(Framingham, Massachusetts takes its name from Framlingham, Suffolk, England)

Pat Lavelle, comments:

I grew up in Fram, I lived in Castle Street, and later in Kings Avenue. I moved to Essex in 1961 My Grandad was Herbert "Prince" Heffer. He was well known for selling firewood. I played in and around the castle as a child. Good Memories, Thank You.

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MARKET HILL

76. South-east side of Market Hil

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77. This building is IN Market Hill. It was not always an Indian Restaurant!

78. Along the South-west side of Market Hill

79. A small, modern courtyard with shops, off the south-east side.

80. A very pretty 16th century courtyard through a passage off the south-west side

81. A view across Market Hill towards the south-west

82. The North-east side of Market Hill

83. 100 yards or so away from Market Hill is the Old Forge

Patricia Bridges writes

Linn, did you know that those lovely red bricks on the house in the photograph 82 are not bricks at all - they are tiles? [No, I didn't!]

83 was my husband's family business. We have a lot of information about it, including family ledgers dating from the early 1800's. The house next door in your picture, No. 2 Fairfield Road was the family home. Silvanus Bridges married at Fressingfield in 1723 and moved to Framlingham to open his Blacksmiths, it was in Double street. John Bridges opened his business in Fore Street.

Simon Blackburn added on Wednesday, October 9, 2002
Photo 77) The yellow building used to be a greasy-spoon. Very good and missed by those of us who used to use it.
Photo 80) Used to be The Queen's Head pub. The alley is named after it. Very nice inside apart from the lack of a bar !
Photo 82) The house on the immediate right is now part house and part cafe with tables and chairs outside

84. Redwood in the churchyard cemeter

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85. Across the churchyard cemetery to the Church

86. The interior, looking towards the altar

87. Exterior

88. Opposite end to the altar is this splendid organ. It was being played when we visited

89. From the Churchyard, this well-known house "Regency House" wasrenovatedin 1999.

90. Among the gravestones is this one, dated 1776.  I believe we had some trouble with our colonies at that time.  We have had eight monarchs since then

91. Behind the war memorial stands a Yew tree. Legend has it that all churchyards have yews because they are used for long-bows (of Robin Hood fame)

THE CASTLE
The castle was originally built by the Bigod family.  Roger Bigod was given the manor of Framlingham in the year 1101.  Hugh Bigod probably built the first castle here, around 1140.  In 1157 the castle was surrendered to king Henry II and in 1173 the first castle was demolished.  It is thought that Roger Bigod II rebuilt the castle in about 1189.   In 1216 it was captured by king John and in 1309 the last Bigod died.  The castle was then occupied by Mowbray and Howard, dukes of Norfolk, until 1547, when it was seized by Henry VIII.  In 1553 it was Queen Mary's headquarters before her accession.   In 1635 it was sold to Sir Robert Hitcham.  In 1664 a brick Workhouse was built within the curtain walls - it was rebuilt in 1729 as a Poorhouse.  In 1913 the castle became an Ancient Monument in State guardianship.  It is now maintained by English Heritage.

92. Across The Mere to Framlingham Castle

93. Enter across a brick-built bridge over the (now drained) moat

94. Looking up at the walls from down in the moat

95. A view of the castle from the west

96. On the north-east side are the 3 pillars that remain, where there was once a footbridge

97. From the moat, looking under the entrance bridge toward Framlingham College

98. Across The Mere to Framlingham College, viewed from the moat of Framlingham Castle. Tech. Note: this Mavica FD-7 10x zoom is quite something, isn't it. I took this from the same spot as the shots either side.

99. Another view of Fram College, through the castle entrance bridge