Flatford Mill

Flatford Mill in Suffolk, was owned by the father of John Constable  (1776-1837) the English landscape artist. Constable was expected to take over the family business but fortunately for us followed his passion for painting and became one of our most famous artists. The majority of his work was inspired by Suffolk scenes. He never went abroad preferring to  paint landscapes of Suffolk, Hampstead, Salisbury and Brighton.

 'The Mill Stream'

 The best part of walking around the Mill was being shown where Constable had stood to sketch his landscapes.This is a copy of  his most famous painting The Hay-Wain (1820-21)

The cottage on the left of the painting is Willy Lott's House. Lott was a local farmer who bought Flatford Mill in 1846 from the Constable family and continued to mill there until early 1900.



This is the scene today.

Just down the lane from the Mill is Bridge Cottage, a four hundred year old building with a thatched roof. Tenants working for the Constable family lived here during the 18th and 19th Cent. Although  it looks spacious enough today, two families lived here.

A wooden bridge takes you from the cottage across the river Stour.

The local wildlife

A hornet's nest. Not wise to get too close.

Looking towards the village of Dedham where Constable went to school. You can just see Dedham church in the distance both in the painting and the photo.