Gainsborough's House, the museum and gallery at the birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough

The Gainsborough's House mulberry tree is spectacular with its spreading, giant boughs now propped by tree stumps still produce a fine crop of fruit. The silkworm breeding industry did not take-off, thanks in part to the lack of botanical knowledge of the King and his advisers. There are two kinds of mulberry tree - the white, which feeds silkworms, and the black, which supplies fruit.  It is the black mulberry tree that was cultivated in England, in estates and substantial gardens throughout the country. 
 
An off-shoot of the silk weaving craft, 400 years later, is that Sudbury is the biggest exporter of silk goods in England. Vanners Silk Weavers, who back on to Gainsborough's House garden, has been producing silk since 1740. They have produced the silk for several Royal Weddings and work with some of the leading textile designers in the world.
 
Head gardener Jane Lowe leads a team of dedicated volunteer gardeners who ensure that the garden is maintained all year round. There are two herb beds and another is devoted to plants traditionally used for dyeing fabric. The remaining beds and borders are planted with shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals using plants that were available in Gainsborough's lifetime. Plants and seeds from the garden are for sale to raise funds towards the upkeep of the garden.