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Information relating to the history of the Parish and Church of Glemsford Anchor 11 Churches You are here: Home : Buildings and Streets: Church and Chapels Glemsford's Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade 1 listed building and dates back to the early 14th century. The Methodist Church is at the other end of the village and dates from the Victorian Era. Below you will find a link to a collection of stories and facts relating to the history of the Parish and Church of Glemsford by Rev. Kenneth Glass. A Short History of Glemsford by Rev K. Glass St. Mary's Church A History talk 2002 by Clive Paine A History of St. Mary's Church Font by David Newell A Guide to St Mary's A TOUR AROUND THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN, GLEMSFORD Ebenezer Chapel (link to St Edmundsbury Local History) Text taken from the above link. By 1829 about forty of these Glemsford worshippers would start building their own chapel at Glemsford. The new Ebenezer Chapel at Glemsford was opened by Pastor Elvin in 1830 with a large congregation and the first resident minister appointed was Pastor Robert Barnes who ministered there for 27 years. Membership included Baptist leaning worshippers from Sible Hedingham, Clare and all the surrounding villages. A plaque over the door read, "Strict Baptists", and the congregation seems to have required strict rules of conduct for its members. The Ebenezer Baptist Chapel in Egremont street. An early C19 rectangular chapel faced with plaster There is a central circular panel with the words Ebenezer Baptist Chapel and the date 1829. The congregation had their own pastor, Mr, A. J. Ward in the late 1800's and the last, Pastor Laver, resigned in 1945. In 1859, 32 members left Ebenezer and built their own chapel, The Providence Chapel, at the top of Hunts Hill Link to Glemsford Local History Society Facebook GLEMSFORD CHAPELS Glemsford in the nineteenth century had a strong non-conformist interest and four denominations developed churches and built their places of worship. In 1828 Ebenezer Baptist Chapel was built in Egremont Street and opened in 1829, and through the years they maintained a strong Christian witness. They also were able to support their own ministers, Mr, A. J. Ward was Pastor in the late 1800's and the last, Pastor Laver, resigned in 1945, The sad dispute which troubled the Baptist denomination in the 1850's had its repercussions in Glemsford and in 1859 Providence Chapel in Hunts Hill was opened. Both Churches flourished whilst Glemsford was prosperous with a large population but grew less strong as the village declined and Providence Chapel is now closed and disused. A branch of the Long Melford Congregational Church was formed in Glemsford about this period and they built a small chapel off Egremont Street, It is interesting to record that the Congregationalists used the Chapel for a fortnightly midweek service on a Thursday, and rented the Chapel to a company of Methodists for use on Sundays. The Chapel was known as "Renters Chapel" for this reason. During the first World far the Congregationalist cause was revived and flourished again for a number of years, but the Chapel is now closed and used as a store. The company of Methodists mentioned above were a church of Primitive Methodists in the Sudbury Circuit and in 1914 they decided to build the present Chapel at a cost of £495, and it was opened on Whit Monday 1915; it has seating for 300 and useful Sunday School hall and vestries After the Union of Methodist Churches in 1934 it continued in the Sudbury circuit and remains today the most flourishing nonconformist church. Members of the Plymouth Brethren have a meeting place in Egremont Street and although small in number their influence in Christian witness has been felt in the village. Although Nonconformity came late to Glemsford it had a great impact and it is to be regretted that modern folk no longer take the interest in Chapel and Church that was shown during the nineteenth century, when these causes were formed and the last major restoration of the Parish Church took place. Reference "A Short History of Glemsford" by Rev K Glass (see above) Providence Chapel (Drapery Common) Link to Glemsford Local History Society Facebook Providence Baptist Chapel was built in 1859, when 32 people left the Ebenezer Chapel. Those headstones that are still visible are as follows:- 1) George Maxim of Stanstead (next village to Glemsford) died April 7th 1887 aged 52 Also on the same headstone William Robert Scowen died October 25th 1902 (born 1831 I think.) 2) Eliza Relton died November 28th 1905 Also Charles Relton, husband, died March 30th 1909, aged 83 years. 3) Esther Prentice died 26th September 1910 aged 68years. 4) Alfred Fenn died 3rd December 1914 aged 71 Also Hannah Fenn, wife, died 16th March 1917 aged 69. 5) James Cook, died 30th March 1927 aged 60. Alice Cook, wife, 23rd November 1945 aged 76. Martha Elizabeth Cook, daughter, died 20th January 1912, aged 16. 6) Charles Smith, died 2nd September 1902, aged 54 Hannah (wife) died 10th November 1904 aged 54 7) Thomas Wordley died November 20th 1864 aged 58 years. 8. James Smith 61 or 71 years? 1864? 9) Samuel Kemp, 23 years a Faithful and Earnest Baptist Minister, died July 1874 aged 48 years. Also George Kemp, same headstone. Back to top

A list of streets of Glemsford, with photographs and details supplied where possible. Streets Heritage Room Pictures You are here: Home : Buildings and Streets: Streets Below is a list of streets of Glemsford, with photographs and details supplied where possible. Egremont Street "My grandmother Hartley lived in one of these cottages. She was widowed at the age of 42 with three young children to support. She earned her living as a silk weaver. She had a silk loom in the large room downstairs at the back and was presumably an out-worker of one of the factories. She had retired by the time I first visited Glemsford so to my regret I never saw the loom." by Fred Hartley A newspaper article , transcribed from the "South West Suffolk Echo", published in Haverhill puts an informed guess at a fire being between 1894 and 1896. More info regarding the family involved is in the People section. Egremont Street Bells Lane Bells Lane This view is of Bells Lane, taken from the corner of Park Lane, very close to the church . All the buildings seen in the picture still exist. The building on the left was owned by Mr Cook of Melford Riot fame. The background has changed a great deal, although the Horsehair factory buildings still exist. Hunts Hill Hunts Hill has changed a lot, but much is recognisable. The Draper's shop on the right is now an estate agent. The building on the left is now the Briars Nursing Home. Just beyond it is the site of the Social Club. More of this site is described in A Walk Through Glemsford.

How to contact Glemsford Local History Society Contact You are here: Home: Contact I want to subscribe for upcoming events information. Your details were sent successfully! Send Or contact: Margaret King GLHS Secretary Tel (+44) 01787 280996 marjonking@gmail.com

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

Why is Glemsford known as Little Egypt? Why Little Egypt? You are here: Home : People & Memories: Little Egypt Fact, Legend, Urban Myth? An attempt to start unravelling the truth. This question pops up with predictable regularity, and has never been satisfactorily, or at least conclusively, answered. The favourite of the moment is that of the 1885 Melford Riot, the reason the name was adopted by the Morris Men of Little Egypt. That story has been rehearsed many times: It says that, at the time of the first "Working Man's" election, of 1885, the new voters of the village were prevented, by their "betters", from casting their vote in the village, through the simple measure of not providing a polling station. Instead, they were expected to walk to the neighbouring village of Long Melford. This, of course, would have meant the loss of wages. Nevertheless, the men insisted, and marched together to cast their vote. On arrival in Long Melford, the angry men of Glemsford proceeded, in time-honoured fashion, not only to vote, but also to slake their Glemsfordian thirsts at the various hostelries of their host village. As the day progressed, so did the level of inappropriate activity, including the looting of the odd pub or two and the concomitant terrorising of the fair burghers of Melford. In the end the authorities felt obliged to summon law and order assistance, in the form of troops from the garrison in Bury St Edmunds, who duly arrived, by train, in the late afternoon, to be met by the still-drinking and ever-so-slightly disorderly Men of Glemsford. The Riot Act was read, and arrests followed. The legend goes that the troops had lately returned from the Sudan where they had been fighting against the forces of the Mahdi. So fiercely did the Men of Glemsford fight that the troops are reputed to have declared that they fought like "them Egyptians". Since then, Glemsford has been known as "Little Egypt" - at least, that is one of the legends. This is not fully convincing, this possible early version of what we would today call an “Urban Myth”. There are too many inconsistencies: why should troops returning from the Sudan compare the Glemsford men with “Egyptians”? why not “Sudanese”? by the time the troops arrived from Bury late in the day, most of the Glemsford rioters were, apparently, so far and so deep into their looted liquor as to be unable to fight off a cold, let alone the British army; and so on. So, perhaps, we have to look elsewhere. Glemsford has never had a whole History Book devoted to itself. A previous rector of the village, the Rev. Kenneth Glass did publish a “Short History of Glemsford” in 1962, and it is reproduced in full in Andrew Clarke’s magnificent Foxearth website: http://www.foxearth.org.uk/GlemsfordGlass.html Inevitably, some of the research has been left far behind, but Glass does refer to two other possible explanations, although, interestingly, does not refer to the Melford Riot. The first is contained in a somewhat fanciful examination of the possible origins of settlement in the village: It is possible that the hilltop was fortified from early times, as it is known that these three races were continually involved in tribal war. The Iberians, as civilised as their neighbours, were wholly under the influence of Druidism and the locality abounds in references to the Druids and their Groves, It is a popular saying that the nickname of Glemsford, still used incidentally, of 'Little Egypt' dates from these times, 'Egypt' presumably referring to an Egyptian priest system. It is possible that the Romans may have given this name to Glemsford because of the priestly character of the settlement. However, perhaps Glass may get nearer to the point with another observation: Glemsford in medieval times was isolated from the life which passed by along the pack routes from Melford to Clare or Bury. Some have suggested that the nickname "Little Egypt" is a survival of the independent and unfriendly inhabitants of this period who kept very much to themselves as a self-sufficient unit upon their hilltop, viewing all strangers with grave suspicion. A characteristic which may well linger on and certainly was common in those days.

Events - Season 2024-25 A large audience braved a very chilly January evening to hear speaker Terry O’Donoghue’s talk on ‘The English Civil War in Bury St. Edmunds and Suffolk’. A complex subject, emanating from Charles I’s adherence to the Divine Right of Kings; his idea of government was diametrically opposed to that of both Parliament and army. Charles was often in Newmarket being very keen on horse racing and it was here that Parliament asked him to sign a militia bill. His refusal to do so, plus his obstinacy on other matters, meant that the ‘die was cast’ and unrest, rebellion and finally war was inevitable. Suffolk in the 1640s boasted a prosperous, advanced economy; a thriving merchant class which, like the majority of the East, supported the Parliamentarians. In the larger towns such as Bury there were some rich families still loyal to the king, however the area saw little real action – the famous battles being elsewhere. In 1645 General Fairfax and the politically astute Puritan, Oliver Cromwell, set up the New Model Army, a strict and disciplined force which subdued any local aggression and skirmishes around Bury and Newmarket. Fairfax, a man of military action, went on to control the 1648 eleven week siege of Colchester, whilst the Earl of Manchester, another strict Puritan, proceeded to purge the ‘papist’ clergymen. Charles and the Royalists were defeated by 1646. The King became a fugitive in disguise before being taken back to London to face his January 1649 execution. Parliamentarian Puritanism did not sit kindly with the English who were to endure the banning of Christmas, maypole dancing and all kinds of fun, as well as the destruction of much beautiful religious idolatry and stained glass in Suffolk churches by the ‘butcher’ William Dowsing, whilst the hunt for witches by Matthew Hopkins went on unabated! It was not until the 1660 Restoration of King Charles II that some semblance of normality was reinstated. From - https://www.suffolkvillagesigns.co.uk/glemsford The current Glemsford sign was made by Graham Chaplin from Buxhall of painted galvanized steel in 2009 replacing the original sign at the same location. There are three buildings on the sign starting with the church of St Mary on top of the sign, this is connected by a winding road down to the old boarding school which is now the Glemsford Primary Academy. The road to the left leads to the 16th century Monks Hall. Below the school is a horse and cart representing agriculture in the area. In the centre of the sign is a group of Morris dancers, known as the Morris Dancers of Little Egypt set up in 1992. There is also a wig at the top of the post representing Arnold and Gould wig makers which were set up to process horsehair in 1907. On the other side is a guardsman helmet. A teachers mortar board and quill pen are there to represent the old college from the Middle Ages. The gap in the middle is the river Glem. The flowers at the bottom of the sign look like Wood Anemones. Another excellent turnout of 53 members and visitors who were held really spellbound by Bryan Thurlow’s dramatized presentation of the sensational, yet tragic, story of the poor village maiden, Maria Marten, and the Red Barn. We were taken to 1820’s Polstead to meet Thomas Marten, the molecatcher and father to pretty Maria, at that time working at the rectory as a child minder. She soon attracted the attentions of the wealthy Corder boys from the big hall. The eldest, Thomas gave her a child, another babe arrived from one, Peter Matthews, and it was not long before she was pregnant by the youngest, Wiliam Corder. All records show that the young squire William was a thoroughly ‘bad egg’ – a liar, a cheat, a deceiver and a habitual thief (pigs being a speciality!), to name but a few of his endearing qualities. The baby died shortly after birth and William, perceiving the situation as socially unacceptable, saw fit to dispose of the body whilst, to appease Maria, offering to marry her on the day following an evening rendezvous in the Red Barn, one of their romantic venues. The rest is history. Maria was never seen again; William, now in London, explained her disappearance with a fistful of lies. Eleven months later, after her step-mother’s prophetic dream, her bullet riddled body was discovered buried in the Red Barn. William was arrested and duly hung at Bury St. Edmunds jail in front of an enormous cheering crowd enjoying a glorious day’s experience! Ghoulish pursuits and a host of money making schemes to view the dissected corpse and skeleton followed, whilst in later years the story was to become the stuff of legend via books, plays and numerous productions of horrific melodrama. April speaker, Ashley Cooper, kept a very large audience thoroughly engaged with his entertaining talk on ‘Heroes and Villains of our Locality. Part 2’. This was further enhanced by the lively and amusing paintings of Benjamin Perkins. Following a detailed resume of Part 1 starting with the great Roman chieftain, Caractacus and the warrior queen Boudicca, down through the centuries to the martyred King Edmund, the (probably less than sainted) Archbishop Simon of Sudbury, on to the Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins, one of the most cruel villains of all, we arrived in the days of Oliver Cromwell when a Puritanical obsession reigned. This led to one, William Dowsing and his band of thugs, who systematically ravaged and defaced our churches. Medieval stained glass windows were smashed and every semblance of decorative effigies and carvings were destroyed. Moving on, John Winthrop from Edwardstone migrated to the nascent United States with other Pilgrim Fathers to help found Massachusetts. The 17 th and 18 th centuries saw discovery and identification of flora and fauna led by John Ray whose meticulous drawings of orchids are still revered. Botanists Joseph Andrews and Sudbury born Mark Catesby followed, the latter exploring in Florida, Carolina and the Bahamas. The 19 th century saw a pair of local tight-fisted misers; one, William Jennens from Acton, whose huge wealthy estate took so long to sort that only the lawyers were the beneficiaries, was said to have been the inspiration for Dickens in his darkest novel, ‘Bleak House’. Subsequently, Hardy was inspired to write ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’ upon hearing of a local man who had sold his wife! Murderer, William order,from Polstead, he of the Red Barn fame, was another villain, whilst on the plus side, Thomas Clarkson from Wisbech was instrumental in abolishing the slave trade. Ashley concluded his talk by nominating his own 20 th century heroes, namely Fred Pawsey and Sue Ryder (Cavendish residents) and those WWII soldiers sent to Singapore only to be captured and imprisoned in the infamous Japanese camps. The relatively recent excavations at Clare Castle proved a most interesting subject for the last talk of the present season. During 2018 – 2021 speaker, Jo Caruth, worked with Suffolk Archaeology and a large number of local volunteers digging trenches in both the outer and inner baileys of the well-known Clare motte and bailey castle which was built just after the Norman Conquest. Jo itemised the finds from the earlier digs of 1951 and 2013, plus the railway construction dig of 1865 when the gold reliquary cross, the most notable find of all, was discovered. This was possibly dropped by castle visitor and later owner, Cecily Neville, mother of Kings Edward IV and Richard III, in the 15 th century. Probably the most famous resident was Elizabeth de Burgh (b.1295 – 1360) who inherited the castle and spent a great deal of money on it. Evidence from the dig, assisted by the geophysicists, showed thriving occupation, many clay ovens, a large building, kitchens, possible stables, kennels and chapels, also signs that further ramparts once existed. A good number of human remains, male, female and children, were unearthed, some from the Anglo Saxon period which supported the theory of a probable cemetery for the Saxon town. Piles of animal bones confirmed the meat-based diet of the Medieval period. More esoteric finds included beautifully decorated floor tiles, colourful pieces of stained glass, parts of an unusual comb, a 7/8 th century brooch, a very rare Saxon coin and, most strange of all, the claw of a bear; he/she must have been imported for entertainment purposes!

A connection to windsor castle Windsor Castle Connection You are here: Home : People & Memories: Windsor Castle Connection The following brief reference appears in the printed Calendar of Patent Rolls:"1352: May 9th: John de Glemesford & two others are appointed to select from Berkshire, Bucks., and Wiltshire, carpenters and sawyers to work on Windsor Castle". If any are "rebellious", they have power to arrest them and put them in gaol. The "History of the Kings' Works" is a 7 volume work giving details of all work carried out on royal castles over many centuries. Work from 1350 was mainly on St George's Chapel and its surrounds. Work on the stalls was carried out, the roof was completed and a pew made for the queen. Lodgings for 25 clergy were constructed to the south of the chapel and at right-angles thereto, beginning in 1352, and being contracted to 3 carpenters, John de Glemysford, Simon Hurle and John Dunstaple, at a total cost of £107 6s 8d. These houses were plastered in 1354, so appear to have neared completion by then. Another interesting point to come to light was that there had been a former royal residence about 5 miles south of the present castle, built in 1244 when the park was created - this being the nucleus of the present Great Park. A survey of 1329 lists the many defects in the building, and between 1394 and 1396 a total of £1 164 was spent on repairs. A new drawbridge was constructed by one Robert de Glemsford, carpenter. Was he a relation, or descendant, of John one wonders? Another employee was John Goldyng, a master carpenter. He was employed from 1426 to his death in 1451. The accounts of the Clerk of the Works from 1351 to 1356 have been transcribed in full in Hope's "Architectural History of Windsor Castle" and if and when I obtain this, perhaps I will be able to give more details of the work carried out by our men of Glemsford. Do these houses still exist? A visit to Windsor would obviously be profitable! More about John de Glemsford's work at Windsor Castle by Eileen Lynch The alterations to the Chapel of St Edward and St George commenced in 1350 and the accounts of Richard Rothley, surveyor of the King's Works, are translated from entries on the Pipe Rolls in the Public Record Office. From these we learn that John Dunstaple, Simon Hurle, John Glemesford and 10 others were employed there "both on the works of the stalls of the chapel and the repair of "del trasour" (probably the tracery, as a footnote adds that this was the drawing office of the master mason) there for the same time, to each of them 6d a day, namely for six days £1.19. 0. (3/- each). "The chapel was being altered to accommodate the Knights of the Garter and the foundation of the College of Canons and Vicars. The wood for this work - and no doubt for most of the alterations and buildings - was felled in Windsor Park. Whitsun appears to have been a general holiday and the accounts state that after Whitsun in 1352, wood was begun to be felled for building the Canons' chambers, and £40 was due to "John Glemsford, Hurley and Dunstaple in part payment of £107. 6s. 8d. for the carpentry of the Canons' chambers made at taskwork" (under contract). The full sum was paid in 1353 "for the carpentry of twenty-three chambers of the King's timber, for the canons of the College of the King's Chapel of Windsor at taskwork in accordance with an agreement made with them by the Ven. father Dom William of Edington, the King's Treasurer". The materials bought for the building work are listed in detail - nails, estrich boards for the roof (boards from Norway or the Baltic, probably pine or spruce), tiles, laths, solder etc.. Later in 1353 the building was obviously nearing completion, as plaster of Paris was bought for chimneys and walls; indeed the accounts for 1353-4 refer to the buildings being plastered and the roofs leaded. The Pipe Roll for the following year shows accounts for work in the High Tower, involving (inter alia) John Glemsford who received 3/6d. a week. The accounts for 1362 detail the sums spent on building the Spicery and the Inner Gate-houses, and rebuilding the Royal Lodging. "To John Gleymesford in part payment of £40 for constructing a certain house called "le pasterye" ...£30" (This was one of the Queen's apartments). John was paid another £40 the following year in "discharge of his task". He was then employed in constructing two chambers on the south side of the castle, and was paid £11. 13s. 4d. towards his "task" of £100 and a further £88. 6s. 8d. on completing his contract. He was afterwards paid 36s. 8d. for making four "spere"* for "divers rooms there" including the tower called "La Rose", and in 1367 for making the "carpentry work in the aforesaid Gerard's Tower". Eleven years later, he constructed the gate between the "Blacktour and Gerard's tour for 53s. 4d. This is the last reference to John de Glemsford. Hope adds a note that "this gate was the principal entrance into the upper ward from the Great Park. The crooks (hinges or hangings) for these great doors still remain" (early this century). There has been a great deal of alteration and restoration since that time; but it is obvious that John was a first class carpenter who carried out much of the work done between 1350 and 1378, when a major part of the restoration and building of the Canons' lodgings was carried out. Do any of his stalls remain - or any of these houses - or the towers? And did John himself come from Glemsford, or was it one of his ancestors? There was a later Robert de Glemsford who could have been his son, also a carpenter at Windsor, and the fact that a John Goldyng, carpenter, was employed there from 1426 until his death in 1451 would seem to confirm the Glemsford origins. If only their wills survive! I haven't given up hope of finding yet more information on them to complete the picture. The plans of the castle were fascinating, but confusing rather than helpful, and my curiosity will not be satisfied until I have visited Windsor to see for myself whether any of John's work remains. I am sure the stalls in St George's Chapel must be the 14th Century ones, and when I do visit, I will gaze with admiration on the carving, and be proud that I, too, albeit some 600 years later, come from Glemsford. ©Eileen Lynch 1994 *Since writing the above, I have found that a spere truss is a carved wooden arch with enormous pillars - usually whole tree trunks - for supporting a screen. I have in fact seen such a spere arch recently in Rufford Old Hall, Lancs., the Great Hall of which dates from the 15th and 16th centuries. E.L.

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. 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

Glemsford Local History Society is dedicated to the study and distribution of the details of Glemsford's past. Preserving Glemsford's past for future generations Glemsford Local History Society Glemsford is a village in the county of Suffolk in England. It sits on a small hill above the River Stour and the River Glem, from which it takes its name. Glemsford is an ancient village, dating back to Domesday, and before. Although it may have acquired its nickname only last century, it is possible to trace the history of the village across many more centuries through the huge variety of buildings and fieldnames. Find out more Latest Publication This latest publication by the Glemsford Local History Society is a longoverdue reprint of a book, the text of which was dictated to a schoolboy, Perry Baxter, of what was then Clare Middle School as part of a history project in December 1978. He is a grandson of Ted Hartley, whose memoriesthese are. The resulting tape was then transcribed by his father Terry, Ted’s son-in-law and subsequently published. We are delighted to have since been able to digitize the text and photos belonging to the Hartley family in order to produce this edition. The book is available at our monthly meetings and from Glemsford Library, Hunts Hill Stores and Willow Tree Farm Shop. However, if you live some distance away you can still purchase the book by contacting us. About Us Find out more Glemsford Local History Society has been active for many years now, and is dedicated to the study and distribution of the details of Glemsford's past. We aim to encourage the better understanding of the past and present through lectures, activities, visits and research. Meetings Find out more The Society meet on the second Thursday of the month in Glemsford Primary Academy Hall at 7.30pm. We have a wide range of speakers, visits to places of local interest and other events to celebrate our life in ‘Glorious Glemsford’. Membership costs just £12 per annum. Visitors £3.00 per time. The People of Glemsford Find out more about the families of Glemsford throughout the centuries from personal accounts to sourced information. Find out more Events Find out more - Current and Previous John Miners Horsehair Tales September 11th 2025 Annual General Meeting Members' Talks October 9th 2025 Kate Jewell O'Donoghue 'By The Moonlight I Must Go To My Bed.' Schools and Education in Medieval Suffolk November 13th 2025 Christmas Social . December 11th 2025 Adrian Tindall 'The Monastery Alone A City.' 1000 years of the Abbey of St Edmunds January 8th 2026 Andrew Mowbray Virtually Colchester February 12th 2026 Julie Whittle A Bulmer Family during World War II March 12th 2026 Pip Wright A Picture History of Margaret Catchpole April 16th 2026 NB Third Thursday Mark Bailey The Impact of Global Climate change on the East Anglian Coast 1100 to 1600 May 14th 2026 A Summer Outing To Be Arranged Tracing your family tree? We are not a family history society and do not hold census or similar records. You may find the information you require at the following web site - Suffolk Archives There is also a Suffolk Family History website which may be able to help with your enquiries. Our secretary will always try to answer general questions about the village, based upon her own personal knowledge and not on formal research. If unable to answer a query herself, she will pass it on to someone in the village, whom she thinks might be able to help. This of course may take some time. If you have information on particular people or properties in Glemsford, which you would be willing to have added to the website we would of course be delighted to receive it. We currently have the following requests for person identification. (Click) Display Cabinet from the Arnold & Gould horsehair factory Link to horsehair factory video on the industry page

George cross awarded to Frederick Craddock for bravery in a tragic accident. A George Cross in Glemsford for F. Craddock You are here: Home : People & Memories: George Cross Sourced by Val Ost Frederick John Cradock was born into a large family in Acton, London in 1888. A boiler-man by trade, he worked for Kensington Borough Council for many years. In 1907 he married Annie Edwards in the Kensington District. He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery in 1915 and went on to serve in France and Belgium with the 156th. Brigade during the Great War. He and his wife had 9 children in the East End of London, before moving to Suffolk around 1937. They settled in a cottage at Thurston End, along with their youngest daughter, Joan. Whether any other of their other children, by now grown-up, also moved with them, is not known, nor is the starting date of Fred’s employment at Glemsford Flax Factory, on the Lower Road (where Philips Avent now is.) On Tuesday 4th May 1943 a horrific and unimaginable accident occurred in the boiler-room, where Fred was doing routine maintenance on a boiler with his friend, Albert Sterry (who at that time lived at 71, Brook Street). Suddenly the valve, on which Albert was working, burst and filled the room with steam and scalding water, threatening the life of Albert. Fred was above the boiler and could have climbed down and escaped to safety. However he called for a ladder and climbed down between the boiler and furnace in order to rescue Albert. Despite several determined and brave attempts he, too, was overcome by the heat, and scalded to death. Albert Sterry was later dragged out and found to be dead. At the time, Fred’s daughter Joan, who had previously married Charles George Plumb, from Pentlow, was working in the canteen at the factory. It must have been a horrific shock for her to learn that her father was involved. Albert Sterry (age 56) was buried in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Glemsford on 8 May1943, and Fred Cradock (age 57), on the same day in Hawkedon Churchyard. There is no gravestone for Fred Cradock at Hawkedon, but, according to Gladys Seabrook, he was buried quite close to the lower, or southernmost, gate in the churchyard wall. At the Inquest, attended by Fred’s son Edward Cradock, the Coroner stated that the two men had been “blowing-out” the boiler – a procedure carried out twice a week in order to remove any sludge from the bottom of the boiler. Apparently Sterry had opened the valve, but was unable to re-close it. When it was later examined by a Factory Inspector a small nut was found lodged in the base of the seating of the valve. It was found not to have come from any bolt inside the boiler, but it might have dropped into the boiler when it was first installed. Nothing visible externally would have warned anyone of this defect. The Verdict was one of Accidental Death, with no evidence of negligence. Dr.Tylor, who confirmed the causes of both deaths said “…..Cradock appears to have lost his life because he was anxious to save his mate. If he had not been so anxious he probably would have escaped. This is the sort of conduct we must all admire very much.” As a result of this brave act, Frederick John Cradock was posthumously awarded the George Cross Medal in September 1943. On hearing of the award Fred’s widow, Annie, said “His four soldier sons would be specially proud of their Dad, who sacrificed his life in such brave circumstances.” Val Ost, who now lives in Albert Sterry’s house, has, after 6 months searching, managed to trace two of Fred’s grandchildren - but the whereabouts of his medal is not yet known. She writes: I would like to publicly acknowledge the following people who have each completed a link in the chain of my research: Angie Linnett : Daphne Seabrook : Gladys Seabrook : Jo Pask : Bill Welsh : Mr. Ablitt ( Bells Lane) : Eric Plumb (Pentlow) : Nellie Smith ( Gt. Missenden) : Mr. And Mrs J.C.Plumb : also thanks to publicity from East Anglian Daily Times, Suffolk Free Press ( for access to their archives) and “ Let’s Talk” magazine. We surely can’t have so many George Cross Medal holders in Glemsford , that we can afford to forget him!! A very brave man indeed. No/Rank/Unit/Occupation Boilerman DoB - DoD 1886, Acton, London - 4th May 1943, Glemsford, Suffolk Biography Frederick J Cradock served in First World War, enlisting in late 1915 in the Royal Field Artillery as No. 245358, with the rank of Driver. He served in France and Belgium from early 1916 with 156th Brigade (Territorial)/R.F.A. He was discharged in the summer of 1919 when his Army number was 885763. TLG/Citation: 10th September 1943 The KING has been graciously pleased to award the GEORGE CROSS to: - Frederick John Cradock (deceased), Boiler Man, Glemsford, Suffolk. An explosion occurred, with the result that a boiler house was filled with scalding steam and water, and a man was trapped in a well between the furnace and the boiler. Cradock, who was on top of the furnace, could have jumped to safety on the side away from the steam, but he refused to do so and, calling for a ladder, turned into the escaping steam and attempted to get down into the well to haul out his workmate. Before he could do so he was overcome and severely scalded. He staggered away from, the steam and at this point could still have jumped to safety but, despite his terrible injuries, he returned to make a second gallant effort to get down into the well. He died in making the attempt. Cradock showed outstanding heroism and gave his life in an endeavour to save his workmate.

A list of former shops of Glemsford, with photographs and details supplied where possible. top of page Shops You are here: Home : Buildings and Streets : Shops Below is a list of former shops of Glemsford, with photographs and details supplied where possible. Scroll through or click on a quick link below for a specific shop. Bird's Bakery W.J.Cutting Shops Reggie Underwood's Butchers Art Chinnery's Shoe Shop and Repairers Cutting’s Grocery shop Grocer's shop Jim Moss' Sweetshop Mrs Maxims Shop British Legion Hut Bullingham and Maxim’s Butchers Lee’s Haberdashery Lee's Garage Mealham's Fish Shop A.J. Long's Garage Birds Bird's Bakery This is a well-known bakery until the late 70s/early 80s and one of three in the village I recall. Mr Bird’s bread was very popular. Many people called him the Midnight Baker owing to his bread always being ready early in the morning. The bakery was run as a delivery business rather than a shop but he did make the most delicious cream horns with confectioners’ cream sitting on a bed of bright red ‘jam’! Also his bread was like none other – quite doughy with a well-baked crusty top - as it was cooked in a faggot oven, a rarity even then. W.J.Cutting Shops Mr. Cutting, and in later years his three sons, ran a number of shops in this part of the village. Cuttings were wholesalers and here ( the present day terraced housing) stood a large warehouse which stored an enormous collection of hardware goods – spades, forks, buckets bins, pots, cutlery, crockery plus smaller items needed for gardens and home maintenance. According to the older photograph I think that the hardware shop (and possibly groceries as well) was formally housed in what is now the Chinese takeaway; however I can only remember the takeaway as primarily a grocery shop – see photo dated c. 1938– where in the fifties we would go to buy all food essentials. They had a bacon slicing machine and wire cutters for cheese; they used sugar paper cones to put most dried goods in e.g. sugar, sultanas, currants etc. and they were expert at making the cones really quickly! Also I can remember the large tins of biscuits, some of them labelled ‘Broken’ which were very popular as they were much cheaper and quite exciting as you were never sure what the mix would be. Should you also need any hardware items you were able to go towards the right of the shop where a part of the counter could be raised allowing customers to go behind, turn right and walk down a little slope into an extra part where a host of hardware was available. By the late sixties/early seventies this shop dealt purely with hardware as the groceries were moved to the shop opposite the Angel. W J Cutting Reggie Butcher Reggie Underwood’s Butchers Right next door to Cutting’s and near the narrow iron grille/gate through which the rubbish blew, was the butcher’s shop, small and compact but sufficient. I understand that the iron grille was the entrance through which the cattle were driven before reaching the abattoir situated behind the shop! I remember regular visits to the shop with my mother; of course in those days people were fairly canny shoppers and were quick to complain if they were sold poor quality meat. I remember taking my baby son in his Silver Cross pram down there once or twice a week in the early seventies and just parking at the side of the road having no fear of cars; somewhat different with traffic today! I can also recall beef mince at a very reasonable price and making the most delicious cottage pies, very succulent and crispy simply because the meat was loaded with fat! I have never emulated them since, needless to say. Back to top Art Chinnery’s Shoe shop and Shoe repairers In the fifties this was a much visited shop as money was tight and shoes had to be repaired regularly. Mr.Chinnery was a talented cobbler and always came up with a mending solution. Rumour in my family was that whilst he was a life-long bachelor he had been known to have had some kind of relationship with my spinster aunt, Bessie, my dad’s oldest, and in my eyes, sternly terrifying sister! Later I would visit Art to have broken sandal straps repaired and shoes re-soled. Although he sold shoes they were very utilitarian, work boots etc. (certainly NOT high fashion), however he could be relied upon to provide children’s plimsolls for school. In later years he also ran a business of repairing and renovating second hand bicycles and many were the bargains found there. Art Chinnery Shop? Shop I think at one time this may have been Prentice’s Butchers shop but not sure. I can remember this shop as being owned and ran by Mrs. Bowers. I think she sold a variety of fancy goods ranging from children’s clothes, wool and threads to the odd crafty and general household items. Her husband ran an electrical business, thus it was also possible to obtain here electrical bits and pieces Lees Lee’s Haberdashery and later Cutting’s Grocery shop In the fifties this was a haberdashery store which my mother would visit quite regularly to buy wool, thread, underwear, stockings and the like. I recall the older Mrs. Cutting serving behind the counter and when you entered a bell above the door rang where upon she would appear from the outer regions because she and Mr. W.J. Cutting owned and lived in the large house. By the seventies the shop had been completely converted into a new self-service grocery store and here again, as I only lived just up Hunts Hill, I would bring the pram and later pushchair, safely leaving the sleeping baby outside, to do the shopping. It was much easier and quicker than trips to the supermarkets today when you think about it. On the retirement of the Cutting family the grocery business was sold and the shop ran by a number of other people until it closed. Lee’s Garage This was a very thriving garage dealing with Austin and then British Leyland until Mr. Lee retired. Part of the garage premises became a video shop, probably in the late eighties/early nineties, and did good business at that time I imagine. Joe Joe Hurndall’s Men’s Barber shop I knew Joe Hurndall well as his elder brother was married to another one of my dad’s innumerable sisters! His shop was a small wooden hut as I recall with a bench, a barber’s chair and a couple of shelves containing relevant items for sale including the inevitable condoms secreted at the back; these were a source of much speculation. I did not really visit Joe’s hut until I took my son down to have his hair cut in the seventies, it then being the fashion for little boys to have quite long hair and fringes. In later years I have received from Paul a certain amount of abuse re. his boyhood hair cut which he likens to a pudding basin! What was I thinking about etc?? On reflection the answer is that Joe was an expert in short back and sides and we young mums were trying to avoid that! I was told also that one customer requested an Elvis Presley hair- cut only to find he had been given a short back and sides! Upon complaining he was told that Elvis himself would have received exactly the same! jim moss Jim Moss’ Sweetshop In the late fifties this was a real heavenly emporium for children. Mr. Moss sold really cheap black jacks, chews (very fruity), everlasting strips and best of all, broken Smiths crisps, really fatty but delicious, for just a halfpenny a pack. In addition to this you collected Green Shield Stamps so that you could send away for a free, red, plastic record rack for all your Ricky Nelson, Buddy Holly, Elvis and Cliff 45s! (At least that’s what I did!) I was told that the young lads would visit the shop, request something for Jim to get out back then, in his absence, promptly pinch anything going! British Legion Hut + Doctor’s Surgery Not a shop but worth a mention. I was aware of the black wooden British Legion Hut being a kind of social club/drinking establishment for years but have no memory of events there other than occasional visits on days when it doubled as the doctor’s surgery. You had to go up some steps to enter the building. Inside there was a waiting room and when the doctor called you into his surgery you had to go through two doors thus to ensure privacy from those still waiting. The hut was demolished c. 1970. The present day Social Club was opened in 1968 I think and it was built on the site of a large orchard. Legion hut bullingham Bullingham and Maxim’s Butcher’s shop (right side of Hunts Hill partly on site of the Social Club): I remember this shop really well as I lived opposite and it was well used by my family. Ollie Bullingham was the father of Doris who died only recently, and Will Maxim lived in the house which is now The Briars Residential Home. There was a large metal gate which was kept shut when the shop was closed and behind it roamed an ugly looking bull terrier reminiscent of Bill Sykes’ Bullseye, and always ready to bark at passers -by in an evil kind of way. Mrs. Maxim’s shop (left hand side of The Briars): This was a sweet/cake shop long before I was born and as the picture shows sold lots of things. Mrs. Maxim was the mother of Will Maxin, the butcher. My mother told me that the very first time she had ice-cream it was from this shop – in those days ice-cream was a kind of custard confectionary. mrs maxim 28 28 Hunts Hill I lived here from c.1953 and later from 1968. Obviously Not a shop, but as the picture shows there was a small matting factory here at one time run by my great-uncle, Bert Smith. Grocers Grocer’s shop top Hunts Hill Now a hairdressers, this was formerly a Grocers and Drapers but not in my time. I can only remember it as a general stores run by Mr and Mrs Mead. It was well used and stocked fresh and tinned food, vegetables, fruit plus some other non-food items. When the Meads retired c.1980 it continued in this capacity for a number of years before becoming a hairdressers and estate agents – now back to hairdressing! A J Long A.J.Long’s Garage (right side now Hunts Hill Stores): In the fifties Mr. Long ran a garage for repairs and a coach company. It later became Pearson’s Trucks. These were big and noisy particularly when you heard them leaving very early in the morning. Often they carried perishable goods and when parked overnight the drone of their refrigerator units was not recommended for a good night’s sleep! In the mid- eighties, the garage was set on fire. At about 3am we saw a car containing a barking dog and a man running to get into it. Not many minutes later the garage was ablaze and virtually destroyed. Back to top Mealhams Mealham’s Fish shop Variously described as selling in addition to fresh and fried fish, poultry and rabbit skins, I have no memory of this although I do remember a Mrs.Mealham living there.

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