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A visitors guide to the Suffolk town of East Bergholt, located on
the Suffolk/Essex border in an area known as Constable Country.
East Berholt in the River Stour Valley sits in a delightful and unspoilt
landscape. Here you will find a place that John Constable the artist
declared that he loved every stile and stump and every lane in the
village. East Bergholt is the birth place of John Constable and has fine
houses lining its main street with a surprising number of large elegant
buildings for such a small place.
For Holiday Accommodation in East Bergholt Suffolk - Self Catering
- Holiday Cottages check out our East Bergholt Holiday Accommodation
Pages.
The tower of St. Mary's Church was never finished and
the bells intended for the tower were stored in a bell house in the
churchyard in 1531 where they remain to this day. Constables parents are
buried in the north east corner of the churchyard and Willy Lott's
remains are close to the path way on the south side of the church.
The churchyard contains many unusual graves and sarcophaguses.
Slightly down the road is the area known as Flatford
Mill. It was here that Constable's famous picture the Hay Wain was
painted. This area is now managed by the National Trust and
includes Bridge House which contains an exhibition about John
Constable's life and times. The mill at Flatford, that was built by his
family in 1733, and John Constable himself worked on for a year as
a miller before leaving for London to study art. During the summer
months the River Stour Trust operate river trips in an electric launch
from here.
John Constable 1776-1837 is famous for his views of
Flatford and the Stour Valley, he is considered one of the greatest
British landscape artists. Unfortunately the house where John Constable
was born has long since gone, though a plaque marks the spot. The
studio where he first began his career can still be seen, located in
Cemetery Lane just to the right of the Post Office. There is a plaque
that marks the studio, today it is a private house. Constable is
said to have taken a lifetime to paint the nine miles of the River
Stour.
The village has a village shop and post office, bakery and a number of
pubs/inns.
One of the most interesting ways to explore the Stour
Valley is by hiring a rowing boat from Flatford. From here you can
row up steam following the river to the next village Dedham in Essex,
which is also very picturesque. Much of the inspiration for Constable's
paintings came from walking around the countryside and there are lots of
enjoyable walks whether you want a long ramble or a short stroll. The
quieter lanes are also good for cycling. |
