SPAB Essex Visit to Boxted Hall, Bury St Edmunds
SPAB Essex Visit to Boxted Hall, Bury St Edmunds
A private viewing of an estate owned by the Weller-Poley family since 1398.
Event details
Boxted Hall
The Essex Regional Group has organised an all-day visit to Boxted Hall and Boxted Church near Long Melford in Suffolk on Wednesday 26th April 2023. Boxted Hall has been home to the Weller-Poley family since 1398. It is not open to the public and is currently only available for exclusive hire. We are privileged to be the first such group to be shown around the house. Our guide will be Guy Weller-Poley. The visit will also include a visit to Boxted Church, which can be seen from the house and is a short stroll away. A light buffet lunch will be provided.
Boxted Hall is a stunning Grade II* listed country house set in 250 acres of rolling Suffolk parkland at the heart of the Weller-Poley family estate, approximately five miles north-west of Long Melford. The current house, dating from the 16th Century, replaced an earlier house built in 1392 by Sir John Poley and the family have been in residence at Boxted Hall since 1398. The moat dates from this time and is still crossed by a bridge dating from the 11th century. The River Glem makes its way behind the Hall, through the walled garden, where two listed summer houses are to be found. A rare collection of family portraits, dating back to 1575, adorn the walls of the house, portraying 24 generations of Weller-Poleys.
The 13th Century family church is also extremely interesting in its own right and our guide will be a member of the Weller-Poley family. It is famous for its many effigies, statues and memorials to the Poley and Weller-Poley family members. The earliest tomb is from the 16th century, on the south side of the chancel. This is most striking, and it is only when you get up close that you see the jet black effigies are not marble at all, but wood, the oak having blackened with age. This is a rare revival of the wooden effigies popular in the 13th century. The family mausoleum is remarkable.
The visit will commence at 11am with a talk by Guy Weller-Poley about the history of the house. The Group will then split into two, with one half visiting the House and the other the church. The two groups will meet up for lunch in the house, followed by a split again to see either the house or the church.
Bookings
The cost for the day will be £25 including the cost of the lunch and a donation to the church.
This event is limited to SPAB members and their guests.
Numbers are limited and early booking is recommended. We are currently limiting the number of guests to one per member, but may review this nearer the event if we have spare places. If you would like to bring more than one guest, please send an email to essex@spab.org.uk to this effect and we will let you know if we change the policy.
To register, please log in. If you can't remember your password, you can request a new one here.
If you find you are taken to the SPAB homepage when you try to book, it indicates that you are either not logged in or don't have a current SPAB membership. Please contact our membership team for help.
Multiple bookings
When completing the booking form, you will be asked to select the number of people and put in your own details on the first page, then to put in your second person's details on the next page. The event fee shown on each of these pages is for the individual person - you will be shown the total amount due once you get to the summary page.
About the Essex Regional Group
The SPAB Essex Regional Group was formed in 2000 and has been active ever since. The types of visits are fun, interesting and educational with an annual social event, normally in an historic building. Our participants vary from interested SPAB members wanting to enhance their knowledge of historic buildings to professionals using the visits as part of their continuing professional development programme.
Accessibility: please contact the Group Organiser before booking to discuss any special access requirements.