New Book Chronicles Hadleigh Guildhall’s Six-Century History

A new book has been published, compiling the 600-year history of a town hall, authored by local historians. Seven members of the Hadleigh Society History Group dedicated several years to researching the Hadleigh Guildhall in Suffolk, which was constructed in 1449. Throughout its existence, the building has served various purposes, including a market hall, a grammar school, and a corset factory, among others. Sue Angland, 73, an author of the book titled A History of the Guildhall, Hadleigh, Suffolk, stated that the group initially had no intention of producing the publication. Mrs. Angland, who also serves as the group’s chairperson, remarked, “It was never our intention. But we realised there had never been full research done on Hadleigh Guildhall which is 600 years old. It’s mentioned in other books on Hadleigh but there’s never been a complete collection of research done on its history. So that was our project.” The seven-member team involved in the book’s creation initially developed a timeline to chronicle the building’s 600-year history. This timeline commenced in 1374, predating the building’s construction, and extended to the current day. Upon its completion, the timeline was presented to the entire Hadleigh Society group, after which a member proposed that the research findings be compiled into a book. Mrs. Angland clarified that the entire process of creating the timeline and transforming it into the book spanned four years, with their work experiencing minor delays due to Covid. She added, “It is special because it’s never been written before like this. The building was given to the people of Hadleigh 600 years ago, it was a gift from the Lord of the Manor. It’s always been used for that purpose – it’s a community building and the people of Hadleigh have used it its whole life.” Additional historical uses for the structure have encompassed a workhouse, a house of correction, a hospital, and a fire engine store. When questioned about her most cherished discovery from the Guildhall’s history, Mrs. Angland responded: “The fact that it was such an important part of the community. I’ve quoted this from one of the experts – decisions which would shape Hadleigh’s history were made within its walls. I think that sums it up completely. It’s very much a community building.” Mrs. Angland conveyed that the group felt immense pride in having published the book, which was officially launched on November 2.