A visit to Flatford Mill & the village of Dedham
This is where Constable painted several of his more well-known paintings, the most famous being The Hay Wain (the link will take you to the National Gallery page about it).
We also saw Willy Lott's house, which is only rarely open to visitors as it is leased to the Field Studies Council. If you want to stay in one of these buildings, a course at the FSC might be a good way to manage it.
Most of Constable's most well known pictures are painted within 200 metres of the mill, which his family owned for a couple of generations.
I used to find Constable's work a bit "chocolate boxy" until I came to the UK and first saw Salisbury from the water meadows. Then I realised he simply painted what he saw. On this tour our guide explained that The Hay Wain was initially not a success because it was considered a bit rough and unfinished. It wasn't until it was exhibited in France, where Claude Lorraine's work was well-known and appreciated, that his popularity crossed back to his native land.
The cafe is very nice, and my hosts, the Crouchman family, enjoy hiring the rowboats in summer. I admit, Saturday was a little brisk for water sports.
Janice & Terry then took me through the nearby village of Dedham, Essex. It's a charming little village, with a lovely church, said to be the last of the great East Anglian Wool Churches.
They have a very nice candelabra in the nave.
And the roof is worth a glance too:
Finished up with late lunch at the Suffolk Food Hall restaurant, The Cookhouse. Delicious food and a great view of the estuary. Highly recommended. Thanks to Janice & Terry who invited me along on this outing.