Post Office Directory of 1865.
ASHFIELD with the Hamlet of THORPE.
ASHFIELD is a parish and scattered village, 12 miles north from Ipswich, and 3
east from Debenham, in Thredling hundred, Bosmere and Claydon union, Framlingham
and Saxmundham county court district, Claydon rural deanery, Suffolk
archdeaconry, and Norwich diocese, East Suffolk. The church, after being in
ruins for more than a century, was rebuilt with brick in 1853 by Lord Henniker,
at a cost of £2,000. The living is a perpetual curacy, annual value £46, in the
gift of Lord Henniker, M.P.,and held by the Rev. George Blake Everett. Thorpe
Chapel was rebuilt in 1739, and was used as the parish church till 1853 : it has
since been pulled down, the tower only remaining. The churchyard at Ashfield is
used in conjunction with that at Thorpe for burial purposes. Lord Henniker,
M.P., is lord of the manor and impropriator of the tithes, which are commuted at
£465 per annum. Sand is dug here. The population in 1801 was 306, and the area
is 1,565 acres.
Parish Clerk, George Osborne.
Letters through Stonham, via Debenham. The nearest money order office is at
Debenham
Everett Rev. George Blake [incumbent]
COMMERCIAL.
Barker Daniel, farmer, Thorpe hall
Bennett John, blacksmith & miller & farmer
Bunting David, landowner & farmer
Cooke James, farmer, Lodge farm
Hammond Mary (Mrs.), farmer
Harvey James, wheelwright
Lockwood Henry, farmer]
Osborne William, farmer
Porter Betsey Darby (Mrs.),
Swan
Quinton George, farmer
Quinton Jeremiah, farmer
Rogers Clement, farmer
Rogers Robert, shoe maker Saunders John, farmer