Little Hall hosted another spinning and dyeing day on Sunday 23rd August. The ancient hall house on Lavenham’s Market Place now known as Little Hall started life as a clothier’s house. Built in the 14th century for a clothier’s family it was and enlarged and improved in the 15th century. It was during this period […]
Lavenham Blue returns to Little Hall, Sunday 23rd August Read More »
Little Hall has just opened its 2026 season and is in full swing. As with previous years we have a few special events, the next of which is our Artisan Market across the weekend of the early May Bank Holiday, from Saturday 2th to Monday 4th. Every day it will be open between 11am and
Artisan Market at Little Hall Read More »
We’ve been spending the winter restoring the Well Room. It’s now closer to how it looked in the Gayer – Anderson period and we’ll be continuing to work in that direction. Here’s some views of the new look. And a swap of objects with the Library – the bureau went to the Well Room, as
2026 season – see the changes Read More »
You missed our Volunteer Recruitment Morning but we’d still like to see you – please email to recruit@littlehall.org.uk or look at Volunteering Meet the team and learn what roles may suit you. Hear the house’s amazing story and how you can help share it with our visitors. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!
VOLUNTEER IN 2026! Read More »
In 12th century Western Europe, the towns of Arras, Douai and Lille in Flanders, together with Cambrai and Tournai and Valenciennes in Hainault were the main producers of woollen cloth. Arras also served as the main commercial centre with Montreuil as its port. A high proportion of the cloth was made from English wool. England
English Wool and European Cloth Production Read More »
A previous article described the collection of Indian miniatures and related items gifted to the National Library of Australia in Canberra by Thomas Gayer-Anderson. Sweden’s Museum of Mediterranean Studies also holds important items from the brothers’ collections. Robert sold part of his ancient Egyptian collection to the Medelshavmuseet, including many beautiful pots and bowls from
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2025. 11.00 am to 4.00 pm. If you weren’t one of the 1000 people who came to this, here’s what you have missed: metalwork, glass, painting, textiles, fleeces & more. Watch out for the next one.
Christmas Artisan Market Read More »
From the east 1929 From the west 1929 From the south 2005 Recently
Little Hall from the air Read More »
The Window Book or Kottage Klassicks No 5 dated 1935 is clearly one of a series but, unfortunately, the only one we have. It is handwritten and handbound by the Colonel under a unique pseudonym ‘Wick’ and in his opening pages he provides some information which enables us to guess at its origins.He describes it
Following the death of Thomas Gayer-Anderson in June 1960 ownership of Little Hall passed to Surrey County Council who funded Kingston Art College. It was intended that Kingston art students would use the hostel as well as those from other art colleges in the county. It is clear from the inventories of the Hall’s contents
The Gayer-Anderson Hostel for Art Students at Little Hall Read More »
In 1954 Thomas Gayer-Anderson gifted over two hundred items from the collection of Indian miniatures he had formed with his brother Robert, to the Commonwealth of Australia. Two years earlier he had presented part of the collection to the Victoria and Albert Museum. The brothers had both served at Gallipoli and befriended Australian soldiers and
The Gayer Anderson Gift of Indian Miniatures to Australia Read More »
Displays of the history of this fascinating Hall HouseWho lived in the building in the past? How are books bound? What is in the Gayer Anderson library? – Normal entry fees apply –Accompanied children under 16 Free –Free re-entry with a Lavenham Resident Card –
History Day, Sunday 24th August, 11am to 4pm Read More »
Little Hall opened its 2025 season at the end of March. As with previous years we had a few special events, with our Artisan Market running from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th May between 11am and 4.30pm with free entry. There was a range of crafts including jewellery, metalswork, glass, woollen goods, eco-botanical printing, leather
Our popular Artisan Market was back again Read More »
Please come to a Volunteer Recruitment Morning The last was Wednesday 5th February 2025 10.00 am to 12.00 noon Watch for the next, find out what roles are on offer and meet some of the present team. For more about volunteering see or email recruit@littlehall.org.uk
Do you fancy volunteering? Read More »
You’ve missed our Christmas Market, A Selling Exhibition of Unique Handmade Crafts, which was held on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November 11am to 4pm. Here’s some of what you would have found.
2024 Christmas Artisan Market Read More »
On Saturday 2nd November and Sunday 3rd November we will be open from 10 am to 4.30 pm with FREE ENTRY (Donations will be much appreciated). Find out more about this wonderful old house and its collection and see displays and demonstrations. On Saturday 2nd author Robert Ashton will be discussing his latest book Where
2024 -10 Please join us for Lavenham Literary Festival at Little Hall Read More »
In January 1930 Reginald Brill went to Cairo at the invitation of the Egyptian Government to paint in Cairo and mount an exhibition to sell his paintings. Since 1882, Egypt, then part of the Ottoman Empire, had been occupied by British forces with British officials seconded to Egypt’s army and civil service. Brill was introduced
Reginald Brill at Little Hall Read More »
Paintings, drawings maps and photographs often provide a valuable record of changes to buildings and landscapes. Reginald Brill’s picture ‘Mr Turner restoring the Barn’, in the dining room of Little Hall, records two of the Italian lead statues that were formerly on the garden terrace of the Hall. Brill’s viewpoint was on the first floor
Recording the past at Little Hall Read More »
Local craftspeople were in the house 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
2024 – 08 Craft Demonstration Day on Sunday 25th August Read More »
As visitors to Little Hall leave the library, they see mounted on the chimney of the inner hall fireplace a semi-circular relief of a girl kneeling in prayer. This was rescued from a demolition site in London in 1917 by Major Robert Gayer-Anderson, who saw it by chance lying in three pieces on a pile
