Constable Audio Trail
Introduction
Listen to Emma Roodhouse, curator of the Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service, and John Day, who runs the East Anglian Traditional Art Centre, chat to Ben Heather from Suffolk County Council's Green Access Team about John Constable's life, work and legacy around East Bergholt, Dedham and Flatford. The area lies in the Dedham Vale National Landscape, a nationally significant area, which was primarily designated because of its cultural significance. The landscape has not changed that much since Constable's time.
The complete recording of Walking with Emma Roodhouse and John Day is available on this page. To enjoy this audio experience while walking along the trail click the headphone symbol on your navigation screen in the Discover Suffolk app and enable audio guide. This will automatically play audio along the route as you wander .
Alternatively, look out for the QR code plaques along the trail and scan to hear about John Constable's life, work and legacy in the area.
Route Overview
Follow this circular 4.5 mile walk through East Bergholt village, Dedham and Flatford. Listen to the audio as you walk, making sure to pause to enjoy the wonderful views and sites as you walk in the footsteps of John Constable. The route will take you along St Edmund Way on the riverbanks of the River Stour to Dedham Bridge, visiting Dedham church where you can stop and view The Ascension, one of only 3 religious paintings by Constable, and returning via Flatford Hamlet, the site of Flatford Mill, Willy Lott's House and Bridge Cottage.
Download the Discover Suffolk App
Explore this trail and many others using the FREE Discover Suffolk App. Enable audio to hear about John Constable's life, work and legacy around East Bergholt, Dedham and Flatford as you follow this route.
Available to download on Apple and Android devices.
Listen to Sarah Barfoot from National Trust tell us more about Bridge Cottage, Flatford and who lived there. Learn about the importance of the River Stour and how it connected Mistley and Sudbury allowing coal, fuel, bricks, corn and grain to be transported by barge.
Listen to Simon Peachey from National Trust tell us about Constable's painting The Hay Wain, painted in 1821. Hear about the changes over the years to the surrounding landscape and how the National Trust have used the buildings since they took over the site in 1943.
Listen to Emma Roodhouse, curator of the Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service, introduce us to John Constable and the 'birthplace of his art' here in Suffolk.
Listen to Emma Roodhouse, curator of the Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service talk about John Constable's painting 'The Mill Stream'.
Listen to Emma Roodhouse, curator of the Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service talk about John Constable's painting's 'Lime Kiln', 'Willy Lott's House' and 'Windmill'.
Learn more about the village of East Bergholt and it's links with John Constable
Find out more about exhibitions celebrating local artists including John Constable.
Visit the Suffolk Artists Gallery at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich to view a wonderful collection of John Constable paintings.
Learn more about Dedham Vale National Landscapes
Below are a small selection of Constable's paintings. Click the link's below the pictures to find out where it was painted and further details.
East Bergholt
Parish Council
