Hidden East Anglia:

Landscape Legends of Norfolk & Suffolk

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Icklingham:

 

Deadman's Grave

 

Here is a barrow called Deadman's Grave (TL777745 area), which is traditionally the burial place of an executed highwayman, who in revenge at being denied a Christian burial, then haunted the mound on his horse, scaring passing horses and cattle.

 

 

Ickworth:

 

The Golden Pond

 

A pool in the park grounds of 18th century Ickworth House (TL816614) is known locally as the Golden Pond, from a story that one of the abbots of Bury had thrown his gold into it for safekeeping. The rumour is that a chest of valuables was dredged up from the pond's bottom many years ago, but slipped back in as it stood on the grassy bank.

 

 

Ipswich:

 

Secret tunnels

 

In 1740 Thomas Cartwright excavated beneath Stoke Hall a vast series of wine cellars, 18 in all, and a total of 180 feet in length. The house itself later decayed and was pulled down, but the cellars remained (and still exist, beside Stoke Hall Road). Having no idea as to their origin, people began making up tales about these underground workings, that were used as air raid shelters in World War Two. A tunnel was said to lead from there to the 'folly' called Freston Tower (TM178397), on the banks of the Orwell. Probably built between 1550-1560 by Edmund Latymer, this red bricked six-storey building was perhaps a 'standing' or look-out tower of some kind.


A second passage from Stoke Hall ran to Greyfriars Priory, near where the ring road (here Franciscan Way) crosses Prince's Street. The priory was founded sometime before 1236, and only a segment of flint walling now remains (TM160446), incorporated into the Greyfriars Concourse.1

The Coach and Horses Inn used to stand in Lower Brook Street. On the opposite side of the road were the premises of Messrs. E. L. Hunt, that were on the site of a mansion house owned by Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and husband of Mary Tudor. A tunnel was said to connect the two.2

The Ancient House (or Sparrowe's House) stands in the Buttermarket, at the corner of St. Stephen's Lane. The decorative pargetting and wood carving dates generally from about 1670, but a heavy hammerbeam roof within is of the 15th century. In 1801 a workman falling thru the roof came upon a hidden room, supposedly part of a pre-Reformation chapel. It has long been believed that Charles II was secreted in that room after the battle of Worcester in 1651, and thus has arisen the tale of his escape by secret tunnel from the Ancient House to Alnesbourne Priory in Nacton parish, about 3 miles away. Now Priory Farm (TM191404), the only part remaining of this Augustinian house, founded around 1200, is a part of the wall of a barn.3

 

Sources:

1. 'The East Anglian Magazine', Vol.5 (1940), p.132.
2. L. P. Thompson: 'Old Inns of Suffolk' (East Anglian Magazine Ltd, 1946), p.24.
3. Allan Jobson: 'Portrait of Suffolk' (Robert Hale, 1973), p.60.

 

 

Ixworth:

 

Alecock's Grave

 

Alecock's Grave (TL954724) is a crossing of five ways between Ixworth and Stanton, and is on a parish boundary. There is only a vague tradition of a suicide's burial here, and the spot is marked on some early maps as Ape's Cross.