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Old photographs and postcards of Glemsford, Suffolk. Old Postcards You are here: Home : Glemsford Village : Old Postcards The Station The Old Post Office The Church of St Mary Bells Lane Duffs Hill The Silk Mill Hunts Hill Bridge nr, Cranmore Scotchford Bridge The Station The Station We start this page with a picture of Glemsford station. Today, the actual station is still extant, much modified. One of the large concrete level crossing posts still exists, and various other buildings as well. This view is now obscured by trees. The station closed in March 1967. Old Post Office The Old Post Office Robert Steed was contacted for permission to use this photo. This is what he replied: "My great great grandfather, Leonard Bradnam, and his son, George William Bradnam, ran the Post Office there for many years. I still have the bureau they are said to have used there". Church of St Mary The Church of St Mary This view of the Church of St Mary the Virgin contrasts well with the modern view on the right.The water in the foreground is quite clearly, an old "waver", or pond, that used to be outside Park Farm - for the use, no doubt of horses which had struggled up from the valley. It no longer exists. 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. Duffs Hill Duffs Hill This tinted view of the village from Duffs Hill and Crown Field is fascinating. The Crown pub is to the left of centre, middle distance. Straight ahead from the camera is now the small collection of houses known as Spring Meadow. On the left, out of picture, is still Duffs Hill Farm, while the cottages on the left are at the end of Chequers Lane. Silk Mill Silk Mill A wonderful view of Glemsford Silk Mill, with the huge pond apparent. Silk weaving has happened in Glemsford since the 1820s. Hunts Hill 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. Bridge nr Cranmore Bridge nr. Cranmore This bridge is on the outskirts of the village, near Cranmore Green, where there was a mill wheel. It would be quite difficult to reproduce this scene today. Scotchford Bridge Scotchford Bridge An additional picture has come to light, of Scotchford Bridge, where Glemsford gives way to Stansted. Quite who the gentleman on the bike is, we don't know. (Many thanks to Patrick Hemphill for providing this picture.) Scotchford Bridge Fred Hartley 's father lived and worked in Glemsford before and after World War 1, his father and grandfather before him. It is interesting to note which views of the village the publishers chose to include in this familiar style of format. The Church and the Schools are, perhaps obvious. The bottom left is looking up Egremont Street towards the "Cock" and the "Angel". The bottom right is looking down Egremont Street, past Flax Lane, to the "Angel". And this bridge forms the centrepiece. Is it the old Scotchford Bridge, or near the mill by the station?

Glemsford Local History Society promotes the history of the village and is dedicated to the study and distribution of the details of Glemsfords' Past. About Us You are here: Home : About Us Glemsford Local History Society promotes the history of the village and keeps a resource of all the information gathered. Over the years, this site has been added to by the efforts of many individuals, all contributing to a growing picture of the history of this fascinating village. Our Background The Society has been active for many years now, and is dedicated to the study and distribution of the details of Glemsford's past. A lot of the information on this website was carried out by Steve Clarke, who has given permission for its continued use. We are greatly indebted to him for his much appreciated input. Without it, this site would not exist. Our Aims We aim to encourage the better understanding of the past and present through such activities as lectures, activities, visits and research. We meet every second Thursday of the month in Glemsford Primary School at 7.30pm. We welcome your continued support and that of others. Contribute Has your family lived here for generations? Maybe you have inherited some old photographs. The Society always welcomes new members or stories of the past. If you think you have any interesting anecdotes or facts about Glemsford, why not get in touch . We would love to hear from you.

Pearman family of Glemsford Watkinson Family You are here: Home: People & Memories: Families: Pearmans By Sid Watkinson Earlier this year I received a phone call from the secretary of the GLHS, stating that a Canadian couple had contacted her with a view to doing some research into their family history while on a tour of the UK. Naturally I was intrigued especially when she mentioned that the lady’s maiden name was Watkinson and that her ancestors came from Glemsford! After an interesting exchange of emails, they paid me a visit after having done some research in the church yard of St Mary’s. It transpired that we were indeed related as we shared a common ancestor, an Ambrose Watkinson , baptised in Glemsford, 1641. The family line continues until 1736, when another Ambrose Watkinson married twice and the family line divided. A certain George Watkinson emigrated to Canada in the 19th century while my ancestors remained in Glemsford and the UK. Anyway the outcome was that we worked it out that we were fourth cousins, once removed! One more interesting fact that came out was that the surname Watkinson, was the fourth most common name in Glemsford at one time in the middle ages and now approximately 500 years later, and as far as I know, I am the only one left!

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.

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.

Pearman family of Glemsford Butcher Family You are here: Home: People & Memories: Families: Pearmans By Jean Curtis Having always believed that my family on both sides of my Tree came from London, when I finally took up the challenge of finding out about them, it came as a great surprise to find that my maternal grandfather’s family (the Tindley family) originated from Sudbury, and my maternal grandmother’s family (the Butcher family) from Glemsford! The common thread running through both families is the Weaving and Silk industries, with grandfather and grandmother meeting in Sudbury and then moving to London, where my mother was born. Great great grandfather was Samuel, who ran a grocer’s shop, the address shown as White Ash. There is also a Samuel Butcher who is shown as a pork butcher and grocer in Egremont Road, although I cannot prove it is the same Samuel however. Alfred Butcher was my great grandfather: he was a silk weaver and he married a Rebecca Debenham. After his death in 1877, Rebecca married a Joseph Welham. My grandmother, Annie Elizabeth Butcher, was born in 1873, on the 1881 census living at Woodfield Alley. Her siblings were Albert, Alice, Ellen and Alfred. Are there any descendants of these Butchers still living in Glemsford who might remember the family? If so, I would love to hear from you. Notes We have started a little bit of research for this lady, but if anyone feel they can shed some light please send an email to Jean . Some of you may remember ‘Woodfield Alley’ from an earlier newsletter, it was a passageway that ran between ‘Patches’ and ‘Ash House’, Tye Green, and changed names three times over the 1871, 81 census returns and again in the 20th Century. Egremont ‘Road’ I suspect should be ‘Street’ but what about ‘White Ash’? Send email

Pictures on display, on large baffle boards in the Heritage Room at Village Hall Back to Streets 1 Brook Street. The entrance to Crownfield is in the space between the two rows of cottages. Those nearer to the camera were pulled down,along with the nearby factory. 2 The former Crown Inn. Later became Serenity House situated on the right hand side of Brook Street, just before Chequers Lane. 3 Oscar Clarke. With delivery van, outside Fair Green House and The Little Cottage. 4 The Prince of Wales Inn. Located in Churchgate, approaching St Mary's Church. 5 The Horsehair Factory in Bells Lane Now living accommodation, but the windows are still visible today. Believed to have been Kolle's from1884 -1905, and then Arnold and Goulds, from 1907 – 1998 6 Harvest time. A big annual event in Glemsford, was the arrival of the threshing machine. This was known as The Fortune Teller. This picture shows threshing taking place behind The Cherry Tree, circa 1906. 7 This photograph is outside The Black Lion in Lion Road, circa 1880. 8. Bells Lane Taken from the junction with Park Lane. The view extends to the poplar trees, known as the Twelve Disciples, but there have only been eleven for many years. They are at the top of Shepherds Lane. The house on the left is still standing and was once the home of Henry Cook, who in 1885, led the men of Glemsford to Long Melford in order to vote. There were no voting facilities in Glemsford, a great deal of animosity between the Conservatives and Liberals, and a lot of discontent over continuous wage cuts. The situation in Long Melford worsened with voting difficulties and the drinking of much beer. There was fighting and some destruction of property. The army was called and the Riot Act was read. 9 The former Cherry Tree pub. circa WW1,[currently Wong's Chinese Restaurant] complete with a wonderful flowering cherry tree.

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

An account of a teenage lamplighter in sudbury following world war one. The Young Sudbury Lamplighter You are here: Home: People & Memories: The Lamplighter A fascinating account of a teenage Lamplighter in Sudbury just after the Great War. by George Boreham. Foreward by Steve Scott My uncle, George Boreham, was born at Glemsford on 10 October 1904, son of Charles and Eliza (they were at Brook St 1901). He left c.1925 to live in Halifax, Yorkshire and in 1928 moved to Keswick, Cumberland where in 1931 he married my Grandmother's sister, Elsie Robinson. He was a great story teller and never lost his Suffolk accent, some of his stories he wrote in a note book, and I thought you might be interested in this one, it is as written by him. He continued to work as a gas fitter until his last few year when he was sexton of St John's Church, Keswick where he is now buried. The Lamplighter The First World War was over and I was fifteen. I had served two years of my seven year apprenticeship with the Sudbury Gas Company. The air was pregnant with the expectancy of things what’s (sic) going to happen now that peace had come. The better place for heroes was being launched and the town’s progressive group were demanding that the street lamps should be lit: their slogan was “the Zeppelins are gone, don’t keep us in the dark any longer ". The two fitters and myself at the gas works felt the impact of this demand as we were urged by the boss to overhaul all the street lanterns and public lighting equipment as quickly as possible. This urgency was exciting for me we had laid low during the war and veiled everything from the Zeppelins, and now suddenly we had become important, now we could make light, as much as possible and as quickly as possible. I worked with enthusiasm caught up with the land fit for heroes to live in. It was hard work as the four years of neglect to the lanterns was not to be put right in 3 or 4 weeks and besides the old pre-war naked light were (sic) to be replaced by the new incandescent mantle burners; the heroes were not to have died in vain! Although we were in a hurry, the progressives were in a (sic) even bigger hurry to have the streets lighted, as I was cycling home from work one evening I saw a motor car going slowly up the street, stopping at each lamp post, on top of the car was a coffin with two hooded figures sat astride, as they stopped at a lamp post one of the figure bent down and from the coffin brought out a little lighted Chinese lantern which they hung on the lamp post - these lanterns were all different colours and looking back down the street the effect was picturesque and fairy like . I did think them very daring and cheeky to hang them on our lamp posts, what would Grimwood our boss at the gasworks say? This was the first public protest I had seen, a new way to get things done, “the war had liberated the slaves ". Next morning at the gasworks was all hustle and bustle, my mate told me to get the big handcart and fix the lantern rack onto it, it held a dozen lanterns, we were to get some Lamps ready for lighting that week-end. The hand cart was loaded with a dozen repaired lanterns, dozen new mantles and burners, ladders and tools for the job. What a load it was, typical of those days if it could be loaded on a cart then a man could pull it. By the end of the week the first lamps were ready; these were the ones on the outer edge of town, crossroads and market square. It had been a busy week and I was glad when Saturday came with its half day off work. My enthusiasm had been sorely tested by the hectic week with the lamps so as I entered the workshop on Saturday morning my mind was pleasantly occupied with thoughts of freedom to do what I liked, I was suddenly brought down to earth when as soon as I stepped inside the workshop my mate said “The boss wants to see you”. "What does he want to see me for?" "You’ve got to light them lamps tonight." "What me, light them lamps?" "Yes, you lights them about half past four and puts them out starting at ten o’clock." "What? Ten o’clock at night!" "You’re not afraid of the dark are you?" "No I’m not afraid of the dark." "Well that’s settled then, you tell the boss you’ll light them lamps and you’re not afraid of the dark, any way you’re the only one who knows where they all are and you’ll get paid extra." So at the age of fifteen I was the first Sudbury lamp lighter after the First World War, I did this for the whole of that winter but by the next winter with many more lamps lit they employed a full time lamp lighter. This was one job I was not sorry to lose as I was often afraid when I put out the friendly gleam and left myself in the dark and isolation on the edges of town, and especially on Saturday nights when the pubs were turning out, the drunks would stand arguing and brawling round the lamps you can imagine the reception I got when turned up to put the light out!

The Glemsford War Memorial The War Memorial You are here: Home: People & Memories: The War Memorial This page correlates the names of the men on Glemsford's War Memorial with the real people listed in the Census documents of 1901. Inevitably, there are some people who remain invisible, and a few who have disappeared. As before it is based on Martin Edwards' immense work on the War Memorial names which has made it possible to peer through the mist and catch a glimpse of the men who gave everything. It is intended as a matter of pride, and as a compliment, that Glemsford should be called “an ordinary village inhabited by ordinary people". There will still be some inconsistencies and a few confusions - some names are quite common. George Bradenham Henry Charles Brewster Walter Brewster George Brown Ernest Brown George Clarke Chatters W William George Clarke Eaton Cross William Debenham Cyril Game Dennis Golding Lambert Goody Albert Hartley Eliazer Hartley George Honeywood Walter Jarmin Lambert Jarmyn Edwin Keefe Harry Lorkings Harry Mizon Frederick Oakley Ben Oakley Edwin Piper Wallace Playle Samuel George Smith Ambrose Suttle Albert Twinn Arthur C and Wallace W Twinn The rest of this page comprises men whose details have emerged from the 1911 Census but for whom there are no details in 1901. ALBRIGHT, Frederick Arthur BROWN, Arthur BYFORD, John JOSSLYN, William W J SLATER, William SPARHAM, William The rest are men whose names, for one reason or another, do not appear on the War Memorial, but who were born or resident in Glemsford. ARBON, Alfred I CLARKE, Arthur COPSEY, Christopher Simon CUTMORE, William FILBY, George William GAME, Jasper GARWOOD, Robert HARDY, Charles MIZON, Walter OAKDEN, William PLUMB, William REYNOLDS, Fred SMITH Victor Albert TERRY, Archie Louis THOMPSON, John THOMPSON Tom TWINN, Reginald Charles Download War Memorial

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.

Pearman family of Glemsford Pearman Family You are here: Home: People & Memories: Families: Pearmans Rita Burgess has been researching her family for a very long time. She was one of the speakers in the early days of the Local History Society when she gave a talk about her relative, Rifleman Byford, which may have inspired many of those present to get out and look for their roots, too. Apart from her work on Rifleman Byford, Rita has also focused on the Pearman and Hempstead families. In 2005/6 she kindly provided more material for the site. Her early researches put her in contact with Richard Deeks. Richard deserves, in many ways, the title of "The Father of Glemsford's History". Without his efforts (originally inspired by his own family researches) it is unlikely that much of the Village's history would have been properly recorded. Certainly much of what is now known would have been left to rest in the Local Records Office, just occasionally pored over by an enthusiast or two. That, or the story would have been left in the hands of well-meaning but inherently inaccurate legends, lovingly but deceptively recorded as fact by dewy-eyed romantics. Two of Richard's works stand out for attention: "The Matmaker and The Magistrate" gives a detailed insight into social and labour conditions in our part of Suffolk in the middle and late 19th Century. "Glorious Glemsford" is engagingly simple, bringing together of vibrant pictures of the Village's past. And, of course, Richard was the driving force behind the creation of the Local History Society. In her piecing together of the Pearman family's past, Rita was helped by Richard in her organisation of a family gathering. The notes, reproduced here, are part of Richard's contribution. They reflect his attention to detail and his very humanity, his insistence on seeing people as people, and valuable contibutors to our present, regardless of their background. The History of the Susan Pearman Cup By Richard Deeks 1989 This magnificent silver cup is unique, or perhaps more appropriately, its history is remarkable. It is elegantly shaped, with a large bowl mounted on a stem with a rounded foot and 2 handles made of pure silver, weighing 20 oz and quite valuable. It is competed for annually by villagers entering garden produce in the Glemsford Flower Show and won for the first time in 1936 by Mr Pawsey of Egremont Street, Glemsford. The cup was donated by Mrs Sarah Ellie of Richmond, Surrey, to commemorate her remarkable grandmother Susan Pearman; not only was she a mother and housewife, silk weaver and a member of the Providence Chapel on Hunts Hill, she was also a midwife and had attended over 3000 births in the area. That must be a pretty good record for any individual during the last half of the 19th century and early 20th. Susan Pearman was born Susan Brown, daughter of Hannah and Thomas Brown on 17th August 1817 in Hunts Hill Glemsford, and after working as a silk weaver she went on to weave velvet by handloom. She married William Hempstead Pearman (also born 1817) on 25 November 1837 and had 7 children in all, one being illegitimate. In the 1851 Census, Susan Pearman is living with her parents and one sister, Christiana, and her baseborn daughter Ellen. William Pearman was a remarkable man. He had had 2 minor convictions for theft but in 1841 was convicted of receiving stolen pigs from a Sudbury landowner and sentenced to 14 years transportation to Tasmania. However, he did return to England after 12 years, spending some time after his release from Tasmania at the goldfields at Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. On returning to Glemsford a wealthy man, he purchased land and a shop on Hunts Hill. When he learned of Ellen, Susan’s baseborn daughter born whilst he was away in Australia, he said “You broke a cup, I broke a saucer, we’ll call it quits”. William and Susan continued to live and prosper in Glemsford, him as a blacksmith, she running the pork butcher’s shop, alongside her work as a midwife. William died on 18th February 1897 aged 80, Susan died 11th December 1903 aged 86 years. They are both buried in the same grave in the east end of Glemsford churchyard where their memorial headstone was recently discovered under bramble bushes. So here, with the Pearman Cup, is a continuous reminder of man’s inhumanity to man – those who survived transportation had a very tough time, also it is very rare for a transportee to return home to England. And, some of the descendants of both Susan and William still live in this area, both Browns and Pearmans. This short story illuminates just a corner of our village heritage, which I believe needs to be revealed so that we may live in a more considerate world. Stealing Sheep (quoted with permission) from Sue Cain: My Grandma recently told me of an ancestor who was called William Hempstead who was transported to Tasmania after being convicted of stealing a sheep. He was also 23. I thought I'd do a search on the Internet and found your page. My family are from Feltham, which ties in with [the] Great Grandfather who taught matmaking. She said that William's wife divorced him for 3/6 after 7 years but she did say that he was given permission to move around the colony and he did become a wealthy man before returning to England when he was 60 and buying property. Although there are slight differences between the details your site & my Grandma's story, there are a lot of striking similarities (my Grandma is in her 80's & the story has been passed down from a few different people I believe so I imagine there have been some confusions here and there - nothing has been written down). I was wondering if you had any more family history details. My Grandma hasn't said which side of her parents family that William was related to but her surname is Cain , her father was 'Holland' and her mother's maiden name was 'Francis' and they were from Sunbury. There are some intriguing similarities here, but also the sort of differences which make the interpretation of the past so constantly fascinating. Despite what Richard had to say, at the time of the 1861 Census, Ellen Pearman, the "baseborn" child of the transportation, was living with her Hempstead grandparents. Needless to say, Rita and Sue are in contact with each other and, yes, it is the same family!