Click here for More photos in our Tudor Gallery.

1st, 2nd and 3rd May 2009

Commemorating the 500th Anniversary
of our Guildhall, now the Fox and Goose, and the guild of Saint Margaret of Antioch

Fressingfield Local History and Archive Group, and the whole village enjoyed a magnificent weekend celebration of the 500th anniversary of the building of Fressingfield’s Tudor Guildhall, now the Fox and Goose.

The event took place on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, in and around the Sancroft Hall, Fox and Goose, the Church
and Church Farm Meadow

It was a celebration for the whole village in recognition of our wonderful heritage. All village organisations, groups and individuals were encouraged to take part. Hundreds of villagers and visitors dressed up in Tudor costume.

Events and activities over the three days included:

*     a talk by Ian McKechnie 'The History
      and Construction of our Guildhall', 
      followed by a talk by Rosemary Willis, 'Revolution and Reformation', held at
      7.30pm on Friday 1st May in the parish church, followed by music and  
      refreshments. 

*     a Tudor market from 10am on Saturday 2nd May,
      with vegetables, fruit, plants, pickles, chutneys,
      eggs, herbs, pies, cakes, biscuits, lavender bags,
      pomanders, soaps, fabrics, pot covers, recipe books,
      wooden toys, ceramics and a wonderful
      commemorative tankard 

*     authentic food and drink with pottage, sausages,
      bread and salad for lunch on Saturday and a hog
      roast on Sunday.  
 
*     demonstrations of traditional crafts and skills
       including basket weaving, spinning, peg loom
      weaving, pargeting, beekeeping, window leading, with
      pottery and stained glass workshops. Sat only

*     music by Hoxne Windbags, Walland Express
      handbells, Ravenscroft Consort, Mere Madrigals, The
      Wandering Minstrels, minstrel and lutenist, organist

*     dancing with the Norwich Early Dance Group and maypole dancing with children
      from Fressingfield School on Saturday afternoon

*     united church village service - Celebration of Fressingfield at 10.30am at the
      parish church followed by a procession and coronation of the May Queen at 12
      noon on the green on Sunday

*     commemorative embroideries in the church and Sancroft Hall

*     sports and pastimes, including archery, falconry, races and tug of war on the 
      Saturday, bat and trap, catch quoits, hoops, paddawack, splat
      the rat, tossing horseshoes on Church Farm Meadow on the Saturday and some
      on The Fox and Goose Green on Sunday.

      Croquet, bowls, backgammon, chess, cup and ball, five stones, hopscotch,
      marbles, nine men’s morris, shove ha’penny, skipping, skittles, spinning tops and
      streamers on the Fox and Goose Green both days

*     a Town Dinner at the Fox and Goose on both Saturday and Sunday evenings. 
     
*     displays and exhibits about the history of the Guildhall, Tudor construction, 
      occupations, costume

*     a short drama to tell the story behind the building of the new guildhall - 1509
      and all that! on Sunday afternoon

*     children's art activities and treasure hunt

*    guided historical walks on Sunday afternoon   

*     food and drink also available at the Swan Inn, the Fox and Goose and the shop

Thank you to all our generous funders, including Single Suffolk Gateway, Suffolk County Council (Hoxne and Eye Localities Fund), Fressingfield Parish Council, Fressingfield Parish Church Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and the many private donors.

Also many thanks from the committee to all those volunteers who have given their hearts and souls to this project since its conception. Without your help it would not have been possible.

The Tudor Weekend planning group members are:     

Mary Cufley 01379 586538

Virginia Skoyles 01379 586708

Pennie Walker 01379 588270

Jenny Whitehurst 01379 586575

Rosemary Willis 01379 586254

Please contact a member of the group for further information.