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Author: ashelley

Manorial Freedom in Suffolk

Manorial Freedom in Suffolk

Framlingham Castle rebuilt by Hugh Bigod 1160s From here Queen Mary was released from detention with assistance from the Burgesses of Sudbury. For which they received Royal chartered Incorporation with full Borough Freedom. Suffolk is an ancient rural county that retains many features relating to its East Anglian historic traditions. From early times there was widespread freedom among the peasantry of East Anglia that did not occur elsewhere in the country. We are mostly familiar with the establishment of ‘Borough…

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Of Winchester and Chichester

Of Winchester and Chichester

King Alfred the Great (r.871-899) There is much in common between these ancient cities and the city of Gloucester. Established by the Romans they subsequently formed important capitals for the mobile court of the kingdom of Wessex. They were primary inclusions in King Alfred the Great’s ‘burghal defences’ against Viking invasions. NB Alfred later made London a part of his kingdoms of Wessex. It later fell into the hands of the Danes. Each of these major towns were modified to…

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Freedom and Democracy

Freedom and Democracy

All borough freemen should be well aware of the circumstances leading and resulting in the national Reforms of the 19th century. Struggles of the working classes included the freemen and have determined their position in society today. It would be correct to say that ‘freemen’ are rightly proud of their family legacy and the connections with their hometown or city. However, it may also require better understanding of the atmosphere relating to ‘privilege’ in the latter part of the 19th…

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Tribute to a Campaigning Countryman

Tribute to a Campaigning Countryman

Tony J. Drake MBE 1923-2012 The intrepid Tony, a friend to many, was a lifelong hiker and devoted rambler. His love of freedom was deeply engrained. He was out canoeing on the Mediterranean at 16 when he was advised of the outbreak of the War. At 18 he volunteered to join the Royal Airforce and became a radar technician. Tony was always at his element in the open countryside or climbing mountains. He would also walk the urban footpaths and…

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FEW AGM 2023

FEW AGM 2023

Report and Message from the Vice President to F.E.W. AGM, Lincoln, 2023 There is little for me to report on recent activities of the Executive which has been very quiet. FEW has had several setbacks following the Covid epidemic and is suffering a slow recovery of our activities. To this end a Working Group is busy looking at policies and practices to advance the prospective future of the Association. You may be aware that I am in poor health and…

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Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage

Remains of Clare Castle home of our patrons the De Clare’s, Earls of Gloucester On Tuesday, 4th July, I had the great privilege and pleasure to accompany a group of Gloucester freemen and women on a venture to Clare and Sudbury in Suffolk. We were driven, in a mini-bus by President Mr Lee Hensley. The journey from west to east being around 170 miles to Clare. (340-50 m. round trip). Although there was heavy rain at times we had a…

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Three Old Plumptonians

Three Old Plumptonians

‘Tenacious Trio’- BBBF ‘Old Boys’ born March/April 1940 The quintessential countryside of John Constable and the Suffolk Stour Valley is not typical of the varied English landscapes. However, the sight of agricultural activity will always enhance the rural scene. A Three-part Song I’m just in love with all these three, The W’eald an’ the Marsh an’ the Down countrie; Nor I don’t know which I love the most, The W’eald or the Marsh or the white chalk coast. I’ve buried…

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Of Gloucester and Sudbury

Of Gloucester and Sudbury

Tewkesbury Abbey Preamble The coincidence of connections between these distant places have largely affected our national history. Chapter 1 ‘Freedom of the Protected Boroughs and the Vikings’ Vikings from Scandinavia had begun raiding parts of the British Isles during the late eighth century. In most events they found little resistance from a relatively undefended peasantry. A mark in time would be when, in 877 on a reconnoitre, a large contingent visited Gloucester, to find a strong walled but unprotected, almost…

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Town Common Lands

Town Common Lands

Sudbury Common Lands Following the first and second World Wars many common lands were in a parlous state through lack of manual attention. Much of the land was turning to scrub and apparent wasteland. Common land in general represented a large proportion of the national landscape. A Royal Commission was set up in 1955 to make recommendations as to what changes were desirable in the law relating to common lands. This had become necessary as the problems over ownership and…

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Countryside Stewardship

Countryside Stewardship

“While Stewardship may not be anything like semi-natural habitats with their associated wildlife accumulated over several centuries, it does have an important part to play in reducing the haemorrhaging of wildlife from our farmed countryside” AW. Endangered Skylark This is the lament of my pal Adrian, Clerk/Ranger to the Sudbury Common Lands Charity. Not quite as John Clare towards the ‘Inclosures’ but a modern view of the landscape today. He has my sentiments as we observe the seriously diminishing natural…

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