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1-20 template Feb 21_vv 16/01/2021 12:02 Page 1 Village Voices The local magazine for Alderton, Boyton, Capel, Hollesley and Shingle Street FFFebruary 2021 1-20 template Feb 21_vv 16/01/2021 12:02 Page 2 From the Editor Dreamstime.com This is what we are looking forward to! Greetings. The cover photograph of Ramsholt church floodlit was taken by Clynt Garnham, who has contributed many lovely pictures for our magazine. You will see that I have devoted a certain amount of space to Christmas. Unfortunately, because of the cut-off dates for publication, we can’t record what happens at Christmas until the February edition but, in my view, that’s no reason to forget all about it. Enjoy the magazine and stay safe. Editorial copy Advertising Editors: Cheryl, Nick, Diane Gerry Bathe [email protected] [email protected] Copy on paper to Laurie Forsyth 1 Rectory Road, 11a Parsons Hill Hollesley, IP12 3JS Hollesley IP12 3RB Tel: 01394 411376 If you do not receive your copy of Village Voices, contact Laurie Forsyth on 01394 411727 Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the editorial team. Copy deadline is the 10th of each month. Page 2 February 2021 www.villagevoices.org.uk 1-20 template Feb 21_vv 16/01/2021 12:02 Page 3 Was Alderton one of the most dangerous places to live in 1801? By 1801, Britain had faced eight years of war with France. The invasion of Holland and what is now Belgium by the forces of the French revolutionary government as they swept across huge swathes of Europe, brought coastal Suffolk within reach of their ports and raised the possibility of invasion. While the south coast remained the expected landing zone, it was well defended. Four earlier invasion attempts, in Ireland and Wales, had shown the French capacity for the unpredictable. Hollesley Bay and the Bawdsey/Alderton peninsular were identified as one of the key areas at risk. The protection of the bay, the wide shingle beaches and isolated hinterland of open heathland, together with the closeness of the main road to London, had much to offer an invading force. Large army forces were stationed at Woodbridge and Colchester, together with regiments of Militia, responsible for home defence, made up of conscripts raised by ballot from every parish. Volunteers too had a role to play. Volunteer infantry Troops were formed in many villages, with the force from Hollesley Bay and the surrounding area numbering 348 in 1803, reflecting the ever-present fear of invasion. A volunteer cavalry, made up largely of local gentry and farmers, had been formed in 1794. The second Troop of Loyal Suffolk Yeomanry Cavalry drew from a wide radius around Woodbridge, their muster place. Philip Broke of Broke Hall, Nacton, was their captain, while their lieutenant was Mileson Edgar of the Red House, Ipswich. The Reverend Dr. Franks of Alderton was their chaplain. Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry Museum Trust Two Yeomanry Cavalry men in the market square in Woodbridge c. 1801 www.villagevoices.org.uk Page 3 February 2021 1-20 template Feb 21_vv 16/01/2021 12:02 Page 4 In 1801, much of the Suffolk coastline was undefended. Great reliance was therefore placed on local inhabitants to raise the initial alarm should the enemy be sighted. The government had a scorched-earth plan, known as ‘Driving the Country’, which mobilised every village to make provision not only to evacuate its inhabitants but all their animals, thus removing food supplies for which the French would be desperate. People were chosen to be in charge of specific jobs, such as supervision of the removal of cattle and horses, the provision of carts ready to transport the old and sick, and guides willing to remain behind to aid the army when it arrived. The Yeomanry Cavalry were in overall command to ensure success and compliance. One obvious problem was that of collision between fleeing civilians and the forces coming to meet the enemy. Hence the Yeomanry’s orders to survey all the tracks, lanes and driftways, so that these could be used by civilians, leaving the roads free for the approaching army. It is intriguing to consider that this was the only area that the Yeomanry were asked to survey in such detail. At the same time, owners of animals grazing the coastal marshes had been urgently recommended to remove their animals inland. The Yeomanry had also been placed on alert to assemble at the shortest notice in case of actual invasion. There is no evidence but could it suggest that the government had received information a landing was imminent? If you know the area, you might like to consider whether the evacuation plan could have worked or whether the French could have achieved a successful landing? Dr Margaret Thomas, Chairman, Suffolk Local History Council Dr. Thomas has edited a book entitled Cornelius Collett and the Suffolk Yeomanry, 1794-1820: Defending Suffolk against the French, which has been published by the (local) Boydell Press. Cornelius Collett was a banker in Woodbridge who joined his local Troop at its inception and remained a member for the next twenty-six years. During this period, he collected and transcribed - in three large, leather-bound books - a range of unique and wide-ranging documents. These included, as well as details of musters and reviews, letters from the Lord Lieutenant, orders from central government and plans for evacuation that would be put into place should the French arrive on Suffolk's shores. I have reproduced the section about the survey of our area below. Can you identify all the locations? Ed. Report of Captain Broke to the General of the Division. July 30 1801 Assembled at the place of Rendezvous (Woodbridge) marched to Wilford Hills where there met by the Reverend Dr Franks. From thence proceeded across the heaths in Sutton, Shottisham and Hollesley to Boyton by the high Road and to Dock Marshes in Boyton near the Dock, in the occupation of Mr Robert Bennington lying in the Butley River, from thence by the Road to the Marshes in the occupation of Mr John Woolnough and in the way leading to his Hardway lying in the Butley River, then to Cardwell Hall Marshes in the occupation of Mr Woolnough. The communication from the uplands to the same is by a drift way at the west end of Cardwell Hall Buildings, then past Mr Jeptha Wallers House and Cottages to the Marshes in his occupation and those occupied by Mr Barthrop. NB The direct way to the above marshes of Mr Waller and Mr Barthrop is from Woodbridge over Boyton Allens passing the west end of Mr Waller’s Cottages. Page 4 February 2021 www.villagevoices.org.uk 1-20 template Feb 21_vv 16/01/2021 12:02 Page 5 From those Marshes by the Road, passed Mr Barthrop’s House to the House of Mr Tokelove to the Marshes late the Reverend William Boltons in which are Bowmans Creek and Bowmans Sluice in Hollesley and called Oxley Marshes. Adjoining to which Marshes the Level is continued and is in the occupation of Mr Brady, Mr Virtue and Mr Pytches, the Communication to which from the uplands are through their respective Farm Yards. Next to the Marshes of Mr Brady, Virtue and Pitches are those in the occupation of Mr Whimper in the parish of Alderton and are called Buckenhaw and also other lying in Bawdsey called Scotes Marshes. The Communication to these is out of the High Road leading from Hollesley to Alderton close to Cowsley Lane in which a branch leads off on the Right to Scotts Marshes. Thence passing by the Marshes in the occupation of Francis Ablitt* the communication to which is by the Wheelwright’s Shop in Alderton Street, also by the Marshes in the occupation of Reverend Dr Frank and Mr Thomas Pytches, the communication to which are through their respective farm yards and then to Bawdsey by the Marshes of Mr Robert Cutting, the communication to which is from Bawdsey Street down the first lane, thence to East Lane in Bawdsey Street to the land called East End on Hollesly Bay close to the Sea and Beach. From East End back to Bawdsey Street forward down the road to Bawdsey Ferry past Mr William Pages and through the Farm Yard held by Mr Cavell to the Field in which the Bawdsey Signal House stands. NB there is a View on the right over the level of Marshes in Bawdsey as far as Bawdsey Fleet and over the same and the Marshes in Alderton and Ramsholt on the side of the Woodbridge River. The communication to and from the marshes lying on Woodbridge River from Bawdsey are by Alderton Street except the Marshes called Scotts in Bawdsey, which communicate with the Hollesly Road by Cowley Lane Drift. NB from Dock Marsh (Boyton) straight to William Bennington’s House across a small Dam to Capel. Report of Lieutenant Edgar to the Troop and the General of the District July 31 1801 Assembled at the place of Rendezvous (Woodbridge) and marched over Wilford Hills into Shottisham and from thence to Ramsholt Marshes, observing the drifts and passes from thence (next to those inspected yesterday by Captain Broke) in the occupation of Mr Baldry and Mr Lynn in Bawdsey also Mr Page and Mr Cavell, likewise those in Alderton in the occupation of Mr L Collett and Mr Thomas Ablett. The approach to those Marshes in Bawdsey occupied by Mr Cavel and Mr William Page is though Bawdsey and Alderton Street.