This picture shows the village Lavenham with the high street running diagonally across the image. It is a carefully conserved mediaeval settlement which was very prosperous in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. Owing to the energy of the textile workers, many of whom were Belgian migrants, the town continued to manufacture high quality linen and horse hair goods right up into this century. However, it has not been possible to maintain the trade against competition from more favourably located centres and the textile trade has collapsed.

Lavenham has numerous unspoilt buildings dating from Tudor times and has moved into the heritage and tourism industry. The village has very strict planning rules which maintain the period look. The village has a number of specialist antique book and furniture shops, expensive restaurants and hotels, art galleries and souvenir shops as you would expect of a tourist centre.