RECENT EVENTS SOCIETY VISIT TO Newsletter 20 — April 2008 CULFORD HALL On 19 April, thirty members braved a bitterly cold wind to walk round the park at Culford Hall, led by art historian SOCIETY AWARDED GRANT Ann Gore and garden designer George Carter. This landscape is the only certain example in the Brecks of work by FROM ENGLISH HERITAGE Humphry Repton, and whilst it has undergone many changes since he FOR NEW PROJECT ON compiled his plans for the estate in the form of one of his celebrated “Red Books” in the early 19th century, the BRECKLAND WARRENS bones of his design are still visible on the ground, alongside a wealth of other interesting features. Barely has the dust settled after our highly successful Vernacular Architecture Project when the Society has landed yet another grant! The very favourable response to the VAP report and exhibition, with the latter travelling around the Brecks over the last few months, far exceeded our expectations and has enabled us to develop excellent links ART IN CASTLE ACRE with a range of organisations. One of these is English Heritage – its Chief Executive Dr Simon Thurley came to see our Paintings, ceramics and sculpture will be on show and for sale at an VAP exhibition when it was in King’s Lynn – and so we are now delighted to be the recipient of one of EH’s Regional exhibition in the Church of St James the Great, Castle Acre from 11am Capacity Building Grants. to 4pm on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, with a preview evening at 7.30pm on Friday 4 July. Proceeds of the sales will go towards the The grant has been awarded to the Society to carry out research The first stages of the project will be research into the upkeep of the fabric of the church. into one of the most important aspects of the Brecks heritage: the documentary evidence for the warrens and on-the-ground assessment Local and county-wide landscapes will be the subject of many of area’s famous rabbit warrens. These first came to prominence in of all the warrens that are currently accessible. For this to take the paintings by artists, both amateur and professional, from across Medieval times, when designated areas known as “warrens” were place we need volunteers – this could mean YOU! All that is required the eastern region. set aside for the breeding of rabbits for their meat and fur. Here is an interest in landscape history and a willingness to spend a few The Rector, Canon Stuart Nairn, is looking forward to the weekend they were nurtured, protected from poachers and trapped and hours over the next twelve months exploring one of the area’s and has commented, “As the priest in charge of Castle Acre, I am culled by warreners. historic warrens in the search for evidence of elements such as delighted that the Church of St James the Great is able to act as host There are over 20 warrens scattered across the Norfolk and banks and lodges and searching for references in documents. to the Art Exhibition being arranged by the Friends of Castle Acre Suffolk Brecks, and while some, such as that at Mildenhall, have /cont’d on page 2 Church. It is an important fund-raising opportunity for the Friends and been studied on a limited basis, others remain almost completely also gives painters, potters and sculptors the chance to share their unknown. In particular, there is still no detailed overview of how creations with a wider audience. I wish them every success”. much remains of each warren in terms of its structure, namely the WHAT’S ON Admission to the Exhibition is £1.00 and refreshments will be high banks that were built around each warren to keep in the forthcoming Society events rabbits, and the lodges constructed so that the warrener could available too. For the Preview Evening, payment is ‘on the door’ and Thursday 12 June 6.30pm A private view of the Thetford keep watch over his charges. Many warren sites have not been is £5.00 per person. For more details, please telephone 01760 755405 Treasures exhibition at the Ancient House Museum, Thetford. visited and assessed in recent years, nor has any concerted work The museum curator, Oliver Bone, will give us a short introduc- been carried out in the county archives to collate historical data tion to the exhibition, after which we shall be free to wander and references related to the warrens and to the activities of round the museum. which they were once the focal point, such as the trade in rabbit £5, to include glass of wine. Places strictly limited, and must be fur and meat. booked in advance with Sue Whittley on 01366 328190. English Heritage, working with the Breckland Society and the Forestry Commission, which now owns the land on which many Friday 18 July Tour of Three Churches of the Three Acres, led by NORFOLK PLANNING CONFERENCE 2008 of the warrens are located, is keen to plug these gaps in our Anne Mason (see page 3). This event is free, but please book Thursday 12 June knowledge. The grant of £12,100 has been offered to the Society places in advance with Sue Whittley. Meet at 6pm on the grass for the following work: the identification and recording of area (parking here) outside Newton by Castle Acre Church, on 10am–3.30pm, Swaffham Assembly Rooms archaeological features of the warrens; research into the the A1065 north of Swaffham, just opposite the George and Organised by CPRE Norfolk and the Norfolk County Association of Parish Dragon pub. If you would like to contribute to the Breckland documentary evidence for their management and development; and Town Councils. Speakers to include Bob Mizon (British Astronomical and an assessment of the effect that enclosure, the establishment Association), Dr John Constable (Renewable Energy Foundation), Jan Society Newsletter please contact the Editor at of estates and of the Forestry Commission had on the warren Friday 8 August Warrens Project training day at Oak Lodge, Matthieson (British Wind Energy Association) and Terence Blacker The Breckland Society landscape and on those employed in warrening and the fur factories. High Lodge, 7–9pm. See page 2 for details. (author and Independent newspaper columnist). If you are interested in the future of Norfolk, this is an opportunity to The Hay Barn, Hall Farm Barns An illustrated report summarising the Society’s findings and conclusions will be compiled, as will a colour leaflet designed to Thursday 28 August Evening visit to Merton Hall estate, home meet other like-minded people and hear from some of East Anglia’s Oxborough, Norfolk PE33 9PS of the de Grey family. Full details in July newsletter, but if increase awareness of the warren heritage to a general audience. leading experts on planning. Tel 01366 328190 interested please book a place in advance with Sue Whittley. The conference will cover the topics: Street Lighting and Light Pollution; The Society is contributing £500 towards the costs of the project Parish Design Statements; and Wind Farm Development in Norfolk. [email protected] from its own resources. £20 per person (if booked before 1 June). For booking please contact www.brecsoc.org.uk NCAPTC on 01603 664869 or email [email protected] L I V I N G A N D B E L I E V I N G I N T H E B R E C K S 4 background to warrening in the Brecks, a brief assessment of documents and a practical session looking at the warren banks of the adjacent THREE CHURCHES OF THREE ACRES Downham High Warren. Later in the summer, on a date to be confirmed, the Norfolk Record On 18 July the Breckland Society will be visiting the three churches of Newton by Castle Acre, South Acre and Castle Acre. Office will be hosting a free day’s training for us in how to use the Although they are very close to each other geographically, their architecture could not be more different. archives in a record office. This will enable members to undertake Newton by Castle Acre’s St Mary and All Saints has been described as documentary research into the warrens and the rabbit industry in county one of the finest Saxon churches in England and dates from the eleventh archive offices. Interviewing ex-warreners and former workers in the century. It retains its original three-cell division, its central tower and Brandon and Thetford rabbit fur factories is also very important as such triangular window openings, all features of a Saxon church building. first-hand accounts are a valuable part of the information we need to Behind the churchyard is the double-moated site of the medieval manor gather together. and on the opposite side of the A1065 is the three-storey farmhouse On Saturday 18 October we will have a second training day based of Newton Manor Farm. at Oak Lodge, focusing on how to record banks in the field, using a St George’s, South Acre is a medieval church virtually unaltered specially designed form, and including a practical session as a ‘try out’. structurally since it was completed in the early fourteenth century. This new project promises to be a really exciting venture and one Part of the rood screen and the carved bench ends survive and the in which we hope many members will be interested in taking part. Norman font (from the earlier church on the site) has an elaborate Thetford Warren Lodge There are various components, so you can select which one you would cover.