Events

The first issue of Country Life appeared on January 8th, 1897. As the magazine approaches its 130th year as a successful weekly publication, John Goodall will look at its early history and the figures involved in its foundation. In particular he will consider the evolution of its coverage of country… Read More >

SOLD OUT Alison Weir is returning to Butley Priory to talk about Cardinal Wolsey. Her novel The Cardinal: The Secret Life of Thomas Wolsey brings to life the brilliant and extraordinary life of Thomas Wolsey, the son of a Suffolk Tradesman, sent to Oxford aged 11. A story of passion,… Read More >

Location: The Riverside Cinema, Woodbridge At the height of the Cold War, a secret CIA base was built on the Suffolk Coast at Orford Ness. Over $1 Billion was spent trying to spy on the Soviets. Today Cobra Mist is off limits and not open to the public. In this… Read More >

Orford Museum presents two outstanding short films, both with strong Suffolk connections. The Dog That Couldn't Bark, starring Dame Maureen Lipman, was filmed at Glemham Hall by director/producer Henry Tomlinson and tells the story of an elderly lady at the end of her life sharing a secret from her childhood… Read More >

This talk by Simon Sturgis will explore the huge impact of the built environment on our climate (with specific reference to the Suffolk coast), and what should be done to mitigate this. It will look at what lessons can be learnt from the past, such as from the Moot Hall… Read More >

The Norman Invasion of England in 1066 is often characterised as the stage on which the medieval knight made his spectacular debut, fighting on horseback with spear and sword, trampling "The Dark Ages" under hooves of his horse and ushering in "The Age of Chivalry". Although there is some truth… Read More >

Our Son et Lumière event at Orford Castle in August was filmed and it will be shown in Orford Town Hall on Thursday 25th February at 5pm and again at 6.30pm. The event itself was completely sold out, recounting a whistle-stop history of the Castle from 1173 to the present… Read More >

In the early 17th century, the Inns of Court were the intellectual, literary and social heart of London. Here pivotal friendships were forged, few closer than Bulstrode Whitelocke and Edward (Ned) Hyde. Two well-connected, lively and principled young men, they dreamed of reforming the government of Charles I by restoring… Read More >

The Normans laid out various new towns using a planning grid which still influences what we see today in many towns but especially in Orford. Bury St Edmunds and Anglo-Saxon town planners will also be coveredin this talk, so highly relevant to the history of our areas. We are delighted… Read More >

Sebastian Faulks' new book published September 2026 is a novel about faith in all its forms. A vivid portrait of an embattled post-war Britain, it asks the question how, after great suffering, do we retain our humanity, learn to love again and believe in the promise of a better life?… Read More >

Hard Truth, published in October 2026, explores a series of political investigations that shook the world. It is a passionate defence of independent investigative journalism in an era defined by weaponized disinformation, tech oligarchs and algorithm-warped realities. It examines ten dramatic high-stakes cases where reporters showed extreme bravery to expose… Read More >

William Whyte's new book asks: does the university have a future? To answer that question, we need to understand the past.The story of the university is, in many respects, the story of what is worth arguing about, what it matters to a society. That is why it is more than… Read More >