Paycockes, Coggeshall

Paycockes, West Street, Coggeshall
(photographed 1987)

A heritage success story.  On a recent visit to Paycockes house and garden in Coggeshall, a National Trust volunteer told me that last year, following the opening of a coffee shop on site, there had been a 47% increase in visitor numbers, year on year.  My last visit was in September 2011.  Since then more of the building has been opened to the public and the Trust is compiling a complete house history, not just concentrating on the era of the wool merchant Thomas Paycocke but telling the story of the house's development, decline and Edwardian restoration.  On their webpage the National Trust appeal "please get in touch if you have any photos or information".  If you have visited before then it is worth another visit - and allow much more time to enjoy both the house and the garden.