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May 2005
I've just got back from a lovely bike ride to see the flower festival at Hockwold Church. It was very good and represents a challenge to the Feltwell flower arrangers in early July when St Mary's has its annual flower festival. Feeling full of the joys of spring I sat down to write this newsletter and my computer refused to come on! That was 30 minutes ago and things are now, as you can see, okay except for the broken DVD drive which happened as I was removing the front of the beast. In fact, you are all lucky to get a newsletter at all this month because 2 weeks ago I had nothing but a 16 colour background on my monitor, not even a mouse pointer! Many anguished hours later I now have Windows XP installed but a defunct modem and scanner which are so old that the manufacturers have gone out of business so there are no XP drivers available. I'm sending this on a cheap external modem whilst waiting for Wanadoo and British Telecom to sort out their differences and get me a Broadband connection installed. And I'm still looking for a new scanner.
Next weekend is the 60th Anniversary of VE Day concert in St Mary's Church, 7.30pm, featuring songs from the time. The Social Club are holding a VE Day Tea Dance from 4-6pm on the same day. The big event of the weekend will be the arrival of 30 members of No.75 (NZ) Squadron who have arranged to return to Feltwell on 8th May 2005. There will be a Service of Remembrance at the Squadron memorial at 14:30 hours followed by drinks & nibbles at the Feltwell Chequers. Anyone who would like to meet the servicemen would be welcome to attend either of these functions. They would be very pleased to meet any old or new friends. I'm really looking forward to this event and to meeting in person some of those who have been emailing me over the years. If any of you would like me to pass on any messages to those of the 75th who do turn up please let me have them by return.
In the April edition of the magazine I published the following article from Mr Edmund Lambert which some of you may find interesting.
"During the winter I have been looking through some of the old documents that I have in my possession.
Sometimes it is not realised the wealth of local history which they may contain, not to mention the evolution of the English language over a relatively short period in time that they show. Even in the late 18th century 'f ' was used for 's' in some words i.e. miss would be mifs. Even further back in time documents were written in both old English and Latin and before that just in Latin. It is quite common in times gone by to see documents with a simple X for a signature as literacy was far from universal when education wasn't free.
I have in my possession a will written for a Mrs Sarah Miller of Feltwell in 1792. Probate (the proving of a will to be valid) was granted on her death at the age of 82 in 1794 before The Norfolk Archdeaconry Court at Northwold. The court seal, attached to the will, is written on Vellum (high quality untanned parchment)
The will starts, "In the name of God I Sarah Millar.." Like many wills she states she wishes to be buried with her late husband at Weeting. She then gives various sums of money of some considerable size to members of her family. This is all somewhat mundane. Then, in the next paragraph I think it starts to get a little more interesting. Straightaway we are taken back 200yrs to Feltwell Hall and the Cloughs, Lords of the Manor of South Hall and the Chief Manor of Feltwell. (The hall was opposite the church and is now demolished.) The Revd Cyril Clough is the executor of the will. Mrs Miller then leaves Miss Susanna Clough her wardrobe (clothes) and a mahogany dining room table, a silver mug marked SC and a silver spoon also marked SC.
"To Miss Pleasance Clough I leave 10 pounds, a silver salver, tablespoon marked FC, a dumbwaiter, plated candlesticks & salt sellers". Also, perhaps it may seem strange these days, damask napkins and tablecloth. "To Miss Rebecca Clough I leave 5 guineas and a spouted silver cup. To Miss Catherine Clough I leave 5 guineas and a silver pepper box."
The residue of her estate (this has to be done where only specific bequests are given or it wouldn't be clear who gets what is left) she leaves to a member of her family. The will finishes with the usual, "signed sealed and delivered. SARAH MILLER".
This will shows that possessions such as silver were perhaps worth more in real terms than they are today.
One would also assume this was a person of some social position by the large sums of money left to her family, the type of furniture and plate in the will and her close association with all the leading family of the village.
As background we know that the lord of the manor, Reverend Cyril Clough, died 13yrs after this will was written. There is no mention in the will of his wife Mary who was his housekeeper before marriage as she had died some years previous. We know he had three young daughters, Pleasance, who became Lady of the manor in 1805 for 50 years, Rebecca who was never married and Catherine, the youngest, who married a Newcome from Hockwold Hall. She outlived her son Edward and was the last person to be buried inside St Mary's Church.
I have never heard of Miss Susanna Clough, I assume she was Cyril's sister as a lady of 82 has left her wardrobe (clothes) to her."
