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Click on the Heading to reveal an item of Barkway Historical Interest
Probably one of the most important sporting events to take place with a Barkway involvement was the winning of the Epsom Derby by Newsells owner Sir Humphrey de Trafford’s horse in 1959.
Parthia won by a length and a half with jockey Harry Carr in the saddle. The trainer was Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. Click on the link below to view. https://youtu.be/Ouh_gvjIXfc |
"The High Street in the 1920s was more busy with farm carts than motorised traffic and my memories of pre-school days was of sitting in our window (then a genuine Georgian bay) watching the horses and carts. (This is in the days before house numbering. This house is now number 15). You could hear the horse's hooves a long way off and we would turn to see which driver it was. Mostly the man would be sitting on one of the shafts to save his legs when he could and I remember when it was raining or snowing the driver would be wearing two sacks, one around his waist protecting his hip region and the other around the shoulders. Sometimes this one was doubled up to form a hood keeping the snow from head and neck but these men always wore caps. In fact there were very few men I remember not wearing caps.
There were earth paths with grass verges on either side of the road but of course less grass verge where the road narrowed. There were scrapers outside most front doors as I suppose in bad weather there would be a lot of mud and going back to the days of coaches running from London to Cambridge there would have been great muddy ruts in the unmade up road and this was the reason that houses built at this period were built higher with steps up to the front doors. Our house was older than this as seen by the invitation windows to do with window tax. The house we now live in was maybe older but possibly only a couple of cottages to begin with. It was some years before my Grandad bought it from the brewers, known as The Plough, an alehouse but with stables in the yard and I dare say in the coaching days busy enough as a changing point for the horses. (now number 42). I think when he bought it, it was a saddlery shop. "
There were earth paths with grass verges on either side of the road but of course less grass verge where the road narrowed. There were scrapers outside most front doors as I suppose in bad weather there would be a lot of mud and going back to the days of coaches running from London to Cambridge there would have been great muddy ruts in the unmade up road and this was the reason that houses built at this period were built higher with steps up to the front doors. Our house was older than this as seen by the invitation windows to do with window tax. The house we now live in was maybe older but possibly only a couple of cottages to begin with. It was some years before my Grandad bought it from the brewers, known as The Plough, an alehouse but with stables in the yard and I dare say in the coaching days busy enough as a changing point for the horses. (now number 42). I think when he bought it, it was a saddlery shop. "
The coaching age encompassed mainly the 200 years between the 17th and 19th centuries. During this time people travelled by horse – drawn coaches, often making journeys that were long and tiring as it was only possible to travel about 25 to 40 miles each day.
There was a vast network of coaching inns to meet the needs of the travellers, offering food, drink and accommodation. Barkway was a major stopping point on the London to Kings Lynn via Cambridge route. It had a large number of inns, shops and alehouses and a brewery, which catered for the local population as well as the coach passengers .In addition there was a wagon wash, a smithy which stood on the corner of Church Lane, and a forge, part of Forge Cottage on the High Street..
Now only one inn remains, the Tally Ho, at the south end of the High Street. Some of the former coaching inns can however be identified by the wide archways which allowed the coaches to pass through into the stable yard behind the inn. Examples on the High Street are: -
There was a vast network of coaching inns to meet the needs of the travellers, offering food, drink and accommodation. Barkway was a major stopping point on the London to Kings Lynn via Cambridge route. It had a large number of inns, shops and alehouses and a brewery, which catered for the local population as well as the coach passengers .In addition there was a wagon wash, a smithy which stood on the corner of Church Lane, and a forge, part of Forge Cottage on the High Street..
Now only one inn remains, the Tally Ho, at the south end of the High Street. Some of the former coaching inns can however be identified by the wide archways which allowed the coaches to pass through into the stable yard behind the inn. Examples on the High Street are: -
and
- The Royal Oak (41 High Street)
Other former inns are:-
and also:-
An interesting piece of information to end with - the village also had a highwayman, Thomas Flack, who was hanged in 1747. Today we have a rather romantic idea of highwaymen, but in reality these masked men terrorised the roads of England and the punishment for highway robbery was hanging.
- The Three Horseshoes (19 High Street) , now split into two private residences
- The Wheatsheaf (62 –64 High Street).This inn was established in 1726 as the Angel Inn and was renamed in 1800. Extra stabling for the Wheatsheaf was provided in a field off the Royston Road. Later the name was used for “Wheatsheaf Meadow House” which was built on the site. It was subsequently demolished to build a small housing development (Chapel Close). This has a small garden, designed by a pupil at the school, which is called “Wheatsheaf Meadow Garden”. It is said that the servants and grooms used to stay at the Royal Oak, and their employers at the Wheatsheaf.
An interesting piece of information to end with - the village also had a highwayman, Thomas Flack, who was hanged in 1747. Today we have a rather romantic idea of highwaymen, but in reality these masked men terrorised the roads of England and the punishment for highway robbery was hanging.
Fire insurance marks are metal plaques marked with the emblem of the insurance company which were affixed to the front of insured buildings as a guide to the insurance company's fire brigade. These identification marks were used in the eighteenth and nineteenth century in the days before municipal fire services were formed. The UK marks are called 'Fire insurance plaques'.
The first to use the mark was the Sun Fire Office which was established in 1710. |
Barkway Local History Group has in its possession part of a copper fire mark at one time mounted on the Half Moon ale house at 24 High Street. It was issued by Norwich Union, and has been confirmed by them that it dates from the period 1797 to 1820. Unfortunately the relevant registers no longer exist.
The bottom half of the fire mark displaying “Norwich” may or not have existed, but has long ago vanished.
Only two other fire marks are still in place in Barkway. One of Sun Alliance’s is mounted on the front of Berg Cottage, and the other of the Hand in Hand Company at Cokenach.
The single event which had the most profound influence on the introduction of fire insurance was the great fire of London.
The first insurers were men of property. With the passage of time insurance cover crept down the social scale and even those with modest possessions began to take an interest in its advantages.
Some companies issued special marks to show that goods were insured as well as property. Once the idea of insurance had been established in London, companies began to extend their business to other places. Certain towns were favoured with a company fire brigade; but a large volume of business was transacted in towns and villages where insurers simply enjoyed a financial protection. Old county directories show just how well fire offices advertised and how many agents existed, even in the most remote corners of the land.
Various materials were employed in the construction of fire marks. The oldest and individually numbered ones were usually made of lead. In the early 1800s copper was favoured. Iron and tin came into use about 1820-25.
The bottom half of the fire mark displaying “Norwich” may or not have existed, but has long ago vanished.
Only two other fire marks are still in place in Barkway. One of Sun Alliance’s is mounted on the front of Berg Cottage, and the other of the Hand in Hand Company at Cokenach.
The single event which had the most profound influence on the introduction of fire insurance was the great fire of London.
The first insurers were men of property. With the passage of time insurance cover crept down the social scale and even those with modest possessions began to take an interest in its advantages.
Some companies issued special marks to show that goods were insured as well as property. Once the idea of insurance had been established in London, companies began to extend their business to other places. Certain towns were favoured with a company fire brigade; but a large volume of business was transacted in towns and villages where insurers simply enjoyed a financial protection. Old county directories show just how well fire offices advertised and how many agents existed, even in the most remote corners of the land.
Various materials were employed in the construction of fire marks. The oldest and individually numbered ones were usually made of lead. In the early 1800s copper was favoured. Iron and tin came into use about 1820-25.