Qualstowe
According to Edward Martin’s book on Hitcham Qualmstowe is derived from the Old English being a place of execution and there are only 2 places in Suffolk where the name is found. One is Hitcham/Bildeston and the other is to be found in a 1402 Thorney Rental.
While at present we can’t definitively locate this place in Thorney Neil gives us some have some tantalising clues.
A fifteenth century Thorney Hall rental tells us that Godfrey Manug (Manning?) for a close called Qualstowe lying between the land of John —edereld on the one part and the Kings Highway on the other abutting upon the land of William Kebbel and on the pasture of John Bresete 4x9d annually
In a 1400’s Thorney Hall Manor roll, John Bresete, tenement formerly William de Eryswelle between land of Robert Monteyne kt, abuts wood called Sotheg.
Neil wonders if Qualstowe could be located along Le Sondweye or Stonebridge Lane, a road that runs along the Gipping to the west of Stowupland linking Newton and Stone Bridge. Chapel Field sits on the Columbine Hall side of the lane.
Gallows Way
Probably nothing to do with qualstowe and to the east of Stowupland but added here for interest. A 16th century sketched map of Earl Stonham shows a way running between Broad Green and Earl Stonham church labelled ‘Gallows Way’, the area in front of the church is labelled The Wallows’.
