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Archive of Glemsford Local History Society newsletters and publications Publications By Rev K Glass A short history of Glemsford St Mary's Font You are here: Home: Publications Below you will find an archive of the Glemsford History Society Publications and Newsletters. The Tale Of Little Egypt - A History of Glemsford by Daniel Scott - 2026 Daniel Scott has lived in the village for 14 years, growing up in the village since he was 6 years old. Currently studying history and poloitics at the University of Sussex in Brighton, where he is currently in his second year. He has had a keen interest in history since he was young, however, this piece on Glemsford's history was writtenduring the summer of 2025 as a passion project, inspired by Rev. Kenneth Glass's "A Short History of Glemsford. Glemsford in the Early 1920's. Pub 1978. Reprint. 2023. IN STOCK £6 Transportees from Suffolk to Australia - 1787-1867 Pub 2000. IN STOCK £5 Pubs and Inns of Glemsford. Pub 2018 £6 IN STOCK £6 Shops and Services of Glemsford. £6 O.O.P. Glemsford Revisited. £5 O.O.P. Half a Pound of Tuppeny Rice. (Recipes) IN STOCK £6 I Spy Glemsford History. Pub 2025 IN STOCK First class post +£2.50 Click on descriptions below to search newsletter.pdf for full article Summer 2021 no 46 The boy who burned down a barn [part 2] Transportation by Barbara Richardson-Todd Landscape Gardening in 18th Century by Stephanie Prythergch-Hemphill The Waterworks Tower by late Gillman Game 2008 first published Spring 2021 no 45 Somerton Church 1538 Edmund Hibble of Somerton research by Linda Ronalds The Organ of St Mary's Church by Patrick Hemphill The Boy who burned down a barn [part 1] by Barbara Richardson-Todd Winter 2020 no 44 William Oliver 1804-1853 Halstead An Artist in the Garden by Jenny Wears Glemsford Telephone Exchange from 2007 by Gillman Game Autumn 2020 no 43 Charity Schools in the 20th Century by Stephanis Prythergch-Hemphill Glemsford Flood 2004 by Patrick Hemphill Henbane in Glemsford by Robin Ford Summer 2020 no 42 Trade and industry in Suffolk in 19th Century by Stephanie Prythergch-Hemphill Field names by Jenny Wears Taxes by Jenny Wears Shepherd Collis Goodchild 1878-1953 foamer and landowner Spring 2020 no 41 Village Education in 19th Century by Stephanie Prythergch-Hemphill Glemsford Schools by Jenny Wears WW1 POW Camp by Jenny Wears Summer 2019 no 40 History of the Susan Pearman Cup of Gardening Club by Richard Deeks 1994 Autumn 2018 no 39 The 15th Century House moved from Glemsford to California by Jenny Wears The Conservation of St Mary's Font by David Newell Spring 2018 no 38 Transported Burglars from Glemsford [part 2] by Jenny Wears Attempted Murder and Suicide in Glemsford [part 2] by Jenny Wears A Police presence in Glemsford Winter 2017 no 37 Transported Burglars [part 1] by Jenny Wears Riot Night December 2017 memoir of Ernest Ambrose of Long Melford Coals for Glemsford by Jenny Wears Autumn 2017 no 36 St Mary's Font by David Newell The Morris Men of Little Egypt 25 years by Neville Parry Spring 2017 no 35 The Brook St Nissan/ Romney Hut memoir by John Suttle plus notes by Rowland Hill The Manns Soap Boilers by Jenny Wears Winter 2016 no 34 The Ship A long lost Public House by Jenny Wears The Wool Cloth Industry by Jenny Wears Autumn 2016 no 33 Glemsford Urban District Council 1896-1935 Summer 2016 no 32 The Bells of St Mary's by Jenny Wears Canon Algernon Ogle Wintle Rector of Lawshall and Barrel Organs Glemsford Farms 1994 by Gillman Game Glemsford Fire Brigade Spring 2016 no 31 Peverells and George Cavendish by Jenny Wears E W Downs Engineering in Glemsford. A report on a talk by Donald Roger-Brown from 1998 The Stormport Saga of George Lane by Patrick Hemphill Report on talk by Pip Wright 2016 Alice de Bryne of Acton Winter 2015 no 30 Jocelin of Brakeland Autumn 2015 no 29 Mary Holmes School Mistress in Glemsford by Anne Edwards Glemsford Station A Victorian Home 1943- 51 by Celia Hall Summer 2015 no 28 The Welsh Miners' Strike the Glemsford Connection by Sid Watkinson Glemsford Methodist Church by Marilyn Nash Glemsford Station 1943-51 A child's eye view [part 3] by Celia Hall Spring 2015 no 27 Glemsford Station 1943-51 [part 2] by Celia Hall Autumn 2014 no 26 Woodfield Alley to Shitpot Alley. Map and changes of names Bernice Victor Goodey WW1 by Glenys Day Glemsford Station 1943-51 A childs eye view [part 1] by Celia Hall Spring 2014 no 25 The Butterwort and the Paper Mill Autumn 2014 no 24 The Silk Mill in Peril Spring 2013 no 23 Parish Council acquire telephone box Old Street Names [part 2] by Jenny Wears Vernon Bode The West Drayton Druid by Pat Currie Autumn 2012 no 22 Old Street names [part 1] by Jenny Wears Spring 2012 no 21 Abraham Slater A Glemsford Baize Maker by Jenny Wears Callis, Methold and Wimbus. A Manor within the purlieu of Glemsford by Pat Currie Autumn 2011 no 20 The Glemsford Workhouse by Jenny Wears Spring 2011 no 19 The Glemsford Crane Henry Kolle and Sons London Horsehair Manufacturers Winter 2010 no 18 A Glemsford Walking Tour Autumn 2010 no 17 Spring 2010 no 16 A Present from Glemsford Autumn 2009 no 15 Deaths of Frederick John Craddock 1886- 1943 and Albert Sterry at Flax factory Lower Rd. Lost Mills of Glemsford by Jenny Wears Autumn 2009 b Autumn 2008 no 14 The Origin of the Glemsford Station Spring 2008 no 13 The Glemsford Waterworks by Gillman Game Summer 2007 no 12 Happy Vaccy [part 2] by Jean Cook A Glemsford Family 19th Century [part 3] by Sheila Willmoth Spring 2007 no 11 Glemsford Post Office 1898-1932 by Gillman Game Happy Vaccy Evacuation to Glemsford [part 1] by Jean Cook 2007 Wolsey's Faithful Servant George Cavendish Summer 2007 Autumn 2007 Spring 2006 Autumn 2006 Childhood Memories by John Slater Spring 2005 Early 19th Century Apprentices in Glemsford by Eileen Lynch Autumn 2005 1999 Vol 2 Ed 2 Colonel Meek The Pearman Family Glemsford Wills by Eileen Lynch Skeletons 1851 Spring 1998 vol 2 Ed 1 Pub Games in Suffolk by Sid Watkinson Chequers Cottage by John Slater Spring 1998 Autumn 1995 Spring 1995

Latest Site Updates 09/10/2026 AGM Meeting Report on meeting, also featuring Ben Archer talking about The Suffolk Flag Link to report 07/10/2026 Daniel Scott The Tale of “Little Egypt”: A History of Glemsford Link to report 15/09/2026 Report for September meeting added. See poster. Link to report

The Tale Of Little Egypt Read below or download the file Glemsford History Research Summary - Daniel Scott (August 2026) "For my piece on Glemsford's history ('The Tale of "Little Egypt": A History of Glemsford') i researched the entirity of the villages history (and the surrounding area in parts) from ~424, 000BC up until the present day. My research therefore has thus included the following areas of history: the earliest human inhabitants in the stour valley, the arrival of agriculture, the Celtic tribes which lived within and around Glemsford, the Roman Empire's presnce in Glemsford (and the revolt against the Romans). the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, life in medieval Glemsford (410 AD - 1500 AD), life in Early Modern Glemsford (1500 AD - 1800 AD), and finally life in Modern Glemsford (1800 AD - Present). These periods include within them various topics such as: material culture (tools, pottery, coins, etc.) farming, the village's "founding", politics, the medieval manors, industry within the village, as well as various events which Glemsford has experienced. My research into Glemsford's history has been based on a multitude of sources but to name a few, it has been based on the Dedham Vale National Landscape's "Stour Valley Heritage Compendia"; Tithe records, newspapers, and directories from thegenealogist.co.uk; Archaeeological Excavation Reports; and finall, charters from the Bodleian Libraries.

Information relating to the history of the Parish and Church of Glemsford Anchor 11 A History of St Mary's Church Font You are here: Home : Buildings and Streets: Church and Chapels : A History of St. Mary's Church Font By David Newell I have been involved with the conservation of St Mary’s Church Font for nearly three years now and by the time you read this I am hopeful that work will have started on the conservation project. (Phase 1 to start on August 23rd 2017.) We believe that the font was installed in the church sometime between 1350 and 1450, so it is about 600 years old. We have baptism records going back a long way but not all the way back to when it was new although we know who the Rectors were during this period. The list of Rectors is on the wall in the south aisle of the church. Which of these Rectors was the first to use this brand new font? Was it John Rauf (1373-1381) or, later in our time slot, John Dalden (1443-1471), or one of the five Rectors in between, and who was the first child to be baptised in the font? We can only speculate who the first child was – so I will! Was the baby boy or girl the child of one of the two landed families in the village – the Goldings or the Mondes – or the child of a local tradesman, the butcher, the baker or the candlestick maker? Maybe the child was the son or daughter of an agricultural labourer who grew up, married and died here in Glemsford and is buried in the churchyard, but this is not very exciting. What if…!!! I am now letting my imagination run away with me. If our child was a boy born at the end of the 1300s he could have found himself as one of the archers at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. All communities were required to provide part-time soldiers in the event of war. “Indentured retinue” or “household retainers”. King Edward III declared in 1363: “if he be able bodied, shall, upon holidays make use, in his games, of bows and arrows… and so learn to practise archery.” Our child, from an early age, would have been required to practise archery every Sunday. At the Battle of Agincourt, Henry V’s army consisted of about 6,000 men, 5,000 of which were archers, against 30,000-40,000 French, mainly knights on horseback and men-at-arms (foot soldiers). Some 10,000 French died that day, with less than 400 English losses, so it is almost certain then that our child would have returned to Glemsford and lived out his life in peace; brought up a family who, in turn, would have been baptised in our font – and so on for many generations. A fantasy maybe but there is an historic family saga here waiting to be written, not by me. Where is the novelist in the village? Back to top

A child's eye view of living at Glemsford Station during the 1940s by Celia Hall Station You are here: Home : Buildings and Streets: Glemsford Station History moves on. Those of us of a certain age have to come to terms with the fact that events of our life time, that still seem like "News" or "the way things are", are already History for the younger generations. When Celia Hall offered to contribute more of her work about life on Glemsford's station during the 1940s, we were delighted to accept. A Child's Eye View by Celia Hall An Arrival I was five years old when I arrived at the station with my parents, Charles and Mary Turner, and my brother Peter, who was 15. It was an icy February day and we found that the inside of the station house was colder than outside. It took days for the one kitchen range to warm the house enough for us to take off our outdoor coats. This coldness was probably partly caused by a crack down one wall in my brother’s bedroom through which we could see daylight. Later we were told this was the result of a bomb being dropped behind the house. It was not a good start. The Signalwoman However, things began to improve for me once I could begin to explore the station and surroundings. My first surprise was to find that we had a signalwoman rather than a man. The staff at our previous station, Worstead, in Norfolk, were all male, so I was pleased to see a young woman here. She had taken the place of a man who had been called up into the army. Her name was Lily Farrance and she was a war widow, which I found terribly sad. We took to each other immediately and I spent a lot of time with her in the signal box over the next two years. Then the war ended and she had to leave to allow a man to take the job. The signal box was fascinating – bells rang, levers were pulled and I could look down on the passengers waiting on the platform and watch the tiny branch trains pull in and stop just outside. The drivers and firemen soon got to know me and Lily would hand me the tablet (giving right of way to the train on the single track) to hand to the firemen. She told me to say ‘Right o’way to Clare’ as I did so, though I had no idea what it meant and just repeated it parrot-fashion. This always caused amusement for some reason. On winter evenings, Lily cooked cheese on toast for my tea on the black stove at the end of the signal box and I enjoyed eating it at the table overlooking the platform where I could watch what was going on. The Stationmaster's Office My father’s office was not such a friendly place. If a train were late there was much bell-ringing and urgent telephone calls on a large black wind-up telephone and messages tapped out in morse code. I kept in a corner while this was happening. My father took great pride in all ‘his’ trains being punctual, constantly taking his gold watch out of his waistcoat pocket to check the incoming train times and ensure that the outgoing trains left to the second. He was formidable if anything went wrong. His clerk must have found him difficult to work for Gangers and Shunters There were, of course, other staff on the station. A group of gangers ‘lived’ beside the track in a hut made from sleepers, with a thin chimney poking out of the roof to take the smoke from their stove inside. Their job was to inspect the rails and track for faults and remedy them. They had a long distance of track to look after and to travel to the farthest points they used an ingenious type of trolley. This consisted of a wooden platform on wheels. Poles could be attached to two of the wheels and by moving these poles up and down all the wheels could be made to move. The faster they worked the poles, the faster the trolley would move. I longed to travel with them, but it was considered too dangerous. I could only watch them working close to the station. They moved along the track tapping the rails to determine by the sounds given whether anything was wrong. The shunters, who arranged the goods trucks into the required formation for a particular train, were highly skilled in the way they went about doing this. They would alter the points to enable trucks to be moved from one track to another, then the shunting engine would ‘nudge’ a truck down the track towards a second one. A shunter would stand by this truck and calculate the exact moment to lift its coupling chain and drop it over the hook on the first truck. They continued until the whole arrangement was complete. I’d watch this for hours. Mixed Freight All kinds of goods travelled to and from the station – grain, sugar beet, coal and livestock. On one occasion a pony arrived and the farmer who had come to collect it put me on its back and sent it off down the lane and over the bridge with me clutching its mane and trying not to fall off. I’d always loved horses but it was the first and last time I rode one without a saddle and bridle. Porters and Carman The porters, who had a tiny room on the platform, were kept busy all day. They opened and closed the crossing gates, carried passengers’ luggage to and from the trains and kept the coal fires going in the ticket office and waiting room. It was their job to paint the edge of the platform with the right-angle shaped brush and maintain the station’s gardens. This was deemed very important because all the stations on the line competed each year for the ‘Best-kept station’ prize. The last member of staff was the carman who drove the station lorry carrying goods to and from the station. I regularly had lifts to the village with him. Travel by Train Trips on the train were always fun in the single carriages with their leather straps to open and close the windows, landscape pictures on the walls above the seats and a mirror in which passengers would check their appearances before leaving the train. Less comfortable, but exciting, were the times I was taken onto the footplate of the goods engines working in the goods yard. The cold of the wind coming in contrasted with the intense heat from the firebox as the fireman stoked it up. I bounced around clinging to anything I could find to stop myself falling out. (No health and safety rules then.) The Community I knew a great many people because of living at the station. Besides the staff I became friendly with all the passengers and each year my father arranged for me to sell flags for the railway benevolent fund because he knew that no one would refuse to buy a flag from me! In the village I was known as the ‘stationmaster’s daughter’, which meant that I had to behave myself because my father would have been informed quickly had I not done so…. Further accounts from Celia The Yard and Orchard My perfect playground Keeping Clean Keeping amused Not as expected Heating, lighting and water Less happy times War, storms and floods by Celia Hall by Celia Hall by Celia Hall by Celia Hall

Explore information about Glemsford's buildings and streets, it's past shops, schools, the train station and the local pubs and industry. Buildings and Streets You are here: Home : Buildings and Streets Shops Schools Station Streets Church and Chapels Industry Pubs Houses Facilities

King Charles III Coronation 2023 A selection of photographs from the Coronation Exhibition at St. Mary’s Church, Glemsford. Celebration with neighbours and friends at Melton House, Hunts Hill, on the afternoon of Sunday 7th May, 2023. Pauline & Patrick Currie(hosts), Pat & George Flinn, Dawn & Bob Crick, Margaret & John King, Janet & Clive Austen, Gillian & Steve Paterson.

An account of a day in May 2000 by local glemsford residents One day in May 2000 You are here: Home: People & Memories: One day in May 2000 Various local residents give an account of their day on any day in May 2000 to mark the arrival of the new millenium. One day in May 2000

Jubilee Relay Arriving in Glemsford Hunts Hill Glemsford Primary School Submitted by Pauline Currie I felt so emotional seeing all the children outside the school. It wasn’t supposed to be me, and the poor kids had been waiting outside for an hour. It was such an honour to do it, albeit at the very last minute!They started at Haverhill this morning, went through various villages, Kedington, Hundon, Clare, Cavendish, and were expecting someone to arrive and get on the rickshaw at the farm shop, but no-one turned up! So they came up into the village (the van that was going ahead) and stopped outside here. I sort of volunteered and got on at the Briars. Quite a few people were outside our house, and some on Tye Green, then the school was amazing! The children had been waiting outside for an hour! They cheered and waved flags, I waved the torch, did several turns in the rickshaw up and down past them, they were on both sides of the road. I get tears thinking about it, it was wonderful, such an honour, and a wonderful Suffolk start to the Platinum Jubilee. From Glemsford they were going to Boxted and Hartest, then Lawshall, Lavenham, Long Melford, ending up in Sudbury and starting from there in the morning. The relay will finish on June 1st, they are covering 588 miles. I covered about half a mile! Arriving in Glemsford Hunts Hill Glemsford Primary School Saturday 4th June Entertainment provided at the Glemsford Social Club Saturday 4th June GLEMSFORD PLAYING FIELD COMMITTEE Marilyn Nash Well it was hot. We'd brought waterproofs rather than sunhats so a handkerchief and tea towel had to do! The Angel, Glemsford. Entertainment provided at the Angel public house Union Jack picnic / seafood / cream tea boxes available all weekend Thursday 2nd June Angel Children’s Party. A selection of pictures from The Angel facebook page for the children’s party held Thursday 2nd June. The Craft Cabin Decorated and Jubilee menu offerings. Kebbles street party. Jubilee Journal.pdf More pictures in the pdf

Events - Season 2025-26 Our new programme of talks commenced in style with the return of John Minors, a textile consultant, who gave an audience of 49 a fascinating run through of the weaving of horse hair into cloth. Hugely relevant to Glemsford because of the two horse hair factories which existed here. John worked at Courtaulds in Halstead for many years and told us about the horse hair industry in the 19th century that was based primarily on women and children working on looms in their own homes; often working 16 hours a day. John Boyd of Castle Carey in Somerset opened his first factory in 1837 and employed 40 weavers, starchers and dyers. Boyd was the most prominent company and today it is still weaving horse hair into hair cloth for the many modern uses in upholstery, wall hangings, lamp shades and anything requiring a textile that will outlast any other material. In Glemsford, the former horse hair factory in Bells Lane was owned by a company called Arnold and Gould. Originally, the factory would have used hair from local horses but because local supply was limited, it would import horse hair from other sources including from China. The production of hair cloth on weaving looms is unique as no other animal hair can be used in textile products. Horse hair is indestructible and comes in white black and grey/brown but only the white hair can be dyed. John’s fascinating talk concluded with a look at many samples. Our November talk given by Kate Jewell was entitled ‘Schools and Education in Medieval Suffolk’. Way back in 1234, Pope Gregory decreed that within Christendom every parish priest should have a clerk who was responsible for bringing boys into education, and this was certainly prevalent in the Suffolk of the late 14 th to early 16 th century when records show that elementary school for the formal education of boys existed in many towns and villages. Education was always linked to religion. Boys from wealthy and well-to-do backgrounds often had to pay a fee to the local employer/landowner before being sent to schools, the aim being to groom them for future priesthood. Books and documents still in existence show that the teaching, usually done by the local priests, was in both English and Latin and much was achieved ‘by rote’ chanting. Content included early alphabets and basic prayers, although in the grammar schools, which boys transferred to from the age of 12, more advanced primers were introduced containing collects, prayers, psalms, classical texts and lists of the seven sacraments and deadly sins. For these boarding schools, boys took with them an enormous pile of ‘necessaries’(clothes, shoes etc.); they sat on graded ‘forms’; texts were almost exclusively in Latin; discipline was strict and hours were long. However, the boys did enjoy their food and hated Lent when diets were restricted! Kate concluded her talk by briefly mentioning the life of girls who were essential for the running of households, many, like Alice de Bryene from Acton, becoming more than proficient in management and control of large farming communities. A dismally, wet and miserable January evening did not deter 41 members and visitors from attending Adrian Tindall’s talk entitled ‘The Monastery Alone a City’ - 1000 Years of the Abbey of St. Edmunds. Early research shows that Bury St. Edmunds was a significant town even in Saxon times, known then as Bedricesworth and by 630 AD Christianity and religious sites were prevalent. The martyrdom of King Edmund in 869/70 AD, set on record by Abbo de Fleury 100 years later, led to a great monastery being established by King Canute c.1020AD built around, and containing , the shrine of the murdered king. This was one of the greatest and wealthiest Benedictine monasteries in all of NW Europe, its wealth and power ever increasing until the Dissolution in 1539. Plans and archaeological digs show where the original buildings would have stood, the majority of them now in ruins showing only the flint-like inner structural core as the outer limestone facing stones have long been taken. Huge buildings such as the Norman Tower, St. James church (now the cathedral) and St. Mary’s church survived as they were all on the Abbey fringe, thus to be shared by the townsfolk. The present Abbey gate is a later addition, as the original one was destroyed by the local inhabitants in 1327- 46. (Angry relationships between town and Abbey were never cordial; the abbots were hated for their wealth and tight rein of town control). Today we can find evidence of the huge Abbey church, its nave, chapter house (with graves of six abbots!), chapels and crypt; some recent reconstructive pictures show how magnificent it would have been. The Great Court which housed stables, bake and brew houses and workshops is now the Abbey gardens, and many will recognise the Abbot’s bridge, still standing. Adrian’s most interesting talk certainly reminded us of what a fascinating place the St Edmundsbury Abbey was, and still is today. At February’s meeting speaker Andrew Mowbray took us on a ‘Virtually Colchester’ tour explaining, via maps and pictures, much of the history of this ‘oldest recorded town and newest city’ (2022). Evidence shows that the Celtic tribe Trinovantes had a settlement dating back to AD10, ruled by chieftains, situated in the Gosbecks area and known as Camulodunon. In AD41 Emperor Claudius’ invasion resulted in a large Roman settlement being built on the hill where the city now stands. The Iceni tribe’s rebellion, led by Bouddicca in 60AD, destroyed the town, but it was rebuilt by the victorious Romans with even greater splendour. It boasted a theatre, an amphitheatre, a temple, gates and roadways, ( a chariot circus was also situated a fair way off!) all surrounded by a sturdy wall, much of which is still standing. Come 450AD the Romans had abandoned Colchester to neglection. The 11 th . century saw the arrival of the Normans who adapted and improved much of what remained. Trinity Church tower maintains Roman brickwork, whilst St. Helena Chapel was Norman built. However, the ‘jewel in the crown’ is Colchester Castle built by the Normans, but standing over the original Roman temple which was erected in AD 54 by Nero to honour the murdered Emperor Claudius whose God-like status inspired worshippers. Andrew concluded his talk by visiting the 17 th century describing the Dutch Quarter formally inhabited by Flemish weavers, and the horrors of the 11 week siege during the Civil War. Finally we heard of the chequered history surrounding the building of the ‘Jumbo’ Water Tower on the very top of the hill. Colchester – a place really drenched in history! Our March meeting welcomed a number of close friends and family members of speaker, Julie Whittle, who gave us a very well documented talk on ‘A Bulmer Family during World War II’. Using many photographs of the large Messant family who lived in Bulmer during the 1930s, we heard how, on the death of their parents in 1936, the oldest girl, Violet aged only 18,(and later to become Julie’s grandma!) took on the role of raising her younger siblings, Eileen and Molly. Times were hard and money short; war came in 1939 and the male family members enlisted. The girls, along with others did many volunteering jobs, also working later for Vanners in Sudbury and Cornard Knitting Mills, yet by 1940 only Britain stood against the Nazis. Rationing was introduced; the Blitz raged, bombing in London lasted for 57 consecutive nights; air raids were common, and then, on December 7 th 1941 Pearl Harbour was bombed! Bad mistake! In came the Americans, (‘overpaid, oversexed and over here’) in their droves, particularly in East Anglia with 3000 in Sudbury alone! Air Base dances became very popular with the girls, as did the US soldiers! When Operation Overlord was launched and Europe was invaded, losses on both sides were huge. Likewise, the Messant family had their fair share of tragedy, but, come the war’s ending, life returned to a version of normality. The surviving members married, had children and did their best to found a dynasty! Our May meeting welcomed back Pip Wright who treated the audience to a compelling story about Margaret Catchpole; an underrated Suffolk woman who had a colourful life. Born in 1768 to a poor family in Nacton, Margaret Catchpole started her adolescent life looking after her brother and sister whilst her parents both worked to bring income into the family home. Pip illustrated Margaret’s life through watercolour pictures published in Richard Cobbold’s book of 1845. Not always historically accurate, Margaret is portrayed as a young lady who had the habit of getting involved with men, often with pistols in dawn fights between her “friends”. However, Margaret manages to get a job in the Cobbold household cooking and sewing and she became a welcome addition to the household, at one point rescuing a Cobbold child from a pond. Sadly, Margaret disgraced herself by inviting groups of men, often sailors, into the house for food and drink. Eventually the family showed Margaret the door and she seeks out Will Lord who she understands wants to marry her. Will was in London so Margaret steals a horse and dresses up as a boy to escape being caught. On arrival in London she is arrested and the Cobbold family seek her prosecution not realising that it was Margaret on the horse. Margaret receives a death sentence and resides at Ipswich gaol but in 1797 she is instead told she will be deported to Australia. Margaret escapes from the gaol dressed as a sailor but is soon captured and goes back to gaol where she goes on trial and is found guilty on the offence of trying to escape deportation. The judge however takes pity on her and rather than giving her a long sentence gives Margaret a more lenient sentence of deportation to Sydney, Australia. Historical accuracy then takes backseat but contemporary records suggest Margaret becomes a nurse and midwife and is celebrated in her new country as a heroin. She died in 1819 at the age of 51. Margaret Catchpole indeed had a colourful life. Our last speaker in the current programme was Professor Mark Bailey who gave us a very erudite and engrossing talk on the subject of ‘The Effect of Global Climate Change on the East Anglian Coast 1100 – 1600’. It seems that there is little new about global climate change. Evidence shows that from the period 1000 until 1250 the climate was remarkably warm whilst the decades from 1450 – 1600 were much colder. Our understanding comes from some written evidence, and also from tree rings, the ice core, speleothem formations such as stalactites and stalagmites and even the flood levels of the River Nile. The soft, vulnerable coast of Suffolk is low lying and has always been prey to the violent movement of the waves and the rising sea levels. From royal commissions and manorial surveys we can discover much about the changing face of the coastline. Truncated marine havens, closed off estuaries, emerging sandbanks, the weight of disposition and reclaimed land all show how, not just Dunwich, but also Covehithe, Orford, Southwold and Thorpeness lost their port status and importance. Centuries of changing climate have all taken their toll and today we continue to monitor the situation very closely.

A Young Man's War You are here: Home: People & Memories: Auxilary Fire Service Volunteer Roy is a cabinet maker and master story teller. Some of his stories are a mite taller than his cabinets, but he is a fund of anecdotes. He is also a scribe of no little skill and a lot of humour. He has contributed verses of his own to the Poems and Pints evenings at The Angel. The document below was first written down in 1994, as an effort at recording the exploits of the Glemsford Auxiliary Fire Service during the Second World War. It is all Roy's own work; it has been transcribed and adapted for this medium. A Young Man's War by Roy Porter

An account of a day in May 2000 by local glemsford residents The Morris Men of Little Egypt. A short history of the last 25 years by Neville Parry You are here: Home: People & Memories: The Morris Men of Little Egypt. The side (Morris teams are called sides) was first formed in June 1988. The then Rector at St Mary’s Church – Adrian Mason – wanted some Morris dancers at the Church Fete, which was always held in the Rectory gardens back then. He couldn't locate a Morris side (at least not a side he could afford!) and so a request went out via members of the fete committee for volunteers to form a Glemsford Morris side as a one-off for the fete. Frederick Sanders (who then lived at Five Gables Cottage on Plum St) heard the cry for help and was an ex-dancer and musician with Belchamp Morris Men. He enlisted the help of John Aldous, who also lived (and still does) in the village and was also an ex-member of Belchamp Morris. News spread by word of mouth and the likes of Peter Ford, Paul Jaques, David Irvine, Steve Clarke, Derek Richards and Chris Britton were recruited from the village. I had just moved to Glemsford in January 1988 and knew Frederick through work and I was also persuaded to join. We practised for a few weeks in the Church Hall and managed, eventually, to learn four dances in time for the Church Fete. Our wives managed to produce some make-shift regalia, Bell Pads, Baldrics etc and we all purchased white decorators trousers and white shirts and we were ready for the big day. We danced our three dances (twice each I recall) and with accompaniment from Frederick on Melodeon received a tremendous reception from the gathered hordes at the fete – mostly partners and friends of the dancers who couldn't wait to heckle from the sidelines and watch us strut our stuff. And that was it; we disbanded after several well-earned pints at the Black Lion. Then, early in 1992 we were approached again by the organising committee of the Church Fete and asked if we would like to do a repeat performance for that year's Fete. I recall we were enticed with the promise of free beer, and so it was that most of the men, together with some new ‘volunteers’ got back together for another one-off performance at the Church Fete on 11th July. We danced at both the Church and at the Black Lion. I can also recall that the Rector, Adrian, turned up dressed as a ‘Hobby Horse’ (although that may have been the next year! He was certainly a very good sport) This time after the Fete was over, and we were reflecting upon our glorious performance over several more pints in the Black Lion, someone had the bright idea of keeping the side going and it just seemed like a good idea at the time! So that was it. The side was named The Morris Men of Little Egypt*, new uniforms were created and I was elected Squire – a position that I have been privileged to hold for the past 25 years. Initially we had a rule that the side was to comprise only of men who lived within the Parish of Glemsford. This was maintained until we started to struggle with getting musicians and dancers. The rule was then relaxed to allow musicians from outside the parish and then dancers. We still uphold the tradition of a ‘Men Only’ Morris side but we do have (and are very thankful for) lady musicians. We now have members that regularly travel from all over Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex as well as France and Belgium to dance with us – such is the appeal of our side. We have danced all over England and had numerous trips to Europe,notably Germany, France and Ireland where we have always been extremely well received by the unsuspecting locals. In the summer months commencing at dawn on 1st May we wear our original ‘Cotswold’ kit – white trousers, shirts, rush hats and Baldrics. After October and through to 30th April we wear our ‘Horkey’ kit which comprises loosely of 19th century agricultural wear – collarless shirts, boots and heavy trousers. The styles of dances that we perform draw heavily from the Cotswold and Welsh Border traditions but over the years we have also developed our own unique style of Morris – with some dances that we have made ourselves from scratch – most celebrate the bucolic nature of our village heritage. The Morris sticks that we use in our dances, the longest of any Morris side, are winter-cut hazel which we take from a secret coppice within the Parish boundary. Our white handkerchiefs are woven from the finest Irish linen and are always perfumed with lavender and essential oils. Our summer months are filled with dancing at pubs, fetes, festivals and events, but we also dance during the winter period at selected events, notably on Boxing Day at the Angel Inn which has now become a staple of Glemsford village life. This is also the occasion when we unleash our traditional Mummers Play on an unsuspecting audience. Based around the age old struggle of good against evil, we now weave in appropriate tales and anecdotes from the year in our village. If anyone is interested in joining us, you can contact us by email at: littleegyptmorris@gmail.com We practice most Tuesdays at the Methodist Church Hall, followed by a ‘theory session’ at the Angel Inn with refreshment after the rigorous practice session! Neville Parry, Squire, The Morris Men of Little Egypt *I am sure that some of you will already know the origin of the colloquial name for Glemsford but if you have a spare hour, and for a couple of pints, any member of the side will tell you how the name ‘Little Egypt’ came about!