Lavenham Wool Hall, Medieval wool trading hall in Lavenham, England
Lavenham Wool Hall is a timber-framed medieval building in a small English village featuring exposed wooden beams and large windows typical of Suffolk construction. The structure now forms part of The Swan Hotel complex, allowing guests to stay within this historic listed building while exploring the medieval streets around it.
Built around 1500, it first served as a guildhall for the Guild of the Blessed Virgin before becoming a center for wool trading. The building later underwent various changes in purpose and function as centuries passed.
The building shows how wealthy wool merchants became in medieval Suffolk and how important the textile trade was to the region's economy. Its grand design reflects the prosperity that the wool business brought to this small English village.
The building is easy to find since it sits in the center of Lavenham's medieval village and is surrounded by shops and restaurants. Visitors should allow time to explore both the structure and the surrounding streets, which are full of historical details.
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, oversaw its restoration in 1911 before it became a convalescent home for railway women. This royal connection shaped the building's history and its role in the early 20th century.
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