School stays

Yet another marvelous week.  We loved the food and the barn, and we learnt so much about the world around us.  You even summoned up a newt for us and a bat to see by torchlight!
(Rickmansworth PNEU May 2008) 

I had a wonderful time and I really want to come back again.  My favourite thing was jumping in the puddles and hedgehog house building. 
(Harriet M, Gt Houghton Prep school, November 2008)

40th family gathering

There once was a family called Perry
Who, when they arrived, were weary
But once in the wood
On the bikes all was good
They walked, talked, drank and were merry!
(Perry family August 2007, den-makers, leaf rubbers, tree huggers extraordinare) 

Sub-zero but toasty New Year

A wonderful 3 days’ sport with five families!  Having thought we would freeze, seeing as it was sub-zero every night, we were surprisingly toasty…Everyone threw themselves into the festive spirit by dressing up as Tudors (including the baby!) and participating in a barn dance, a night time treasure hunt, various bike rides and walks into Lavenham … and thoroughly enjoyed tucking into our venison banquet to celebrate New Years Eve.  It was a very unique experience and we hope to come back! 
(McEwans and friends New Year 2008/09)

Heavenly Christmas

What can I say – absolutely wonderful place, pure heaven.  We have loved everything and our Christmas was magic. 
(Margaret Wilson & family Xmas 2008) 

Golden wedding celebration

Bike ride, the beds and the countryside – such a lovely barn for our family gathering
(David & Mary Black October 2007) 

…had the time of our lives here ….  I’m sure our children will have our Tudor banquet as a favourite childhood memory when they’re old and grey… all so comfortable and atmospheric too. 
(Susan Welsh & Jolyon, Nov 2007) 

50th birthday & prize codpiece

Simple family games kept us all amused, especially a scavenger hunt on the Saturday with some very competitive members in the family!! The highlight had to be the 7 course banquet with games, quizzes and competitions between each course and prizes for the best costumes including the most 'interesting' codpiece - there was even a musical one!! Everyone thought your barn amazing and a wonderful venue for the occasion. We’ll definitely remember you for other get togethers.
Ingrid Forsdyke, 50th birthday with large group, May 2008

Choral gathering

We had the most fantastic time in the most magical place with the most helpful and welcoming hosts ...We ended the weekend by singing some very beautiful songs in the little church.  We will carry this memory for ever.  We will certainly return, they want it to become an annual affair! 
Helen Bensihem and the Big Heart & Soul Choir, Norfolk

Mothers & children

little piece of paradise.
Alison Moss with 8 mothers and 16 children, April 2007

Ruby wedding lunch

You went far beyond what we had the right to expect to make it all work so well and professionally yet in a friendly and relaxed way.  We could not have wished for a nicer setting - the magnificent barn and the garden of your lovely home - to gather our old friends and family together, and we feel very blessed.  One guest summed it up when she said that you could tell that this was a loved place, which must be the nicest and most perceptive comment
Penelope & Andrew Phillips, June 2008

Hens – ten times better than they thought it would be

a fantastic time, the barn is amazing and ten times better than the website shows, it took me about ten minutes to close my mouth from starting dumb struck at it! All members of the party where racking their brains for the next event we can hold there so expect to see us again in the near future.
Rebecca, hen party, April 08

Awe struck hens

everyone was awe-struck on arrival in the main hall! - a beautiful place to stay as well as being comfortable and homely. The bikes were perfect for a Saturday activity. The feathered hens (and chicks!) were lovely additions too … We'll certainly recommend the barn to other friends and family.
Julia Edmonds and friends, June 2006

Idyllic ruby wedding celebration

everything went perfectly because of your help & guidance… Everyone thought the barn and setting were beautiful and fell in love with it as did we when we first saw it one very dark evening last autumn. The barn and garden provided just the atmosphere we were seeking – which was one of a very relaxed summer Sunday afternoon, in the heart of the English countryside, surrounded by birds and wildlife. It was idyllic.
Reg & Marie May, June 2008

Hens in costume

.. such a wonderful weekend. We had an amazing time - it was just too beautiful! I think it will be more than a few years until we return with children but we will definitely be back!! We took hundreds of photos on the bikes - hysterical!! A few sore rears yesterday … A few of us got very excited by the other fancy dress stuff
Sarah Montgomery, hen party organizer, March 2007

Cosy couples

The barn was beautiful and we had a lovely time exploring the area - and meeting the friendly pigs! You have thought of everything - it was like a (very grand) home from home.  Exceeded all expectations – fantastic and enchanting place.
Rebecca Twine and friends – November 2008

Bicycling hens

we couldn't have hoped for a better place for the weekend. Everything was perfect - from the weather to all the bikes and much, much more. Despite being rather nervous of the whole affair, I could not have had a better time. We will definitely be back.
Julia Edmonds and friends, June 2006

Dream hen location

If I had dreamt of my favourite place for a hen do, I would not have been able to come up with a place as gorgeous as here.
Sans, January 2008

What a gorgeous location! 16 hens plus a couple of rogue chickens, sunshine, log fires, gossip, chatter and giggles – just heavenly. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect place for a hen weekend.
Jackie and lots of hens, April 2008

Tudor hen party

There once was a beautiful bride
Who had sixteen hens by her side They all had a ball
In the great Milden Hall -
The Tudor life they took in their stride
(Sarah Stevenson’s hen party, April 2007)

Civilized stag party

…such a fantastic setting for our civilised stag do - we all had a great time - even if the journey home on Sunday was excruciatingly painful after the bike riding!  I have had nothing but positive reports from everyone about the barn - the weekend was exactly what we were after and the bikes were the icing on the cake! 
Tim Liversedge, organiser stag w/e, May 2007

Family gathering

…barn itself absolutely beautiful - very sympathetically restored with the result that it is a real pleasure to use. We have hired some very large houses before now from shooting lodges to stately homes, all of which have been excellent but how lovely to find something so lovely and so well appointed almost on your own doorstep. I think we would go so far as to say that it was one of the best weekends we have ever had. We feel sure that, in the future, you will see us once more, we just need to think of another reason, or perhaps we don't!
Robert and Sarah Branch, June 2007

Wild weeks with environmental activities

The kids had a ball and the mummies enjoyed themselves enormously. I thought you were brilliant with sullen, grumpy Sussex teens – more brilliant than I would have been …All three Henderson kids have since spent their holiday afternoons ‘swishing for insects' in a local meadow – we now have nets, examination trays and all manner of lovely pots to put our huge array of crickets, grasshoppers, damselflies etc in.
Kim Henderson, 6 mothers & various aged children on 4 night midweek stay, Sussex , August 2005

We really enjoyed ourselves and you looked after us royally. It was a really magical week.
Kate Callegari, headteacher, Rickmansworth PNEU school, class 6 on 4 night midweek stay, May 2006

Hen party

…wonderful weekend.  It's a nerve-wracking business booking accommodation for such a large group, but I can safely say that everyone was awe-struck on arrival in the main hall!  … a beautiful place to stay as well as being comfortable and homely.  …the bikes were perfect for a Saturday activity.
Elaine Hakes, hen party - April 2007

60th & 70th birthday weekends & family gatherings

...enchanted with the whole weekend but all agree that the spectacular venue made it all the more special! We had such a lovely and totally memorable weekend and your local knowledge and helpful advice and suggestions made the organisation easier for me! I would love to use your barn again - will just have to find a valid celebration!
Barbara Crawshaw, Berks October 2004

... how much we enjoyed our stay at the weekend. You have created a very special place; which made the perfect venue for our family gathering. We hope some day to come back for similar celebrations.
Dave & Inge Davis, Kent, August 2005

We all had a fantastic and very enjoyable weekend, none more so than my Mum who was absolutely bowled over by the whole occasion and hasn't stopped talking about it all yet! The barn is stunning and a perfect venue for a big family get-together across the generations and, as you know, our family included the youngest at 6 months to Grandad at 72, with a lot of children and teenagers in between, not generally known for choosing to participate in family gatherings, but I can honestly say I don't think there was a cross word between anyone all weekend... if we can think of another occasion we will definitely be back.
Liz Whitman & family, Essex June 2006

Christmas and New Year

We will never forget walking into the barn and seeing the beautiful Christmas trees and the long table with the candles …. Just magic! A stunning and spectacular venue!
Box family, Christmas party, December 2004

… The best Christmas ever. Milden Hall is a great base camp for walking in the area, as fortunate we were with the weather we rambled in different groups, with and without children. It was brilliant!”
Kees Norman, Holland, 10 adults & 10 children, Christmas 2005

We all had such a wonderful time… breathtaking accommodation ... We found the warmth and comfort of the cartlodge matched with the immense indoor space of the Tudor barn perfect for our party. With 18 people from 8-83 to keep happy with very different needs and expectations of what a holiday should be, the problem was solved. Peace for the grandparents in the sitting room while the younger generations could use the barn to play British bull dog, table tennis or dance at one end while still leaving space around the wood burning stove to sit more quietly…. I hope we shall be able to come back in a summer time.
Hebe Pritchard, Kent 8 adults & 8 children, snow on the ground, New year 05

Hen Weekend

We had a fabulous weekend - lots of memories for my sister to take into her married life! Thanks for everything - it was fab.
Lara Clarke, June 06

Hen Weekend

Thank you for providing us with a palace for a few days – we all had to take a breath when we arrived as we were so fantastically surprised. We could not have wished for a more beautiful residence, more spectacular surroundings or a better welcome …. We hope to return with all our children in tow at some stage.
Julia Edmonds and friends, June 2006

Company away days and meetings

Thank-you for a really lovely stay – the barn exceeded all expectations and was a lovely setting for our offsite - perfect really. I shall certainly recommend you to anyone in our company in the future, and I hope to visit again myself.
Peter Bines, 14 guests,
Direct Line Insurance, July 2006

Hen Weekend

Thanks for a wonderful weekend. The barn completely exceeded our expectations and everyone really enjoyed themselves and we were so impressed with the accommodation, you really have done a lovely job on the renovation and it was so refreshing staying somewhere so unusual.
Gillian Morley on behalf of a well-behaved hen weekend – June 2004

Availability and booking
Contact Juliet and Christopher Hawkins
The Hall, Milden, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9NY  
Tel: 01787 247235 Email:hawkins@thehall-milden.co.uk