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Paycocke's, Essex

Most people associate industrial society with nineteenth century cities and towns. East Anglia's wool trade, however, encouraged cloth production on an industrial scale from the late fourteenth century onwards. A town like Lavenham in Suffolk produced huge quantities of cloth, with early moves towards division of labour seen in later industrial concerns. So important was wool in the economy of fourteenth and fifteenth century England that since the fourteenth century reign of Edward III, the lord chancellor in the House of Lords has sat on a symbolic wool sack. Evidence of fortunes made in the wool trade can be seen at Paycocke's in Coggeshall, Essex. This merchants house, built in the early fifteenth century, has intricate woodwork and panelling. It was owned by the Paycocke family, who made their wealth as wool merchants.

Paycocke's house is now owned by the National Trust and houses a display of lace products traditionally produced in Coggeshall.

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Times : March 6th to 28th weekends only 1pm - 5pm.

April 1st to October 31st, Wednesday to Sunday, and Bank Holiday Mondays, 11am - 5pm. Last admission 4.30pm.

Address: Paycocke's, West Street, Coggeshall, Colchester, Essex CO6 1NS

Directions: Coggeshall is off the A120 in Essex, east of Braintree. Paycocke's is in West Street, in the centre of the village, with off-street parking available half a mile away at Grange Barn on the B1024 just south of the village. Click here for an interactive map centred on Paycocke's.

Access: A ramp is available to allow wheelchairs to negotiate the entrance. The ground floor is accessible, but there are stairs to the second floor. There are no toilets at the property.

Contact:

telephone: 01376 561305

e-mail: paycockes@nationaltrust.org.uk

web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-paycockes.htm