its stead and was not only now investing in making alcohol
but also owned a beerhouse in which to sell it from. In the
last  decades  of  the  nineteenth  century,  temperance
movements such as the Band of Hope were successful in
persuading many children and adults to sign the pledge of
teetotalism. Although he was not a fervent supporter and
regularly peddled his favourite saying ‘Let responsible men
have freedom of thought to what is right in God’s eyes’, to
still possible controversy, he knew that he must be seen to
be upholding standards. However, since he was bankrolling
the brewery he could hardly close it and certainly neither
Charlotte nor David would have had the means with which
to buy him out.

community and provided the focus of a whole week of
merriment. If abandoned, as many of these old traditions
were in other villages, bad luck was thought to reign.

The following story from a copy of the Haverhill Echo in
1883 shows how at these ‘Horkeys’, the Rector was able to
indulge in one of his local investments.

The  Rev  Pressey,  curate,  proposed  a  toast  to  the  Rev  John
Foster, who was slightly indisposed due to ale. The first toast

was to the Church and Queen, second toast to the health of the
preacher. Colonel Palmer of Liston Hall, proposed a toast to
“masters and men”,  he said masters must  not just pay a  just

wage,  but  do what they could  for  the  interest of  the workers,
and the men must reciprocate. Much useful and common sense
was given by the gallant Colonel.

The following story from the Bury & Norwich Free Press
shows how, as Chairman of the Bench at the Petty Sessions
at Castle Hedingham, the court responsible for licensing
and trying minor offences, Foster neatly side-steps a nasty
predicament for his tenant.

As they drunk, two toasts were sang out ‘Here’s to the
success to the bright ploughshare, and may it never rust’
and ‘May the beers next year be as good as this year.’

 The  same  newspaper  carried  one  of  the  first
advertisements for Ward and Son, who were calling
themselves ale and stout brewers of Foxearth, Essex. This
would be the start of a long-running publicity and
marketing campaign, stressing the range of its products
which included: strong ale (XXX) brown ale, brown and
mild; brown dinner ale, pale ale; amber ale; light tonic
bitter and ‘highly nutritious’ stout at around 9 per cent
ABV. These draught beers were available in Kilderkins (18
gallons) Firkins (9 gallons) and Pins (4 ½ gallons) only.

In  connection with the granting of licences -  to Mrs Ward of
Foxearth. The Chairman, the Rev J Foster said a caution was

necessary. Supt  Elsey said  one night a man was found drink-
ing beer supplied from her beer-house on the highway, but the

police did not find  enough  evidence  to  bring  the  case  before
the bench. Rev Foster said he had enquired into the case and
found that three men  had  not been  drinking on  the  highway

What a showman ! Though it is not surprising that after
so many months of hard work that required villagers to
keep it all in, at important festivals of the church year and
election times it seems, villagers resolutely let it all hang
out.

An agency to promote and distribute the beers was soon
opened at A. Clements, 41 Chapel Hill Stores, Halstead,21
with a further distribution and outdoor beerhouse opening
at Alphamstone near Bures the following year, with the
newly opened store of Holland and Barrett stocking beers
in Sudbury. Ward’s also hired one James Hostler as the
firm’s first traveller.

One moment that remained of supreme importance in
the countryside was the end of the harvest. Around the
mid-nineteenth century decorous church festivals were
substituted for the rowdier secular ‘Harvest Homes’ or
‘Horkeys’ of old which Foster supported ardently. The
occasion was something vital to the self-respect of the