The Framlingham History Society (sister organisation to the Lanman Museum) has announced a new richly-illustrated hardback book “Framlingham a Portrait Through Time 1539 to 2016”, available from 1st November 2025.

This finely-illustrated book has over 110 images with detailed captions relating to their historic background. The most prolific artist associated with Framlingham was Leonard Squirrell, whose patron was James Mason Martin who grew up in Framlingham. Squirrell’s exquisite watercolours capture not only the castle and church, but many locations around the town between 1914 and 1974. Also featured are many drawings by John Western along with work by over 40 artists. There are also paintings of our two most famous sons, Sir Henry Thompson and Ed Sheeran.

More details here.

A new pictorial tour of the museum has been created here. You can “walk” round the museum by dragging the picture with the mouse, and click on some of the items for more information.

The Lanman Stewards Outing this year was a busman’s holiday to the Laxfield Museum. This museum of Laxfield life and history is in the fifteenth century Guild Hall. The museum now occupies the two floors and is packed with interesting artefacts and recontructions of local shops and other scenes, including a reconstruction of the Mid Suffolk Light Railway booking office. Well worth a visit.

The History Society and Lanman Museum held a joint display in the Crown Hotel as a part of the VE Day commemoration in Framlingham. An extensive display was put on of artefacts, photographs was put on. Talks were given to parties from Sir Robert Hitcham school.

For Framlingham residents only, during the Christmas on the Hill event on Saturday 30th November, there will be free entry to the Castle and Museum to Fram Castle and the Lanman Museum.

Present proof of local address on entry to the Castle.

We have recently received some papers and recollections of Bob Blastock, born and raised in Framlingham, who sadly passed away in 2021. We are considering how to display some of this material in the Museum, but in the mean time a number of articles from the collection have been published on the Framlingham History Society here.

Key museum policies and other governance information have been uploaded to the website here.

A new cabinet was installed in the museum today.

This will be used for some of the Henry Thompson exhibits, including two Fabergé items. The cabinet is not only more secure but provides better environmental protection than the cabinet previously used. The old cabinet will be used for other less precious items.

Special thanks to 4 men from the Fire Brigade who provided the muscle to get it in the museum. They made it seem so easy to move a very heavy and bulky item into a tiny lift in the castle.

The daffs and narcissi of the Spring are now a distant memory, and the narcissi on the top banner of this website have been replaced by roses! 1st September: the roses have faded, and gone from the banner.

This year’s Stewards’ Outing on 10th May was to the Suffolk Punch Trust at Hollesley. This is a chance for all the Lanman Museum volunteer stewards to meet and have a fun time out. Refreshments were provided. Many thanks to Olivia Clear for arranging this.

If you would be interested in helping as a Museum Steward for the occasional morning or afternoon (2 hour sessions) please see here.