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Hidden East Anglia: Landscape Legends of Norfolk & Suffolk
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The silver bells
A vanished round barrow (TL724673) at Pin Farm was reputed to contain 'silver bells'.
Source: L. V. Grinsell: 'Folklore of Prehistoric Sites in Britain' (David & Charles, 1976), p.137.
Bloodmoor Hill
There is a tradition of a fierce battle on Bloodmoor Hill between the Romano-British and the Angles, that resulted in the Britons being completely slaughtered.1 Some years ago, a man walking home across the hill in a thick mist heard screams, the clashing of swords, and other sounds of battle - but saw nothing. A burial mound (TM530896 area) on the hill was opened in 1758, and the body of a 7th century Romano-British warrior or chieftain was found. It's thought possible that there was an ancient encampment on the high ground, with a sheltered harbour nearby at Pakefield or Kessingland.
Alternatively, the battle on 'Bloodmere-field' was between the local population and the invading Danes,2 or between King Edmund and the Danes, the king's forces falling upon them after he found a 'hidden ford' across the river Waveney at Barnby.3 See also 'Edmund of East Anglia'.
Sources: 1. Rev. B. P. W. Stather Hunt: 'Flinten History' (Lion Press, 1953), p.17. 2. Alfred Suckling: 'History of Suffolk' (John Weale, 1846), Vol.1, p.245. 3. Edmund Gillingwater: 'An Historical Account of the Ancient Town of Lowestoft' (1790).
Secret tunnel
A little way outside the town, along Low Street, can be found Monks Hall (TL834488), a house dated to 1614 that tradition - but not history, notwithstanding the ghostly monk that walks the area - says was once a monastery. Local legend tells of a subterranean passage running from the Hall to St. Mary's church (TL835484) a ¼ of a mile away, supposedly used by the fictitious monks to worship undetected after the Reformation.
Some say that although the tunnel has now mostly collapsed, parts still exist, and its course can be traced in the field between the Hall and the church. At the church end, a stone slab near the west door is supposed to mark the tunnel's entrance, which was allegedly used during World War Two as an air raid shelter, when the church tower acted as a lookout post.
Source: www.foxearth.org.uk/BorleyRectory/Tunnels.htm
East of Skates Hill, and north of the Roman road that today is the A1092, can be found Danes Field, that according to local tradition is the site of a Danish battlefield. Not far is the Danes Path, following the course of an ancient earthwork known as the Casey (or causeway).
Source: Rev. K. W. Glass: 'A Short History of Glemsford' (private, 1962).
Barton Mere
As with Fowlmere and Wicken Pond, the levels of Barton Mere were once supposed to predict the state of the corn market: "A worthy old farmer, now deceased, used frequently to ride to Barton Mere (TL910667 area) to observe the state of the water there, before proceeding to Bury market. I do not know of anyone who does this now, but it is an observed fact that the price of corn, and the height of the water, frequently do vary together: for instance, corn is now (October 1862) very low, and the mere is nearly dry".1
Sources: 1. R. Chambers: 'The Book of Days' (W & R Chambers, 1863-4), Vol.2, p.322.
Secret tunnel
There is said to be a tunnel under the 18th century Finborough Hall, but its destination isn't stated.
Source: The 'East Anglian Daily Times', August 5th 1978.
Bond's Corner
Two lanes, from Clopton to Witnesham, and from Otley to Grundisburgh, cross in the latter parish to form Bond's Corner (TM209521), and is said to be named after a suicide buried there.
Source: The 'East Anglian Miscellany', (1942-6), Note 10959.
A fine timbered house called Bast's, or Weir Farm House (TM224511), a little east of the church, had a tunnel running from there to a small door by the Jacobean pulpit in St. Mary's church at Debenham (TM174633), some 8 miles to the north. In the 1890s it was reported that this passage was then sealed because of the 'foul air' within, but a number of underground chambers still existed, furnished and ready for use by fleeing Catholics of the 16th century, beneath Bast's. Tradition says the house was once a religious establishment, but in fact was built in about 1520 for Thomas Walle, a salter of London.
Source: Lady E. C. Gurdon: 'Folklore from S.E. Suffolk', in 'Folklore', Dec.1892. |
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