January 13th 1904

The twelfth annual gathering of the Association of Castle Hedingham men in London was held recently at the Loyal Friends House in Old Street, London, there were between 70-80 people present.

January 13th 1904

At a meeting of Sudbury Board of Guardians, the master of the Union House reported there were 179 people in the house as compared to 150 this time last year. As to tramps there were two as against twenty last year and twenty women, last year there were three.
Capt Harvey asked for figures regarding tramps, the master submitted the following figures, in 1901 there were 1162 in 1902-961 in 1903-691 were admitted. Since stone breaking commenced there were 238 as against 425 in the corresponding 26 weeks last year. Mr Nott said that is stone breaking for you.

January 13th 1904

Failure of W.C.Kipling, a silk manufacturer of Sudbury.

January 13th 1904

Daniel Drury aged 46 years a matmaker of Melford was charged with neglecting his children, Daniel 12, Nellie 8, Alica 6 and Rose 2. Sarah Drury the eldest daughter of the prisoner said her father had been living at the house and that she kept house for him, occasionally he gave her 10s on one occasion he gave her 4s, he did not give her sufficient for four children, they once went without food for 24 hours.
Her father lay in bed for 3-4 days at a time although there was nothing wrong with him. Inspector Williams of the N.S.P.C.C. said when he supplied food the children ate it ravenously. 6 months hard labour.

January 20th 1904

On Friday morning a horse and trap belonging to Lord Walshingham of Boxted which had been standing on Hunts Hill at Glemsford was frightened by a load of straw and started to run towards the Board school, several people tried to stop it by blocking the road but it turned round and ran full speed towards Clockhouse farm and thence to New street where it stopped on it's own accord.

February 3rd 1904

Sale of Freehold property-A fully licensed house and a brewery, knowns as the Waggon and Horses, Sudbury. A family residence known as Gregory Villa-a pair of Villa residences known as Alpha Villas, facing Melford Road-5 shops in North Street-22 cottages, for the executors of the late Mrs Grimwood. Alpha Villas to Alfred Game for £ 700-St Gregory's Villa on the Croft to C.G.Grimwood for £ 480.

February 17th 1904

Charles Wilkes a labourer of Ridgwell was charged with being drunk on the highway near the green. P.C.Oliver said he saw defendant staggering about on the road, he was drunk and covered with white frost. 2s 6d with 4s costs.

February 17th 1904

Ruth Olley, 40, a hawker, was charged with encamping on the highway at Bulmer more than a years ago, the summons could not be issued as she was always on the move. Supt Terry said she had Ware painted on her cart but he doubted if she knew where Ware was and knew more about Cstle Hedingham than Ware. New summons to be issued as she had gone.

March 9th 1904

Arthur Totman a labourer of Melford was charged with the theft of two duck eggs from Mr Westropp of Melford Place. Clifford Walton, a farm student living with Mr Westropp kept watch in a barn and saw defendant get off a horse and go and look in a duck's nest, taking two and putting them in his pocket. Witness waited at the farm gate for defendant to go to breakfast and walked him up to the police station where he told the police to search him, they found the two eggs in his trousers near his knees. Mr Westropp said he had lost a lot of eggs and was obliged to bring the charge as an example. The chairman said " you have got a lomg list for stealing, how old are you", defendant replied " 22 sir", the chairman said " you were flogged twice I see"," yes sir". 1 month hard labour.

March 16th 1904

The saleyard at Sudbury which started about 40 years ago has been purchased by Messrs Boardman from Haverhill.

March 23rd 1904

Ezra Slater a labourer of Glemsford was charged with stealing 1 cwt of seed potatoes valued at 5s the property of Mr Laurie Archer a farmer of Glemsford. Mr Archer said he was engaged in sorting the potatoes which were " up to dates". 1 month.

March 30th 1904

Rats which recently infested Braintree have moved to the nearby parish of Bocking. Joseph Savill who has a large farm in Bocking which adjoins Braintree has had 5 young pigs and two goslings devoured by the rodents, the massacre took place on consecutive nights, the stockman explained that during the night 13 pigs were born to the sow, 5 were taken from under her and devoured except the skulls, the following night they seized two more, leaving eight, the stockman primed the carcases with poison which was taken with two goslings and a number of hens, the stockman does not think there are an extraordinary number of rats but they are monsters, as big as young rabbits, those which he had caught were a little short of 2 pounds.

April 13th 1904

Percy Garwood a labourer from Stanstead was charged with conveying 50 fowls in a tumbril in such a way to cause suffering and the Rev George Aitkens the Rector of Stanstead was also charged for causing them to be so conveyed. P.C.Self said he was on duty at Boardman's sale yard at Sudbury when he saw a tumbril come in the yard covered with sacks and a coat, three fowls were dead and the smell was so great he had to stand back, witness spoke to the man who was in charge who said he knew nothing about it as his master put the fowls in, most fowls arrive in a crate. Mr Steed submitted that there was no case to answer in the case of Rev Aitkens. The Bench retired and decided there was no case against the Rev Aitkens and would not convict. Garwood was fined 10s and costs.

April 13th 1904

A pleasant function took place at Messrs Fletcher and Sons when a presentation was made to H.Twichett an employee who is leaving the firm to take up residence at Belchamp Walter where his father carries on a business as baker an shopkeeper.

April 20th 1903

From the Gentleman's Magazine, May 1800

Yesterday after a shower, the inhabitants of Stoke by Clare in Suffolk were caused much alarm by the sudden appearance of a swarm of numerous insects on the village green, they were much of the shape and the meagre frame of the grasshopper with long back legs and goggle eyed, they remained for some hours and the herbage on which they preyed was found after they had left that much of the verbage remained. It is considered they were locusts of the destructive species. No attempt to destroy them has succeeded, about 9 years ago a larger insect of terrific appearance was found on the College Green from where it is conjectured that the present destructive swarm owe their birth. A correspondent suggests the application of a wooden roller or heavy bush harrows on the infested fields and the hedgerows should be beaten by staves.

April 20th 1904

Gentlemans Magazine, 1794

A melancholy accident happened at Stradishall in Suffolk when a child chimney sweep by the name of John Brewster, aged between 13-14 got stuck fast in a tunnel of a chimney. Every endeavour was made to release him failed and he suffocated, all means to restore him proved ineffectual.

May 25th 1904

William Corder, 42, a labourer of Gestingthorpe, was charged with being drunk on the highway. P.C.Prior said that on the 18th of this month he found defendant lying beside the road near Nether Hall hill, he had considrable difficulty getting him home. The chairman said " did he tell you where he got this drink from"," yes from Chappel Hill but I can't prove it", the defendant said it is the truth. Supt Terry said defendant had been out all day on Sunday and he had no doubt that he had finished up at Martin's and that if he got proof he would take proceedings. ( Martin's was the Prince of Wales beerhouse on Chappel Hill, Belchamp Walter.) 5s with 4s costs.

June 1st 1904

Privates Wicks and Gibbons of Melford were arrested at Gt Cornard by P.C.Soanes chased them across a wheat field at Cornard on Wednesday, as deserters from the Suffolk Regiment. They were remanded in custody until the arrival of an escort.

June 1st 1904

The funeral took place of William Parmenter of Bevington House, Belchamp Otten, the body was laid to rest in family vault in the churchyard. Mourners were the Rev H, Parmenter, son and Rector of this parish-Rev H.Parmenter of Deerhurst, son,-G.Parmenter, grandson,-John Parmenter, nephew. Mr Parmenter was the second son of Thomas Piper Parmenter of Lamarsh and Bevington. Mr Parmenters family have lived on their own manors for 700 years in East Anglia. The Norfolk branch becanme extinct in 1586, they then owned estates in Yeldham and Tilburie and Belchamp St Powle, a grandson died in a Royalist prison, Canterbury House now Lambeth Palace in 1615. The younger branch of the family were then living at Dawes Hall, Lamarsh where they lived for more than 200 years.

June 8th 1904

Miss Stonebridge late of London School board has been appointed head mistress of Belchamp Walter school. The quarterly meeting of the Primitive Methodist Circuit took place at Belchamp Walter Chapel on Monday afternoon, the place of the meeting being a long distance from the Circuit only a limited number attended, an open air service was held.

June 8th 1904

Fire destroyed a house and bakehouse in Henny Street belonging to Mr and Mrs Carter.

June 22nd 1904

Belchamp and Melford Rural District Council have invited tenders to build a new bridge over the river Stour near Cavendish Mill.

June 29th 1904

At a special meeting of the magistrates at Castle Hedingham, Beatrice Butcher, a domestic servant in the employment of Mr Hobart Hampden, a gentleman residing at Little Yeldham was charged with setting fire to the dwelling house of her master, the girl is living at Belchamp St Pauls. The prosecutor who lives at Red House, Little Yeldham, deposed that the girl had been in his employment for three weeks as parlour maid, a portion of the house is of lathe and plaster, the rest brick. On Friday he was in his dressing room when he smelt burning paraffin, he asked his wife who was in the next room to go and see what the matter was, she said she could see nothing, just then the cook came in to say that the boot room was on fire, he went to the pump and threw some water on the flames and hacked the wall through with a hatchet and called assistance from the men on the farm and with their help the fire was extiguished. Witness sent for the girl's father and the police arrived, she told the police she took an oil can and put some oil on the floor of the boot room, put a match to it, waited till it was well alight and closed the door. To the Assizes in November and to be kept in custody.

November 16th 1904

At Essex Winter Assizes at Chelmsford, Beatrice Butcher, a servant, pleaded guilty to setting fire to the dwelling house of Mr Hobart Hampden at Little Yeldham on June 17th. Mr Jones for the defence said the prisoner had suffered from epilepsy for the last 10 years and a doctor had certified that at times she was mentally deficient, there was no suggestion of spite against her mistress. His Lordship warned her as to her future behaviour. Bound over in the sum of £ 5.

September 7th 1904

Mr H.Poole of Leprosy Houses Melford Road, Sudbury, had a remarkable adventure with a rat last week, on Monday night he saw a large rat cross the road and little thought it would turn on him, he went to kick it and fell over, the lively rodent seized it's opportunity and bit his arm with it's molars meeting, Poole called on a man to help kill the rat.

September 7th 1904

On Saturday evening a party of Gestingthorpe men, 10- 12 in number had been to Sudbury to do some harvest shopping, on returning about 9 pm the horse shied near the Moat and two men were thrown out, one named Nehemiah Cansell had an ankle broken and the other man, Arthur Rippingale, escaped with a few bruises, Cansell was quickly conveyed to Castle Hedingham and Doctor Bromley ordered him to St Leonards Hospital in Sudbury.

September 21st 1904

Messrs Balls to sell at Largess Farm, Belchamp Walter for Mr J.H.Prigg. 3 sets of threshing tackle comprising 3 portable engines-3 barn works-2 elevators-chaff box-11 horses. From Larrets-Rookery and Crows farms.

November 2nd 1904

News has reached Mr J.O.Steed, the captain of the Volunteers, of the death of his brother's wife in far away Peru, he received a telegram on Saturday from his brother saying that his wife was lying seriously ill with typhoid fever and later the same day another message to say she had died.

November 2nd 1904

Sidney and Frederick Bruty, labourers from Clare, were charged with trespassing in search of game at Clare. P.C.Stiff said he was on duty on Chilton road when he met Mr John Goodchild who asked him to accompany him to one of his fields where they saw the brothers ferreting, he asked Sidney Brity what he was doing and he replied that he was looking round to see what he had to do tomorrow, they had two lurchers with them. 5s each which was paid by their mother.

November 2nd 1904

On Friday morning a fire was discovered in a house at Finsted End, Glemsford, in the home of a man named Pearson. It appears that clothing was placed in front of the fire for airing and it caught fire, being a remote district no help was on hand or water. The house was burnt to the ground and all the poor man's belongings were destroyed except the clothes he stands up in.

November 2nd 1904

Two large barley stacks at Seldom Waver, Glemsford belonging to Mr W.Taylor were burnt down, the produce of 50 acres also a stack of seed clover and a straw stack. It is believed to be the work of an incendiary.

November 2nd 1904

A fatal accident occurred at Stanstead to a man named Oakley who lived opposite the church. I appears he was preparing to go shooting rabbits with a double barreled gun which was loaded in the left barrel. His sister Miss Jane Garwood who lives a few doors away heard a report and hurried back and met a most horrible sight, Oakley had loaded one barrel and was loading the other when the gun went off, the full charge entered his left jaw and penetrated the top his skull, his brain was splattered in all directions, the door being open some of the brain was blown outside. Accidental.

November 2nd 1904

Ipswich wheat to 34s and barley to 32s, fine Burton samples to 36s a quarter. Colchester cattle-beef to 4s 6d per 8lb stone, pork to 7s 6d a score.

November 9th 1904

There was a tragedy on Sunday night when the residence of Mr James Webb French on the Croft, Sudbury, was burnt down and the charred body of the occupant was recovered. Some have suspicions that Mr French, a continual smoker, had gone to bed with his pipe in his mouth. Deceased was of a family who has had unusual deaths.one was found drowned in the Stour, another was cut to pieces by a train, he leaves two sons and a daughter. He was a prominent freeman and took part in agitation in defence of the freemen, older inhabitants tell the story how many years ago a cricket match was about to start on the Common belonging to the freemen when Mr French, jealous of the freemen's rights, laid down in front of the wicket and defied the cricketers to play, his tactics succeeded.

November 2nd 1904

A boy named Tom Eales from Cavendish was returning from school when he was overtaken by a slow moving car, having a mile to walk, Tom jumped on the back and was riding alright through the village when the motor car suddenly put on speed and deposited Tom on the road, a gentleman who was driving through the village put Tom in his car and drove him to Doctor Waring who found he had only a severe shaking.

November 16th 1904

Mr Abinger Whitome of Brundon Hall, Sudbury, sued the G.E.R. for the value of a hiefer which was killed on the line as it was the duty of the G.E.R. to maintain the fences. Verdict for £ 13 10s.

November 16th 1904

There was an inquest at the Shepherd and Dog Inn at Poslingford on a woman named Elizabeth Spurling, wife of Thomas Spurling.
The Coroner, Mr C.J.Gloss, rode over in his motor car. The husband was the first witness, he said he thought his wife was about 50 years old and had been ill for 2-3 years and had spent the last year in bed with rheumatism, last week she hollered every day. The Coroner said" was she in pain", he replied" I dont know about that, she seemed out of her mind"," what did you say to your wife just before 2 on Saturday"," she lay there and kept opening and shutting her mouth as soon as I were there, she died, I never said nothing to her". The Coroner said you volunteered a statement, did you give her anything," I forgot I champed an apple and put it in her mouth"," what, did you push it down her throat and did you see her swallow it"," yes I see her swallow it, when it happened she died".Accidental.

November 23rd 1904

There was an inquest at Sudbury Town Hall on the unnamed child of Maurice Scrivener of Brundon Hall Cottages. Scrivener said his wife gave birth to a male child last Monday morning, she was not attended by a doctor but by a midwife, Mrs Byham, he said he had two other children both girls. Mary Ann Scrivener of Belchamp, mother of the last witness said " I went to my son's house last Monday morning to see the baby, it was in good health, I went home and returned the next morning, I slept with my daughter in law on Wednesday night and the child in the same bed, I got up at half past five on Thursday morning but did not look at the baby, about 15 minutes later my daughter in law called me saying the baby was not well, I called Mrs Moss a neighbour. Eliza Moss said she found the baby dead beside the mother. Elizabeth Byham, midwife, said it was the general rule to have the baby in bed with the mother. The Coroner said that any doctor would tell you it was not a good rule to have the baby in bed with you but in a crib. Death by overlaying.

November 23rd 1904

Richard Sandford aged 15, in the employ of the Rev Pannel the vicar of Bulmer and Belchamp Walter was charged with stealing a pair of stockings valued at 2s and a pair of garters valued at 2s. It appears the goods mentioned were with a large nuber of other articles were sent by Col Burke to the vicarage for a jumble sale. Defendant was found with the goods. To the reformatory until he was 19 years old.

December 7th 1904

A fire occurred at School Barn farm at Pentlow belonging to Mr C.Twinn on Tuesday night. A straw stack was set on fire and the farm being isolated there was no help available, a ladder and a tumbril were also burnt, the origin of the fire is a mystery.

December 7th 1904

Mr Herbert Gosling, a farm steward to the Rev Parmenter of Otten Belchamp was riding through Yeldham when his horse, a restive and vicious animal threw him on the road, his scalp was severely cut but Mr Gosling regained consciousness and reached a cottage where medical assistance was procured and the extensive wound was dressed.

December 14th 1904

There was an inquest at the Bear and Crown, Clare, on William Angel aged 18, a labourer of Poslingford. Deceased with another man was engaged in carting sprats from Clare railway station, both with two horse tumbrils, while riding one horse he fell off backwards on to the road, fracturing his skull and was dead before being taken to the doctor. The Coroner said to the father " has your son ever had an operation to his head"," yes that is right, behind the ear, they took a piece of bone from his head in Cambridge Hospital about 12 months ago.
Accidental.