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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