January 1st 1902

HOLLAND AND BARRETT-THE HOUSEKEEPERS MARKET-SUDBURY.
Potatoes-5© d for 14lbs or 8 stone for 3s 6d. Prime Canterbury mutton-6d a pound. Wards celebrated ales and stouts in casks or bottles.

January 1st 1902

On Wednesday the local Government Inspector held an inquiry into the state of Ridgewell churchyard. The Rev Rupert St Leger said he had never known a grave opened in his time which was since 1891.
The sexton said there was plenty more room for at least 100 graves. Mr Ashplant, the secretary of the parish council said sometime ago the surface was taken off the churchyard so there was no indication where the graves were, the work was done when Mr Giblin was church warden and that was 25-30 years ago, the work was carried out with view to drain the churchyard. Thomas Harrington, the grave digger, said he had been so for two or three years and that he always dug up bones at about 3 or 4 feet and they still had teeth as good as his own still in the skull. Mr Ashplant said the question is would respectable well off people be willing to be buried there, in fact so much soil was taken off that the the cart wheels went into the coffins, human hair with the hair pins still wrapped in it were dug up. The Inspector said the churchyard must be wholly closed, not partly.

January 1st 1902

On Friday, fire broke out at the Flax mills at Glemsford. The mill adjoins the railway station, the mill was previously a flour mill and for the last few years it has been a flax mill.

January 1st 1902

A case of small-pox is reported at North End, Little Yeldham. The man is named Cranfield and he had been working at Grays and had travelled from there to Yeldham a few days before Christmas. Steps have been taken to isolate the patient, fortunately the cottage where he is living is only occupied on one side. Arrangements have been made with the Rural Council for the hire of some tents if the outbreak spreads.

January 8th 1902

Arthur Berry and Dansie Berry of Curds lane, Sudbury, were summonned for adulterating milk with a least 16 per cent water. The bench thought that the sample was not properly weighed. Dismissed.

January 15th 1902

Mr C.B.Graham has recently taken up residence at Lyston Hall where he received a cordial welcome. To mark his advent to the parish a Christmas party was arranged at the Hall, all the youngsters of Lyston being invited to attend, a merry time was had by all. The whole of the Hall has been repainted and decorated, all of the work being done by Mr H.Bell of Melford. There are 20 bedrooms, a large ball-room and a billiard room, on the drawing room ceiling are some very fine paintings and floral designs.

January 22nd 1902

At a meeting of Cavendish parish council, Mr Pryke, on behalf of Mr Allen, called attention to the condition of the bridge leading from Colts Hall field to a field belonging to Houghton Hall.

January 29th 1902

There was an inquest at the Swan Inn, Little Waldingfield on the death of Thomas Fayers aged 67, a carpenter, who was killed by some tackle from a windmill which fell on him on Tuesday. Some mill-wrights from Melford were pulling down a windmill at Great Waldingfield and unseen by them deceased got to where the tackle fell, killing him instantly. George Fayers, a innkeeper at Little Waldingfield said his brother had an accident some years ago and was not very active.

March 5th 1902

To be let on Lady Day. Gooch's Charity Farm at Pentlow.
16 acres, barn, stable and a cottage. Particulars from the Rev Bull.

March 19th 1902

Owing to the expense of soup and meat the Sudbury soup kitchen having had an unusual heavy demand during this winter, the management have been obliged to close the kitchens.

March 26th 1902

Mr Victor Fabin of Pentlow Hall has resisted a claim for £ 15 15s at Clerkenwell County Court. The publishers of " Land of Shakespeare" Messrs Virtue allege fraud. The canvasser, Anthony Clark, a robust large man admitted mentioning that he had 32 children " with a view to show how you were not well off" said counsel. The canvasser said he had been sent to Mr Fabin by a medical friend and that he could not expect to be a millionaire with all that lot. Counsel said" you should be proud of them" he replied " yes so would you be". The judge said " it is not every man that gets such a quiver full". He could not see where there had been any fraud and found for the plaintiff.

March 26th 1902

George Wade, a farmer of Little Waldingfield was summoned for sending diseased five pigs to London intending them to be sold. £ 20 and 15s costs.

April 23rd 1902

We regret to state that Lieut Oates of Gestingthorpe is lying seriously ill with enteric fever in Helbron, South Africa.

May 7th 1902

Brick burner wanted. First class red brick burner for about 2© million red faced bricks a year. Apply Rayner, Sible Hedingham.

May 7th 1902

During the summer months, Mr Byford of Brook Street, Glemsford has decided to run his two horse brake to Sudbury and back, it is capable of carrying 24 persons, starting at the Crown Hotel at 2 pm returning from Sudbury at 8 pm for the nominal sum of 1s per passenger, the initial trip was last Saturday and judging from the congested state of the vehicle the venture is a success.

May 21st 1902

On Sunday last, Cavendish Congregational Church celebrated the 63 anniversary of their Sunday school.

May 21st 1902

A serious accident happened on Wednesday afternoon to John Partridge, a carter employed by Mr Rashbrooke a baker etc from Ballingdon, he was riding on top of a load of clover down Ballingdon hill when a chain came off the shaft, the horse bolted and the waggon overturned throwing Partridge on to the horse, some men working in Mr Rashbrooke's pit nearby extricated him and he was taken to St Leonards hospital. The man who is 40 years old has a wife and large family, he had neglected to put the slide on the wheel.

May 21st 1902

There was a demonstration of sheep shearing at Great Yeldham on Tuesday when up to 100 farmers and shepherds attended. Mr Smith for Barton Gillets sheared three sheep in a remarkable quick time in a demonstration quite to the satisfaction of all present, the closeness and neatness were the principal features. Mr W.H.Pinhey of Castle Hedingham was persuaded to have a go, he sheared his first one in 8 minutes and his second in 7 minutes and was heartily cheered by the onlookers, several other gentlemen had a go but were not as quick as Mr Pinhey. There seemed to be no difference in the shearing machines.

May 21st 1902

Ipswich Market-Wheat 32s 6d-Oats 26s.

June 4th 1902

The new police station in Sudbury to accomodate the Borough police is to be ready in a few days and will be a credit to the town.

July 2nd 1902

Owing to the illness of the King there will be a postponment of the coronation, also celebrations at Foxearth were put off. The influencial committee at Foxearth which had been appointed consists of Rev Pressey-A.V.C.Lambert-C.S.Ewer-T.P.Brand-Mrs Foster-Mr Woolfe Browne-Mrs Pressey-D.Ward-Miss Mabel Andrews-T.Leggot. On receipt of the news of the King's illness, a hurried meeting of the committee was held at Lower Hall, the residence of Mr Woolfe Browne.where it was resolved to defer all festivities but a large quantity of meat already cooked which was already cooked to be distributed on Thursday morning to each household according to the inhabitants, all received a bountiful supply of meat, plum pudding, etc.

July 16th 1902

At the Half Moon at Clare. Church Hall farm, Clare, 111 acres to Mr Jarvis for £ 2070. Bench Barn farm, 155 acres to Mr J.Bowyer for £ 1570. Leys Farm, 164 acres to Mr Bowyer for £ 1680.

July 16th 1902

Mr J.E.Page who left Cavendish for New Zealand 28 years ago, visited his native place a few months ago, on his return to New Zealand he wrote an account of his visit to his local paper. He said that Suffolk is in the heart of the agricultural district, quiet and slow but very nice." I walked to a small town some three miles away and met three people on the way, but beautiful scenery, I wandered the old lanes and hedgerows as I did as a boy, I have been away 28 years but still found people I knew and recognised. The old church where I used to sleep away the time of the sermon is of course still there but sleeping is now impossible because the old fashioned high backed pews are gone and new modern benches are in their place, the occupation of the old Sexton was to parade up and down the aisles with a long stick to rouse the sleeping youngsters, is gone for ever. Another old functionary is gone, that is the old clerk with his desk under the pulpit and his look of impatience on his face as he droned out the responses, he has given way to a surpliced choir of men and boys who intone responses and chant Psalms in very fair time and tuneful, but would assuredly be very dreadful to the good old folk lying outside in the churchyard if they came by any chance to occupy their old places on Sunday afternoons. One thinks of the old Scotch serving woman who attended church in England for the first time, she told her mistress on her return that " it was all very nice but what a way to spend a Sabbath". We had a very good time at the old place looking up folk we knew 30 years ago".

July 23rd 1902

To be let by tender-School Barn Farm, Pentlow. 79 acres- dwelling house-premises-6 cottages (all occupied).Tenders to Mr Hugh Clerk, Cavendish.

July 30th 1902

20 men engaged on Ballingdon sewer left their work having unsuccessfully demanded 1© p an hour more. They were paid off and steps taken to fill their places. Two men were engaged in a fight but it is understood it was nothing to do with the strike.

August 27th 1902

ADVERT---160 acres of Western Canada Free. It is the land of the free and the contented where the crop never fails, giving splendid returns for your labour-excellent climate and perfectly healthy, best social and religious advantages-well conducted schools- convenient markets-good roads and low railroad fares are among advantages given to settlers on the ranches and grain farms in Western Canada. Government agents will conduct parties to these free grant lands. To Mr W.Preston, 17 Victoria Street, London.

August 27th 1902

Sewer men wanted on Sudbury main drain. 4d-4© d for an hour good men. Wanted - housekeeper for working man, from 25-40 years of age. Arthur Smith, carrier, Belchamp Walter.

August 27th 1902

At the Rose and Crown, Sudbury. Messrs Hammett of London will sell Brundon Hall. The house is decribed as an old fashioned Georgian residence of style and character, built of brick and with parapet and tile roof. The front is overgrown with wisteria and passion flowers and other creepers, excellent farm buildings with 462 acres. The auctioneer said it was sold 20 years ago to Mr Baring for £ 24, 000, whether anyone would come anywhere near that figure today is another question, someone shouted " if the auctioneer was prepared to bring the price of wheat up to 60s there might be a chance of that figure. The auctioneer said there was a tendency upwards and the land might become valuable as it was years ago and he pointed out that tithes were heavy in this area, he had known it up to 10s an acre, in this case there was no tithe nor rectorial or vicarial charges, he believed there was once church on this farm but when that ceased, so did the tithe, some would remember the people who held this estate, it then passing to Lord Ashburton and then to the Barings, so the estate had been in the hands of some of our most important families and that there was the element of sentiment to be considered. He also pointed out that the Hall lay within one mile of Sudbury which had not advanced much since he had known it, they had an old established silk industry so there was great possibilities in the way of building extentions and the property would become valuable. The auctioneer said " you could become a country gentleman and a J.P. for £ 7000". The price advanced gradually to £ 7600 and as the seller had arranged a price of £ 10, 000 he could not let it go but he would be in his hotel till six o' clock and if they received any reasonable offer they would try and induce the vendor to accept. October 8th 1902. Mr Whittome of Whittlesea has bought Brundon Hall with the intention of farming it himself.

September 10th 1902

Frederick Andrews and John King, labourers of Sudbury were charged with trespassing in search of conies at Bulmer.
George Hunt, gamekeeper to Colonel Burke said he saw them on land occupied by Mr A.Berry with ferrets and nets. Andrews was fined 40s and the chairman advised King to stay away from Andrews and was fined 5s with 3s 6d costs.

October 1st 1902

Sale of live and dead stock at Brundon Hall. 28 head of Shorthorn cows-23 Shorthorn steers. On the instructions of Mr W.
Nocton J.P. who has sold the estate.

October 1st 1902

William Twitchett a fish hawker, Thomas Hickford and Wilby Parker, labourers of Clare, were charge with being in pursuit of game on land in occupation of Robert Free at Clare.

October 1st 1902

Ipswich Market-wheat 24s-28s for 504 lbs-barley 24s- 31s per quarter, one quite firm parcel made 40s but fine samples rare.
Fat cattle up to 10s per stone-Suffolk sheep to 64s 6d

October 8th 1902

The little village of Stanstead was stirred to its depth on Monday when it became known that a maiden lady by the name of Miss Osborne had committed suicide by hanging herself, she lived alone in a house opposite Stanstead school. Temporary insanity.

October 22nd 1902

There was a sad accident at Little Waldingfield when an aged man named Game was loading a load of straw from the elevator, but the load not being straight, slipped, carrying deceased and another man onto the ground. At the inquest at The Swan Inn, Maria Game said her husband James was 72 years old and worked for Mr George Wade, a farmer of Little Waldingfield. William Day, a labourer, employed by Mr Wade said he was helping deceased to load a load of straw under the elevator when the load slipped and he fell on top of deceased, about one hour later deceased complained of a pain in his side, his master directed him to get off the waggon. Accidental death.

October 22nd 1902

There was a fire on a farm at Sparrows Farm, Twinstead, belonging to Mr Oliver Stebbing who lives at Hall Farm. A quantity of shedding was destroyed to the value of £ 30.

October 22nd 1902

Jobs Wanted. By ex gamekeeper, as loader or rabbit and vermin killer. Apply James Alderton, The Greyhound, Glemsford.

October 29th 1902

Thomas Golding, Henry Ellwood, Walter Risby, Thomas Silver, Charles Knights, Henry Webb, John Heard and Henry Newman, were charged with being on licenced premises during prohibited hours.
P.C.Reed said he visited the Greyhound Beer house at Bulmer and on going round the back he saw the defendants, some sitting and some standing. " I asked them what they were doing" Ellwood replied " you can see what we are doing, we are having some beer", there were two mugs on the ground, one was half full of porter the other had beer in it. The daughter of Dixey the landlord came to the door, the defendants then started to leave, I told them I wanted their names and addresses. The next day I measured the distance from these men's residences, Silver and Knights were two miles and 660 yards away, Ellwood's was two miles 689 yards. The chairman said all of the men live in Sudbury or Ballingdon, the milestone near the house was about 250 yards nearer Sudbury. 10s each with 4s costs.
George Dixey, the beerhouse keeper, pleaded guilty to keeping the beerhouse open, he had been there for 40 years and had no complaints before. £ 2.

October 29th 1902

Thomas Tinsley, a mineral water manufacturer of Foxearth was charged with stealing two pieces of wood valued at 3d the property of Mrs Elizabeth Foster. P.C.Brooks said he was accompanied by David Inch and visited defendant's premises and found two pieces of wood, he afterwards saw defendant who is the manager of the mineral water manufactury at the brewery and asked him how he came by the wood, he admitted he had got over the wall which seperates his garden from the rectory grounds. The chairman asked Inch how long he had known defendant, he said he had worked for Mr Ward some time ago and he came back last winter. David Inch said he was gardener to Mrs Foster and he saw a piece of wood in defendant's garden being used as a linen line, the wood had been lying in a heap in my mistresses garden, the wood was worth 3d. Defendant said when he came home to dinner he saw the washed linen dragging on the ground, he borrowed the wood with the intention of returning it. Mr Steed, defending, said it was ridiculous that a man of such standing would steal a piece of wood. Thomas Tinsley said he was manager at the mineral water factory and earned 26s in summer and 23s in the winter. Aquitted.

November 5th 1902

On Thursday last a horse and trap belonging to Mr Copsey of the Cock Inn at Glemsford was left standing unattended at Glemsford station when it took fright by a passing train and dashed off at tremendous rate towards Melford where on reaching the Cock and Bell Inn it turned into the yard and stopped.

November 5th 1902

A waggon and three horses, laden with wheat, was passing along near the entrance to New Street when one of the wheels sank into a newly laid sewer trench, up the hub. The waggon had to be unloaded onto another waggon, the work being done by numerous men employed nearby in the sewer work.

November 19th 1902

The live and dead stock at Park Farm, Ovington.
On the 1st of December. 5 horses-1 shorthorn cow-2 heifers-1 calf-41 swine-60 turkeys-100 poultry and the usual assortment of farm implements.
At Gravel Pit Farm, Glemsford, near railway station. Live and Dead stock- one stack of well gotten grass-stack of oat straw the produce of 9© acres-1 mare-13 hoggets-tumbril etc. For Robert Golding.

November 19th 1902

Walter Chambers, labourer of Pentlow, was summoned by the Inspector of Nuisances for over crowding, defendant said that there were 10 people sleeping two rooms. To abate the nuisance.