In the early 1900s, some of Suffolk's finer buildings were being sold and transported to other parts of the country and even shipped abroad, piece by piece.
In 1912, when the inhabitants of Lavenham saw the 15th century Wool Hall (now part of the Swan Hotel) being dismantled, they called a public meeting at the school to protest against its removal. A local man approached Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, known for her sympathy towards preservation, who bought the building back from the purchaser and had it restored to its original position. The action of the local people at this time showed a collaborative interest in conservation and protection of buildings and landscape in Suffolk.
In 1925 Mr and Mrs Schofield moved to Otley High House from Cornwall. On arrival, Mrs Muriel Schofield lost no time in exploring the Suffolk countryside and discovered there was a need to rescue Suffolk from decay. Continual agricultural depressions left many farmers too poor to keep their houses in a good state of repair. She was also concerned about the depressing array of electric poles and wires that were beginning to appear and the introduction of petrol stations to cope with the ever-increasing motor car use! She therefore came up with the idea of forming a society which, she hoped, would address these concerns.
The fledgling committee consisted of locally-based people with practical and professional expertise such as architects, archaeologists and businessmen.
The first meeting of the Suffolk Preservation Society, founded by Muriel Schofield, was held at Otley High House, on 9th December 1929.
The Society was affiliated with the Council for the Preservation of Rural England (later to become CPRE Campaign to Protect Rural England), the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and The Royal Society of Arts Cottage Fund. Its official launch to the public was conducted at Ipswich Town Hall on 9th January 1930.
In 1945 the Gayer-Anderson Brothers, collectors of antiquarian artefacts, gifted their restored property, and its contents, to Surrey County Council for Surrey Art Schools students and students of the Slade. In 1960, on the death of Colonel Gayer-Anderson, the English realist painter Reginald Brill was appointed resident married warden for the Hostel for Arts Students. By 1968 the Council was very concerned about the cost of maintaining the Hostel and in 1973, under their existing powers, passed the Deed of Gift for the property to the newly established Suffolk Building Preservation Trust Limited set up for the purpose.
In 1974 the Suffolk Preservation Society was grateful for the opportunity to finally have a proper base from which they could conduct their work and, with Suffolk Building Preservation Trust Ltd, Little Hall became the registered office and headquarters of both charities.