THE coming of spring has been celebrated in west Suffolk as our Tudor ancestors would have done hundreds of years ago.

About 2,000 visitors are thought to have joined in with the annual May Day celebrations at Kentwell Hall at Long Melford.

From last Saturday to yesterday, families visiting the hall were transported back in time. May Day – which was the most popular festival in Tudor times – was celebrated with music, dancing, plays and processions and more than 100 people dressed as Tudors.

Speaking yesterday, Patrick Phillips, of Kentwell Hall, said: “Today we have had a very good turnout; one of the best years we have had for the last seven years.”

He believed the good weather throughout the bank holiday weekend had boosted visitor numbers.

Mr Phillips said spring was a “lovely” time of year at Kentwell, with blossom and flowers. “May day in past times, particularly in Tudor times, was one of the most exciting festivals of the year because it signalled the end of winter and the welcoming of summer and it was sort of a fertility festival.”

He added: “We think we get pretty close to how it used to be.” The house and gardens were open as usual over the weekend and homemade lunches were available.