Hadleigh Guildhall’s 600-year history revealed in Hadleigh Society History Group’s first ever published book

The stories of a major civic venue, which has helped to shape a Suffolk town’s history across the last 600 years, have been immortalised in a new book launching next month.

The Complete History of Hadleigh Guildhall will be launched at a special event within the historic venue itself, on Saturday, from 10.45am to 1.30pm.

It is the first comprehensive publication detailing the history of the Guildhall, from its origins in the 15th century to the present day.

The project originally began as a research project by members of Hadleigh Society History Group, who shared their findings in summer 2023 in a talk attended by more than 100 people.

It was there an audience member suggested the research could be turned into a book, which sowed the seed for the new publication.

Sue Angland – one of the six co-authors, along with Roger Kennell, Mark Lawrence, Sally Looker, Jan McNelly and Margaret Woods – said it was the first time the history group had published their work.

“We realised no book had ever been written about the guildhall,” she said. “It’s mentioned in other books about Hadleigh, but there isn’t one about the history of the Guildhall itself.

“We started to investigate and do lots of research and put our results into a form of a timeline.

“What’s special about the Guildhall is it was given to the people of Hadleigh in the early 15th century and has always been used for the purpose it was built.

“It has always been a civic community venue – there are five large rooms in the complex that are hired out to anyone who wants to use them.

“The book is a comprehensive collection of information and I think readers will see how much it has been at the centre of the town.

“It’s not a museum at all; it’s a community building and has been that way for 600 years.”

To produce the book, the society carried out extensive research at the town’s archive, which is based within the Guildhall.

This includes material from record books, minutes from historical council meetings and the Hadleigh Market Feoffment Charity, which holds the guildhall complex in trust for the community.

Sue also highlighted the findings of the Hadleigh Guildhall Conservation Management Plan by Caroe Architecture, commissioned by the town council, which graded the venue as ‘internationally exceptional’.

The plan further stated: “Decisions which have shaped Hadleigh’s history were made within these walls.”

The Complete History of Hadleigh Guildhall is split into five chapters, with a timeline at the end.

After the book launch on Saturday, copies will be available to purchase from Idler Bookshop, Keith Avis Newsagents and at select public events.

Sue added: “It’s the first time we have published our work, so it’s rather special.

“Over the years we’ve given lots of talks, but never published a book, so it’s very exciting.”