January 25th 1887

A large number of the breakdown gang were engaged in repairing the rail bridge at Rodbridge which was damaged by the heavy floods. The centre of the bridge quite shifted from it's position, happily it was discovered before an accident happened.
Passengers were taken to the bridge, they then walked to the other side and boarded the other trains. The station masters from Sudbury and Melford supervised the operations and a Sunday afternoon a test train was run over the bridge. A large number of people visited the spot. The roadway from Liston Bridge to Liston Mill suffered much by the rushing water over the road, several large gulleys were made in the road and traffic was diverted to Rodbridge, so great was the surge that large stones were carried over the road through the ditch and on to the meadow. Near All Saints church in Church Street, Sudbury, the water was so high that people could not pass.

February 22nd 1887

Last week, Mr George Nott of Pebmarsh, shot a fine peregrine falcon, it has been set up by Messrs Rose and Son of Friars Street, Sudbury, the bird is rare in the neighbourhood and the late Doubleday King stated in Fulchers Sudbury Journal 1835-36 that a splendid female of the species of this bird was shot in a meadow near Sudbury by a gentleman. The following winter Mr King received an adult bird which was shot at Borley, a male was shot at Melford in 1880 and one in 1882. About a month ago a fine specimen of a Brent Goose was shot at Lavenham.

February 22nd 1887

There was some excellent sport shown at Pentlow on Tuesday with some hare coursing on Mr R.Orbell's land and also some fine hospitality was dispensed.

March 1st 1887

At Lavenham fair, Mr Bantock had 90 cart horse for sale.
Prices were from 40gns to 60gns.

March 8th 1887

Wheeler and Son annouce the sale of Glemsford Cock in Egermont Street. Brewery with yards, paddock, gardens. Area of 1© acres.
A large company of buyers bid strongly for Glemsford Cock, bids started at £ 700 and was purchased by Mr Joseph Copsey for £ 1050.

March 22nd 1887

A new peal composed by Mr J.Pilston of Saffron Walden and never rung before was rung in Foxearth church on the enlarged peal of bells on Saturday evening. Charles Sillitoe of Sudbury conducted, the ringers were S.Slater of Glemsford, treble, J.Lee of Foxearth 2nd, P.Gridley Foxearth 3rd, F.Wells Glemsford 4th, G.Maxim Foxearth 5th, R.Mingay Foxearth 6th, P.Scott Melford 7th. The peal was one of Kent Treble Bob Major consisting of 5088 changes.

March 22nd 1887

Lavenham Sugar Factory was sold to £ 1950, Mr Cassell said it was being given away.

April 5th 1887

A meeting was held at the Black Lion, Glemsford to receive a deputation from Sudbury Weavers Union to consider forming a branch at Glemsford, it was decided to form a branch. Among those present were H.Nice, W.Jarman, A.Bridge, Chas.Brown, Chas.Boreham, A.Wordley, E.Wordley, E.Lord, Walter Jarmin, A.Bridge, Chas.Brown, Chas.Boreham, Thomas Smith, W.Tuffin, W.Gowers, George Crask, James Boreham, W.Cooper, A.Brown, H.Bullock, D.Brown, D.Wordlet, O.Brown, F.Webster, G eorge Brown, G.Watkinson, E.Howard, A.Watkinson, F.Boreham, W.Boreham, W.Garwood,

April 12th 1887

Owing to the recent death of the respected postmaster and postmistress at Glemsford the chief portion of the inhabitants are now put to great inconvienience by the removal of the Post Office to a remote place on Fair Green. Although the new Post Office only opened on April 1st the complaints are numerous and it is asked " is Post Office for for public convienience or for the Post Office".

April 12th 1887

The dinner of Sudbury Rovers Football Club took place on Thursday evening at the White Horse Hotel. After the cloths were removed it was suggested that a cricket club be formed to run in conjunction with the Rovers. There was a liberal response to the scheme and 13 men enrolled.

April 12th 1887

At Essex Quarter Sessions sitting as an appeal court, John Hart a horse slaughterer who had been sentenced to 6 weeks in prison for cruelty to a mare,(probably of Belchamp Walter)the sentence was affirmed, the renewal of the horse slaughtering licence was applied for and granted to Mrs Hart on condition that her son had nothing to do with the management.

April 26th 1887

Alfred Maxim aged 10 years, George Wordley aged 8 and Thomas Mason aged 10, were charged with setting fire to a straw stack the property of Charles Mortlock at Cavendish and valued at £ 23 and a shed belonging to James Purdy valued at £ 18. P.C. Tuthill said he went to the premises and heard that three little boys had been stone picking in Mr Mortlock's field, he could not find them. He went to their homes and the children eventually admitted setting fire to the stack. The mothers were told to severely punish the children and the case would be adjourned for two weeks for this purpose.

April 12th 1887

Fire broke out in one of two cottages near the " Mere" in Little Cornard. The cottages are owned and one is occupied by Layzell the shoemaker, his son lives in the other one, the houses were gutted. A large number of persons assembled at the fire.

May 10th 1887

Thanks to the efforts of Mr Hamilton and the parochial branch of the Temperance Society, a Fife and Drum band has been formed in Melford. Instruments include 30 fifes, 5 drums, cymbals, triangles, etc..

May 17th 1887

Fire broke out on Church Farm, Cavendish, occupied by Mr Alfred Coldham, a straw stack and a shed were destroyed valued at £ 100.

May 24th 1887

George Levett of Glemsford and " Gray" Amos of London were charged with assaulting P.C.Chaplin at Glemsford who said he was on duty near the Black Lion at about 11-15 on the evening of the 14th and heard very bad language being use by some men assembled there, I went up to them and said " you want to draw that a bit milder", it was indecent language. I knew one of the party named Clarke and one named Amos who held up a stick and said " shall I let him have it" several shouted " yes". I was struck a violent blow on the chest, I made for him but was then knocked down by several others and held there, I called for assistance and called " murder" and then called for Walter Game, Ezra Game then came to my assistance, Mrs Game and her daughter then came and took me inside. I charge Levett with kicking, I cannot name the others present, Amos struck me and Levett kicked me. Fanny Game said " I live with my father at the Black Lion, Levett left the hotel at 11 pm, I had taken 2d off him for breaking a glass, I heard P.C.Chaplin shout " Game", I opened the door and saw the P.C. lying there". Ezra Game said " I am a silk manager at Glemsford, I was going home from the Black Lion and heard some jangling, someone shouted murder, I went back and found seven or eight men on top of Chaplin, kicking and beating him in a brutal manner, I took the stick from Amos and began beating the men, they ran away. Levett discharged as there was some doubt about identification and Amos two months hard labour.

May 31st 1887

At a property sale in Sudbury Messrs Balls and Newman sold a number of properties. Park and Goddards farm at Gestingthorpe and Wickham consisting of a dwelling house, farm premises and 140 acres was sold to Mr George Hearn of Maplestead for £ 1700. Cadley Cross farm consisting of a dwelling house, buildings and 21 acres to Mr James Hearn.
Butlers Farm, Belchamp St Pauls to Miss Jones of Cavendish consisting of a dwelling house and farm premises with 119 acres for £ 1500.

June 14th 1887

George Sturgeon, a letter carrier from Hartest to Hawkedon was found drowned on Thursday afternoon. It appears he had delivered his letters in the morning and was to lead a dog to Hartest, it is suggested that near a pond the dog tried to get away pulling Sturgeon in to the pond.

June 21st 1887

Walter Suttle was charged with assaulting George Osborne, a stall holder at Cavendish fair, William Bird or Bulmer charged with similar offence and to being drunk and disorderly at Cavendish Five Bells. The bench said that in the case of Suttle a gross assault had taken place and he would go to prison for two months hard labour, Bulmer also two months. James Chatters of Glemsford was charged with assaulting John Robinson a dealer from Clare was fined 5s with 9s costs.

June 21st 1887

Mrs Dent the wife of Aaron Dent who is in charge of the granaries at the Quay in Sudbury, fell down the steps in the granary and broke several ribs.

June 21st 1887

At Sudbury Petty Sessions Mr Elliot said a great nuisance existed near Ballingdon bridge wher people seemed to delight in bathing and exposing themselves to people passing over the bridge, sometimes they will run up to back doors of the nearby houses in their nudity. Notices are to be posted that they would be brought to justice if this nuisance continued.

June 28th 1887

At the Jubilee celebrations at Cavendish tickets were issued to every house in the parish to the value of five shilings, three shillings to be spent on meat and the rest on groceries so that everyone could have a hot dinner. Mr J.S.Garrett entertained 80 of his workmen.

July 5th 1887

Susannah West and Mary Drane were charged with stealing as sum of money from William Hughes an Irish cattle dealer from Co.Monahan. Hughes an elderly man said he sometimes came to Bury market, he met two women near the cattle market and went to a house in Bear's Court in Southgate street, at the house he had £ 4 10s in gold and some silver in his purse, he gave some money to Drane to buy some drink which she brought back and the change, he put it in the purse. He went upstairs with West and when he came down the women were gone and the money was gone from his coat pocket. Two months hard labour.

July 5th 1887

Richard Spark the wheel barrow man who is on his way through England and Wales arrived on the Market Hill, Sudbury with his wheel barrow where he was the centre of considerable attention, he was rather unkempt but seemed cheery as he went on his way to Consett in County Durham.

July 12th 1887

There was a fatal accident at Bures railway station late on Thursday night when Edward Smith a married man aged 50 years an engine driver from Bergholt road in Colchester and a native of Sudbury was killed. A pilot or additional engine was attached to a heavy excursion train travelling from Clacton to Mildenhall to assist in the gradients between Sudbury and Colchester. The engine was detached at Sudbury and was making it's way back to Colchester, when approaching Bures level crossing, the gates of which were closed, the engine stopped and the fireman got down to help the gatekeeper to open the gates, when the engine got through the driver got down and the three men were engaged in conversation when for some reason the brakes became released, seeing this Smith ran to the gates to throw them open, he opened one gate but was caught between the buffers and the gate while attempting to open the second gate, he was severely crushed and died instantaneously. Accidental death.

July 12th 1887

John Honeywood was charged with stealing a pig from William Byford at Melford. William Ambrose, a working bailiff to Mr Byford, said there were 16 pigs on July 1st as he had counted them, on the Sunday morning one was missing, he informed his master and the police.The pigs were the property of his master and were at Bridge Farm, Melford, the pigs were woth £ 1 each. The prisoner said he wished to have the pig produced and it was brought into court and placed on the table where it caused much amusement. John Gridley, a matmaker from Glemsford, said prisoner called on him on Sunday morning to go bathing, they were proceeding down Workhouse Lane, near Hobbs Lane, when the prisoner said he would go no further and asked witness to hire a horse and cart for him as Pearman would not hire one to him, prisoner said as a shopmate I should hire it for him. Sarah Farthing, wife of Inspector Farthing said she went to Melford Post Office and saw a horse and cart standing nearby, she knew that it came from Glemsford and knew about the pig being missing, she felt a sack which was in the cart, it contained a live pig.
P.C.Cole said he asked the prisoner where he got the pig, he said he bought it. William Dixey the landlord of the King William in Melford said saw prisoner on Sunday morning but he did not mention a pig.
Prisoner has already seved six months for stealing fowls fom Mr Byford.
9 months hard labour.

July 19th 1887

The Rev Herbert Hall is to be the new rector at Glemsford. He is from of Linton in Cambridgeshire. The living is valued at £ 700 with the rectory.

August 16th 1887

From the Files of Bury Post -February 22nd 1809

Lord Falkland who was killed in a duel yesterday sennit had lately occupied Acton Hall, Sudbury, formerly the residence of W.Jennings.

August 16th 1887

Although efforts to secure a cricket ground at Melford have failed, Mr E.Fisher has kindly allowed us to play in his picturesque meadow. The numbers of spectators is such that an admission fee is now charged in order that the funds of the football club benefit. The third match of the season was played on Saturday last, the opposing team was the 13th Somerset Light Infantry, there were capital scores on both sides, Melford scoring 108 which might have been considered enough normally but the visitors scored 132 with two men who scoring 90 runs between them, several catches being dropped. Melford made 41 for 2 when time was called. The game was witnessed by the elite of Melford and the neighbourhood as well as other numerous spectators.

August 16th 1887

Frederick Boughen of Cavendish was charged with stealing a sitting hen and 11 duck eggs from Mr A.Viall of Colts Hall, Cavendish. Mary the wife of James Perry said she lived at Cavendish Lodge, a farm belonging to Mr Viall, she had under her charge a hen and 11 duck eggs, she missed the hen and eggs and told Mr Viall, on April 29th she saw the hen and six young ducks at defendant's house. A warrant was issued for Boughen but he had absconded, he was later arrested, the prisoner who bore a bad character was sentenced to two months hard labour.

September 6th 1887

At a well attended meeting of share holders in the new Victoria Hall at Sudbury, 60 people were present. The Rev Hughes the secretary said the cost would be £ 1000 and £ 200 would be required for heating, seating and architect etc. The hall would be non political and the Conservative Club would have no say in the management. Shares were £ 1.

September 20th 1887

There was a fatal termination to a fight in Withersfield White Horse near Haverhill. It appears that two labourers, Charles Williams and Joseph Moore were drinking in the public house when a quarrel arose as a result of an old grievance, Moore being the aggressor. The row was stopped in the public house, Williams being induced to leave to prevent any further trouble, Moore rushed out and tackled Williams in a desperate fight until Moore recieved a blow that felled him, he was taken into the Inn and put to bed, Dr Tandy was sent for but the man only partly recovered and gradually sank and died on Monday afternoon. Williams was arrested and after hearing the evidence that deceased was the aggressor the jury returned a verdict of justifiable homocide.

October 11th 1887

From Glimpes Of The Past. July 1806. Whereas a quantity of lead has been stripped of Melford church and feloniously carried away the person giving information so that the parties who committed the depredations can be brought to justice shall receive a reward of £ 10 from the church wardens.

October 25th 1887

An accident occurred on Thursday to a man named Ambrose Jonas in the employment of Mr Ruse the butcher while driving his employer's horse and trap in Westgate Lane. The horse shied at something in the road and swerved on to the bank and overturned it, the occupant was thrown out but was unharmed.

October 25th 1887

Cavendish Coursing Club meeting will take place on November 1st-2nd. Mr Rowland Fryer said no expense has been spared in preserving hares. Owing to this man's generosity, coursing is permittted on the estate, Mr Fryer has also given plate for each class and a purse of money has been given by his friends.

October 25th 1887

Walter Newman 11, Albert Butcher 11 and George Springett 9 were charged with stealing a sealskin coat and some bread and jam from a cabin on a barge at Sudbury. The coat etc belonged to William Newell a bargeman in the employ of Messrs Allen who said he left his barge near Lady's Bridge and took his horse home, next morning he found the door to the man hole broken open. Butcher was discharged the other two to a reformatory for four years.

November 1st 1887

John Angel aged 15, a labourer of Cavendish was charged with stabbing Edward Clarry the ostler at the Bull Inn in Cavendish. Earnest Brown said the injured man expostulated with the prisoner for swearing and threatened to kick him out, the prisoner went out followed by Clarry and a serious quarrel took place during which Angel attacked Clarry with a knife inflicting serious injury. Clarry said that the prisoner was complaining in the taproom about people talking about him and telling lies, he told him to conduct himself properly or he would put him outside, prisoner defied him to do so and went outside and challenged witness to come out and fight, he went out and the prisoner drove at him, saying," look out for your legs, I will serve you worse than I did Ballard", Witness said he then felt himself wounded. The prisoner said he was using the knife to clean his nails when Clarry attacked him, he put his hand out to protect himself an Clarry was wounded. Mr Poyser, defending, said the attack on the prisoner was unprovoked. Not guilty.

November 29th 1887

The local meat and soup kitchen was opened in Sudbury on Wednesday morning, it is situated in Siam Gardens, Gaol Lane.
27 people partook of meat dinners and a quantity of soup dinners were served. The dinners which include meat and potatoes is produced for 5d, a penny to be paid by the recipient, the remainder by the person who issued the ticket, a dinner of excellent soup costs © d and the rest is paid by the donor of the ticket.

December 13th 1887

The rent of the " old man's field" at Glemsford was divided among some old men, there were many applicants but those decided upon were-J.Beevis, J.Good, J.Mayes, J.Watkinson, J.Chowns and F.Gridley.
They recieved £ 3 each.