BAHS Newsletter Number 32 December 2011 Farewell Bert and Maude

At the Society's Mardle Night in December we were treated to a farewell performance by Bert and Maude, alias Richard Newton and Janet Harcourt. Their patter, delivered in broad , has been a feature of performances by the Blakeney Players for many years – intended as an entr'acte while the stage crew shift the scenery behind the curtain – and well worth the price of admission on their own. Alas now they too are... history.

Subscriptions reach for your chequebook now:

If you’re one of the handful of members Subscriptions are still £10 for an who have not yet renewed their sub- individual and £14 for a couple at scriptions, this is the last Newsletter the same address, cheques to be you will receive and you will forfeit your sent to the Membership Secretary chance to receive a copy of the next at Far House, Coronation Lane, Glaven Historian, to be published this Blakeney, Holt, NR25 7NS. year. If there is a blob in this square, News from the History Centre

here has the year gone? • The North Folk by R. Bond et al In many instances the names of As the Centre shuts down East Anglia by R. Rainbird Clarke former occupiers are given as well Wfor the midwinter deep • 70th Anniversary of the Blak- as names for owners of adjacent clean and annual stock take, it is eney Sailing Club, script of talk by property, all in all a veritable time to refl ect on the number and P Page ‘Who’s who’ of Cley in 1894. This variety of visitors we have wel- • 23 Rent books for R Gidney of deed adds to our growing col- comed throughout the year and Baconsthorpe lection and like all of them will the success of the House History • The Howes Mortgage, 1894 prove invaluable for house/family courses. It is also timely to give • Displaced Persons Camp, Cley historians and understanding the thanks for all the support we have 1946 x 3 photographs by H H development of our villages. had from visitors and then closer Tansley to home, thanks to the volunteers • Blakeney Carpet Bowls Club, The black sheep! who keep the Centre open and early records Robert Cademy (1759-1785) was running, often travelling many the son of Henry Cademy, ‘Shep- miles to do so. A Deed Indeed herd of the Wiveton fl ock’. Unlike It is also time to welcome a A document, loaned to the History his father and many of his broth- new member to the team (Richard Centre for copying, has proved ers, Robert was never a successful Dunn) and to take a deep breath unbelievably enlightening, outlin- shepherd. In fact quite the oppo- as we prepare for the challenge ing some 20 properties in Cley site as the whole sorry saga of his ahead in mid August 2012, Tidal and naming 36 people in all. life was revealed by his confession Lands. This is a four-day exhi- The document relates to Robert when executed for sheep stealing, bition celebrating the history of William Howes of East Derham, 2nd April, on the Castle Hill at Blakeney Point, a collaborative photographer who was in need . venture with the National Trust. of money and raised £300 from Essentially Robert started There is still plenty of time for the Vores family by mortgaging as an apprentice shoe-maker in volunteers to sign up for steward- his real estate in Cley. This was Blakeney, then as a shepherd fol- ing, helping with refreshments, in 1894 and the document high- lowed by a spell at sea before re- exhibition set up and dismantling lights both freehold and copyhold turning to help his father with the and all the other behind the scene property spread right across the sheep followed by screening corn tasks that need to be done. Help parish, namely; at Blakeney with Mr Farthing. spread the work-load and make it • 21 perches of freehold garden After another spell back with his a resounding success for the so- at Anderton Hill occupied by Mary father in Wiveton he worked as a ciety. If you have a day or two or Hurn shepherd for several others before even just an hour or two to spare, • 19 perches of freehold garden at stealing sheep from Mr John Halls please step forward and com- Anderton Hill occupied by Herbert of Pinkney, near . mit by giving your name to Pam Holman This was his undoing and only Peake, 01263 740388. Thank you. • freehold premises in Plattins came to light when a descen- Yard occupied by Howard Brett dant recently obtained a printed Accessions • freehold house and shop next to broadsheet from Norwich Castle • 30 Years of Blakeney scribbled former, occupied by Burgess Bix and donated a copy to the History by Bill Hayward and William Hooke Centre. • Shipbuilding at Wells in the • 3 more freehold cottages in 18th and 19th Centuries by M. Plattins Yard occupied by John The Gant Archive Stammers Jary, James Grimes and John Family Portraits in the 2009 win- • Cooke Cameos 1911-2011 by D. Jary ter Newsletter, featured a ‘fam- Cooke • 2 copyhold cottages at Newgate, ily group on the beach’ with the • London Gazette; another fasci- both occupied by William Hill Gants of Wiveton and Longs of nating collection • 2 copyhold cottages, now divid- Cley. Margaret Charlotte Gant nee • A selection of Board of Trade ed into 4, west of Kings Head Inn Long, the wife of Captain Robert records for ship voyages together and occupied by Thomas Chap- James Gant of the Homer, was with crew lists and ship registra- man, Howard Brett, xxx Holmes tentatively identifi ed as the lady tions, mostly 1820/30s and one now empty standing centre back. • Wildfowling at Wells by K. • 2 copyhold cottages on Road to This has now been confi rmed Thatcher et al Salthouse occupied by Brandon by a descendant. Also positively • The Book of the Burnhams by Holman identifi ed are Capt Gant stand- The Burnhams Society History • 3 copyhold cottages, 1 a shop, ing to the right of his wife and Group on road to Salthouse occupied by their young son George standing • The Trials of Wells Harbour by Brandon Holmes (possibly meant in front of his mother. Sugges- J. Barney to be Holman) and Herbert Holman tions have been made for many Top left: Captain Robert James Gant Top right: Margaret Charlotte Gant née Long Left: Gant family reunion at Wiveton; from left to right the family is George William Gant 1880-1959 (son of Capt and Mrs M Gant), May 1913-1996 (daughter of GW Gant), Marga- ret ‘Madge’ Hosking 1885-1964 (daughter of Capt and Mrs M Gant), Margaret Jenner 1911- 1979 (daughter of GW Gant), Margaret Charlotte Gant, Hilda Hosking (daughter of Madge), unidentifi ed lady in specs, Hil- da’s son and Ethel Coe (daugh- ter of Capt and Mrs Gant). others. Meanwhile here are three Roots and Branches Starling of Blakeney and Gland- more photographs of the Gant Recent enquiries or deposits of ford family; fi rstly Captain Robert Gant, information regarding the follow- Copeman of Glandford then his wife Margaret, both are ing families have been lodged at Mann of Cley portraits painted when they were the History Centre. If you want to Gant of Wiveton abroad and then thirdly Margaret investigate further, please call in Long of Cley with her children and some of her February when we reopen after Digman of Blakeney grandchildren. Many more pho- the New Year break. Smith of Stiffkey and Blakeney tographs have now been added to the Gant Archive and we have been Betts of Blakeney Pam Peake able to put the donor in touch with Bishop of Blakeney a distant cousin who lives locally. Russell of Blakeney A Legacy for Blakeney

ust over 100 years ago in ing an aerial photograph taken Above: This is a later photo- 1908 Professor Frank Oliver of the Headland to enable the graph taken in the 1920’s after Jvisited Blakeney while re- study of vegetation patterns. One Blakeney Hotel was built. The cuperating from a serious illness; of his enormous strengths was occasion is the Lifeboat Service thus began an association that his recognition of the interdepen- that is still held on the Quay, had many far-reaching conse- dence of many different strands of but here it is being conducted quences for the area. It was his research, in fact the basis of ecol- from a boat. Can you recognise drive and enthusiasm, with the ogy. Oliver was Professor of Bot- anybody? support of two other individuals, any at University College London Sydney Long and Charles Roth- during this period and an account Top right: Oliver commented schild, that resulted in Blakeney of the College’s association with that one of the best views of the Point becoming a nature reserve. the Point written by Dr Donald harbour and the Point was from Long was a doctor practicing in White, himself a member of the the top of Blakeney Church Norwich, but was born along the College, was published in 2005 in tower. Here is his photograph coast in Wells, and Rothschild The Glaven Historian. taken on ‘23 September 1908’. a member of the banking family After the Point was purchased who had a passionate interest in it was presented to the National that started in 1908 and appears natural history and conservation. Trust who have been the custodi- to have continued into the 1920’s All shared a vision. ans for the last 100 years. It was when he retired from University Oliver established the Point as handed over 'on condition that the College. These photographs are a natural laboratory for the study natural fl ora and fauna should now preserved in London and to of plants and animals with a per- be preserved'. There have been give a fl avour of their local inter- manent base in the Old Lifeboat many changes during this period, est four have been selected to House that he purchased for £50 students still come to the area to illustrate this short note. How- from Lord Calthorpe. Research on study, but they no longer camp on ever, these and many more will the Point fl ourished with people the Point (as I did over 50 years be shown in the exhibition Tidal from many disciplines coming to ago), rabbits have disappeared, Lands that will be held in Blak- work there – not only botanists, Far Point has grown still further eney Village Hall in August, jointly but soil scientists, coastal engi- and now has a fl ourishing seal organised by the Society and the neers and zoologists working on colony. National Trust. Come and see the terns and other animals. He Oliver left another legacy to the them. was also instrumental in hav- area – a collection of photographs John Peake Middle: Photographs show that early visitors to the Point were often fashionably dressed. In this one Robert ‘Bob’ Pinchen is standing on the far left. He was the fi rst Warden and prior to the National Trust’s ownership he was the Watcher during the tern’s breeding season. He was from a local Cley family and initially ran a butcher’s shop when not employed on the Point. During the spring and summer months Bob lived with his wife and his two youngest children on a converted Lowestoft fi sh- ing lugger, the Britannia, which was moored not far from Pinchen’s Creek and the Lifeboat Houses. Bottom: Naturally Oliver took many photographs of the Point and the shingle spit showing the vege- tation and topographic features, but here is one of general interest. It shows the two Lifeboat Houses and huts at a high tide. Some of posts that are visible carried the telephone wires along the shingle spit while others were used for signalling to ships, including the lifeboat. But could one be a radio mast? Rescue Wooden Boats time we hope to arrange for a few Feedback Restoring Dunkirk veteran suitable wooden working boats to be available for lease to keen and local lifeboat Lucy Lavers I had a very nice call (and email) experienced people to ensure their from Margaret Bird (the other one) continued use on the water. Rescue Wooden Boats is a new who pointed out my self contradic- We hope there will be wide- tion regarding which size chalder charity aiming to “acquire, restore, spread interest in supporting us maintain and use heritage mari- measure was used in the Glaven from people who love wooden ports. time wooden craft and in so doing, boats, from people with connec- provide education into their histo- tions with working boats or life- Dear Richard, ry, construction, maintenance and boats and from people with an I was so pleased to speak to use and into the crafts involved interest in maritime and naval you this afternoon and to thank in all of these”. Our intention is history, particularly the Dunkirk you over the phone for the many that the restored working boats evacuation. We invite people articles you have written over the and lifeboats will be used actively to join as a “Friend” of Rescue years on which I rely for some of on the water rather than become Wooden Boats and to support us my work on Mary Hardy. As we museum pieces. It has been by making donations. discussed, I am puzzled as to started by local craftsmen boat which coal measure was used in builders David and George Hewitt Rescue Wooden Boats Norfolk ports: the Newcastle, the at Stiffkey, together with wooden 14 Norton Street, Burnham Norton, London, or the Great Yarmouth working boat enthusiasts Graeme King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 8DR chaldron (53, 26½ and 24½ cwt Peart from Saxlingham and Wendy 07920 760238 respectively). Pritchard from Burnham Norton. www.rescuewoodenboats.com These are the references I men- So far we have been given tioned: two boats, our fl agship project Dunkirk veteran Lucy Lavers BAHS Spring Excursion R. Kelham, 'Taking the measure lifeboat (donated by Dunkirk Little of the Blakeney coal trade in the Ships Restoration Trust) and crab Monday 30 April 1780s', Blakeney in the Eigh- boat Black Beauty (donated by teenth Century (3rd edn Blakeney, Andy Frary of Wells-next-the-Sea). You are invited to join us for an 2010), pp. 21-2 (in which you con- We have identifi ed further possible outing to KING’S LYNN on the clude that Blakeney and Cley used working boats to acquire and have above date. We will explore some the London measure); started fi lming local fi shermen, historic buildings, in the medieval lifeboat men, and boat builders part of the town, with an expert R. Kelham, 'The Blakeney and Cley talking about their lives and crafts guide and historian – Dr Paul port books', The Glaven Historian, and about Lucy Lavers. These Richards. no. 1, 1998, pp. 22-5 (in which fi lms and much more are on the Details have still to be fi na- you indirectly conclude those ports website. lised. The cost will be £6 (plus £4 used the Newcastle measure. You Once we have raised some entrance fee to Clifton House). use the sloop Active as one of your funds we will start by restoring We will meet at approx 10.30 am, bases for calculation in both ar- Lucy Lavers and returning her to have lunch at a suitable pub and ticles – but it not clear if the cargo Dunkirk. We estimate this project fi nish at 3.30 pm. of coal, 25 chaldrons, represented alone will cost at least £50,000 Active's total load); and take several years. We will Names and money will be col- fi lm the restoration work to cap- lected at the Spring Meetings. For However, the Great Yarmouth ture progress and the disappear- further information please contact chaldron (used on ) was ing skills involved. At the same Diana Cooke on 01263.740320. different again:

Offi cer and Committee Members’ Contact Details (Offi cers *)

Peter Wordingham, Chairman* [email protected] T: 01263 570183 Diana Cooke, Secretary* [email protected] T: 01263 740320 Richard Daley, Treasurer* [email protected] T: 01263 740180 Barbara Ward Jones, Membership Secretary [email protected] T: 01263 740622 Pamela Peake, History Centre Manager* & Vice Chairman, [email protected] T: 01263 740388 John Peake, Events Organiser* [email protected] Tel: 01263 740388 Richard Kelham, Publications* [email protected] Tel: 01263 740186 Neil Batcock [email protected] Tel: 01263 740686 Jan Semple [email protected] Tel: 01263 860741 Geoff and Brenda Worton, Minutes Secretaries [email protected] Tel: 01263 715503

History Centre Sub-Committee co-optees: Sara Dobson, Richard Dunn, Hilary Randell, Jean Thompson Glaven Historian Editorial Board: Tim Fawcett, Frank Hawes, Richard Kelham, John Peake R. Clark, Black-Sailed Traders A short course: the BAHS to John Peake, (Newton Abbot, 1961), p. 100 (in Crows Nest, Back Lane, Blakeney which Roy Clark says that in the Norfolk's Industrial NR25 7NP. Note: early payment mid-18th century the measure Past 1750-1940 secures your place. used was 20 sacks to the chal- dron, each sack weighing 137 lb. “Did Norfolk have an industrial I conclude a Broadland chaldron past?” – a comment on a par with The Friary Centenary was thus 24½ cwt. However on the famous “Very fl at, Norfolk.” Weekend that page Clark is not clear if he is Its rural image can disguise the referring to chaldrons of burnt lime surprising variety and scale of In October 1911, following the sale only or to chaldrons in general). its industries. This course cov- of the Calthorpe Estate, Arthur ers the variety and scale of Nor- I may have to skate over this one Cooke (a surgeon in Cambridge), folk’s industry from 18th to 20th and his wife Viva, bought ‘three and say we just do not know, as centuries, from textiles to heavy Robert Malster did when I dis- cottages and some barns’ behind engineering and the generation of Mariners’ Hill in Blakeney. They cussed the problem with him. He electricity. This course of fi ve two- reckoned that a chaldron was restored the cottages back into hour sessions and one outing, led one property and called it ‘The roughly a little more than a ton, by Msry Fewster, uses a mixture but I think that is a bit imprecise, Friary’. It is a listed C17th build- of visual and documentary evi- ing with an C18th extension at the especially as the Newcastle mea- dence. Of necessity, some aspects sure was far greater. I would very south end. are covered in overview, while To celebrate the centenary of much appreciate your considered there is an opportunity to examine opinion. the Cooke’s purchase, and four certain industries or fi rms in more generations of the house being in I am working on the diary of depth. Mary Hardy, written at Coltishall their ownership, an Open House 1773-81 and at Letheringsett 1. The Norfolk scene 1750-1940: was held on the afternoons of 1781-1809. She was the wife of a an introduction to the landscape, 22nd & 23rd October 2011. Nearly farmer, maltster and brewer with economy and society of Norfolk, in 200 people came to the event and a large portfolio of tied houses. I relation to its industrial develop- £480 was raised. This amount am bringing out four volumes of ment, plus a focus on extractive was divided between the Blakeney annotated text, and four volumes industries. Area Historical Society and the of commentary and analysis. You 2. Links with the land: a look at Friends of St Nicholas’ Church. and I met at 'Made in Cley' some industries providing for, and deal- To mark the occasion a booklet Cooke Cam- years ago, when you kindly told ing with the product of agriculture was written, entitled eos me something of the history of the and fi sheries. . This draws together the story shop. I wonder if Robert Anthony 3. “The grand source of its of the Cookes’ Blakeney links and was the grocer and draper to wealth”: Norwich industries from a history of the house, as well as census details in an appendix. whom you referred? [presumably the 18th to the 20th centuries. Copies are still available at a cost 'yes'] His wife Ann was, with Mary 4. “Making connections”: the Hardy, a member of the Wesleyan impact of the introduction of ser- of £3 (email: cookediana@paston. Methodists at Cley in the late 18th vices, such as water and gas sup- co.uk ) and early 19th centuries. plies, and of road, rail and water During the weekend, refresh- There is absolutely no hurry transport. ments were served in the Dining over this. My usual work of refer- 5. Entrepreneurs and diversity: Room. Books, puzzles & tools were on sale in other rooms and ence is the Cambridge Agrarian the variety and scale of indus- pictures of local interest were History, which has a superb ap- trial development throughout the pendix on weights and measures. county. exhibited throughout the house. But even they skirt around the Some medieval artefacts (found on chaldron problem, setting out the Dates & time: Thursday morn- land that the Cooke family used to London and Newcastle measures ings 10.30 – 12.30; March 22 and own) were also on display. There without stating where they were 29, miss a week, then April 12, was a wonderful team of fam- used (vol. VI, p. 1128). 19 and 26. The date of the outing ily, friends and BAHS members, Margaret Bird, and the destination to be arranged without whom the event would during the course, but this may not have been possible or such a Having re-read my arguments in incur an additional cost of an en- success. Thank you, again, to all both sources I can fi nd no fault trance fee. those involved. with the logic of either. Or, in oth- Diana Cooke er words, I'm as much in the dark Location: Scout Hut, next to the as everyone else and cannot come Village Hall, Blakeney. to any defi nite conclusion as no Cost: Members - £48, Editor: Richard Kelham further information has yet come Non-members - £55 t: 01263 740186 to light, If anyone can provide the e: [email protected] defi nitive answer to this, or wishes Booking: to book your place to get in touch with Margaret Bird, either pay at a monthly meeting or All text © 2012 please contact me. send your cheque made payable to BAHS and Contributors Spring/Summer Programme 2012

Events

All the following meetings are in the Harbour Room at the British Legion Hall in the High Street, Blakeney starting at 7.30 pm, except for the April meeting which will be held in Blakeney Village Hall starting at 8.00pm Entrance: £2 for members and £3 for visitors, including refreshments.

This year the Society is participating in some of the celebrations of the National Trust’s association with Blakeney Point. These events are marked with a

Tuesday Members Night: Three Short Lectures: January 31 Richard Jefferson: James Olley lived in Blakeney Pam Peake: Bags of Treasures John Peake: Drawn in Stone

Tuesday 200 years of Farming: from John Stileman 1610 to February 28 Henry Savory 1868 in Field Dalling Michael Medlar

Tuesday Blakeney Point in Trust: a review by two National Trust March 27 Regional Advisors Stuart Warrington (Regional Wildlife & Countryside) & Angus Wainwright (Regional Archaeological)

Saturday Our Changing Coast: Past, Present & Future: April 28 Dr Kenneth Pye (Kenneth Pye Associates) In Blakeney Village Hall at 8.00pm, doors open 7.30pm

Saturday to Tidal Lands: an exhibition on the natural history and history of Blakeney Point, Tuesday the harbour and villages. August 17-21 In Blakeney Village Hall: every day 10.30am to 4.00pm. Admission Free

Tuesday Archaeology in Glaven Villages September 25 Andrew Rogerson (Norfolk Landscape Archaeology)

Tuesday Past-time withe goode compnaye – King Henry's Band October 30 Robert Fitzgerald

Tuesday City Clerks or Ploughboys: the role of education in Norfolk c1820-1940 November 27 Susanna Wade Martins (Research Associate, UEA)

BAHS Short Course: Norfolk's Industrial Past 1750-1940

Starting 22 March and led by Dr Mary Fewster, a course of five lectures and one visit. Details inside (p.7)

History Centre Diary

Reopening Tuesday, 7 February: 10am till noon, then the last and first Tuesday morning in every month. Other times by arrangement, phone 01263 740388. Members' Sessions on Monday afternoons, 2pm till 4pm: 6 February, 5 March and 2 April. Remember your £1 entrance fee covers all expenses including free advice and help with your research topic.

Anyone wishing to use maps, film or fiche readers is advised to book in advance. Phone, as above, or send SAE to History Centre, Blakeney Village Hall, Langham Road, Blakeney, Norfolk NR 25 7PG.

More information available on: www.history-blakeney-area.org.uk