East Anglia
is famous for its antiques shops and markets, as featured in the much-loved
classic TV series Lovejoy. Windmill Lodges’ luxury holiday cabin site in
Suffolk is ideally located for you to explore some of these attractions, and
maybe find a piece of history to take home as a special souvenir of your stay
with us.
Searching
for collectables can be very relaxing and enjoyable, as you browse through
items at a shop or stall. This is the total opposite of chain store culture and
mass production, since every shop and its contents are unique. It is fun to pursue
your own interests by looking for specific items, from Art Deco and jewellery
to stamps, postcards and rural bygones, discovering the thrill of the chase.
Here is a
look at just a few of the top spots for antiques which you can look forward to
visiting while staying at our site in Saxtead. There are also many others to
discover during your lodge holidays in East Anglia. Opening hours vary and can also
be changed at short notice, and some shops are mainly open by appointment, so
it is always a good idea to check by phone before making a special journey.
Framlingham
Just a few
miles away from Windmill Lodges in Saxtead, Framlingham is one of Suffolk’s
best-known historic towns. Dominated by its famous castle, it also boasts many
other well-preserved old buildings. The town’s love of history is reflected in
the variety of antiques and collectors’ shops which are based there.
In Fore
Street, Carley’s Yard is a building dating from the 18th century,
which was once a pub and then a well-known grocer’s, most recently called
Carley & Webb. It now has a number of traders based in six rooms spread
over two floors. As well as a wide range of vintage and retro items to explore,
the centre also sells upcycled items. It includes an art gallery and holds regular
decorative paint workshops. There are also a number of other antiques shops in
and around the town.
Woodbridge
Another
beautifully-preserved historic town within a short distance of our site is
Woodbridge, on the River Deben. The town is known for its fine range of
independent shops. Located on Quay Street, Woodbridge Antiques Centre specialises
in smaller items, such as jewellery and vintage toys, making it a great place
to look for holiday souvenirs. It has over 20 showcases, with items from a
number of different antique dealers on display.
Another
popular venue is Vintage Forty Nine, in The Thoroughfare, which has antiques
and collectables from 20-plus dealers. In a nearby village is Marlesford Mill,
a 3-storey former grain mill with over 30 independent retailers selling a mix
of old and new furniture and collectables.
Yoxford and Debenham
These are
two large villages in the area which are both known as antiques destinations. Stock
from around 70 dealers is showcased at Yoxford Antiques Centre, which has a
large showroom set among five acres of gardens. An unusual attraction here is a
number of colourful beach huts, where various arts and crafts are on sale. You
can also admire the centre’s Alpacas and chickens, or enjoy a snack at its
Flying Goose Café.
Shops in Debenham
include Deco Debenham, based in the Foresters Hall, stocking a wide range of
Art Deco furniture. Swan House and Garden in the High Street sells a wide range
of antique furniture, decorations and textiles.
Long Melford
This famous
village is about an hour’s drive from Saxtead, but is well worth the trip for a
day out if you love antiques. It is known as East Anglia’s “antiques capital”
and was featured in the TV Lovejoy series. The village has an amazing range of
antique shops, including Melford Antiques and Interiors Warehouse, in the
centre. This is a 4-storey building with over 150 dealers exhibiting items.
There are also
plenty of historic items and gifts to be found in surrounding towns and
villages, including Lavenham, which is the starting point for an “Antiques
Trail” tour created by the Lavenham Forum. This is a drive taking in a range of
shops and warehouses in Clare and Halstead as well as Long Melford.
Vintage Markets and Auctions
Various centres
in Suffolk regularly hold antiques fairs. Snape Maltings is one popular venue close to
Windmill Lodges, with clothing and furnishings among the items sold at its
vintage markets. The Maltings complex also has an antiques and collectors’
store, as well as other shops, restaurants and galleries to explore.
Auctions are
another popular way to snap up an antiques bargain. Clarke & Simpson holds
antiques and fine art auctions 5 times a year in Wickham Market, near
Framlingham, as well as rural bygones and Art Deco sales.
If you are a
lover of history, staying in a luxury holiday cabin in Suffolk is the perfect
way to enjoy a relaxing break. Our quality log cabins are close to Saxtead
Mill, a popular heritage attraction, allowing you to get away from it all and
relax amid the unspoilt countryside.
Luxury Holiday Cabin Suffolk – Click to find out about
availability of our lodges.
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