Inside Lavenham's 1395 Crooked House: Hidden Portrait, Witch Marks, Viral Dinners

Step inside Lavenham's 1395 Crooked House as Julie meets Alex and Ollie. From a letterbox scroll to witch marks, secret doors and viral black-tie dinners, this home surprises. Set in Britain's best preserved medieval village, this Instagram icon is said to have inspired There Was a Crooked Man. Alex and Ollie share how they welcome crowds with an illuminated scroll passed through their medieval letterbox by a gloved hand. Watch Julie try the scroll herself as onlookers gather. Upstairs, the former weaver's workshop is now a grand dining hall for 20. The duo host immersive black-tie dinners that weave the 600-year story of the house with Tudor costumes, live music and home cooking using local produce. Expect mead, storytelling and even Ollie's homemade crookies. History is etched into the beams: deep taper burn marks and VV witch marks believed to protect the valuable weaving once done here. The oak frame has twisted since 1395, creating the famous wonkiness, yet remains remarkably strong. Do not miss the secret bookcase door and a jaw-dropping eBay find: a 17th-century portrait discovered hidden behind a mirror frame that arrived as a so-called Victorian piece. It is destined for pride of place in the Crooked House. In the little crooked garden, Alex and Ollie reveal their next conservation challenge. A 20th-century concrete render is trapping moisture and harming the timber, so funds from dinners, tours and their shop are going toward removing it and re-plastering with breathable lime using local craftspeople. Beyond the front door, Julie explores Lavenham's National Trust Guildhall and hears how the village welcomed American airmen in WWII. With over 300 medieval buildings and settings that inspired Godric's Hollow, Lavenham is a living time capsule. Join the American Viscountess for a joyful, behind-the-scenes look at a fairy-tale home brought to life by two passionate custodians, and discover why crooked here truly means perfect. #CrookedHouse #Lavenham #AmericanViscountess #HistoricHomes #MedievalEngland #Tudor #HouseTour #Heritage