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'Matsell Wot Was!'
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| Some anecdotes as related by older
inhabitants of Mattishall Village |
This book has been compiled by Liz Gilding
and Jenny Pennell following conversations
with the more mature residents of Mattishall.
We would like to express our appreciation to all who
have helped us in giving up their time and making
us welcome in their homes.
Our special thanks to Derek Bingham,
- Ruby Eastell, - Russell
Smith and Brian Young's
for their considerable contributions.
We would also like to acknowledge the help given by
Brian Cain
Geoffrey Dorrie
Keith Hudson and
Mr. G. Webster of Yaxham
for their ideas and drawing skills for the cartoons.
We hope this book will bring back happy memories to
some and provide light hearted reading to others. |
Below is a few pages
from the book ............
If you are interested in purchasing the full version
contact the Mattishall Society |
| One day in 1942 a "Wings for Victory" fete
was held to raise money for the war effort. The Home
Guard, Fire Service etc. all gave demonstrations. |
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The Fire Service gave a demonstration
of pumping water from a mobile tank to a canvas water
container. Needless to say they were all trying to outdo
each other and the length of hose was very long. As
soon as the water got up to good pressure one of the
lengths of hose burst soaking all the villagers that
were peering at it closely to see what was happening.
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| Mr. Horne used to run his building and undertakers
business from what is now Almond House. The paddock
off Thynnes Lane was used to store great tree trunks
being seasoned and waiting to be cut up for building
work and to make the coffins. The coffins were then
stored in a loft at the back of the building. |
| "When we were children we used to
play on the logs in the paddock. They made great see-saws
but you had to mind you did not trap your fingers.”
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At the turn of the century there were three bakeries
in Mattishall. The one at the back of what was Welgate
Stores, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Leveridge ceased baking
early in the Century.
The other two bakeries were owned by members of the
Norton family. The bakery on Dereham Road at what
is 'The Laurel’s' was run in the early years
by William Norton. He was succeeded by his son, also
William but the bakery eventually closed in the 1950s.
The bakery on Church Plain was run in the 191O's
by Richard Norton who unfortunately died at the early
age of 41 in 1922. The business was carried on by
his wife 'Addie' together with her four sons. Dick
Norton continued to run the bakery whilst his other
brothers went off to other occupations. The bakery
today is run by his son Richard.
In the early days bread was delivered by horse and
cart, in later years by van. The Dereham Road bakery
delivered to The Tuddenhams, Hockering, etc., and
the Church Plain one to Shipdham, Hingham and the
villages on the southern side of the main road.
Rev. Graham was vicar of Mattishall from 1929 - 1946.
He lived a the Vicarage together with his niece who
was his housekeeper. He was known for being rather
eccentric and wore a black straw hat. |
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"He used to come into the bakery
making a nuisance of himself and granddad would 'accidentally'
knock against him as he was taking the bread out of
the ovens with the peel, covering him with flour."
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| The village school opened in 1872, Fred Brayley becoming
Headmaster in 1915 until he retired in 1945. He was
known for being very strict but was very well respected
by the pupils. Behind his desk was an open cupboard
with all the canes on show. |
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"lf we were not paying attention
he would take the wooden blackboard rubber, or anything
else that came to hand and throw it at us." |
| There were several long serving teachers at the school,
one of whom was Mildred Edwards who started as a trainee
teacher in 1898 and stayed until 1944 when she retired.
The daughter of 'Knacker' Edwards she lived at South
Green for many years before moving to Dereham Road.
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| "She used to keep her hankie up her
knicker leg. We called her 'pedal freewheel' because
she used to pedal once on her old bike then freewheel
a bit." |
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| Hukey Skipper used to travel round the local villages
with an old horse and cart buying and selling rabbit
skins and other second-hand goods. He also had a small
dog which used to run under the cart when they were
on the move. He had regular calling places where he
would stop for several weeks, Mattishall, East Tuddenham,
Honingham and Weston Longville being amongst them. He
was found dead in 1940 / 41 down a lane off the Honingham
/ Barnham Broom Road. |
| "My brother used to take me down the lane opposite
what was Farrows farm to see old Hukey. He used to turn
his cart over and fix this old tarpaulin to the side
of it to sleep under. He had chickens which he used
to let loose at the various stops. They say he used
to roast hedgehogs for his supper." |
| Gerald and Fred Hewitt ran the village butchers on
Church Plain, founded by their father Oscar, for many
years. They used to deliver to many villages in the
area. Pigs were slaughtered in the old slaughter- house
at the back of the shop until the mid fifties. |
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"One day whilst going up the road
towards East Tuddenham past the Council houses we
suddenly saw one of our front wheels was going up
the road in front of us."
"We used to have one of them things on top
of the van to keep the meat cool that hummed like
an aeroplane when the wind was blowing."
"One day it took off and went across the fields."
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| In 1916 during the First World War an airfield was
built beside the Mattishall to East Tuddenham Road in
the large field behind Tollgate Farm. The Airfield was
built for fighter planes to defend the Eastern Counties
against the Zeppelins. |
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"During the First World War us boys
used to go down to the airfield to watch the planes.
There were a lot of oak trees beside the road and they
cut them down for the benefit of the airfield - well
we used to go down there and stand on these stumps to
watch the planes. One day a plane taking off came over
so low it knocked us down." |
The Home Guard had various points around the village
where they would stand guard.
Land at Sandpit Farm was used for shooting practice.
They were issued with Uniforms - some very illfitting.
One farmer found his uniform to be so badly fitting
he obtained some khaki cloth (we know not from where)
and made coats for his two greyhounds. When questioned
he said he had made the coats from his uniform.
During the Second World War people were issued with
identity cards. Signposts were removed in case of invasion.
"One evening one of the firewatchers
dressed up as a woman, walked on to Church Plain and
asked one of the Home Guard the way to Weston Airfield.
The guard did not think to ask the woman for identification
and gave directions. Afterwards they suddenly realised
the woman might be a spy and search parties were sent
out round the village to look for her. Needless to say'
she' had vanished." |
In the 1920s a Gant Fair used to be held in the
Swan Yard, there would be swing boats and roundabouts.
Grays Travelling Fair visited the village all through
the 20s and 30s. It was held on Fish's Meadow on the
opposite side of Dereham Road to what was then the
Eight Ringers Public House. It was also held on Turner's
Meadow in Welgate.
There were village fetes held on the Black Meadow
or Faircloth's Meadow. There would be darts, bowling
for the pig, coconut shies, etc. On occasions the
fetes have been known to go long into the evening
with villagers vying for who could win the pig.
"They used to have this big greasy pole either
across a pit filled with water, or upright. If it
was upright the boys used to have to climb to the
top. The one across the ditch they used to have pillow
fights on with sacks filled with straw or they had
to walk across it." |
In the early days of the century corn was cut by scythes
and bundled into sheaves to be set up in the fields
to dry.
During the 1930s and 40s, with the coming of mechanisation,
the process was taken over more and more by binders.
At first they were pulled by horse power, in later years
by tractors.
After drying the sheaves were carted to stockyards or
the corner of fields to be built into stacks ready for
the threshing gangs to arrive.
Obviously the stacks of corn were ideal breeding places
for rats and mice and the village boys used to arrive
with their sticks as the threshing process began.
An old boy told me the story that one day Mrs. Winton
came into the field to watch the threshing, she was
a fairly big busted woman. Us boys killed the rats with
sticks, the mice we used to pick up and throw at one
another. Someone threw a mouse at Mrs. Winton and she
went backwards so it dropped down the front of her dress.
He said they had never seen a woman undress so quickly."
Mr and Mrs Winton lived at the old Crown and Anchor
during the 1930s. |
In the 16th Century a Margaret Harlestone from Mattishall
married a Matthew Parker from Norwich. He was enthroned
as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1558, during the reign
of Elizabeth 1.
In her will Margaret left land to the Parish of Mattishall.
She also left instructions that every year at Rogationtide
a Sermon should be preached in Mattishall Church by
a Fellow of Corpus Christi College at Cambridge and
this tradition still continues to this day.
During Rogation Week the ceremony of beating of the
Bounds' took place, and this together with the arrival
of an eminent preacher caused much celebration and a
Fair began with the traditional hiring of workers taking
place. The Fair became known as 'The Gant. Rogation
Week is also known as 'Gang Week’ and it is believed
that Gant is a corruption of the word 'Gang'.
Gants were held regularly in the village until the 1950s
when they died out. In recent years a weekend Gant was
held in 1977 to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.
In 1997 a Gant week was held with a 'Millennium Gant'
being planned for May and June 2000. |
The cost of printing this book has been borne by
the Mattishall Society and by the generosity of Derek
Bingham and Brian Youngs from the proceeds of the
sales of 'Mattishall Airfield & The Zeppelins
1916 - 1919'. Revenue from 'Matsell Wot Was' will
go towards further publications covering the life
of the villagers of Mattishall and it is hoped to
publish further volumes covering the 20th Century
and other periods of the history of Mattishall.
Price £2.50.............. If you would like
a copy contact:-
Jenny Pennell - 01362 850556
Liz Gilding -
01362 850897 |
| Copyright:- Mattishall Society |
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