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Hidden East Anglia: Landscape Legends of Norfolk & Suffolk
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Feltwell:
Secret tunnels In the eastern part of the parish stands Denton Lodge (TL750919). Not far away, on the opposite side of the Brandon to Stoke Ferry road, is Jackson's Hill (now a waterworks), named after a highwayman gibbeted there in the early 1800s. Where the road meets the main road to Feltwell is or was a triangular area (TL752918), formerly the site of an iron cage for offenders, and later of a single storey house. This house was believed to have been used by smugglers, who took their contraband there and conveyed it to the Lodge cellars by means of a subterranean passage.1 A house in Church Street, the former Rectory House of Feltwell St. Nicholas, is supposed to have a tunnel leading from it to St. Nicholas' church (TL715907).2 Sources: 1. http://www.feltwell.net/feltwell2/written/feltwell_parish.htm 2. http://www.feltwell.net/feltwell2/written/notes1.htm
Near a crossroads at the southern end of Oak Street stand the dying remains of the Feltwell Oak (TF718907). Both Charles II (who actually did visit nearby Methwold) and Oliver Cromwell are said to have sat under the tree, which is locally believed to be older than Domesday Book.
Source: http://www.feltwell.net/feltwell2/written/feltwell_parish.htm
The base of a medieval cross sits on a brick plinth at the northern end of Oak Street, where Lodge Road and the Beck meet (TL718909). On the lower section of the modern plaque on the plinth is the inscription: "It is believed that this stone was the base of the settlement cross which stood on this site for many centuries and which was probably destroyed during the civil war. Legend has it that in time of pestilence the hollow in the stone was filled with vinegar so that travellers could disinfect their money." (See also other 'plague stones' at Bury St. Edmunds, Rickinghall Inferior and Stuston).
Source: http://www.feltwell.net/feltwell2/written/cross_hill_1.htm
A field known as Western (or West End) Close (approx. TL705907) in Feltwell is said to have been the site of a battle. Usually this is supposed to have taken place between the Iceni led by Boudicca, and the Roman invaders; but some suggest it was a skirmish between Royalists and Roundheads during the Civil War.
Sources: www.feltwell.net/feltwell2/written/notes1.htm www.feltwell.net/feltwell2/written/western_close.htm
In the Western Close field mentioned above is a (presumably) medieval moat, at TL705906. Within this moat is (or was) a single tree, and beneath this tree is said to be buried a hidden treasure. The story is at least a century old, and led to everyone keeping a close watch when excavations were carried out there in 1967 - but nothing treasure-like came to light.
Source: www.feltwell.net/feltwell2/written/western_close.htm
The dole stone
Somewhere in
the many parishes that make up the ancient Hundred of Flegg in the
Norfolk Broadland (e.g. Caister, Mautby, Filby, Ormesby etc.) is said to be a 'dole stone' or boundary marker in a
hedgerow that goes down to drink from a nearby brook every night at midnight. W. A. Dutt: 'The Ancient Mark-Stones of East Anglia' (Flood & Sons, 1926), p.19.
The golden gates
There is a vague legend that the 'Golden Gates' are buried here somewhere.
Source: C. H. Lewton-Brain: 'The Icknield Way', in 'Norfolk Archaeology' Vol.34 (1966-9), p.420
Secret tunnel
A slight tale here of a tunnel between hall and church about 1/4 of a mile away.
Source: http://foulshamarchives.weebly.com/foulsham-history.html |
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