Polstead Recorder’s Open Day 2009
Polstead Village Recorder’s
Report for 2008 – 09
The Recorder’s activities during the past year have
been somewhat hampered by the onset of severe arthritis in Bill
Wigglesworth’s left hip, which, having completely seized up by the
autumn, required a full hip replacement operation in early February
2009. This has, however, been very successful and he expects to be
back to normal very shortly.
As a result, the activities have not turned out
entirely as planned last year; but we hope to catch up on progress
to our immediate objectives in the course of the next few
months.
The main developments during the year have
been:
Census Records
Martin Mitchell
(email
) has given us access to information about Polstead in the censuses
for 1881, 1891 and 1901. We hope at some time in the future to have
access to the results of the 1911 census as well. These not only
give a superb overview of the make up of the Polstead community
over those forty years; they are also of great individual interest
to relatives of those living in Polstead at that time, containing
complete family and address details; and they provide an excellent
source of information for people seeking records of relatives who
they believe were resident here about that time.
The Recorder, and the churchwardens and others,
receive a constant stream of inquiries about past residents of the
area. With information from the census records, the photocopy of
the burial register of 1876 to 1986 and the copy of the plan and
index of graves in the churchyard (prepared by the Women’s
Institute in 1986), the Recorder is well equipped to share readily
available information about who was living in Polstead over the
last 130 years with whoever may be interested.
The church records will be on display at the Open
Day that we are planning for later this year (see below); and we
will also be giving consideration to preparing a short note on what
the available census material has to tell us about the nature of
the Polstead community at the end of the nineteenth
century.
Military survey of Polstead in
1522
Martin Mitchell has also provided a most
interesting excerpt, relating to Polstead, from the Military Survey
of Babergh Hundred in 1522. This survey covered the entire country,
on the orders of Henry VIII, who wanted a complete review of the
taxable resources available to raise and equip an army to invade
France (Henry was allied with the Emperor Charles V in preparation
to make what would be the last bid by a King of England for the
crown of France.) The Polstead extract records the taxable value of
the property of the Waldegrave family and that of others in
Polstead, mostly small farmers whose liability to service was
limited to providing military equipment, such as bows and quivers
of arrows and soldier’s (leather) armour. A notable feature is the
comparative wealth of two local clergy.
Suffolk Recorders’ Day, October
2008
We jointly attended the Suffolk Recorders’ Day on
8 October 2008. This was, once again, extremely interesting and
inspiring. Items of particular interest included one on local
newspaper reports and what they might reveal about the period
concerned; one on atlases and maps, including most fascinating
records of local boundaries in Suffolk; and one on tracking the
history of public houses.
History of Polstead School
Anne Lewis has been working on gathering
materials about Polstead School (1886 to 1990), including the
historical essay on the school written by the late Margaret Orriss.
Anne would greatly welcome any further material, such as
photographs etc. that may be available.
Public Houses in Polstead
Anne Lewis is also engaged in gathering
information about the public houses that have existed in Polstead;
and would again welcome any information and records that may be
available.
Polstead Church
Martin Mitchell is additionally engaged on
research into aspects of the history of St Mary’s Church, Polstead.
Among the topics being studied are information concerning the
organ, its manufacture and the identity of Mrs Whitmore, who is
recorded as its donor to the church in 1838; the whereabouts of
definitive information of the nature and extent of the extensive
renovation and repairs to the church carried out during the 1880s;
and how and when the presentation to the living passed to St John’s
College, Oxford. All have been significant gaps in our
knowledge.
On-going records of events
Photographic records are being kept (in digital
form), as occasion offers, of interesting events or developments
taking place in Polstead, including items such as the successful
establishment of Paul Riddleston’s “Bygones” emporium in Cock Farm
Barn, the re-establishment of active allotments, the renewal of the
hedge outside the village hall, repair of drainage in Heath Road
and elsewhere and the new seat by the pond.
Enquiries
A wide range of enquiries have been dealt with,
ranging from correspondence with descendants in New Zealand of Rev
Nance, Rector of Polstead from 1886 to 1895, to a request for
information from Mid West USA for information on the possible
location of the rare Type 1750S Alfa Romeo which had been
registered in 1967 as being in the possession of a previous owner
of New House Farm.
Future activities
We hope during the next year to:
(1)progress the projects mentioned
above;
(2)record the progress of the archaeological
survey of the churchyard extension, which is due to take place
during the summer;
(3)hold an Open Day to demonstrate the
information and records held in Polstead (tentative dates being
considered are in the early autumn of 2009);
(4)establish a recording facility for oral
testimony of current residents; and
(5)develop the information available on the
Polstead web site.
Any suggestions for inclusion in our activities
would be most welcome.
Bill Wigglesworth
email
Anne Lewis
email
27 April 2009
Village Recorder’s Report for 2007 –
08
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