About us
Kentwell Hall is a Tudor manor mouse and traditional country house garden offering great days out for the whole family.
A timeless Manor House set in over 30 acres of stunning, family-friendly gardens and parkland, on the edge of the picturesque village of Long Melford, in Suffolk
Kentwell is a privately-owned family home, acquired by Patrick and Judith Phillips in the 1970s, when it stood neglected and in need of restoration. Over 50 years of renovation have passed, and repairs continue to this day.
The House: part original Tudor, with later classical elements, mixed with the owners' personal style. Tudor portraits, interesting artefacts and historic tapestries make this a family home with a difference.
The Gardens: romantic moats, extensive lawns, walled gardens, massive clipped yews, espaliered fruit trees and giant cedars surround the House. Over 30 acres of tranquil breathing space, with a surprise to delight the senses around every corner.
The Moat House: this rare survivor of a 15th Century service building rises sheer from the moat and contains our working dairy, bakery, brewhouse and stillroom.
Special Events: Kentwell Hall pioneers living history and educational events in the UK – something for the whole family to enjoy together. But we're not just all about history - a wide variety of family events, open air cinema and themed days all bring this historic venue to life throughout the year. Take a look at our Events page for the full list of forthcoming events and opening. We also host weddings, private functions and car rallies.
Opportunities at Kentwell
We are often seek enthusiastic volunteers to lend a hand in various areas, including in our amazing Gardens. You don't have to be an expert gardener, but you will need to be prepared to get your hands dirty! We have over 30 acres of gardens, from formal flowers to wild woodland, we grow vegetables, herbs and fruit and have moats, ponds, topiary and a sunken garden and we're always seeking willing hands to help keep it all looking spic and span for our visitors to enjoy.
Our Tudor re-creation events are some of our biggest throughout the year! Hundreds of people walk through Kentwell's gates ready to take a leap back in time to experience Kentwell in all it's glory. We recruit in January for volunteers to take part in our summer season events.
We also take volunteers to assist in the gardens and grounds, front of house positions and special events programmes — it's a great opportunity to learn new skills and be part of the Kentwell team.
Scaresville scream team volunteers! Scaresville is one of our most successful and popular events! Dare to scare or help out behind the scenes with tech, wardrobe and make up.
You can find out more about all our volunteering opportunities here.
Working at Kentwell
We recruit motivated and enthusiastic individuals across our estate as required.
Typical roles to come up include catering and events assistants - who work in our onsite tearoom and shop, as well as kitchen positions within the catering team which facilitate the day to day running of our tearoom and kitchen. Of course, there are other roles that are advertised as needed, too.
