Editing Framlingham (section)

==Features==

[[File:Framlingham - geograph.org.uk - 179288.jpg|thumb|Market Hill, Framlingham]]

Framlingham's history can be traced to an entry in the [[Domesday Book]] (1086) when it consisted of several manors.

The medieval [[Framlingham Castle]] is a major feature and tourist attraction for the area and is managed by [[English Heritage]]. This Norman castle was first referenced in 1148, although some academics believe it could be as old as the 11th century. [[Mary I of England|Mary Tudor]] (daughter of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] and his first wife [[Catherine of Aragon]]) was proclaimed the first Queen of England here in 1553. The castle is referenced in the 2017 single "[[Castle on the Hill]]" by [[Ed Sheeran]], who grew up in Framlingham. Adjacent to the castle is a large lake, or [[mere (lake)|mere]], which used to supply the castle with fish. It is managed by the [[Suffolk Wildlife Trust]]. A nature walk in woodland can be made around the mere. There is also a large meadow adjacent to the castle that holds various outdoor events and productions in the summer and where people can picnic.

The [[Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham|Church of St Michael the Archangel]] is a prominent feature of the town. It dates from the 12th century (the main rebuilding dates from the late 15th and 16th centuries) and has a ring of eight bells dating from the 15th to 20th centuries. It also contains a very rare Thamar organ and a number of tombs of nobles. The church and other parts of the town feature as locations in the [[Anthony Horowitz]] novel ''[[Magpie Murders]]''.

Framlingham has a football team, located in Badingham Road. The town has the two oldest-functioning Post Office [[pillar box]]es in the UK, dating from 1856, located on Double Street and on College Road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A short introduction to the history of the British Pillar Box |url=http://www.cvphm.org.uk/history.html |access-date=11 May 2016}}</ref> The pillar boxes are marked V. R. Victoria Regina, after Queen Victoria.

Framlingham is also home to one of the smallest houses in Britain, the "Check House". Converted into a two-storey residence of under {{convert|29|sqm}}, the former bookmaker's office<ref name="howes">S. Howes, 2011 [http://smh.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/tiny-uk-house-with-a-giant-pricetag–20110316–1bwr6.html Tiny UK house with a giant price-tag], [[Sydney Morning Herald]] 16 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011</ref> is in the Mauldens Mill Estate in the town centre. The ground floor measures {{convert|20|ft}} by {{convert|7|ft|3|in}}.<ref name="howes"/>

There is a traditional English market in the town square, Market Hill, every Tuesday and Saturday mornings offering fruit and vegetables, [[artisan bread]] and cakes, fresh fish, coffee, cheese and pies and other occasional stalls. A small museum is located within the castle.

Framlingham is surrounded by agricultural land. It lies some {{convert|14|miles}} from the coastal town of [[Aldeburgh]] and {{convert|20|miles}} from [[Southwold]]. It is also {{convert|10|miles}} from the renowned music centre of [[Snape Maltings]] and {{convert|12|miles}} from Woodbridge and the world-famous [[Anglo-Saxon]] burial site at [[Sutton Hoo]]. It is approximately {{convert|5|miles}} from the [[A12 road (England)|A12]], one of the main arteries into and out of Suffolk and approximately {{convert|15|miles}} northeast of [[Ipswich]].

In 2006, ''[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]'' magazine voted Framlingham the best place to live in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fram named nation's best place to live |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/fram-named-nation-s-best-place-to-live-1-76604 |access-date=2020-10-22 |website=East Anglian Daily Times |language=en}}</ref>

Framlingham is a [[Fairtrade Town]]<ref>https://www.framlingham.com/news/2023/07/good-news-fairtrade-town-status-renewed</ref> and has a [[conservation area]]. An oak tree planted in 1911 in honour of the [[Coronation of King George V]] survives outside the old railway station, now a pub named ''The Station'' on Station Road. The town was the main location for the BBC television comedy series ''[[Detectorists]]''. It has also appeared in numerous other TV programmes.

A famous family-orientated sausage festival is held in October. This event has butchers from Framlingham and the surrounding villages competing for the trophy of best sausage in the area. The town is closed to traffic on the day and people follow a map around the town sampling the different flavoured sausages and voting for their favourite. There are also market stalls and entertainment held on Market Hill on the day. Other festivals and events are held in the town and around the castle throughout the year.