| The Swan Hotel is situated in Lavenham, one of the | | | | timber-framed buildings here date from about 1460 |
| most beautiful small towns in England. | | | | to 1530 since there was no wealth left to build |
| From the 14th to the 16th century, Lavenham was | | | | anything of quality later in the century. Many |
| at the centre of Englandâs cloth making | | | | reminders of its industrious past still remain, including |
| industry and it was exporting its famous broadcloth | | | | the beautiful 16th century Guildhall which dominates |
| as far as Russia and North Africa. In 1524, it was | | | | the market square. Once a meeting place of wool |
| named the fourteenth wealthiest town in the | | | | traders, a prison, workhouse and almshouse, it is now |
| country, however heavy taxation in the mid | | | | owned by The National Trust and has a beautiful |
| 1520âs and disrupted export markets | | | | garden where dye plants are grown, including Woad |
| through war on the continent brought a rapid decline | | | | which was used to dye various shades of the |
| in the industry. All this helps explain why most | | | | famous Lavenham Blue Cloth. |