Framlingham History Society promotes an interest in the social history of the town and the surrounding district. We arrange talks, presentations and visits. On this website you can find a growing set of articles, newsletters and journals, with stories of people, places, objects and events related to the Framlingham area, and some richly illustrated books are available.
For more information, see the links by “Find out more” above (and the Main menu at the top right).
3rd September 2026: Some new and updated articles, including speculation of whether the River Ore was ever navigable to Framlingham, and more information on Framlingham’s railway.
14th July: 2026 a new article and collection of bills, invoices, letters etc over nearly 80 years of the 19th and 20th Century. See “Social History” in the articles page.
13th July 2026: The Framlingham Photo Project 2011 has been updated with more accurate captions and descriptions to many of the images.
Older news items here.
Framlingham has many famous sons and daughters, and is the scene of many historical events.
Queen Mary was proclaimed queen from Framlingham Castle in 1553
The first document that Mary wrote as queen was written in Framlingham Castle, and a copy is on display in the Lanman Museum in the Castle.
Sir Henry Thompson, surgeon and polymath, was born in Framlingham in 1820
There is a plaque on the wall of his parents’ shop in Market Hill, which was the home in which he was brought up. This building is now St Elizabeth Hospice charity shop.
Ed Sheeran was brought up and went to school in Framlingham and lives nearby
Framlingham’s spectacular castle is steeped in history, and has been much painted and photographed. This painting is by Leonard Squirrell, copyright © the Lanman Museum
Join us at our meetings to hear talks on many aspects of Framlingham’s history and join us on our summer visits, as detailed in our programme.