TOUR A - CONSTABLE COUNTRY
Excursions
- 3 3/4 hours
Leaving the main roads behind, we shall travel across the open countryside and into the beautiful Dedham Vale – Constable Country, where the great landscape painter John Constable was born in 1776.
Along the country roads we reach Dedham – the attractive village where Constable went to school and now a designated National Trust land area. In the High Street we can stop to admire the 16th century St Mary's Church, and see Sherman Hall also dating back to the 16th century. We shall have a photo stop in Dedham. We then drive through the village of East Bergholt and enjoy the scenery which has hardly changed since Constable lived here.
In the sleepy, unspoilt village of Flatford the serenity of the early 18th century mill building is reflected among the wildlife activity in the little millpond. We shall have a walk along a gently sloping path with a few steps to the centre of this rural hamlet with its unchanging scenery of willows, shimmering meadows and winding streams. Visiting a 16th century thatched cottage beside the river, now owned by the National Trust, we will see an exhibition of Constable's work, which include several paintings of the delightful 'Bridge Cottage'. Nearby we will see Flatford Mill, instantly recognisable from Constable’s work.
Constable was always inspired by the place where he was born and he spent years filling sketchbooks with local material that he called upon later to immortalise in his famous pictures, and in later life he returned regularly to those haunting childhood scenes. From the gatepost of Willy Lott's cottage, Constable captured the rustic scene across the old millpond, depicted in 'The Haywain', probably the most well known of all his paintings.
Our return drive to Harwich shows many more quiet country landscapes.
TOUR NOTES: Our journey time will be approximately 45 minutes each way, with a short drive between Dedham, East Bergholt and Flatford. There will be approximately an hour of walking at Flatford, over some uneven and sloping ground. Passengers may remain on the coach at photo stops if they wish. The tour may operate in reverse order to avoid congestion at the popular sites we visit. Please note that National Trust members and non-members will pay the same price for this tour.
DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR THE 2011 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC SEASON.
Snack or meal provided
Refreshments available
Free time
Shopping opportunity
Wheelchair access
Swimming opportunity
All prices are based on operating costs, tariffs and rates of exchange and are subject to change without notice.
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