Yet more town trail in Framlingham, Suffolk

backup the town trail
	7 The house on the left as you go up Queen's Head Alley was once an inn. Built in the late 1400s and originally called the Blue Boar it pre-dates the Crown Hotel by some 60 years. The name was changed the Queen's Head before 1800 so the Queen referred to was probably Queen "Bloody" Mary I who came to Framlingham twice, taking refuge in 1550 and re-visiting after being crowned. In the early days the rear of the inn was used by bear-leaders while the bears slept outside. In the 19th century vagrants used to shelter there for 1d per night. The archway is thought to be the original toll entrance into Framlingham.
	8 Turn left onto The Market Hill. A market held on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays existed in 1270. In time two annual fairs became established; six days at Michaelmas and three days during Whit week. Nowdays the market is held on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The triangular Market Hill is surrounded by buildings of many ages and styles whose facades often conceal much older buildings.
	9 The row of timber buildings on your left as you face the town sign was built between 1700 and 1751. The archway would have been similar to the one in The Crown allowing carriages to pass through.
10 The Town Sign was erected in 1991 with funds raised by Framlingham WI. The design was distilled from local people's ideas and includes The Pump and a Victorian Pillar-Box. The sign was made by Kettleburgh blacksmith Hector Moore from final drawings by his wife Mary who also painted it.
	11 The Guildhall is one of the oldest houses in Framlingham. Although the front is 18th century Queen Anne style inside there is 16th and 17th century timberwork. It was built on the site of a building known to exist in 1363. The raised pavement area in front of the building marks the boundary of the Mansion House that formerly stood on the site. Note the mathematical tiles on this and the adjoining houses hung on battens to give the effect of a brick wall and cover up a timber-framed building.
	12 As a contrast Barclays Bank is a late Victorian building with Neptune's carved head over the door and muses musing over the lower windows.
	13 Next door The Crown (1553) was a coaching inn serving travellers between Ipswich and Norwich. Until the early 1950s there was an open carriageway through the building. The Crown's frontage is an 18th Century replacement of the original Tudor and inside there is a preserved example of the wattle and daub originally used in half-timbered.
	Proceed up Church Street towards the Castle and as you cross Crown and Anchor Lane look to your left and up to see the Church Clock. It was donated in 1872 by Sir Henry Thompson (1820-1904) in memory of his father, a tallow-chandler in the town. The son had not follow his father's trade but studied medicine and later became surgeon to Queen Victoria.
	14 Cross the road and on your right is the Ducking Pond where we duck suspected witches ... though it's a been while.
	15 Walk up the drive to the castle passing on your left the Bowling Green. The green is a very old one and was certainly played on in the times of the Dukes of Norfolk in the 15th Century. continue the trail

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