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Pictures of Sudbury

in the county of Derbyshire

Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire

About Sudbury

The village of Sudbury lies in a landscape of contrasts where old Royal hunting grounds meet with the industrial heritage of 19th-century England. This is an ancient place, a church was recorded here in the Doomsday Book of 1086.

Looking around you can see at once that this was always intended to be a small, neat village. There are rows of cosy red-brick cottages, dignified gabled houses and a 17th-century coaching inn crammed into the main street. The inn, The Vernon Arms, takes its name from the family who built it - the Vernon's. George Vernon built Sudbury Hall in 1660, it was their home until it passed to the National Trust in 1967.

Not a great deal of change has come to Sudbury, for a while it suffered from the consequences of 20th-century traffic but blessedly relief was brought by the building of a by-pass which once again restored harmony in place of chaos.

Although there is lots to see in Sudbury, it is the sheer magnificence of the Hall that draws the crowd. The building is in late-Jacobean style, with bays and a heavily canopied porch. The red-brick facade is diamond patterned in deep russet brick, and the windows are mullioned. The interior is richly decorated by Grindling Gibbons and Edward Pierce, and amongst its treasures there are paintings by Laguerre. There are charming grounds, a lake, and the Museum of Childhood is located at the Hall.

Standing next to Sudbury Hall, surrounded by avenues of lush yew trees, you will find All Saints Church. A place of worship since the 12th-century, the church under went a great deal of restoration in the 19th-century, and it is thought likely that this church replaced the earlier church mentioned in the Doomsday Book. In the quiet churchyard there are the gravestones and tombs of centuries. There remains good signs of original Norman work but the attractive balustrade parapet was added at about the same time as the building of Sudbury Hall. Of the churches treasures, its beautiful font (C.1300) was 'lost' during the restoration period and replaced with a 'good' Victorian one! Other treasures remain, chief amongst them is the magnificent window presented to the church by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1850. The window is in memory of George Edward Anson, private secretary to the Prince, and keeper of Queen Victoria's privy purse. Interestingly, the window is the work of a German artist. This is a lovely church and should you chance to be in Sudbury, it is one you should not miss.

The River Dove skirts Sudburyas it flows through some of Derbyshire's most beautiful countryside, watering tranquil meadows where wild flowers flourish and contented cattle graze. Along the river you can sometimes see kestrels, grey herons, newts, frogs, toads, woodpeckers are not unusual, and there can be the occasional sighting of a tawny owl.

With all of this, plus the charms of enchanting villages like historic Sudbury, it is not surprising to find that Derbyshire is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in this part of England. It has lovely towns with excellent hotels, good shopping including specialist shops and galleries, historic inns and within easy driving distance delightful restaurants and olde-worlde tea rooms. There are many exciting things to do in the area, Sudbury is within easy driving distance of the Peak District National Park.

Places to visit include: Alton Towers, Shugborough Hall, Abbots Bromley for Puppet Museum, Heritage Brewery Museum at Burton-upon-Trent, Blithfield Reservoir and Cannock Chase.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Sudbury

Sudbury Hall(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)Pictures
Tutbury Castle(3.6 miles, 5.8 km, direction SE)Pictures
Croxden Abbey(7.5 miles, 12.0 km, direction NW)Pictures
Alton Castle(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction NW)Pictures
Alton Towers Theme Park(8.7 miles, 14.1 km, direction NW)Pictures
Chartley Castle(9.5 miles, 15.2 km, direction W)Pictures
Kedleston Hall(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction NE)Pictures
The National Memorial Arboretum(11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction S)Pictures
Thorpe Cloud(11.8 miles, 19.0 km, direction N)Pictures
Ilam Park(11.8 miles, 19.0 km, direction N)Pictures
Derby Cathedral(12.2 miles, 19.7 km, direction E)Pictures
Derby Museum and Art Gallery(12.2 miles, 19.7 km, direction E)Pictures
Shugborough Estate(12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction SW)Pictures
Tissington Hall(12.6 miles, 20.2 km, direction N)Pictures
Dovedale(12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction N)Pictures

All attractions in Sudbury
All attractions in Derbyshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Sudbury

Church Broughton, in the county of Derbyshire (3.1 miles, 4.9 km, direction E)
Church Broughton is an attractive Derbyshire village lying in open countryside that is perhaps best noted for its ancient church dedicated to Saint Michael.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Tutbury, in the county of Staffordshire (4.0 miles, 6.4 km, direction SE)
This picturesque little town in the Dove Valley is dominated by the ruins of the medieval castle.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Denstone, in the county of Staffordshire (6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction NW)
Denstone is a peaceful village set in the midst of rural Staffordshire countryside, where farm meadows are watered from a myriad of sparkling rivers flowing down from the Peak District National Park.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Burton upon Trent, in the county of Staffordshire (7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction SE)
Burton-on-Trent is an attractive town, it has a pleasing market place surrounded by pleasant properties, some being timber-frame black and white.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Alton, in the county of Staffordshire (8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction NW)
The village has many elegant stone buildings, and there is a circular lock-up and the romantic ruins of a 12th-century castle.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Repton, in the county of Derbyshire (9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction E)
Repton is one of England's most ancient towns, it was once the capital of the Saxon Kingdom of Mercia and the church there is the burial ground of Saxon Kings.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Mugginton, in the county of Derbyshire (10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction NE)
This is a popular Derbyshire village with a church dating back to the Doomsday Book.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Cheadle, a Historic Market Town in the county of Staffordshire (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction NW)
Cheadle has several fine black and white half timbered buildings in the town that date from the 16th-century
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Ilam, in the county of Derbyshire (11.8 miles, 19.0 km, direction N)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Derby, in the county of Derbyshire (12.4 miles, 20.0 km, direction E)
This is the premier town of the Shire, it is steeped in history with roots stretching to Roman times - the legions had a camp...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Froghall, in the county of Staffordshire (12.7 miles, 20.5 km, direction NW)
Attractively situated on the banks of the Caldon Canal in the beautiful Churnet Valley. Froghall offers visitors the opportunity to experience a diverse range of landscapes including fine watermeadows with a wealth of wildlife.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Swarkestone, in the county of Derbyshire (13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction E)
Swarkestone is a small enchanting village which grew up on the reeeded banks of the River Trent.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Milldale, in the county of Derbyshire (14.1 miles, 22.8 km, direction N)
Milldale is a glorious stone village lying in scenic countryside towards the southern fringes of the Peak District National Park.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Walton-on-the-Hill, in the county of Staffordshire (14.3 miles, 23.1 km, direction SW)
Walton on the hill is a pretty village a short distance from the favoured town of Epsom and the famous "downs" racecourse.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Staunton Harold, in the county of Leicestershire (15.2 miles, 24.5 km, direction SE)
Staunton was mentioned in the Doomsday Book when it was held by Henry de Ferrers.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Derbyshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Tutbury & Hatton Station(3.7 miles, 6.0 km, direction SE)
Uttoxeter Station(3.9 miles, 6.3 km, direction W)
M42 Junction 11(16.3 miles, 26.2 km, direction SE)
M6 Junction 14(16.4 miles, 26.4 km, direction W)
East Midlands Airport(18.6 miles, 30.0 km, direction E)
Birmingham International Airport(29.9 miles, 48.1 km, direction S)
Sudbury to London(118.0 miles, 189.8 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Sudbury

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Sudbury center
The Brookhouse Hotel Ltd(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction SE)
Riverside Hotel(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction SE)
Ramada Newton Park Burton(8.6 miles, 13.9 km, direction SE)
Quality Hotel & Leisure Club, Ashbourne(8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction N)
Unicorn Inn(8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction SE)
The Beresford Arms Hotel(9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction N)
Menzies Mickleover Court Hotel(9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction E)
The Dog & Partridge Country Inn(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction N)
Peveril Of The Peak(11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction N)
International Hotel(11.7 miles, 18.9 km, direction E)
All hotels in Sudbury

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