Local History
Recorder - Mabs Harrison
01449 720639
stonamby@btopenworld.com
suffolklocalhistorycouncil.org.uk/recorders.html
Suffolk Wildlife Trust (Bonny Wood)
The Woodland Trust (Priestly Wood)
A painting by Lady Susan Elizabeth Percy of Barking Hall and Church
in 1799.
The painting is now held by the Tate gallery
The Tye and Woodlands
The Barking Tye, which is a focal point of the village covers
some 45 acres.
In 1251 a survey carried out by the Bishop of Ely states " there
is a certain common pasture called barkingtye which has within
itself about 50 acres in which all the town may common with the
Lord Bishop and pasture their beasts". Certain farmers grazed their
stock up until the 1940's. During the Second World War, it was
ploughed for cereal production. The Tye was inherited in 1959 by
the Rev. John Bickersteth, who generously gave it to Barking Parish
Council. In 1965 it was registered as common land under the Commons
Registration Act 1965 and it's management and use governed by
byelaws passed in 1969. Six commoners still have the right to graze
stock but this is no longer exercised. Today the Tye is down to
grass with a hay crop being sold for the benefit of the parish. A
small area is devoted to a children's play area and recently work
has started on establishing a wild flower meadow.
Skylarks nest on the Tye every year.
The skylark is a small brown
bird, somewhat larger than a sparrow but smaller than a
starling.
It is streaky brown with a small crest, which can be raised
when
the bird is excited or alarmed, and a white-sided tail. The
wings
also have a white rear edge, visible in flight. It is renowned for
its
display flight, vertically up in the air. Its recent and
dramatic
population declines make it a Red List species.
Found everywhere in the UK, it likes open countryside, from
lowland farmland to upland moorland. Often inconspicuous on the
ground, it is easy to see when in its distinctive song flight.
Skylarks eat seeds and insects and the Tye is an ideal
habitat.
The parish boasts a number of ancient woodlands. In 1251 a survey
for the Bishop of Ely records the following woods, Tykele (Titley)
5 acres, Prestele (Priestley) 30 acres, Wethersheg (Swingens) 7
acres, Park Wood 9 acres and Boynhey (Bonny Wood) 180 acres. Today
the trees are coppiced and the wood sold for logs.
The Tye and woods are a rich source of flora and fauna, including
orchids, bluebells, deer and nightingales. Today, the general
public are allowed to wander in those owned by the Suffolk Wildlife
Trust and the Woodland Trust. The parish is fortunate in having
some 24 miles of walkable footpaths which afford some of the most
splendid scenery in the County. They are well maintained and used
by many local and visiting walkers. In 1998 the Suffolk Ramblers
Association awarded Barking cum Darmsden their ‘Premier Pleasure to
Walk Award'.
In 2000, monies from the Barking 100 Lottery was used to create a
Millennium Wild Flower Meadow. Situated near the children's
play area on the Tye, it has now established itself with
a wide range of flowers. In flower at present are ox-eyed
daisies, ragged robin, redshank, red clover and of course
buttercups and daisies.
The Old School (now the Village
Hall)
The present building was opened in 1894. This Board school was
the infant school for Barking and surrounding villages, with older
children going to Needham Market. The school was closed in December
1951 when a new school was opened in Ringshall, at that time
lighting was still by oil lamp and heating from a coke stove.
Cannon S.H. De la Bere who was vicar of Barking and Chairman of the
School Managers was instrumental in helping The Barking Community
Council to obtain the building for use as a Village Hall.
- 1894 - Barking School Board met to select a tender for building
a new mixed school
- Messrs Theobald of Needham Market was chosen, £857.10s
- On the first day, April 30th 1894, 44 children were present. 2
classes, mixed dept and infants. 2 teachers. Older children in big
room, infants in small room.
- School used for other events in evenings, Quaker meetings
started there.
- Closed as a school at Christmas 1952 when new area school
opened at Ringshall.
- 7 May 1953 - Village Hall Committee set up, the Hall was bought
for £500 in 1960
- August 1974 - New floor put in and re-wired
- 1981 - connected to mains sewer and internal wall removed
- 1983/4 - Under-floor heating installed
- August/September 1993 - extension added for new kitchen
- December 2007 - kitchen refitted with new cooker, extractor,
heated cabinet and dishwasher
The Village Sign
The Village sign was designed by Mrs. Herring. The religious
figure represents the Bishop of Ely, once owner of Barking Manor.
The Lebanon cedar tree represents the cedar trees in the
Churchyard planted by Rev. Robert Uvedale Rector
from 1699-1723. The plough, the importance of agriculture in the
Parish.
