January 10th 1894

Glemsford. Ezra Slater, George Brewster and Bertha Brewster were charged that on the 18th day of December they did beat P.C.Mobbs whilst in execution of his duty. P.C. Mobbs said he was on duty on Tye Green at Glemsford at about 10 o’clock at night when he heard some men coming from Cavendish, they stopped about 20 yards away and George Brewster ran away, I chased him and overtook him, I searched him and in his coat pocket I found a ferret, I took the ferret and said to him this ferret has been stolen from Colt’s Hall, I will take it, Brewster then got hold of my throat and the woman came up and struck me, saying “go home to Church Gate you black b----, Slater then hit me, Brewster caught hold of the ferret, I also had hold of it, it bit my hand, I had to let go of the ferret, while I was on the ground I was kicked by Slater, the woman sat on my legs, Brewster said “I have been laying in wait for you for some time”. Brewster and Slater 1 month hard labour and Bertha Brewster was fined 10s and 3s costs.

January 24th 1894

Pentlow. One of the chief aims of the present day is to be “up to date” even the quiet little village of Pentlow is not without it’s share of ambition, last week two very pleasant social evenings were spent in the bright little school room which throws it’s doors open for the benefit and amusement of the parishioners.

January 31st 1894

For sale at the Sudbury stock yard, young boars and yelts also a young Indian boar which was imported direct from Bengal, it is suitable to cross with Suffolk sows. Property of Frank Rice junior.

February 14th 1894

The town of Sudbury was greatly shocked by the sad news on the death of Mr Alfred Job Grover in his 71st year at his residence at the Grove, Chilton. He was firstly elected as a town councillor in 1855 and served as Mayor four times. Mr Grover was a native of Wendover in Buckinghamshire where his father farmed extensively, when his father retired he came to live with his son in North Street, Sudbury. Mr Grover extended his business as a wholesale and retail grocer when he took his nephew Thomas Allen into partnership, the firm was then styled Grover and Allen, he purchased a large farm at Chilton and built himself a handsome residence and retired from his North street business which before had been a mineral water works which he sold to Messrs Oliver of the Sudbury brewery.

February 14th 1894

The allotments at Ballingdon are now taken up, on Saturday there were quite 70 men working on the field, on Tuesday evening the Mayor of Sudbury and Councillors attended a meeting to receive applications for allotments on Gallows Hill.

February 14th 1894

Foxearth . Mr George Brand of Foxearth has arrived home from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Our correspondent called on him to glean what his idea was concerning the British Colonies and what effect they would have on future destinies of England, we asked him what are your notions concerning West Australia, he replied there was a lot of good land in West Australia but all thickly timbered, once cleared it would grow anything, the Government of this country is held in sway by the farmers or as they would call themselves “cocky’s”, they put a heavy tariff on corn and other produce. There is a reef of gold running 300 miles north of Perth down to Albany, we struck it in 3 or 4 different places and is at all times extractable good rich payable gold but the loss of life far exceeds that of the old Ballarat and Bendigo rush The Aboriginals are mostly friendly and unassuming race. In this district the land is covered with Sandalwood, Jarrah and Gum trees. Farmers leaving England certainly have a chance of success provided they rough it a bit and forget old English customs and habit and be content to live on mutton, possum, kangaroo, cockatoos and potatoes. Last Question!—I ask your opinion on holding supremacy of the sea?. Well I am not a politician but in the event of war we have a lot of sea routes and countries to defend, we must take America by the hand and by combining of forces both on the sea and the land, it is the wish of almost every colony and America themselves to unite all English speaking races under one flag.

February 21st 1894

Deaths. John Packer near Las Turbids, Santa Fe, Argentina, the only surviving son of John Kinnersly Smythies of the Tye Bentley.

February 28th 1894

Glemsford. Two men named T.Ives and R.Taylor in the employ of Messrs Kolle at the hair factory in Glemsford were in the act of descending a well 130 feet deep to repair some portions of the same, the ladder which was resting upon the stays at the upper part, by some means slipped causing the two men to fall 30 feet, fortunately they fell upon one of the cross stays or they would have another 100 feet to fall, both were much injured, Mr Cook the manager dispatched a messenger to Dr Waring of Cavendish who was soon on the scene, the men are expected to make a full recovery.

March 28th 1894

Pentlow. The bankruptcy hearing of a Pentlow farmer was held at the Town Hall, Colchester on Joseph Orbell of Hoggs farm. Pentlow. The debtor said his father farmed in the same parish for many years—Chairman was he a successful farmer –He lived in better times—Chairman--when he died he was worth a considerable amount of money—yes he had nine children and left them £2000 each—you could not take care of yours could you—I farmed 500 acres at a rent of £1 per acre the landlord is the Rev Bull---how did you get so much behind---I went into milling which I did not understand, the mill was only a cart shed with a granary above—when did you give up the mills up—they were burnt down two years ago. The debtor then gave particulars showing how unfortunate he was in his purchase of a threshing machine and engine.—I could not make them pay as they were always in the ditch (laughter) they cost three times as much as what I earned from them, they were always knocking gates down and when I was sent the bill I always had to pay for broken gates (laughter) Chairman !—your horses had the plague, they were not handsome animals were they ? –No

April 11th 1894

James Chaplin of Otten Belchamp was summoned by Harry Wright of the Windmill beerhouse at Otten Belchamp for damaging windows and blinds. The prosecutor said I live at the Windmill Beerhouse, James Chaplin called in after he had been to work, he had a pint of beer, during the time he was here he caused a disturbance with a man named Russell, with assistance I ejected him, in about ½ an hour he was back again and asked for ½ a pint of beer, I refused, he then broke a window, he was the worse for beer, he caused damage to the window amounting to 5s 6d. 6 weeks hard labour.

April 18th 1894

Gt Cornard. Mr Arthur Taylor of Gt Cornard has received the bad news that his son who has been missing for a year that his body has been found. Constable Arthur who is stationed at Roredale? sent a message that a dead body of a man has been found in the bush at Carrajong and it has been identified as Maurice Taylor aged 29 who was reported missing on the 16th of August last year. Mr Taylor arrived at Rosedale and left his swag at a local store saying he would collect it the next day, he did not call and nothing was heard from him, search parties scoured the country but no trace was found of him till yesterday when a party of swagmen found a skeleton in the bush at Carrajung, the remains were easily identified through papers in the clothing as that of Taylor, his cousin Mr Moore of 22 Mowbray Station, Albert Park was informed of the fact.

April 25th 1894

Deaths. Taylor on

August 16th 1893

at Carrajung, Gippsland, Australia. Maurice Revett the 3rd son of Arthur and Harriet Taylor of Gt Cornard in his 30th year. Lost in the bush.

May 2nd 1894

Samuel Spooner a labourer from Pebmarsh was charged with assaulting Samuel Collis a farmer on April 22nd, complainant said he was riding on horseback in Pebmarsh street when he came across a lot of young men, before he could get past defendant struck him with a stick, the only reason he could think was case of chicken stealing where Spooner was defendant, the chickens belonged to his mother and he took no part in the prosecution.2s 6d with 13s 6s costs.

May 23rd 1894

Sale of Belchamp Hall paintings took place at the Drill Hall, Sudbury. Two portraits of the day were those of Sir Hugh Middleton and Lady Middleton. Both were splendid specimens of the work of that first class painter Cornelious Janssens, bidding for Sir Hugh’s presentation was comparatively slow, both pictures were painted when the gallant Knight and his Lady lived at Goldingham Hall, Bulmer and as Mr Coote pointed out they had gone straight from Janssen’s studio to the Hall and from there to the Belchamp collection. A large canvas of a “moorhens nest” by Brownlow went off at a very moderate figure of £30. “Dedham Lock” by Constable was bought by E. Walter Greene for £35. “Saint Mary Hall” with a figure feeding poultry went for £2. “Bekchamp Walter church and brook” by Brownlow made £5 18s.

June 6th 1894

The accident which happened to a young man named Edward Andrews while feeding a chaff cutting machine powered by horses has proved fatal, he stooped to pick up some lucerne when his sleeves got caught in the cogs which were under a guard, blood poisoning set in.

June 20th 1894

Foxearth. On Wednesday members of the police force from Hedingham and Halstead were invited by Miss Suckling to spend a day’s holiday at Foxearth, 38 members of the police force and their wives sat down to a well served meal in the schoolroom, after the meal a scratch game of cricket was played in Mr Ray’s meadow, rain put a stop to all outdoor entertainment and all adjourned to the parish schoolroom where they were entertained by the Rev T.C.Webster, rector of Rettedon with his mimicry and singing .

June 27th 1894

The new bathing place at Sudbury was yesterday declared open, access is gained over the Croft bridge and along the footpath by the river to Brundon, the water enclosed for bathing forms a semi-circle and takes in part of North Meadows.

August 1st 1894

Henry Besant a bill poster from Ballingdon was charged with being drunk in charge of a pony at Walter Belchamp, P.C.Scott said he saw defendant outside the blacksmiths shop at Walter Belchamp, he was drunk, he advised him not to put up any more bills, he got out of the cart and fell over, with the help of another man he got him home, when they got to his mother’s house he wanted to fight him. Defendant said he had been about all day posting bills about Sudbury Gala, he had visited 40 to 50 pubs that day which was very wet. 10 s with 11s costs.

August 8th 1894

There was an accident at Bulmer on Tuesday to a man named Finch near Goldingham Hall, he was carting some corn to the Hall and was seated on the load when a gust of wind blew the load over, in falling he broke his leg, he was conveyed to St Leonard’s hospital and is now going on well.

August 22nd 1894

Mr Alfred Allen a butcher of Melford was summoned for buying a pig for slaughter at a public sale and did not slaughter it within 4 days. 5s and costs

August 29th 1894

At Hedingham Licensing Sessions the landlord of the Eight Bells at Walter Belchamp was called forward and cautioned as to the conduct of his son, the Chairman said he would be very sorry to see him lose his license through his son’s misbehaviour.

August 29th 1894

A labourer named James Chaplin of Otten Belchamp who it is said is not in possession of his mental, powers was charged by Mr Robinson of Crows farm with common assault. After ten at night there was a great disturbance at Otten Belchamp when the prisoner with a scythe in his hand struck another man and threatened to murder the whole lot of them, the prosecutor who is a tall man of 6ft 3” and has attained a name in local hunt circles as a first rate man in the pig’s skin said he was standing outside Pearson’s beerhouse at Otten Belchamp talking to some friends when he heard someone swearing and threatening people, he came and threatened me. Bound over.

September 5th 1894

Clare. At the meeting of the trustees of Cadge’s Charity last Monday it was resolved to accept Mr Garrod’s offer of 10s per acre for the farm at Barnardiston which comprises of 55 acres. Belchamp Otten. As Half House occupied by Mr Cole was being cleared out some rat poison was thrown to the pigs, three of them have died to the value of £4 10s.

September 12th 1894

To be let at Pentlow—Gooch’s Charity Farm at Michaelmas next, about 16 acres. Particulars from the Rector of Pentlow or the Rector of Cavendish. To be sold the live and dead stock at Kirby Hall, Castle Hedingham for Mr Payne whose tenancy has expired 24 horses—200 Hampshire Ewes—8 sows together with implements for 500 acres. Clare. 81 tickets were sold at Clare Station for the excursion to Southend this morning. A report from Dr Holden says the ditch at the rear of Melford road is wide and stagnant, into it flows sewerage which makes this vicinity very offensive during hot weather, the end near the river cannot be lowered as the river is higher than the ditch, drains from the new houses on Melford road and also three slaughter houses drain into the ditch.

October 17th 1894

Mr James Majendie has shot a fine specimen of the Norfolk Plover otherwise the Stone Curlew or thick knee whilst shooting over the Castle Estate at Hedingham.

November 7th 1894

Died at Pentlow, John Deadman aged 68 years for many years parish clerk at St George’s church, Pentlow.

December 5th 1894

To be sold at Colt’s Hall, Cavendish, the live and dead stock—19 horses—100 poultry—Ransomes 7 hp portable steam engine with 5ft threshing machine and elevator—by directions of the trustees.

December 26th 1894

Inquest at Sudbury Town Hall on George Sparrow aged 4 the son of George Sparrow of Gregory Street, Ellen Sparrow said she was the mother of the child, on Saturday morning she left the child upstairs with Arthur Wordley, a weaver, who was at work, she went downstairs to get coal to light a stove in the room where Wordley was at work, she heard a scream and she ran upstairs where she met the child with his clothes on fire, it was evident the child left Wordley’s room and going up to her bedroom had lit the lamp with matches while standing on a chair and his clothes caught fire.

January 2nd 1895

The meat and soup kitchen at Sudbury was well utilized this Christmas at Sudbury, 110 dinners were dispensed by Miss Ransom and Miss Mason, each meal consisted of meat and potatoes plum pudding and a penny loaf, we must say it was relished by the recipients.

January 2nd 1895

Much distress was caused in Melford when it was known that Mr James Coe of Duncan’s farm had committed suicide by blowing his brains out the previous night. Mrs Mary Coe said her husband was aged 35, on the night of Friday evening she said to her husband “go into the dining room” and he said “I think I will” she went upstairs and heard a report of a gun, she called ”Harry”, a servant woman was down stairs and she found deceased lying on the floor. Suicide.

January 16th 1895

Gestingthorpe. On Monday afternoon the teachers and scholars attending the day and Sunday schools were invited to tea by Mrs Oates of the Hall, about 120 children sat down to a tea and afterwards games were played. A present was given to each child, three cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Oates and Miss Oates.

February 13th 1895

Sudbury. The river Stour has been frozen over for some days, the ice is some 6 inches thick, people have been skating on the river for up to 3 miles. The barges on the river are frozen up and the men usually employed on them have been working in the brickyards of Messrs Allen.

February 20th 1895

Henny. On Monday William Eldred of the Swan Hotel at Henny shot an otter which weighed 19 ½ lbs and was 4ft long, when it was killed it had a large eel in it’s mouth.

March 13th 1895

Deaths. Hughes on the 21st of January at Southern Cross hospital, West Australia, in his 21st year suddenly from typhoid contracted at Coolgardie, Aubrey Russel the eldest son of the Rev David and Grace Hughes of Trinity House, Sudbury.

April 10th 1895

Advert. Eggs from Black Minorcas, prolific layers, 2s per sitting. Pearsons, Springalls Farm, Walter Belchamp.

April 17th 1895

Gestingthorpe. A domestic servant aged about 19 years employed by Mr King Downs has disappeared about a fortnight ago, she left some money and some clothing behind, it is understood the young woman belongs to Finchingfield or Wethersfield.

May 8th 1895

William Tarbin a farmer of Belchamp St Pauls was charged with assaulting Walter Chinery a retired farmer of the same place, the prosecutor said he gave defendant permission to put his cows in his meadow, on Sunday last he asked him to take them off as he wanted the feed for himself, they had words and Tarbin knocked him down and hit him while he was down. £2 with 12s cost.

May 15th 1895

To be sold by auction at the Four Swans, Sudbury, on instructions from the executors of Miss Macro. All the house and shop in Foxearth street comprising two warehouses—bake offices—brewhouse—piggeries—malt house and coal house—stables and gig house, in occupation of J.W.Hensby under tenant at a yearly rent of £12, also an adjoining cottage in occupation of Robert Mingay at a yearly rent of £5.

May 29th 1895

A dwelling house and shop at Foxearth was run up to £195 was withdrawn, the adjoining cottage was sold to Mr O.Steed for £55.

June 5th 1895

Inquest at Stansfield Compasses on Bertram Farrants aged about 14 years. Alfred Crissel said he was carting manure, deceased was helping him, he was fetching the full tumbrils from the yard and taking the empty ones back. Matilda, wife of William Chapman, said she was at the door of her house when she heard a horse go by sharpish, she went to look and found deceased lying face down in the road, he was moaning, she got help and moved him to her house, he died in half an hour. Crissel said he told deceased he never known the horse to bolt as long as he led the horse. Accidental.

June 12th 1895

The Whit Thursday fair was held on the spacious green at Melford, well known dealers came from the neighbourhood and from some way distant as there were 60 fine cart horses for sale, some 30-40 fetched from £60 to £70, 10 Irish horses made about £30 each.

June 26th 1895

Gestingthorpe. A few night ago as constables Halstead, Reed and Scott were conferring near Crouch House when they heard the shrieks of a fowl, they ran to Parsonage farm which belongs to Mr King Downs and found a fox had been at work, 23 dead chickens were strewn about the meadow.

July 10th 1895

Sale of Cardinal’s farm at Foxearth, 113 acres 33 poles—late in occupation of Mr Ray. Bidding started at £1000 and run up to £1500 then to £1950 when it was withdrawn. A piece of accommodation land at Foxearth known as the “playground” was sold to Mr David Ward for £246. Two tenements situated at a junction of the road at Foxearth to Belchamp Walter road to Mr Fisher of Melford for £68.

August 7th 1895

Boxford. During the heavy storm on Friday evening a man named Walter Leaver aged 60 who was in the employ of Mr Parsons at Boxford sought shelter under an elm tree in a field where he had been at work, after the storm passed he was discovered lying quite dead, there were a number of scythes lying quite near and it is supposed the metal attracted the lighting.

September 4th 1895

Sudbury. A party of gentlemen shot 42 brace of partridges and two hares at Brundon Hall, there were plenty of hares about but being early in the season they refrained from shooting them

September 4th 1895

Gestingthorpe. Funeral of Mrs Nathan Coe took place at Gestingthorpe who died at Delvyn’s farm, she was only 27 years of age and was the eldest daughter of Mr Thomas Taylor of Hill farm, Gestingthorpe, the chief mourners were Mr Nathan Coe and his five little children.

September 18th 1895

Eli Cranfield a labourer of Walter Belchamp was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Walter Belchamp on the 14th of September, P.C.Scott said he was stationed at Walter Belchamp, he saw defendant outside the Eight Bells public house, he was drunk and fighting a man named Smith. 2s 6d 12s costs.

October 2nd 1895

Sale on Saturday next at Red House farm, Lt Yeldham. 4 horses—450 head of poultry, by instructions from Mr Alfred Donnison who has let the farm.

October 2nd 1895

Crane Carter of Haverhill was charged with assaulting Richard Mayes, a Salvation Army Captain on September 15th. Mr Vincent for the prosecution said the case was brought to call attention to the insults and annoyances to which the Salvation Army in Haverhill were subjected. Richard Mayes said he was a labourer and in the Salvation Army, on Sunday the 15th we marched from Burton End to Queens street, at the end of the road stood two men, Carter and a man named Coote stood in the road, they walked about half a score yards in front of us, we were told us not to hurry, we tried to pass Carter when he moved in front of me, as I passed I touched him, he struck me with his elbow, I turned round and saw he had my comrade’s head under his arm, Carter was the ringleader. 2s 6d with £1 1s 6d costs

December 4th 1895

A fatality occurred near the Saracen’s Head at Newton on Friday afternoon, John Elliston and James Mathews both employed by Messrs Allen, coal merchants of Ballingdon, were carting coal from Sudbury to Newton, each with a horse and tumbril with one ton of coal in each, they had got within a short distance of the Saracen’s Head when Mathews who was in front a short distance when heard a call “whoa”, he looked round and saw Elliston lying on the ground near a wheel, he went back and lifted him up but he could not stand, he then laid him on the bank and asked someone to go for help, the man said something but Mathews could not understand what he said, he was bleeding from the mouth and died within a minute, he was riding on the cart with feet on the shafts. P. C. Gillings said he thought Elliston fell from the cart and broke his neck. Accidental.

December 4th 1895

Moses Carder a labourer of Gestingthorpe was charged with being drunk and disorderly in North Street, Sudbury on Sunday night, P.C.Mansfield said he saw defendant hopelessly drunk and he took him to the police station as he was a stranger to him, defendant asked me if I would let him go and he would never go near a beerhouse again. 2s 6d with 6s costs.

December 4th 1895

Lewis Hardy and Henry Ruggles were charged with purporting themselves as travellers to obtain liquor at Bottle Hall, Sible Hedingham. P.C.Clarke said he saw them in Mr White’s beerhouse in the tap room with a pint of beer in their hands. 2s 6d with 10s 6d costs.

December 11th 1895

Died.—washed overboard on September 16th during a hurricane from the ship “Lauriston” off Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Walter the second son of the late Charles John and Margaret Heata of Wyvenhoe, aged 17 years.

December 18th 1895

At Ipswich County Court, Arthur Sporle, a groom, claimed 16s and 7d from Lieut. Col. Burke of the Aubries. In July last Sporle was engaged as a groom by the defendant to find for himself also a furnished room, when he went to the place he found “it more like a room in the corner of an old granary” with nothing in it but a bed, washstand and a chair with the bottom out, defendant’s coachman proved the room sufficiently furnished, Sporle in evidence became excited and abusive and denounced Lieutenant Colonel’s as big guns who would always “swim when the working men had to sink. His Honour said he had heard enough and gave judgement and costs to the defendant. Sporle was noisy to the end and the Lieut. Col. said he was struck by him in the open court.