For the first time ever, John Constable’s famous piece, The Hay Wain will be returned to his native Suffolk on display at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich.
The 1821 painting shows a hay cart at Flatford Mill being pulled by horses through the River Stour, and is considered one of the most significant pieces of English art. The painting is being loaned by the National Gallery to Christchurch Mansion as part of a series of three exhibitions honouring the artist.
The curator for the British and European Art Collections at Ipswich, Emma Roodhouse, said: “It really will be a once in a lifetime exhibition, it’s never going to be repeated again and this is a historic moment to have these works on show.” Alongside The Hay Wain, The Vale Dedham will also be part of the exhibition, on loan from The National Gallery, Scotland, and Boat-Building near Flatford Mill from The V&A.
The birthday celebrations for the radical artist are numerous, as The Hay Wain’s appearance forms Part 2 of the Constable anniversary exhibitions.
A celebration in three parts
The first exhibition honoring Constable, ‘A Cast of Characters’, started on 28 March at Christchurch Mansion, and finishes this Sunday, 14 June, for anyone looking for last-minute tickets. It focuses on Constable’s family, friends and key influences in his life, setting the scene for Part 2, ‘The Hay Wain: Walking Constable’s Landscape’, which starts on 11 July.
Emma Roodhouse said: “What we wanted to do was not just have one exhibition but to have three because why not?… go big or go home!”
The second and most anticipated exhibition focuses on Constable’s landscapes and allows visitors to travel with him through the paintings of Suffolk.
The third and final exhibition to celebrate Constable’s 250th birthday starts on 24 October and runs until February 2027. It will focus on contemporary responses to Constable’s work from local groups such as The Brave Art Group and CHIp. Emma Roodhouse said: “Then you can really see Constable’s legacy.”
The fringe
The celebrations don’t even end there. there are also “fringe” events all designed to celebrate the Suffolk-born artist.
These include touring library playscapes for children based on Constable’s works and The Suffolk Archives Horse Box, which will tour shows like Latitude. Notably, there is also a mixed reality pop-up exhibition in East Bergholt, which will allow The Hay Wain to visit its birthplace virtually.
On the logistics required to make such a unique exhibition happen, Emma Roodhouse said:“It’s not only negotiating the loans but being able to put a funding package in place to make it happen and just sheer perseverance and patience … I never ever thought The Hay Wain would come to Suffolk and we’d be able to borrow it.”
Outside of the exhibtion, Christchurch Mansion itself is free to visit, and it offers a glimpse into what Regency era Ipswich was like.
Today, the day of Constable’s actual birthday (11 June) Christchurch Mansion laid on cake and card-signing for the man himself.
Roodhouse notes the radical nature of Constable’s works and why they remain so relevant today. “It’s all about his own emotions, feelings and connection towards the natural landscape and I hope people can take that understanding and apply it to our own natural world.”
‘The Hay Wain: Walking Constable’s Landscape’ runs from 11July until 4 October 2026 at Christchurch Mansion Ipswich. See here to book tickets.
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