FHS Report April 24: “If these walls could speak” (My 600 year old house).

FHS Report - April 2024.  Roger Green:

“If these walls could speak” (The history of my 600 year old house).

There was a full house on 9th April when local historian Roger Green led us all back in time some 600 years to accompany him from the Market Hill, Sudbury down what was to become Friars Street to a group of houses built opposite the Priory. His house No 64 was called Crooked Cott before Friars Street was actually built. The roadway (now School Street) stopped there by the gate to the Priory and there is still a generous forecourt for carts and carriages - and now cars - to turn. 

Roger Green has lived there for 41 years. The modern-day group of houses often linked into each other as ownership changed over the centuries. A spiral staircase from next door actually now ends in Roger Green's wardrobe! Three of the houses now have rear extensions but two do not! 

Roger took us back to C16 and Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries. He noted that the last Prior had sold off land at that time and received housing in lieu, probably Nos 62 & 64. 

Starting with John Cotton the last Prior, Roger led us through a whole range of owners and residents to the present day; From the C16 when the Ruddells family owned almost all the houses in that row. They were in the wool trade and in the 1620s they had an office in Friars Street which was then being constructed. But in 1637 George Ruddell lost a court case for refusing to pay a local weaver for substandard work (in his view) and the blow to his reputation led to a move to Bocking in Essex - and the eventual resurgence of the family as the best weavers in that locality, and the purchase of magnificent Spains Hall in Finchingfield in 1760.

We heard of Susannah Gainsborough (Thomas’s sister) who had a milliner’s shop there.  Also about the Gardiners, the story of Theophilus Lane and the Hills family - all of whom lived in the row of houses. And a clay pipe manufactory which was unearthed in the garden!

Roger Green concluded with the tale of  barge folk and the mystery of Elizabeth Sarah Ann Plantin? or Norman?

There was much to keep the large audience entertained. A fascinating trip back in time. The walk down Friars Street past the cricket ground to the site of the Ship & Star pub will never be the same again.

An accomplished Musician, Organist and Head of the music department at Great Cornard school, Roger remembered St Peter's church with its organ becoming redundant in 1971, and facing possible demolition in favour of a car park. As volunteer Heritage officer with Friends of St Peters he has been credited with helping transform the church into our current vibrant and cherished Arts centre. His interest in the history of the church, younger than his house, led him into further research of the area, his house and others nearby. He still plays the organ in St Peter’s church. 

Our thanks for a most entertaining talk.

Michael Stebbing.