Stowupland's Drift Ways
Across Stowupland there are several lanes that lead into fields or between fields and known as Drifts or Drift Ways. Several have been located by looking at the tithe map of 1840 but how old they are is unknown, historically it is thought they were ways used for driving cattle (Drove Ways) either between pastures or to markets.
Drift Way off Saxham Street
Saxham Street’s Drift Way is mentioned in the tithe apportionaments as a peice of land [225 tm] owned by the Earl Stonham Feoffees which leads down to their town barn. William Gostling is naned as the occupier of this piece of land as well as Stonham fields 1,2 & 3 In 1838 he was also named as a Miller and corn merchant of Stonham, also corn merchant. By 1876 William has died and George Gostling is listed as miller at Stonham mills.
To the north of the Saxham Street Drift Lane is Drift Field (224), now a Grange Farm Field. The owner is Samuel Holland and the occupier Charles Bloomfield Law.
On Friday June 28th 1839, John Maurice Herbert (Assistant Tithe Commissioner) was to meet with Mr Gostling, miller to discuss a dispute over the Earl Stonham – Stowupland Boundary. (reported in the Ipswich Journal, 15th June 1839).
Another Drift at the NE end of Stowupland is Tm 99, the owners in 1840 are Stowupland Feoffees and the occupier is Martha Wilden. This is associated with Town Farm Land and runs between fields in the area between Saxham Street and Gipping Lane.
Nearer to Rendall Lane is Tm 176, on land of Water Run Farm owned by General Francis Slater Rebow and occupied by John Turner.
Moving down to central Stowupland, to the SW of (Thorney) Green Farm, near to the Hop Yard Meadow is tm 392 a Drift owned by Henry Chapman and in the occupation of James Warren. This may be provided a way between the Green and Stonebridge Lane. On the adjacent map Stonebridge Lane is in the lower left hand corner and the village green is to the top right hand corner.
Drift (tm 469), owner and occupier Will Smith. This lane is just off the road between Thorney Green and the road leading down to Stowmarket.
In the 20th century this area is associated with Poole Farm.
Drift tm 549, owner Will Smith, occupier trustees pf John Rust. This may link Plumpier Meadow (tm 548) and Long Meadow (543).
Moving off the Uplands down towards Stowmarket.
Drift Meadow (tm 631) and Drift (tm 634) owned by Rev John Freeman and occupied by George Preston.
Other Lanes
Malting Lane – opposite the URC Chapel heading easterly towards Park Farm. Is this tm 334 owned by Richard Dalton and occupied by Edwin Pyman.
To the SE of Stowupland a lane tm 445 owned and occupied by James Hunt.
Tm 697 is a roadway waste near to the Hop Grounds and Thorney Hall.
