Stowupland Local History Group meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the Village Hall, IP14 4BQ unless otherwise indicated. There is an ample car park. Everyone is welcome to come along and we would love to see new members. Refreshments are available.
Admission is £2 for members and £4 for non members until further notice. All meetings start at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated. Visitors are always welcome.
For more information contact our secretary:
Jerry Voden
Email: voden@btinternet.com
Tel:01449 703717
We look forward to seeing you.
News
Programme for Future Events
Photos of our Visit to Bloor Homes Phase II Archaeological Dig on 3 Nov 2017
Photos of our Visit to Baylham Church July 2019
All restrictions at the village hall now being lifted we still advise those attending to consider wearing masks in the hall for the time being. Teas and coffee are once more available after the talks.
1st September - Behind the Scenes at "Who Do You Think You Are". by Gill Blanchard
Gill is a professional genealogist, author and speaker who has worked as a researcher on the BBC programme Who Do You Think You Are including the Mary Berry episode. The group will hold a brief AGM before the talk
6th October - Suffolk Witches by Pip Wright
Pip returns this time he looks at the fear and persecution of “witches” mainly in the 17th century including when The Witchfinder General came to Stowmarket.
3rd November - What Lies Beneath? – by Robin Webb, Oxford Archaeology
The finding of the excavations ahead of the Trinity Meadow development with display of artefacts.
1st December - "In the Fields of Frost and Snow" by Hexachordia
Music, 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.
Jan 2022 - No Meeting
Feb - TBA
2nd March 2022 Stowupland in 1291 – the rebuilding of Thorney Hall by Val Dudley.
Stowupland Memories
John's Memories
John was born in Ipswich Hospital in 1943. He was brought home to 6 Columbyne Close within a few hours and has not left the village since, except for the odd holiday here and there. John attended Stowupland Primary School until he was eleven and then went on to Stowmarket Modern School to complete his education and left at the age of 15. He found his first job working at ICI working himself up the ladder to a supervisory position. John worked at ICI for 37 years and was able to retire at the early age of 51. He has moved house a few times but has always stayed in the village and is currently spending his retirement in Church Road. John is a member of the Indoor Bowls Team and, luckily for us, the History Group and is always being questioned about past village matters and the people who used to live here. If you want to know something about the village - Ask John!
Otley Hall is regarded as the oldest house in Suffolk to have remained largely intact, some rooms have hardly changed since 1600.
Otley Hall is surrounded by 10 acres of beautiful grounds which are open, along with the cafe, every Wednesday between 11am to 5pm from May to September.
We were all very impressed by the hall and grounds and the tour was particularly interesting.
Otley Hall is regarded as the oldest house in Suffolk to have remained largely intact, some rooms have hardly changed since 1600.