We are busy putting together our schedule for 2025 events which will include tours and talks in some of Suffolk’s most interesting historic places.
Check back here soon for updates and how to book.
Past events – 2024
Retro-Fit for the Future
A one day workshop on upgrading building performance in traditional buildings
Haughley Park Barn, Haughley Park, Stowmarket. Tuesday 12 November 2024.
A full house of over 70 delegates was presented with an inspiring programme of speakers who looked broadly at retrofit, examining how to do it correctly, how to monitor completed retrofits and what can be shown to work over time.
We looked to history for how to live more comfortably in traditional buildings and delivered examples of cutting edge technological solutions and successful retrofit projects in different building types.
It was a fascinating day! We are grateful to the Alfred Williams Trust and Historic England for their support and of course to our fantastic speakers: Dr. Robyn Pender; Oliver Smith; Hannah Wooller; Marion Baeli.
A visit to the oldest house in England, Wenham Castle
Thursday 5 September
Little Wenham, CO7 6QA
This was a rare opportunity to visit the very special manor house and church complex hidden deep in rural south Suffolk at Little Wenham.
Wenham Castle is one of the oldest houses in England dating from the 13th century and is probably the earliest English building constructed largely of brick. We also took the opportunity to visit the 13th century grade I listed St Lawrence’s Church (formerly known as All Saints Church) with its striking wall paintings of the Virgin and Child, St Margaret, St Catherine and St Mary Magdalene and St Christopher.
The visit was led by the renowned historian and archaeologist Edward Martin.
An evening with architectural historian Jeremy Musson to celebrate the SPS Heritage Champion Awards
Our summer event took place in the converted stables and courtyard at Heveningham Hall on 18 July. Our speaker for the evening was renowned architectural historian, Jeremy Musson.
Jeremy is a regular contributor to Country Life and other journals, as well as a former National Trust curator. He is author and co-editor of numerous books on historic houses and wrote and presented the BBC TV series A Curious House Guest. He currently lectures in the department of architecture and history of art at the University of Cambridge.
Following his talk, Jeremy presented the award certificates to our 2024 Suffolk Heritage Champions.
13 awards were presented on the evening and we were pleased that almost all the recipients were able to attend the evening to receive their certificate and the appreciation of the county.
SPS President, Geoffrey Probert gave a brief introduction to the work and achievements of each winner.
Summer garden party and SPS AGM
Friday 14 June 2024
Our annual garden party for SPS Members took place in the gardens at Little Hall, our head office in Lavenham.
A walk and talk in the ancient woodlands of Staverton Park
Wednesday 8 May 2024
Wantisden, Woodbridge
Led by Gary Battell, Suffolk County Council Woodland Advisor, we were treated to a walk through this unique woodland which is of great historical and conservation interest.
Gary’s extensive knowledge and passion for the great oaks and their environment was clear as he explained the challenges faced by these ancient specimens in the face of climate change.
A light lunch was enjoyed at the Shepherds Cottage, which is located on the edge of the forest and part of the Staverton Estate.
Thanks to SPS Trustee, Nicholas Pearson OBE, who kindly sponsored the event, and to the Kemball family for allowing access to the forest.
Past events – 2023
Energy Efficiency and Old Buildings – A one day training event
Wednesday 22 November 2023
Haughley Park Barn, Haughley Park, Stowmarket IP14 3JY
We were delighted to welcome around 90 participants to the beautiful Haughley Park Barn on Wednesday for our ‘Energy Efficiency and Old Buildings’ training day.
SPS partnered with Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and Historic England to deliver the event.
The workshop was delivered by Roger Hunt and Marianne Suhr on behalf of SPAB, together as well as Dan McNaughton from Historic England and Simon Sturgis, Targeting Zero and SPS Trustee.
We also welcomed a number of stall holders who were able to display and discuss some of the materials and products required to maintain and improve our historic buildings.
The sell out audience of professionals, homeowners and community representatives demonstrated the growing interest and importance of this topic. A huge thanks to all who helped to make this event such a success.
This workshop was made possible thanks to the Suffolk Climate Action Community Match Fund, which was provided by Suffolk’s public sector organisations, as part of the wider work to address the climate emergency. Find our more about the Community Match Fund and the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan here: www.greensuffolk.org.
A summer evening at Cockfield Hall, Yoxford
Thursday 13 July
By kind invitation of Mr and Mrs Jon Hunt, we were delighted to be able to hold our summer event will be held in the grounds of Cockfield Hall.
We were joined by internationally renowned landscape architect, Kim Wilkie, who is leading the landscape restoration project at the Hall, and Laurence Edwards, the artist who created the fascinating Yoxman, a 26 foot sculpture at Cockfield.
SPS AGM and garden party
Our annual garden party took place on Friday 16 June 2023 in the gardens at Little Hall.
All Members were welcome to join us in the beautiful garden of our head office in Lavenham.
An afternoon at Ickworth House and gardens with tea at the Ickworth Hotel
Monday 15 May 2023
The afternoon kicked off with short walk and talk from the National Trust manager who explored the history of the house and some of the challenges facing the estate including how to plan and adapt for climate change. We then split into two groups. One accompanied the head ranger on a guided walk of the wider estate while the second group accompanied the curator on a tour of the artwork collection in the house. We also had the chance to view the exquisite and extensive silver collection which is thought by many to be the finest in Europe.
Finally we were treated to a fabulous array of sandwiches and cakes at the Ickworth Hotel – the perfect venue to relax and chat with others over afternoon tea.
Many thanks to all those who came along and supported the Society. Special thanks also Reeman Dansie, Fine Art Auctioneers for kindly sponsoring this event and to the National Trust and the Ickworth Hotel who generously opened their doors to us.
Heritage led regeneration in action
A vintage bus tour and exclusive access to completed projects
Thursday 20 April 2023
A mixture of SPS Members and new faces joined us for a fascinating day out in Lowestoft on 20 April.
We started the day at the East Anglian Transport Museum with a welcome from SPS Director, Fiona Cairns and an introduction to the projects and activities in the Lowestoft Heritage Action Zones from the East Suffolk HAZ project manager, Rebecca Styles.
Everyone then hopped onto a vintage bus for the trip into town entertained and informed by commentary from Ivan Bunn, well-known local historian. We were then treated to three owner-conducted tours of the interiors of fascinating historic houses on the east side of the High Street.
Safely transported back on the vintage bus, we all had the chance to stay on to have a look at the transport museum in the afternoon.
Past events – 2022
‘SEA SAGAS OF THE NORTH – TRAVELS
AND TALES AT WARMING WATERS’
Saturday, 24 September 2022
BAWDSEY MANOR
Members gathered at the evocative Bawdsey Manor on the edge of the beautiful Suffolk coastline to hear Jules Pretty, Professor of Environment and Society at the University of Essex, and Director of the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement, talk about his latest book about refugees who fled Doggerland when the seas encroached.
The talk was followed by a guided tour of the gardens laid out by Sir William Cuthbert Quilter and a rare opportunity to view some of the principal rooms in the Manor, including the Billiard Room where Sir Winston Churchill played when he visited RAF Bawdsey during the Second World War.
Refreshments were enjoyed in the Manor to conclude an enjoyable afternoon.
TENDRING HALL ESTATE
– ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT – A WALKING TOUR OF THE PARKLAND
11 July 2022
Our host, Emily Holden talked about the history of the now lost country house and surviving parkland, Soane’s first country house and a Repton landscape. Robert Townshend lead
us through the programme of restoration of the parkland and its buildings.
The walk also included an opportunity to view the hedgerow restoration scheme, as part of the Stour Valley Farmer Cluster Hedgerow Heroes Project – for which SPS is proud to have sourced the funding.
Net Zero – New build
Wednesday 6 July 2022. A Free Webinar
What the government’s carbon targets are for the UK and what we need to do in practical terms to achieve them with new ways for designing buildings. How we assess the carbon emissions in buildings and what practical steps can be taken to reduce them.
Speakers:
Simon Sturgis AADip RIBA: Co-Author of RICS and RIBA guidance on Whole Life Carbon, Co-Author of Greater London Authority Policy Guidance on WLC, and Special Advisor to the Environmental Audit Select Committee.
Dr Joe Jack Williams MEng MRes EngD: Associate at FCBStudios and lead developer of FCBSCarbon the carbon assessment tool.
Jess Hrivnak: RIBA’s Sustainable Development Advisor.
An evening with Sir Laurie Magnus CBE
“The power of heritage to transform places and improve lives”
Friday 6 May 2022
The evening was hosted by Mr and Mrs Jon Hunt in the beautiful Orangery at Sibton Park.
The SPS Suffolk Heritage Champion Awards were also presented on the evening.
Members enjoyed refreshments beforehand on the veranda in this truly stunning location.
SPS Garden Party and AGM
Our annual garden party was hosted by Mr and Mrs Thomas Seymour at Gothic Farm, Heveningham on Friday 10 June 2022
The party – which incorporated the SPS AGM – was on a beautiful summer evening in one of Suffolk’s loveliest locations.
We are delighted that our sponsor for this event was Reeman Dansie, Auctioneer.
Net Zero – Retrofit and Refurbishment
15 March 2022 . A free webinar
The challenges of retrofitting our traditional building stock.
Speakers:
Morwenna Slade, Historic England – Head of Historic Building Climate Change Adaptation
Alex Whitcroft, London Energy Transformation Initiative – Co-author of the LETI Retrofit Guide
Simon Sturgis – Targeting Zero and SPS Trustee