As author of a number of local history books, Stephen shares his experience of researching the story of the 17th century cottage in Norfolk. He’ll recount the tales of the owners and residents of his own home over more than 300 years, who ranged from Victorian farmers and bricklayers to a Georgian gentlewoman of independent […]
This is an intriguing and sometimes humorous look behind-the-scenes in the making of the Netflix film "The Dig" . . . a film based on a novel with the same title about the famous Sutton Hoo burial ship and the people involved. Charlie will explain how a potential "scam" email from "The Dig" producer, turned […]
Gill is a full time historical researcher and author, she has assisted several authors, academics, journalists and television producers with their background research, notable the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? including the Mary Berry episode in 2014 and the Jonnie Peacock episode in 2018. Please Note There will be a very short Annual […]
Pip is a regular speaker to our group and in this talk he looks at the belief in witches culminating in the witch trials of the early 17th century. Matthew Hopkins was the notorious "Witch Finder General" who was invited to many East Anglian communities including Stowmarket at this time and would invariably find evidence […]
Ahead of building on the Trinity Meadow site the area was investigated by Oxford Archaeology. Robin will present the findings of the digs and will bring along a few of the artefacts that were found
The early music trio Hexachordia (www.hexachordia.com) presents a programme of mirth and merriment for the festive season, revealing what Christmas and New Year was like for folk at all levels of society in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Featuring Hexachordia’s trademark blend of instrumental music, song and narrative, they will bring to life the winter […]
The Reverend Farrar as well as being a vicar in the Botesdale area had an interest in recording it's history taking many photographs that are now of historical interest. Charles Partridge a resident of Stowmarket had similar interests and did much family history research. One of his most notable achievements was transcribing the early parish […]
A recently discovered rare and significant 13th century document in Suffolk Archives throws light on a local building project here in Stowupland to rebuild the now gone Thorney Hall. Local workmen and sources of building materials are named along with costs. Val along with Cliff Wyard transcribed and translated the document from the latin and […]
] There will be a short AGM before the talk
"The Worlingworth Jubilee Feast" by Geoff Robinson In this jubilee year Geoff will look at how a Suffolk village celebrated the jubilee of George III in 1810. A painting of the event can be seen in Worlingworth church.
The Middle Ages have been dismissed by many historians as a lawless period in which rival gangs of retainers terrorized the countryside but was this the reality?
