Essex & Suffolk Group visit to Alston Court

Sunday 29 March 1.30pm

Join the Essex and Suffolk Group at Alston Court a Grade I listed private home with parts older than 700 years. Highlights include decorative timberwork, stained-glass and a well-preserved grand hall. This is a unique guided visit with an architectural historian and the owners.

One of the most impressive medieval timber framed town houses in Suffolk: Alston Court (Grade I listed) has a magnificently carved bay window with 14 narrow panes. The building surrounds an open courtyard where there are clues to the many uses of the site over the last 725 years. Now a single house, Alston Court originally comprised several structures mostly with commercial uses. One cross-wing has timbers dendro-dated to 1301, these timbers have notched lap joints (sadly not visible) popular in the 12th and 13th centuries. Much of the rest of the timberwork is  15th or 16th century. Carving is magnificent throughout. The stained-glass windows into the courtyard survive in particularly good condition due to being boarded up for decades to avoid window tax.

Our visit will begin with a talk about the property in the grand hall. Architectural historian Leigh Alston will explain the building, its construction, history and inevitable care programme. 
We shall split into two groups to prevent overloading the upper floors. Leigh and the owner, Angela, will each take a group to tour the house and courtyard. We shall then break for teas and coffees so that we can swap groups, each group enjoying the full experience. 
There will also be an opportunity to visit the back garden and see the house from the rear. 

The owner has most generously allowed us to visit her home. Please respect that it is a private home and stay with your group. There must be no photography within the building. 
 

You will need

Sensible flat- soled shoes and outdoor clothing. Part of the tour will be outside even in poor weather.

How to get there

Final meeting point will be sent with booking confirmation. There is limited on-street parking nearby on High Street, Nayland.

Accessibility

Seating will be provided for the introductory talk, but not during the tour of the house. Seating will be available when taking refreshments.
Some staircases are narrow and steep with some floors are uneven. 
Not suitable for wheelchairs.

Anything we can do to make this event more accessible for you? Please email membership@spab.org.uk.

Photos and filming: There must be no photography within the building. For other photography, participants may take photos and short videos for personal use, with permission of the builging owner and all other participants in frame. Please do not share on social media or elsewhere.

All bookings are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Photo credit: Alston Court Courtyard:  © Nigel Wall