beautiful furniture.

Natural Suffolk Furniture M: 07766 660880 www.naturalsuffolk.co.uk

Win a family portrait session

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37

about gardens

38

about gardens

Four words of summer Summer is show-time for gardens, and what an incredible production they put on this year. Gardens gave all they had, the sunshine coaxing colour ahead of time.

Flowers that normally bloom in August, burst forth in July unable to contain themselves. Even the hibiscus, which usually belts out the final big number of the summer garden, sang its heart out long before the August Bank Holiday.

And whilst we wondered whether the early colour chorus would leave an empty stage in late summer, plants returned for a second encore, sometimes even a third, always to rapturous applause.

One Sunday afternoon when the children were bored of the flowers doing nothing, we played Garden ‘I spy’. Without an encyclopaedic knowledge of plant names,

we stuck to the basics in the beds.

The things we spied somehow distilled the garden into four words beginning with ‘B’.

‘Blooms, bees, butterflies and bindweed,’ to be precise; not that there was anything precise about the bindweed, other than its determination to grow. And grow. And keep on growing. But the bees and butterflies!

Blooms throbbed with them. Bee-studded stems of cat mint and salvia. Echinacea heads crowned with Red Admirals. The flower beds hummed and fluttered, all day.

All summer.

When the blooms faded, the bees and butterflies went away and all that was left was the bindweed. But left for long enough, even bindweed bursts into a bloom of its own and then the butterflies return.

39

about gardens

All the leaves are brown September is the start of a beautiful season. With its low sun, mists and dews, the garden mellows, sits quieter than its summer self; yet there’s still much to do before you can lock that shed door. Now’s the time to tidy borders by clearing weeds and cutting back flower stems. Don’t waste cuttings – compost them; the soil will be grateful come the spring. Golden leaves on the grass may look attractive but be sure to rake them up to stop your lawn from yellowing. Trim hedges and cut back tall

Tales from the potting shed 40

September Scarify and spike the lawn Deadhead roses Plant winter bedding and spring bulbs in containers Plant autumn onion sets

shrubs. Prune any late or repeat-flowering roses. Don’t forget to lift any tender perennials or bulbs and bring them indoors.

If you don’t believe in fairies and want a good lawn, brush off toadstools with a broom and pop in the compost for extra nutrients. Remember to pot-up your herbs and bring into the kitchen for winter use – parsley, thyme and sage transform stews and roasts. If you have a vegetable patch, once you’ve harvested, start digging, and plant any cabbage or winter onion sets, adding garlic towards the end of October.

Then kick off your wellies and rest while the garden yawns in the orange sun.

‘ Flowers are restful to look at.

They have neither emotions nor conflicts.’

Sigmund Freud

October Dry seed-heads before they go to waste Direct sow hardy annuals Sow any new lawn so before frosts hit Lift and divide herbaceous perennials

November Start winter pruning Rake up last of the leaves Move or plant deciduous trees Manure your veggie patch

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Be prepared for autumn and winter

Garden machinery from Stihl and Husqvarna. Country clothing from Barbour and Musto.

Broadwater Road, Framlingham, Woodbridge IP13 9LL Tel 01728 723963 framlingham@ernestdoe.com www.ernestdoepower.com

Where you can buy with confidence 41

One of the oldest pubs in Suffolk in a beautiful village setting. Chef Louise handcrafts the seasonal menu using locally sourced ingredients. Stewart serves a selection of local ales and an expanding array of single malt whiskys.

Lovely beer garden with village church backdrop.

Water bowls and biscuits provided for friendly dogs!

The Street, Pettistree, Nr Wickham Market, Suffolk IP13 0HP

From kitchen to table, everything created with our own fair hands

“Neil and Gill have got it just right – perfect balance between pub and restaurant” Fiona Phillips – June 2014

Sibton White Horse Inn, Halesworth Road, Sibton, Suffolk, IP17 2JJ

Call 01728 660337 to book today

42

The Good Pub Guide’s Suffolk Dining Pub of the Year 2015 www.sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk

T HE S TATION H OTEL

The Victoria Earl Soham

We are now taking bookings for Christmas Set Menus and Party Bookings Welcome

T: 01728 723455 www.thestationframlingham.com

Eat, Drink & Be Merry T 01728 685758

A beautiful place where great things happen

43

about food

Best laid plans

44

about food

Scrambled, poached or boiled? It’s a simple question, but one that will soon need a little more clarification, as Richard Cook and Lyle Williamson of Eggsolicious, are now putting duck, quail, turkey, partridge and pheasant eggs into the proverbial basket.

Richard and Lyle are equally passionate about their new business and I’m curious as to how it all came about. Lyle, the son of an Irish dairy farmer, previously worked for Dairy Crest and then British Airways, while Richard, who grew up on the family poultry farm in Laxfield, started out in the catering trade. It was only when they returned to Suffolk last year to help out on the farm that they spotted an interesting opportunity.

To Richard and Lyle this seemed a complete nonsense, and so they set about marketing and selling the free-range quail, pheasant and partridge eggs, and so Eggsolicious was hatched. With Lyle’s eye for branding and Richard’s knowledge of rearing the birds, it has been instant success. Hen, duck and turkey eggs were soon added to the list, and there is now talk of more exotic eggs in the future.

At the time the farm was rearing chicks for field sports, and after the season had begun and no more birds could be released, all the game eggs were just going to waste.

The packaging is a delight, with stylish pen drawings of the birds and evocative names such as Bonnie Blues and Barney Browns.

45

about food

But the real champions are the eggs themselves. Inside the shed we find rows of darkly speckled quail eggs, tray upon tray of luminescent hen eggs, and a wire basket of freshly collected partridge eggs. I have never seen a partridge egg before and am quietly enthralled by their oddly triangular shape, the delicate hues of pinks and browns and gentle freckling. They look good enough to eat!

Pickled eggs float in jars of white spiced vinegar infused with chillies, and a dark balsamic vinegar that creates a marbling effect on the quail’s eggs; perfectly replicating their speckled shells. Pickling is an important part of the business as they needed a way of extending the shelf life of the eggs. Luckily local pickling guru Mandy of Mandy’s Famous Pickles stepped up to lend a hand, and between them they have perfected the art of pickling their precious 46

duck, partridge and quail eggs.

Looking after the birds and catering to their specific quirks is hard work. The flighty quails inconveniently bury their eggs; the partridges very sweetly have to be kept in pairs as they mate for life: and the eggs need to be collected three times a day. The customer list is growing, and they deliver seven days a week to a wide range of local delis and farm shops, as well as supplying cafes, pubs and restaurants, and can shift as many as 4,500 fresh eggs a week.

Just before I leave I ask what is next.

“To be able to buy our partridge eggs in Partridges of London”, says Lyle with a grin. Richard pauses a moment before replying, “I’ve always fancied having a few peacocks”. And I always thought it was the goose that laid the golden egg!

Please contact them at info@eggsolicious.com

THE BELL AT CRETINGHAM Situated in the picturesque village of Cretingham, The Bell is a traditional country pub, with oak beams and log burning stoves.

Try a real ale or glass of wine, as you relax in the bar with a light bite to eat.

If you prefer something more substantial, take a seat in the restaurant.

From fish platters, ploughman’s and sandwiches to hearty casseroles steaks and vegetarian dishes.

Dogs are welcome in the bar areas.

Telephone 01728 685419 OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 11.30am-3pm & 5.30pm-11pm SUNDAY 12noon-4pm & 7pm-10.30pm THE STREET CRETINGHAM IP13 7BJ. WWW.CRETINGHAMBELL.COM

FRAMLINGHAM CAFE OPENING AT 08:00 ON 4th OCTOBER Get a cup of coffee Scott Free!

(Just don’t tell Paddy)

Taste our delicious food with a local twist.

FIND US ON WELLS CLOSE SQUARE (OPPOSITE CLARKE & SIMPSON)

MARKET HILL FRAMLINGHAM SUFFOLK IP13 9AP

01728 723521 www.framlinghamcrown.co.uk 47

about taste

Enjoy the pick of the crop this autumn Come Dine...

Go wild...

In The Woods With a three-course autumnal supper from the forest put together by creative local chef Peter Harrison, who has a faultless eye for edible fungi and will be picking a selection to bring back to Brick Kiln Barn.

His main course will be local venison, served in this magnificent tythe barn, just outside Sibton. One not to miss!

Saturday 11th October On The Water With a fun-filled weekend of riverside feasting at the Woodbridge Shuck Shellfish Festival. With cooking demonstrations, hot and cold 48

seafood specialities, oyster bars, historical talks, fishing boats, progressive suppers and so much more, it promises a great day out.

Fri 3rd – Sun 5th October www.thewoodbridgeshuck.org.uk

On The Hill With our very own Sausagefest, a day of sizzling sausage fun, with rides in a pink limo, street entertainment, and Teddie the sausage dog. And, to top it all, you get to vote for your favourite sausage maker.

Saturday 11th October Trail maps £5 www.framsausagefest.co.uk

With Chef Vernon Blackmore, who will delight you with his creations for Christmas canapés.

Matched with suggestions for Christmas tipples by Andy Baker of Adnams Cellar & Kitchen Woodbridge, and held at Anglia Factors showroom.

Tuesday Nov 25th 7-9pm The Greyhound in Pettistree is hosting an ‘Oktoberfest’.

Based on last year’s menu that featured Schweinschaxe – roasted ham hock – homemade pretzels, Currywurst and of course Weissbier, it should be a fanastic evening out. Look out for the landlord in Lederhosen!

Sunday 19th October, 7.30pm

about taste

With Michelin star trained chef Mark Peters, whose pop-up restaurant is back at Wood Farm Barns, a wonderful 500 year old farmhouse near Stonham Aspal. Previous diners enjoyed Shredded Confit of Duck leg and Blood Orange Marinated Carp Fillet.

With 6 courses it promises to be as delicious as last year!

Dinner Fri 7th & Sat 8th Nov Sun lunch 9th Nov With Frank Noble and the band, who are back for more swinging jazz at The Lemon Tree in Framlingham, setting the mood for their very popular tapas evenings.

November 7th and 21st

Designed, served, delivered…

And the award goes to…

Heathcote & Hare, one of Suffolk’s finest caterers, is now offering a new and exciting Lunch Delivery Service.

Made fresh to order and delivered directly to your door, choose from meat and fish platters, vegetarian and artisan sandwiches, and more.

Scarlett & Mustard Who has scooped a total of 5 Great Taste Awards in 2014; a bumper year, with the big winner being the heavenly Passionfruit & Lemon Curd, a deliciously rich, smooth and intensely tangy flavour, which was awarded 2 stars. Yum!

Framlingham Wine Shop is offering a Design Your Own Wine Tasting Evening. Simply choose the friends you’d like to bring along, select the wines you’d like to taste and choose the date on any Sunday to Thursday evening.

What an ideal surprise birthday present or start to a night out with friends.

Sibton White Horse The White Horse have gone and done it again, being awarded The Good Pub Guide Suffolk Dining Pub of the Year 2015.

Congratulations to Neil and Gill – well deserved.

Stockists on page 60

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easy Utterly delicious, with ing rst bu d an to use vours, fresh and zingy fla d an a range of sweet for savoury offerings every mealtime – just add food!

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farmcafé & foodmarket eat · drink · shop

shop for the best take home meals suffolk has to offer main road (A12) marlesford woodbridge suffolk ip13 0ag 01728 747717 www.farmcafe.co.uk 50

WOODFARM

BARNS

EMMETT’S Ham Made In Suffolk Since 1820

" I wanted to say a very big thank you to you both for a superb meal.

At the top of our list of really good food was the Orient Express and then Concorde, but they have been knocked off their pedestal!"

Jenny & Derek

Pop Up Restaurant at Woodfarm Barns Stonham Aspal

Since hosting Suffolk's first ever Pop Up Restaurant last year with Michelin Star trained Chef Mark Peters we've done it a few times since. And now... we're back!

For the uninitiated, the concept is that we turn our largest holiday cottage into a homely restaurant for the weekend just so you can enjoy a relaxed, mouth-watering 6 course dinner or lunch in the rustic setting of our beautiful 500 year old farmhouse.

All for just ÂŁ55 per head... Hardly Michelin Star prices!

Dinner Friday 7th and Saturday 8th November Sunday lunch on the 9th November www.woodfarmbarns.com or www.justimaginefoods.com or call 01449 710032 to book

Order Now For Christmas www.emmettsham.co.uk

Hadleigh Maid

Discover the real flavours of Suffolk

Lane Farm Country Foods

London Road (A12), Darsham, IP17 3QR 2 minutes north of Darsham Railway Station Opening hours 7am - 7pm including Sunday eastofengland.coop/stores

/eastofenglandcoop

@eoecoop

Great Tilkey Honey

51

about taste

As the nights start drawing in, and the Suffolk countryside gently rolls from summer to autumn, we look forward once again to hearty stews and delicious crumbles.

This recipe for beef stew from Emily at Kenton Hall, cooked slowly so the meat melts in your mouth, is definitely one to pop in the oven on a Sunday morning whilst you go in search of blackberries to stir in the crumble.

Longhorn Beef Stew Ingredients 2 onions peeled and sliced A little vegetable oil 350g/12oz longhorn beef cut into bite size chunks 4 carrots 1 beef stock cube 900ml / 1.5pt water (If you like a thick sauce, add gravy granules to boiling water rather than a stock cube) 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped 4 large potatoes cut into large chunks 52

Use Longhorn Stewing Steak or left over Sunday Roast.

Makes 4 servings Preparation time 30mins Cooking time 3 hours Directions Fry the onion until golden in a little oil, then add the Longhorn beef until the chunks are lightly browned. If you are using left over beef from a roast joint, there is no need to fry it – just fry the onions.

Place in a casserole dish and add everything else except for the potatoes. Cover and cook in a preheated oven at 180C/350F/Gas 4 for 30 mins then turn down to 160C/325F/Gas 3. Cook for a further 1.5 hours then add the potatoes and continue to cook for another 1 hour.

Serve with crusty bread to dip in the gravy.

53

Join us for your Christmas and New Year celebrations as we embrace the festive period with glorious food, fantastic accommodation and exciting party offers!

Our private ‘Red Room’ is now available to hire, with an exclusive party menu for guests to choose from.

Lunch: Two courses £17.50 Three courses £22.50 Dinner: Three courses, including coffee and mince pies £25.00

'All-in Christmas Party Package'

A glass of Prosecco on arrival, three-course dinner, half bottle house wine, coffee and mince pies - £35 per person To book your Christmas party today, please call 01394 384242 or visit our website for more details: www.thecrownatwoodbridge.co.uk/christmas

54

Competition!

We are delighted to offer one lucky aboutfram reader the chance to win a free home consultation with Esme’s House, worth up to £500, plus a £100 voucher to spend in the shop on their stylish collection of home furnishings and fabrics.

Q. For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply answer this question correctly: Name one of the paints they stock at Esme’s House?

Tucked away off Bridge Street in Framlingham, Esme’s House sells a wonderful range of contemporary home furnishings and decor, as well as offering customers an inspiring interior design service. Choose from their stunning range of designer fabrics, including Emily Bond and James Brindley, lighting from Bay Designs, Voyage and Garden Trading, and a wide selection of paints

by Farrow & Ball, Fired Earth and Little Greene.

For more information see www.esmeshouse.com or call Emma on 01728 724224

Send your answers to prize@aboutfram.com The competition closes at 23:59 on the 30th November.

Terms and conditions aboutfram will automatically add your email address to its own database for marketing purposes. Your email address will not be shared with any other companies apart from Esme’s House. Please indicate in your email if you do not wish to be contacted by either aboutfram or Esme’s House and we will delete your email address from our records.

55

ALAN ROSS REMOVALS & STORAGE Full & part packing services available.

Experienced in moving pianos & fine antiques.

Packaging materials supplied.

Countrycare cares for all your fencing needs and much more!

Fencing installed • Tree and woodland management • Firewood supplied We also make charcoal from wood sourced locally from sustainable woodland across Suffolk!

01728 747474

Fram DIY Fram DIY & Building Supplies Ltd Everything for DIY & Trade Open 6 days per week Free Delivery

Tel 01728 723505 | Fax 01728 724022 Station Rd, Framlingham IP13 9EA

Callendar’s Florist

Flowers

for all occasions 7 Bridge Street, Framlingham. IP13 9AJ T: 01728 723764 www.framlinghamflorist.co.uk

56

“Don’t risk doing it yourself...let us take the strain!”  01728 668900 /  sales@alanrossremovals.co.uk www.alanrossremovals.co.uk Units 1 & 2, Station Works, Main Rd, Darsham

Do you know who you are?

Want help finding your ancestors and building your family tree?

Projects can start from scratch or from where you are stuck East Anglian Genealogist – Free consultation and quotation on request Phone Simon Last on 01702 826469 Email: charnwoodresearch@virginmedia.com Web: www.charnwood-genealogy.com : www.facebook.com/charnwoodgenealogy

ferrar design.

Designers of the aboutfram magazine.

Beautiful brand and print design. www.ferrar.co.uk kerry@ferrar.co.uk 07884 433385

Peter Hall Flooring A Name you can Trust

Established 1959 and providing a first-class fitting service to clients in East Suffolk Come and visit us for a wide range of carpets, vinyls & more to suit every taste & budget

34 High St, Wickham Market, IP13 0QS www.peterhallflooring.com | 01728 746416

A beautiful Victorian Townhouse within walking distance of the historic town of Framlingham

The Sweffling

White Horse

200 year old traditional alehouse gravity-fed local cask ales served via a tap room door regular live music adjacent campsite & 4* holiday cottage B111 B11199 between between Saxmundham Saxmundham & & Framlingham Framlingham Open O p e n Fri-Mon F r i - M o n 7-11pm 7 - 11pm T: T: 01728 01728 664178 664178 www. www.swefflingwhitehorse.co.uk swefflingwhitehorse.co.uk

THE WHITE HORSE RENDHAM FREEHOUSE

A traditional village pub serving food, Suffolk ales, wines and cyders.

For live music, events and special evenings check our website www.whitehorserendham.co.uk on the B1119 between Framlingham and Saxmundham Telephone 01728 663497

LTD

AND

stone granite Natural for kitchens marble firebathrooms designs andhearths flooring M 07786 975372 Unit 7, Runway Farm, Parham, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 9AF info@graniteandmarbledesigns.co.uk | jr@graniteandmarbledesigns.co.uk

www.graniteandmarbledesigns.co.uk

57

round & about

Bike about a bit Now we love a slice of cake as much as the next man, but with ‘The Bake Off’ inspiring all manner of afternoon treats we decided it was time to get the ‘bike out’ and burn off a few of those two-tiered Hungarian tortes!

Our planned route was a little vague to say the least. We met in Framlingham and pointed our handlebars towards Sweffling; it was going to be a case of ‘let your inner sat nav do the talking’. The first stretch took us out of town along New Road and, with the college on one side and the castle on the other, we felt we had got off to quite an historic start. At the top we turn left and pedal our way slowly past Shawsgate vineyard, just in case it is open, and then turn right towards Cransford.

58

It is amazing how quickly you seem to leave the world behind (and Kerry) when you get on a bike, and we are soon whizzing along with only our shadows to keep us company. After a few impromptu stops for blackberries, we reach the crossroads with the Saxmundham Road.

We decide to go straight over to avoid the main road, pedalling our way past the Woodland Trust and down into the Alde Valley. It is beautiful out here and has a very tranquil feel, especially at this time of year when the fields have been drilled and the afternoon air takes on an almost purple hue.

round & about

At Great Glemham we opt to turn left, taking the shorter route to Sweffling, although with more time the loop around the walled estate of Glemham House, and back past White House Farm where Cornucopia is currently on, is well worth the effort. Our little lane eventually brings us into Sweffling, and with one more left turn we are sat outside the White Horse with a cold cyder. This is one of two great pubs in the area and on days when this pub is shut, the Rendham White Horse is only two minutes further up, so you are not short of watering holes.

and for a short while a kestrel joins our ride, before tipping its wing and disappearing over the hedge.

At the main road we head home towards Framlingham, back the way we came, past the vineyard (still shut) and arrive at the market square just in time for tea.

Now then, one slice or two?

Refreshed we are soon back on our bikes and take Low Road, gently winding our way along the water meadows of the River Alde. This little lane is quite magical; majestic oaks tower overhead, their lower boughs creating darkened tunnels, and we cycle through with childish excitement. Here and there imposing gates and tree-lined drives hint at the houses behind, 59

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about interiors

about taste

Bootiki 4b Market Hill Framlingham. IP13 9AB T: 01728 727481 www.bootikiboutique.co.uk Ernest Doe Broadwater Road Framlingham. IP13 9LL T: 01728 723963 www.ernestdoe.com Impulse Fashion Market Hill Framlingham. IP13 9AN T: 01728 724969 John Self Shoes 5a Albert Place Framlingham. IP13 9DX T: 01728 723470 Man About Town 21a Stonham Barns Stonham Aspal. IP14 6AT T: 07810 487524 www.manat.co.uk Trulock & Harris Ore Trading Estate Woodbridge Road, Framlingham. IP13 9LL T: 01728 724776 www.trulockandharris.com 9:2:5 by Sarah Cole Market Hill, Framlingham. IP13 9AN T: 01728 723353 www.sarahcolejewellery.co.uk

Bill Bulstrode 27 Bridge Street Framlingham. IP13 9AJ T: 01728 621152 www.billbulstrode.co.uk

Brick Kiln Barn Sibton Saxmundham. IP17 2NE T: 01728 660181 www.brickkilnbarn.com

Carley’s Yard 25 Fore Street Framlingham. IP13 9DY T: 01728 724427 www.carleysyard.co.uk Dix-Sept Antiques 17 Station Road, Framlingham. IP13 9EA T: 01728 621505 www.dixsept.co.uk Esme’s House Bridge House, Bridge Street Framlingham. IP13 9AJ T: 01728 724224 www.esmeshouse.com Outside In 18a Bridge Street Framlingham. IP13 9 AH T: 01728 621419 Ruby Tyger No 1 The Mews, Market Hill Framlingham. IP13 9AN T: 01728 724470 www.rubytyger.co.uk Swan House and Garden 2 Chancery Lane Debenham. IP14 6RN T: 07960 038280 The Cook Shop 3 Well Close Framlingham. IP13 9DT T: 01728 723757 www.krcookshop.com The Old Mews Gallery 4 The Old Mews Market Hill Framlingham. IP13 9AN T: 01728 621339 Two Peas The Old Forge 3 College Road Framlingham. IP13 9EJ T: 07540 580043

Anglian Factors Gloster Road Martlesham Heath Ipswich. IP5 3RD T: 01473 610192 www.anglianfactors.co.uk Woodfarm Barns Crowfield Road Ipswich. IP6 9TH T: 01449 710032 www.woodfarmbarns.com The Lemon Tree 3 Church Street Framlingham. IP13 9BE T: 01728 621232 www.lemontreefram.co.uk Scarlett & Mustard The Dressing Room Moat Park Earl Soham. IP13 7SG T: 01728 685210 www.scarlettandmustard.co.uk Heathcote & Hare T: 01728 639008 www.heathcoteandhare.com Greyhound Inn Pettistree The Street Pettistree. IP13 0HP T: 01728 746451 www.greyhoundpettistree.co.uk Sibton White Horse Halesworth Road Sibton. IP17 2JJ T: 01728 660337 www.sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk Framlingham Wine Shop 28 Station Road Framlingham T: 01728 720723 www.theframwineshop.co.uk

about you Carley Hill Hair 29 Market Hill Framlingham. IP13 9AN T: 01728 621068 www.carleyhill.co.uk Framlingham Pharmacy 32 Market Hill Framlingham. IP13 9AY T: 01728 723477 www.cooperspharmacy framlingham.co.uk Nutrition Link Fiona Mealing T: 01728 720736 www.nutritionlink.co.uk

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Photography credits Dominic Whiten Coastal Creative Photography www.coastalcreative photography.co.uk Rufus Owen www.rufusowen.com

“Exceptional Routine Care Seven days a week” Did you know that, as well as being open week days, we are open 9 - 5pm Saturday & Sunday for Routine Appointments at standard prices - no surcharge!

PLUS Onsite 24 hour Emergency Cover with our own vets

Call 01728 621666 reception@framlinghamvets.com www.framlinghamvets.com ‘where

every paw is important’ 61

BRANDESTON HALL framlingham college prep school (2½-13)

A flexible, local alternative with the finest facilities

OPEN MORNINGS

Friday 7th & Saturday 8th November Email: admissions@brandestonhall.co.uk or book online at:

brandestonhall.co.uk

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/framcollege

@brandestonhall