2011
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In association with Fakenham and district Sun - Fakenham's only free paper
Readers of the ‘Fakenham and District Sun free paper’ will be familiar with our regular ‘Local History Corner’ articles which have appeared each month since December 2011.
For those who may not receive a printed edition, there is an opportunity here to view the current article as well as those from previous editions.. |
December 2011
January 2012
Tariff Reform
This photo was taken in Fakenham in January 1903 and shows supporters campaigning on behalf of Sir Alfred Jodrell of Bayfield Hall, near Letheringsett, in the campaign for Tariff Reform. Sir Alfred was a great local philanthropist, who virtually rebuilt the entire parish of Glandford and sent weekly gifts of vegetables to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital. He took a great interest in the administration of his estates and restoring old churches, also established the Glandford Shell Museum. Tariff Reform was the big political issue of the day, dividing the two dominant political parties along the lines of the 'free traders' and the 'tariff reformers'. The tariff reformers wanted to see the British Empire transformed into a single trading bloc, to compete with the United States and Germany. They favoured imposing duties on imports, which would raise money for old age pensions and other social improvements. |
However, opponents claimed that protection would mean dearer food, especially bread. Tariff reformers campaigned nationally under the slogan 'Tariff Reform means Work for All', or, as in this picture, 'Tariff Reform Means Better Times'. A suggestion for our present government to consider, perhaps?
February 2012 |
Fakenham Corn Hall
This drawing by an unknown artist of Fakenham Com Hall, also known as the Com Exchange, shows a flock of sheep being driven around the building on a very muddy road! The beautiful, listed Victorian building was built in 1855. A company was formed for the purpose of building it, at a cost of £4,000, raised in shares. The architect was John Brown, of Norwich, who was best known for his churches and was the surveyor for Norwich Cathedral. The Corn Hall also served as a magistrates' court and a library, and we believe there may have been fist floor living accommodation for the hall-keeper. Kelly's Directory of 1922 says of the building (then known as the Corn Hall. "The Corn Hall, in Fakenham Market Place, erected in l855 at a cost of £4,000, is a structure of brick with stone dressings, and contains a spacious corn exchange and assembly rooms. The Reading Room and library at the Corn Hall contains 3,000 books. Proprietor William James Aldiss; hall keeper John William Smith." |
The Corn Exchange was originally surmounted by a glass dome supported on an iron framework to ground level, which, together with the use of iron joists supporting the flat roof, seems to make it one of the earliest structures using ironwork in this way. It would be interesting to know what happened to the beautiful glass dome - some say it may have been removed during the Second World War and used as a greenhouse locally! The building was converted into a 700-seat cinema in 1930 and was renamed as the Central Cinema seven years later.
After closing in 1976 it became a bingo club until the 1990s and lay empty and unused for a couple of years. Extensive repair works were undertaken
by architects Nicholas Hills, to restore it- visually as closely as possible to the original design and paintwork, and it was reopened in July 2000 as the Hollywood Cinema.
After closing in 1976 it became a bingo club until the 1990s and lay empty and unused for a couple of years. Extensive repair works were undertaken
by architects Nicholas Hills, to restore it- visually as closely as possible to the original design and paintwork, and it was reopened in July 2000 as the Hollywood Cinema.
March 2012 |
Lorries outside Dewing and Kersley's Mill
This photo (courtesy of local resident Ken Lake) was taken in the 1920s outside Dewing and Kersley's Mill on the River Wensum in Fakenham, on the site of some outbuildings which were opposite the Fakenham gasworks, in what is now the residents' car park. The lorry drivers are (from left to right): Charles Lake (with the Atkinson steam-powered six tonner); Tom Harvey (Leyland lorry); 'Smudger' Smith (Ford Model T); and Jimmy Crow (Atkinson steam-powered six tonner). A watermill has stood on this site since at least the 17th century. It was rebuilt around 1720 and was subsequently considerably extended and altered. By the late 19th century water power had been supplemented by steam power. |
Owned by Dewing and Kersley Ltd from 1912 until it ceased operation in 1980, it was a com and flour mill for most of its life, though it produced animal feed in its later years. It was converted into modem apartments in 1982.
Fakenham Mill is about one mile downstream from Hempton Mill (also known as Goggs' Mill) which in turn was about two miles downstream from Sculthorpe Mill. This meant that, except in times of maximum river flow, the three mills would have had to work in conjunction. When Sculthorpe opened its wheel sluice and started to use its stored head of water, the outflow would head toward Hempton’s dam, ready for use before being passed downstream to Fakenham. In order to maximise the efficient use of the available water supply the millers at each of the mills used a system of smoke signals to warn their colleagues whenever the sluices were operated.
Fakenham Mill is about one mile downstream from Hempton Mill (also known as Goggs' Mill) which in turn was about two miles downstream from Sculthorpe Mill. This meant that, except in times of maximum river flow, the three mills would have had to work in conjunction. When Sculthorpe opened its wheel sluice and started to use its stored head of water, the outflow would head toward Hempton’s dam, ready for use before being passed downstream to Fakenham. In order to maximise the efficient use of the available water supply the millers at each of the mills used a system of smoke signals to warn their colleagues whenever the sluices were operated.
April 2012 |
The "Unknown Violinist" - George Batterby, 1867 - 1955
This sensitive photographic portrait of a young man in Church Army uniform holding a violin was taken by local photographer Jonas Fidgett Wright some time in the 1880s. In Kelly’s Directory for 1883 photographer Jonas Wright is listed as the owner of the Rembrandt Studio, Wells Road, Fakenham. The same directory lists a ’William Wright, tailor and bandmaster, Wells Road, Fakenham. Does anyone know whether a family link existed between Jonas and William Wright? Was the unknown violinist perhaps one of William Wright’s band members? The object on the table (possibly a cap) is clearly labelled ’Church Army’, and the insignia ’CA’ can be seen on the young man’s collar: does anyone know more about the local activities of this evangelical organisation, which was set up nationally in 1882 under license by the Church of England? Any information will be gratefully received by members of the Fakenham Community Archive. To read more about this article CLICK HERE |
May 2012 |
'The May Queen'
This touching photo of the crowning of the May Queen was taken in 1953 or 1954 in West Raynham Village Hall. The girls in the photo are (left to right): Sheila Boggis, Rosemary Staveley, Barbara Howell, Pat Bell, Joyce Clark, Vivienne Crane Pam Bell (attendant), Shirley Freeman (May Queen), Mary Taney, Vera Dungar (attendant), Margaret Cason Anne Savage, Pamela Scarf, Shirley Cason, Dawn Allen. Fakenham Community Archive is currently looking for your photos and memories of local Coronation or Jubilee celebrations. Please note that you can now also send any information or anecdotes in writing, for publication on our website. And, as always, if you have any photos to share depicting any aspects of past life in Fakenham or its surrounding villages, we would love to hear from you. |
June 2012 |
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in Fakenham - 1897 style!
This photo from our Archive shows the celebrations held in Fakenham Market Place in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the first ever Diamond Jubilee of a monarch ever celebrated in the UK. Flags, bunting and patriotic slogans are strung above the street and adorn the closed shops, and the crowd, having enjoyed refreshments, seems to be following a procession making its way up Norwich Street. |
July 2012 |
How we learned to swim in 1953
This delightful photo from Fakenham Community Archive shows children enjoying themselves splashing around in the River Wensum at Goggs'Mill, Hempton and was taken on a hot summer's day in 1953. Do you remember learning to swim in the river, or do you recognise anyone in the photo? |
August 2012 |
THE GREAT FLOOD - August 1912
Wet summers are nothing new: exactly 100 years ago Fakenham suffered a great flood. This photo, from August 1912, shows a rescue mission at Hall Staithe, once an entrance to the town. The little bridge in the background spans the river’s old course, and to the left is Hall’s Meadow. The street, staithe and meadow are all named after the same man. Apart from showing the extent of the flooding, the photo also gives us a glimpse of Hall Staithe in Edwardian times, with cottages standing on either side of the road, together with the old Maltings, which remain today. |
Hall Staithe appeared to have been undergoing a programme of redevelopment about this time. The new fire station had been built and was opened the year before, and the former Charlton’s Brewery, which stood adjacent to the Maltings, had been demolished in 1911 to make way for the sewage works, which by 1914 was nearing completion.
The Storm that caused 'The Great Flood'
"On the morning of 26th August 1912 a ’low’ over the North Sea set off a violent storm over Norfolk. By 9.00 am the following day seven and a half inches of rain had fallen and the Wensum valley had became a disaster area. Hall Staithe, then a residential area, was the only place of any note in Fakenham where households were inundated, and a boat from a boathouse there was used to ferry supplies to the inhabitants cut off by the water. The river bank along by the Hempton road was not high enough to contain the volume of water, which spilled over, causing the road to become almost impassable.
As the floods subsided the wall around the Fakenham Mill pool had to be breached to allow the flood water to drain away, while further north at Barsham a railway bridge collapsed with a goods train on it, thus cutting off for a while one of the town's two rail links." (Excerpt taken with thanks from 'Another Look at Fakenham' by Jim Baldwin, now out of print.)
The Storm that caused 'The Great Flood'
"On the morning of 26th August 1912 a ’low’ over the North Sea set off a violent storm over Norfolk. By 9.00 am the following day seven and a half inches of rain had fallen and the Wensum valley had became a disaster area. Hall Staithe, then a residential area, was the only place of any note in Fakenham where households were inundated, and a boat from a boathouse there was used to ferry supplies to the inhabitants cut off by the water. The river bank along by the Hempton road was not high enough to contain the volume of water, which spilled over, causing the road to become almost impassable.
As the floods subsided the wall around the Fakenham Mill pool had to be breached to allow the flood water to drain away, while further north at Barsham a railway bridge collapsed with a goods train on it, thus cutting off for a while one of the town's two rail links." (Excerpt taken with thanks from 'Another Look at Fakenham' by Jim Baldwin, now out of print.)
September 2012 |
A Harvest Scene
This is a picture of a traditional harvest scene from a bygone age in the l930s. The location is Shereford Road, Hempton, where the Howes family farmed and are also pictured. While the steam engine provided the power to drive the thrashing tackle, the horse and cart was still the normal form of transportation on farms. Welcome food and refreshments (or 'vittles' as they were known) would be brought to the men in the fields, often by family members, to help with the long, hot and arduous task of bringing in the harvest, creating a picnic-like scene. |
October 2012 |
The Grand Opening of Fakenham Fire Station, 1911
The proud men of the Fakenham Fire Brigade pose for the photographer at the opening of the new Fakenham Fire Station in Hall Staithe, Fakenham in 1911, just over a century ago. The firemen are dressed in smart uniforms with polished brass helmets and buttons and are equipped with axes, the latest appliances and an extending ladder. In the background, to the right of the church tower, can be seen the beautiful glass dome of the Corn Exchange, now the Hollywood Cinema. The Old Fire Station is now a listed building. On either side of each of the two doorways of the single storey red brick building is a moulded terracotta panel containing a floral swag, with the word ’Built’ above the left hand panel and the figures ’1911’ above the right hand panel, the words ’Fire Station' being in a central panel. |
November 2012 |
Fakenham Press
Through the 19th and 20th centuries printing developed as a major industry in Fakenham and employed hundreds of local people. Thomas Miller, a printer and grocer from Wells, established the original business in the 1860s in the Upper Market Place and then Norwich Street, and this grew over the years from a local operation to a concern supplying titles to major London publishers. In spite of a major fire in 1914, the business of Miller, Son & Co. continued to flourish and became part of other publishing business concerns such as The Wharfedale Works, Wyman and Sons, Cox & Wyman Ltd. and finally The Fakenham Press (owned by Richard Clay of Bungay). This photo was taken in the early 1980s, shortly before the closure and demolition of The Fakenham Press office, a handsome building that stood on the corner of Norwich Street and White Horse Street. The site is now a sadly neglected area of wasteland in the town. |
December 2012 |
Hempton Pantomime, 1950s
These photos of a performance of the ’Sleeping Beauty' pantomime were taken at Hempton Memorial Hall in the late 1950s and kindly donated to the community archive by William Sayer. They show the cast and a cheerful audience, composed mainly of mothers and children. Chris Chalk, Secretary, Fakenham Community Archive |
© 2011 Fakenham & District Community Archive.
Created in-house by Fakenham & District Community Archive
Created in-house by Fakenham & District Community Archive