Pictures of Flatford

About Flatford

On arrival in Flatford there is little to prepare you for its overwhelming beauty, but you should not be surprised, for this after all is Constable Country, an area made famous by the great landscape painter and which features in so many of his pictures.

Flatford Mill now belongs to the National Trust, it stands in a beautiful location beside the River Stour and with its bridge and Willie Lott's Cottage, it presents a timeless scene of pastoral enchantment which has captivated artists since John Constable first painted it in the early part of the 19th century.

The mill was Constable's childhood home and the place he probably loved best. The entire area seems to have remarkably escaped the hand of time, with little happened to disturb the serenity and overall tranquillity of the landscape.

Nearby, lies Flatford Bridge Cottage, a thatched cottage of the 17th century. This is another attractive cottage painted by the great artist, it now houses a rich exhibition of his life and times as well as providing pleasant tea-room facilities. Visitors can take tea in the river-side garden, there is a shop for souvenirs, and boats for hire.

The National Trust owns Flatford Mill and much of the land around here, and we have the trust to thank for its wonderful atmosphere of peaceful perfection. From Flatford Bridge Cottage there is access by foot to scenically beautiful Dedham Vale, considered by many to be the very heart of Constable Country.

Flatford Mill, Valley Farm and Willie Lott's Cottage are all used for arts courses, with visit's only allowed by prior arrangement.

The National Trust operates I hour guided walks, these depart from Bridge Cottage and take in the full romantic "Constable" experience visiting the sites of his most famous works of art.

This is truly a pretty, rarefied place that no visitor to Suffolk should miss.