Great Ashfield, Suffolk Villages & Towns - History, Genealogy & Trade Directories
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Great Ashfield,
Blackbourn Hundred
Great Ashfield Public Houses
ASHFIELD, (GREAT) in 1844 is a small scattered village, 8 miles N. W. of
Stowmarket, and 5 miles E. S. E. of Ixworth, has in its parish 396 souls, and
about 2,030 acres of land. Ashfield Lodge, a neat mansion with pleasant grounds,
is the seat of Lord Thurlow, the lord of the manor, owner of most of the soil,
impropriator, and patron of the Church, (All Saints) a small ancient fabric,
with a tower and five bells. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, valued at �65,
and now enjoyed by the Rev. John Steggall. But here is also an endowed
lectureship, of which the Rev. Thomas B. Norgate is incumbent. In 1620, Nicholas
Fyrmage gave his land in Hackford, and �300 to be laid out in land, "to a
preaching minister of God's word, for a Sunday sermon in the forenoon, to be
preached in the parish church of Ashfield Mayna" viz. to the preacher 8s. for
every sermon; to 12 of the poorest householders in the parish 2s. each, every
quarter in the year; 2s. to the sexton every quarter, for ringing the great bell
to every sermon; and 2s. a year to find bell ropes. By an Inquisition taken of
this charity, in the 21st of James 1st, it was found that the rectory and
parsonage of Ashfield Magna had, time out of mind, been an impropriation, and
that there was no certain maintenance for a preaching minister, the curate
having only �20, raised by the voluntary gifts of the parishioners, and the
impropriator. The Commissioners of this enquiry decreed that the property, left
by Nicholas Fyrmage, should be conveyed to trustees, who should have the
nomination and appointment of an able man to preach, as directed by the
testator. The �300 was laid out in the purchase of about 40 acres of land,
called Hoo-Wood, in Stow-upland and Stow-market, now let for �54 a year. The
property at Hackford consists of a farmhouse, cottage, and 27a. 3r. 23p. of
land, let for �44 a year. The income from these sources, (�98 per ann.) after
paying 8s. a year to the sexton, and 2s. for bell ropes, is divided into five
parts, of which four are paid to the lecturer, and one part is distributed among
about 13 poor householders. Until 1813, it was usual for the trustees to appoint
the perpetual curate to the lectureship; but after that year, they appointed
other clergymen. In 1827, the present incumbent curate, considering himself
entitled to the lectureship, prohibited the Rev. T. B. Norgate from performing
duty in the church, as lecturer, and application was made to the Court of
Chancery, which confirmed the appointment of the trustees. In the 13th of
Charles I., William Clarke left a yearly rent charge of 20s. out of 4a. called
Wrong Haunt, for apprenticing poor children of Ashfield. The Nether lands, 1a.
3r. 16p., are let for �5 4s. a year, which is carried to the churchwarden's
account. Two Cottages, adjoining the church-yard, are occupied rent free, by
poor persons, and repaired by the parish.
Ashfield is remarkable for being the birth place of that distinguished lawyer,
the late LORD THURLOW, and his brother, late Bishop of Durham. Their father, the
Rev. Thomas Thurlow, was incumbent here, and married Miss Eliza Smith, the sole
heiress of the Smiths, who had long held the manor, and were seated at the old
mansion called Lee, now Lee farm. Edward, his eldest son, was born in 1735, and
at the proper age was sent to Caius College, Cambridge, but did not obtain a
degree. On leaving the University, he entered himself of the Inner Temple, was
called to the bar and remained unemployed, and unknown, until his abilities were
called into action in the Douglas cause ; soon after which, he attained such
professional distinction, that he was appointed solicitor-general in 1770;
attorney-general, in the following year; and lord chancellor in 1778. On the
latter occasion, he was elevated to the peerage, by the title of Baron Thurlow
of Ashfield. In 1786, he obtained the lucrative appointment of teller of the
Exchequer; and in 1792 was created Baron Thurlow of ThurIow, with remainder
failing his male issue, to his brothers, and their male issue. The most
remarkable period of his life was the epoch of his majesty's illness, in 1788,
and '89. His integrity then shone conspicuous; and in one of his speeches on the
regency question, he said," When I forsake my king in the hour of his distress,
may God forsake me." He retired into private life in 1793. His talents, even out
of his profession, were so splendid, that Dr. Johnson said, "I would prepare
myself for no man in England, but Lord Thurlow; when I am about to meet him, I
should wish to know a day before." His lordship, who was never married, died at
Brighton, in 1806. His next brother, Thomas Thurlow, who embraced the clerical
profession, was elevated to the See of Rochester, in 1779, but was translated to
Durham, in 1787, and died in 1791. Edward, his eldest son, succeeded, on his
uncle's demise, to the title of Baron Thurlow of Thurhw, and died 1829, when he
was succeeded by the Rt. Hon. Edward Thomas Hovell Thurlow, the present Lord
Thurlow.
Lord Thurlow, Ashfield Lodge
Calver Edward, blacksmith
Elmer Thomas, corn miller
Jackaman William, victualler,
Thurlow Arms
Norgate Rev. Thomas, B. lecturer
Peach James, bricklayer
Peach Sarah, schoolmistress
Plummer John & William, carpenters
Plummer Elizabeth, shopkeeper
Redit John, blacksmith
Redit Nathaniel, wheelwright
FARMERS.
Barrell Joseph
Bennett John
Boldero George (& brickmaker)
Booty William
Easlea John, Lee
Firman Robert
Hunt Richard
Larter William
Parker Robert, Reed Hall
Pattle Zachariah
Rice James
Wakeley Mrs. _
Waller William
SHOEMAKERS.
Bloomfield David, (& shopkeeper)
Faires William
Seaton Samuel
Great Ashfield in Kellys 1879 Directory.
Great Ashfield (near Ixworth) is a parish and scattered village 2 miles
north from Elmswell station, 88 from London, and 10 from Bury St Edmunds, in the
Western division of the county,
Blackbourn Hundred.
The church of All Saints is a flint building, the registers date from 1698.
Post Office, Charles Fox
A school house was erected in 1875; Miss Bevan, mistress
Carrier to Bury - James Mathews
Blake Sir Henry Charles bart, JP, Ashfield Lodge
Bolton Misses, Ashfield villa
Currie Major Henry, Ashfield house
Steggall Rev John Heigham, MA [vicar]
Commercial
Barker Charles, farmer
Barrell Anthony, farmer, Randalls farm
Barrell Thos, farmer, School House Farm
Boughton Charles, wheelwright
Coleman George, bricklayer
Elliner Samuel, farmer
Elmer Henry, miller
Faiers William,
Hovel Arms
Fox Charles, grocer & draper
Frewer Godfey, farmer
Hewes Thomas, farmer, Slough Farm
Hill George, shopkeeper & pig dealer
Kerridge Edgar King, farmer
Leatherdale John, farmer, Leef farm
Lord William, farmer; & at Elmswell
Matthews James, carrier
Mulley John, thatcher
Pickering William Thomas, farmer, Lodge Farm
Prike Luke,
Thurlow Arms
Redit Walter (Mrs), blacksmith
Rice Eliza (Miss), farmer
Rodwell William, blacksmith
Wakelin Alice (Mrs), farmer, Rookery
Warren James, brick maker
Wright John, farmer & landowner, Grange Farm