January 5th 1875

The Licensed Victuallers Association which was founded in 1867 and owes it's existence to irregular competition from grocers selling wine, is now applying to sell tea in packets of 1 lb- 1/4 lb and 2ozs through appointed agents. Prices-Tae-ping, good strong black at 2s a lb-Fine strong black at 2s 6d a pound-Fine Souchong at 3s-Mixed at 3s 6d-Coffee at 1s 6d a pound. These teas will be sold at the Cock and Bell, Melford by A.Claydon, landlord-Hare, Melford, C.Glasscock-White Hart, Melford, J.Seagers- George and Dragon, Melford, S.Argent- W.Chaplin, Bear, Sudbury-Red Lion, Alpheton, S.Clements-J.Goody, Plough, Tye Green, Glemsford-D.Gooden, Shoulder of Mutton, Assington-S.Mauldon, White Horse, Ballingdon-J.Moore, Glemsford Crown-D.Smith, Stanstead White Hart.

January 5th 1875

There was a presentation at Melford Station when the Station Master, Mr Charles John Newton Row was presented with a watch and chain as a token of the esteem of his many friends. The watch is a gold demi hunting watch and chain, the watch cost £ 20 and the chain £ 3.

January 5th 1875

Joseph Border a labourer of Monks Eleigh charged with enlisting and refusing to pay the smart money of 21s.
Sgt.Beeland, recruiting Sgt.for the Coldstream Guards said he lawfully enlisted the prisoner at the Swan, Monks Eleigh, he has since learnt that he had enlisted previously and had been refused by a medical man. 6 weeks.

January 5th 1875

Philip Hammond and his brother John were summoned for assaulting P.C.Baldry at Shimpling Bush. 1 month each.

January 19th 1875

Henry and Samuel Hills, farmers and corn merchants of Waldingfield, Sudbury, have been charged with unlawfully trying to obtain 120L 10s from Mr Daniel Alderton of Hadleigh for 100 sacks of barley which did not match the sample obtained. George Miller, foreman for Mr Alderton said three pecks in a bushel was good barley at the top of the sacks but two bushels were inferior. Adjourned.

January 19th 1875

Ambrose Smith of Cavendish has donated £ 100 to St Leonards Hospital on condition that 5% interest be paid to him during his lifetime.

January 19th 1875

Amos Crisell 13 and Henry Watts 13 were charged with creating a disturbance in Stanstead church. The Rev Sheen said the curate was officiating at the service and I was sitting in my pew. I saw defendants put their hands up to each others faces play fighting and causing great disturbance and noise in the church. Fined 10s with 4s 6d costs or 14 days.

February 2nd 1875

Charles Felton 20 of Borley and Thomas Martin of Foxearth who were charged with stealing money from Hezekiah King in Ballingdon on the 21st November last were found not guilty.

February 16th 1875

Finstead End, Glemsford. A valuable property, free and fully licensed public house known as the Kings Head in occupacy of W.
Debenham at £ 12 12s per annum and three cottages let to John Shinn and others at £ 9 per annum also the carcase of a windmill.

March 16th 1875

Benjamin Mortlock of Cavendish was charged with stealing three fowls valued at 7s 6d from William Ambrose a farmer of Cavendish. P.C.Bullet said he went to the Fir Trees public house, kept by Thomas Bouhen on information received and saw a cockerel which I now produce, I took it to the Ambrose's and Mrs Ambrose identified it as theirs. Prisoner said I aint uneasy about it as I bought them for 1s each, Mrs Boughen said prisoner asked 1s 6d each, she asked him where he had got them and he said from Tom Brand. Six weeks.

March 16th 1875

Alfred Angel was summoned for being drunk and riotous in Ram lane Cavendish. 7 days.

April 6th 1875

The fraud case against two corn merchants, the Hills brothers, has been dismissed.

April 27th 1875

On Friday at about 3-30 a m, Mr Scott the steward in charge of Burtons Farm, Melford, held by Mr George Ruffel, was awoken by horses bustling about in the yard and found there was a fire in the yard. He released the horses from their perilous position and helped by his wife and grandson put the fire out which was in a heap of litter.
About © an hour after the fire was discovered a man named Benjamin Mortlock who had only that morning left Bury gaol was passing and rendered assistance, the steward suspected him and Inspector Keeble took him into custody. The parish engine was sent for and they put the smouldering litter out.

June 8th 1875

The clock which has been ordered for St Peter's Church, Sudbury, has not yet been put up. It was resolved at a meeting of the Watch Committee that unless the makers, Messrs Bland and Gillet of Croydon were prepared to put it up soon, the order would be recinded.

June 8th 1875

Extensions of time were granted to the Railway Arms, Bells and the White Horse at Cavendish for one hour on the 11th for Cavendish fair.

June 15th 1875

At Sudbury County Court a claim by Samuel Nott of Alphampstone for 30L lent by him to Henry Baker a miller from Pebmarsh.
Time to pay.

June 29th 1875

Mr R.Woodgate of Gt Waldingfield won first prize of 7L at Suffolk Show at Stowmarket for a shearling ewe.

July 6th 1875

On Saturday a severe thunderstorm passed over Clare, rain fell for two hours flooding low lands and streets. Electric fluid struck a barn totally destroying it belonging to Mr H.Dennis at Chilton Street, the farm house was saved owing to the favourable state of the wind.

July 6th 1875

The storm on Saturday was limited in Melford, in the street in front of the Bull there was only a slight shower while over the bridge on the Green and High Street the rain fell in torrents.
Persons standing in front of the Bull looked up towards the Green could see the roadway a sheet of water while they did not get wet.

July 27th 1875

The meadows at Sudbury were flooded and hay cocked on Friars Meadow was carried downstream, on Wednesday, crews of both the boat clubs who were training for the races on the Bank holiday, were able to row across Ballingdon meadow to Mr Allen's house. The depth of the water allowed full dip to the oars. Many fields of wheat and barley were beaten down.

August 3rd 1875

A ploughing match took place on Friday evening in a field belonging to Clare Hall. The leg of pork was won by James Bareham of Cavendish road.

August 17th 1875

Walter Bullock and Samuel Brown, lads of Cavendish were summoned by P.C.Bullet for fighting. The P.C. said that on July 31st he heard a noise coming from near the Bells Inn, on going to the spot he saw the defendants fighting, when Brown saw me he ran off, I went to Bullock who was stripped to the waist and ordered him home. The defendants met again near the post office and started jangling again and used disgusting language. Bound over at 10L each.
William Wells junior was summoned by P.C.Bullet who said when he stopped the above row the defendant struck him on the cheek, defendant was a great trial to his parents, he had been a soldier but was discharged because of ill health. 20s and costs 10s.

August 24th 1875

The new town clock in St Peter's church, Sudbury, was formerly started by the Mayor on Wednesday last.

August 24th 1875

It may be remembered that two years ago a desperate affray took place at Rivenhall when two men were charged with attempted murder and sentenced at Chelmsford Assizes to 5 and 7 years, the third man absconded and was not heard of until Sunday night when he was found in Playle's lodging house in Cross Street, Sudbury. The man was taken into custody, his name is Robert Smith.

September 14th 1875

Thomas Brett, James Wheeler, John Garwood, George Theobald, Frederick Howe, John Townsend, Charles Howe, George Simpson, Henry Gowers, Arthur Pask, Henry Crisell and William Dare, labourers of Stanstead were charged with being on licensed premises at the White Hart, Stanstead, during prohibited hours, the police constable said they were there a quarter of an hour over the time at 2-55 on the Sunday afternoon. Colonel Barron said as there was only one magistrate present and it would be hard on the men to come again and if the men agreed they would be discharged on payment of 1s 3d costs each. The men agreed.

September 21st 1875

The usual Harvest Home celebrations took place in the picturesque village of Foxearth on Tuesday last. The service in the church was well attended and the offertory was to St Leonards Hospital.
After a capital dinner of hot roast beef, boiled plum pudding and plenty of ale and stout in the rectory grounds the guests were entertained by Haverhill Brass Band and after tea there was a display of fireworks.

September 21st 1875

The fete and cottagers show took place at Boxted Hall the seat of Mrs Poley. The judges were Mr Galbraith, gardener to Sir William Hyde Parker and Mr Squib gardener to the Marquis of Bristol.
Potato class-Geoge Taylor for R.Spencer and James Garwood for J.F.Halls.
Length of servitude-Charles Mitchell aged 68 for 49 years recommende by Miss Faulkener=William Bretton 72 with 47 years by Miss Hallifax-Henry Bryan 43 years by Rev Borton-Jacob Salvage 54 with 30 years by Rev Turner. Large families-Mrs Bowers with six children, 10s. Mrs W.Ponder with five children, 7s.

November 2nd 1875

Maria Copsey of the Cock Inn, Glemsford was charged by the Inland Revenue for unlawfully using a quantity of sugar for making beer not having a licence. Fined £ 50. Mrs Copsey said she could not pay as she was a poor widow and had brought up ten children.

November 9th 1875

A violent gale blew down a mill in Stoke road, Clare, the owner Mr Lambert was in the mill when his wife seeing it sway called out to him just in time, it is a complete wreck.

November 16th 1875

Heavy rain on Wednesday night caused roads to flood around Hall Mill in Melford, the highest floooding seen since 1861

Meadows adjoining the Stour were covered with water and floods of water from the small river rushing over the railway line from Cambridge caused the earth to be washed away, exposing the sleepers, in consequence the 11 o' clock from Cambridge was stopped and the passengers were taken in a small trolley over the inundated part. The navvies set to work and cut a small trench to take the water away. At the Flax Mill (the old Paper Mill) the water rushing over the banks carried away great quantity of flax which was drying on the meadows.

November 22nd 1875

As Mr Jones the surgeon was driving down Windmill Hill at Melford his horse suddenly dropped down dead.

November 22nd 1875

William Brewster a labourer from Glemsford was brought up in custody and charged. P.C.Clayton said he was concealed in a straw stack at an off hand farm in Glemsford belonging to Mr Goodchild when he saw the prisoner go to the threshing machine which had been at work there threshing barley, he lifted up the slide to see if there was any corn left in the machine, he stooped down, I stopped him and asked him what he had got, he said he came for his jacket, I took him to Mr Goodchild. Nothing previous was known about defendant but he had no doubt he was there for an unlawful purpose. To gaol for a fortnight.

November 22nd 1875

A newly erected malting was blown down at Chiltern Street, Clare, during a severe gale. The malting which was near completion measured 65 ft by 30 ft was constructed of stud work and brick work of 7 feet basis. The wreckage presented a scene rarely seen, it is probably due to the wet weather while being erected.

December 7th 1875

William Rush a shepherd of Stanstead was summoned for trespassing in search of game at Kentwell Hall, Melford. Defendant said he was at work on the land at Kentwell so could not be trespassing but he admitted taking two rabbits. The bench said because he worked on the land did not mean he could take rabbits. 5s with 6s costs.

December 7th 1875

There was an inquest at Glemsford on the body of George Howe a labourer of Stanstead aged 21 years who was driving a van and three horses which was loaded with coal. Abner Gridley said deceased asked him to show him the school yard which he did and he opened the double doors into the school. As he entered the yard the shaft horse pressed him against the gatepost. Deceased said my ribs are broken and I shall die, I took him in to the school and he died in 40 minutes. He was employed by Mr Byford. Accidental death.

December 21st 1875

C.Stammers, W.Braybrook, A.Spinks and Frederick Murrels, boys of Sudbury, were charged with causing a strike against a passenger carriage belonging to G.E.R. upon the railway. The guard said he was on the 2-37 from Bury to Colchester on 30th of October near Sudbury station when he heard an explosion and saw fire and smoke and what looked like a small block of wood on the ground. A small block of wood with a cannon was produced. He saw the boys try to cross the line near the level crossing, there were no marks on the carriage. Arthur Ward 13 said he heard Stammers say lets shoot the train and he saw Stammers fire the cannon. Not enough evidence-discharged.

December 21st 1875

At Sudbury Couny Court, Mr Sillitoe of Borley sued Mr J.S.Gardiner for 50s damage to his crops in his garden. It appears that defendant turned 270 sheep on to the green and they made their way through plaintiff's gate which was open on to his garden. Defendant as a copyholder was entitled to turn sheep on to the green but should have had a shepherd with them. Damages of 30s allowed.

January 11th 1876

Labourers at Hall farm, Hawkedon, recieved 5 bushels of coal each from their employers Messrs Hale and extra according to family. A very acceptable gift.

January 18th 1876

William Farrance a Glemsford lad was summoned for wilful damage to cocao fibre the property of Messrs Kolle. David Crick said I am foreman at the factory where defendant works on my floor and is employed winding yarn from the skein. The yarn was snarled and damaged by the defendant. When the boys come on a skein which is snarled they pull it out to worsen the state and hide it. We employ 32 boys on this floor and we generally collect 1 cwt of snarled skeins a week. We have tried deducting 4d off the boys who did this but it is no use so we summoned defendant. Abraham Brewst