Carbrooke Heritage News April 2015

I have recently been reading about local tracks and roads. Carbrooke has been split through by the Norwich Road, which also acts as a parish boundary in places. British roads in most places, were little more than rutted tracks – a mud bath in winter and dust bowl in the summer, until late 1700’s, when the Government decided that the British transport system was very inefficient. They began introducing Toll Roads, controlled at local level, with the money raised being used for repair. The Norwich Road, through Carbrooke became the Norwich to Watton Turnpike soon after 1770, and gates were set up along the road to collect fees, creating a main thoroughfare through our village. There was a gate on the Scoulton straight (at Tollgate Farm) and another at the Windmill in Watton. A good road, must have encouraged the building of houses. Coaching pubs also became very popular at the time, as a place to stay for the night, and rest the horses. (‘Premier Inn’ of the past!) The White Horse Public House (previously on the site of the Flying Fish, would have been in a good position for trade).  Carbrooke Hall was built around this time, and a number of other properties along the route.

Perhaps there was also a smaller gate at Muttons Corner, as the cottage on the corner is very similar to the toll houses built specially for the job, (if anyone can shed further light on this, please let us know). Recently, the Norwich Road, has undergone some major changes, with the addition of a roundabout and pedestrian crossing in the parish, and is certainly becoming a busy road.

If anyone else would like to do a focus on their own part of the Parish, please pass it on to us.

A past resident of the village during the 1960’s, (David Vincent) has written his memories of his time in Carbrooke, of Carbrooke school, places, friends and family. We have published his memoirs online (on our website), and soon they will be available in our Heritage corner in the church. Please have a read if you get the chance, you may recognise one or two names!

This is what David remembers of the ‘Penny News’

Mr Morris introduced the school news sheet and we were fascinated how it was printed out.  Initially we had been given two pieces of paper with a sheet of carbon paper, so we could see how we produced copies, writing a short article or making a small drawing.  But the production of the template for the news sheet was bewildering, with the inking of the rollers on the hand operated duplicating machine, a large metal box with two large rollers and a handle on the side.  We were amazed by the freshly printed sheets that were flicked out of the bottom as the handle was turned and the template revolved around the drums.

 

I can remember having two articles in the newsletters.  The first one was about a visit to see my uncle in Norwich.  He was a policeman with the County force and drove a panda car.  He showed me how the flashing blue light worked and I described this for my article.  The second article was about the imminent Apollo 11 moon landing.  I described the rocket and its launch along with a drawing at the side.  That was the last item I had printed, as I moved away very soon after that.

 

20^th May 2015; 7pm in the School. Julia Grover presents a talk on the effect of WW1 on local farming. This looks set to be an interesting talk as very little has been researched into the subject, all are welcome to attend

Next Meeting: Wednesday June 3^rd 7pm in the church.

We will be putting on a Heritage Display inside the church, as part of the Village Patronal Festival weekend of 27^th and 28^th June.

Helen Riley will be presenting a talk on the ‘Knights Hospitallers’ for the Trefoil society, mid-June date tbc, in the Church, if you have missed Helens fascinating talks in the past you are welcome to attend.

All welcome to our informal meetings.