Reports of Road Traffic Incidents
See also Transport, or read about other mishaps, misdeeds and other miscellany.
April 1891 report of a fatality at Saxham Street corner. when a lady, Susan Mitchell fell from a pony and trap when turning the corner. {Norwich Mercury: Saturday, 18 April 1891}
1895 newspaper reports that – On Tuesday evening, as Mr. William Dent, carpenter, of Stowupland, was returning from Stowmarket, when near the Black Barn, owing to the slippery condition of the roads, he fell and broke his leg. He was accompanied by a friend, who, with assistance, conveyed him home. Dr. Low, of Stow- market, who was summoned, found a compound fracture. Mr. Dent is nearly 70 years of age; he lies in a precarious condition.
1933 newspaper report of a truck catchng fire as it turned the corner near Stowupland Hall heading towards Stonham. P.c. Meadows at Syowmarket was informed and Stowmarket Fire brigade attended because of the danger to other traffic. The flames were reportedly leaping as high as the telephone wires.{Diss Express: Friday, 13 October 1933}
September 29th, 1933 the Diss Express & Norfolk & Suffolk Express carried a report on an accident at the junction of Saxham Street and Stonham Road. It involved a Renault car with a trailer driven by John Dixey from Bulmer Tye and a Morris Cowley.
1936 motor cycle accident at the Gipping Road junction.
In 1938, the junction of Saxham Street and Stonham Road (now A1120) was much more a T-junction. The finger sign post pointed down Stonham Road, simply indicating the direction of the Coast.
In 1906 the Stowmarket Weekly Post reported on a traffic collision at the entrance to Elm Farm. The collision was between a cyclist and Mrs R Diaper’s pony and trap. Dr Harper was called to attend who diagnosed 2 broken ribs, a severre scalp wound and an injury to her back.
1933 Collision between an Austen 7 and a motor bike.
1935 a Removals lorry from Norwich left the road, ending up in a ditch along Saxham Street.
Report on the verdict of an Inquest into the death os a soldier killed in a crash near Stowmarket, presumably travelling down Preston Hill.
{Press cutting from Catchpole Scrapbook – SLHG Archives/OS3/scapbook}
This is included because of Denny’s comment that ‘he put his trafficator out, but that as the battery was down, the indicator di not funtion properly’ {Suffolk Chronicle: Friday, 27 January 1956}.
20/07/1844. William Gayfer (age 31), a labourer accidentally killed when the wheels of a waggon passed over his body. (Stowmarket LHG archive, data collated by Steve Williams)
