Recently Lavenham and Little Hall was in the grip of a biting easterly wind. There had been snow on the ground for the whole week, accompanied by freezing temperatures.
In 1961 Reginald Brill had just arrived as warden of the newly established Gayer Anderson Hostel for Art Students and painted Snow in the Garden – 1961.
During the recent snow our volunteer, Gwyneth Arnott, took this picture of much the same scene nearly sixty years on.
The trees have grown up and the school is brick rather than painted cream but the outlines and the shapes are the same. The three statues of cherubs on the pillars either side of the gate have also unfortunately disappeared. We are not sure where they have gone, but they were possibly stolen at some point in the 1980s. However, the scene is remarkably similar and recognisable today as it was sixty years ago.
During the closed season we are working behind the scenes to prepare the house and garden for eventual reopening. Committee meetings are continuing remotely and a few hardy souls are popping in every now and again to check things are in order.
Our collection of memories is also beginning to grow. We have had a number of interesting messages via Facebook and email. Please let us know if you have any more interesting titbits of Little Hall gone by, that you would be prepared to share with us. We would love to hear from you. Please contact us on rsvp@littlehall.org.uk and someone will get back to you.