Free Guided Tour - Weaving the Streets of Sudbury: Wool to Silk
By the Gainsborough Statue (Heritage Open Days pop-up), Sudbury, CO10 2EA
Saturday 19th September 2026
Part of Sudbury Town Council's Free programme celebrating Heritage Open Days 2026: Everyday Histories in Sudbury, Suffolk.
Join our Blue Badge Guide Janet Gardner as we weave our way around Sudbury’s cloth heritage. Timber framed buildings, weavers cottages, medieval churches still stand proud today as evidence of weaving wool from the 13th century to Sudbury Silk in the present day.
Clues and monuments from these trades stand proudly throughout the town; from characterful Weavers’ Cottages, to mighty Silk Mills, Sudbury’s Weavers’ Piece garden packed with dye plants to Sudbury’s three magnificent medieval churches and splendid timber framed buildings, the architectural legacy of the wealth of Sudbury’s wool trade.
After the decline of the wool trade, Sudbury’s spinners and weavers turned their skills to the production of lighter fabrics and became 'The UK Capital of Silk'. The small but mighty town of Sudbury in Suffolk has a unique place in Europe, with five silk businesses based in the town, milling over 110 tonnes of Chinese silk each year. Sudbury is truly the UK Capital of Silk since it manufactures over 95% of all the woven silk nationwide. Throughout the 20th century the silk industry in Sudbury not only survived but thrived and it continues today carrying on this proud and long tradition.
Producing fabrics of the finest quality, they have been used for the wedding dresses of Princess Anne and Princess Diana, lining the Queen’s coronation robes, creating a gown for Michelle Obama and the list of prestigious projects continues to grow.
Join our Blue Badge Guide Janet Gardner as we weave our way around Sudbury’s cloth heritage. Timber framed buildings, weavers cottages, medieval churches still stand proud today as evidence of weaving wool from the 13th century to Sudbury Silk in the present day.
Clues and monuments from these trades stand proudly throughout the town; from characterful Weavers’ Cottages, to mighty Silk Mills, Sudbury’s Weavers’ Piece garden packed with dye plants to Sudbury’s three magnificent medieval churches and splendid timber framed buildings, the architectural legacy of the wealth of Sudbury’s wool trade.
After the decline of the wool trade, Sudbury’s spinners and weavers turned their skills to the production of lighter fabrics and became 'The UK Capital of Silk'. The small but mighty town of Sudbury in Suffolk has a unique place in Europe, with five silk businesses based in the town, milling over 110 tonnes of Chinese silk each year. Sudbury is truly the UK Capital of Silk since it manufactures over 95% of all the woven silk nationwide. Throughout the 20th century the silk industry in Sudbury not only survived but thrived and it continues today carrying on this proud and long tradition.
Producing fabrics of the finest quality, they have been used for the wedding dresses of Princess Anne and Princess Diana, lining the Queen’s coronation robes, creating a gown for Michelle Obama and the list of prestigious projects continues to grow.
