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Secret Confessions?

In the 1960s my friend Charlie and I lived and played near the river Waveney.

During a hot summer school holiday our sisters were playing with their dolls prams on a meadow near the river, and had a lovely green tent, which they used to get out of the sun. We were very interested in playing in the tent too, as we were playing a game of the TV programme ‘combat’, and the tent would have been an ideal army camp.

However the girls did not agree, and them being much bigger than us, forced us to leave the meadow.
As true boy soldiers, we hid in the camouflage of the nearby bushes, and waited for the girls to go home for lunch, and when they did we seized our chance to attack the now ‘enemy’ camp.

In a frenzy we pulled down the tent, and discovered the prams and dolls inside, and in an instant our attack turned into unplanned mischief, we piled everything into the two prams and pushed all into the river . . . then looked at each other . . . and saw blind panic looking back.

We both turned and ran to our separate homes for lunch.

Boy was there a fuss later in the day . . . we were both suspected by our families as having done the foul deed, but our stories held firm . . . we blamed each other . . . and did not play together for two weeks!

We hope whoever reads this can keep a secret.

Harleston Jay's Green Towermill

Harleston towermill stood on the corner of Candlers Lane, Jay's Green, Harleston.

The five storey mill had 3 pairs of French burr stones that were powered by 4 double shuttered patent sails, each with 8 bays of 3 shutters and 1 bay of 4 shutters.

The boat shaped cap held an 8 bladed fan.

A portable steam engine was supplying auxiliary power to the mill in 1861.


1916: Mill taken down, although in good order, by Knights of Harleston but the Mill House remained.

News from the past . . .

HARLESTON - Bale KNIGHTS
Police accomplice in case of corn robberies.
Charge by Suffolk Police not proceeded with.
Norfolk News - 12th January 1861

J. Caley Respectfully announces the undermentioned
SALES by AUCTION
during the next month at HARLESTON
A Neat Dwelling House & Garden. Capital Brick Tower Windmill with 3 pairs of stones and a Cottage in four tenements, the property of the late Mr. William Barber.
Messrs. Carthew & Fox Solrs.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norfolk News - 18th May 1861

The Bankruptcy Act 1861
Notice of Sittings for Last Examination
BALE KNIGHTS late of Harleston in the County of Norfolk, Miller & now a prisoner of debt in the Gaol of the City of Norwich having been adjudged Bankrupt under a Petition for Adjudication of Bankruptcy filed in the Court of Bankruptcy for the London District on the 18th day of March...
A public sitting for the said Bankrupt to pass his last examination.
Norfolk News - 19th April 1862

To be let
A Capital BRICK TOWER WINDMILL driving three pairs of French stones with all the requisite machinery & well situated for trade, near the terminus of the Waveney Valley Railway at Harleston.
Possession at Michaelmas next.
Apply to Mr. Muskett, Harleston.
Norfolk Chronicle - 6th September 1866

For more history about this mill and many others, please visit - www.norfolkmills.co.uk

Our white-clawed crayfish in rivers across East Anglia are under threat

A lake in Suffolk is being established as a safe haven "ark" for the British native white-clawed crayfish which is under threat from an American invader.

The crustaceans look like miniature lobsters and used to be widespread in Britain's rivers. However, their numbers have fallen sharply due to the rise of the aggressive signal crayfish. The Environment Agency is transferring white-clawed crayfish to a "secret" lake which will become an "ark" home.

The crayfish will be rescued from rivers in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
The invading species out-competes the white-claws for food and other resources as well as carrying a disease called crayfish plague.

Lethal disease
An Environment Agency spokeswoman said: "Although the signal crayfish are not affected, this disease is lethal to our native species and has wiped them out from whole river systems in a matter of weeks.

"The new project is aiming to prevent this by developing an innovative crayfish 'ark'.

"The Environment Agency, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and Suffolk Biodiversity Partnership have joined forces and have already found one landowner keen for his lake to become the first 'ark'.

"The lake has been thoroughly checked for suitability and passed with flying colours.
"Even nearby rivers were checked for non-native crayfish to ensure there was no risk of the new site being invaded."

The spokeswoman said the project was being supported by funding from Suffolk Environmental Trust, Essex and Suffolk Water and the Environment Agency.

She said: "In time, it is hoped that the transferred animals will breed and grow into a healthy population in this lake."

The Environment Agency has appealed for anyone with a large pond, lake or gravel pit who would like it to be considered as an ark site to contact them.

marvel.com

Garden owner Jon Kelf celebrated a win for Norwich this weekend. Although Norwich born and bred his victory was not in relation to the performance of his football team, Norwich City. Jon has won the Daily Mail 2009 National Garden competition for “Best Garden in Britain.” Jungle Garden was voted for on-line by the public.

Jon opens his garden once a year since 2008, for the National Gardens Scheme in Norfolk who encouraged their garden owners to enter. Last year’s competition winner was NGS “Windy Ridge” garden in Shropshire. This year’s competition also featured NGS gardens in Hampshire and Lincolnshire in the final five, gardens renown for their quality, character and interest.

Jon Kelf said “It was really prestigious that the garden was accepted for the National Garden Scheme to open two years ago. I never anticipated that this would lead to to gaining a place in the finals and actually winning “The Best Garden in Britain” competition. Jungle Garden was one of the smallest gardens and the only one surrounding a new house. I hope it will encourage new visitors and more small and exotic gardens to open for the NGS in Norfolk”.

The Jungle Garden is a small town garden approximately twenty-six feet by sixty feet with five levels of decking surrounded by dense, lush exotic planting. It has over two hundred different and unusual types of plants including palms, bamboos, bananas, gingers, cannas and more. Jon opened for the National Gardens Scheme on the 16th August. Little did the visitors know they were visiting the potential winner!

NGS County organiser Anthea Foster said “The Norfolk NGS congratulate
Jungle Garden on winning the “Best Garden in Britain Award”. Appreciation must also be given to all the other Norfolk NGS gardens that entered. There have been other city gardens in previous years but Jungle Garden is unusual with its exotic planting, small dimensions and layers of decking compared to a more formal garden. The interest in garden visiting has increased over the years with the economic climate and climate change. With the inclusion of smaller gardens, allotments and town gardens, many visitors take away not just plants but gardening and design tips. The garden owners give so much time to opening, not just gardening but promoting their open days and providing visitors with a great day out while raising money for the worthwhile charities of the NGS. It is a great acclaim for Jon Kelf and the Jungle Garden but also for Norwich, Norfolk and the Norfolk National Gardens Scheme”.

Visit your local Tourist information Centre to pick up a Norfolk NGS Gardens leaflet or visit www.norfolkgardens.org

If your garden is of high quality, character and at least forty-five minutes interest Contact County Organiser Fiona Black to discuss opening your garden. Tel 01692 650247.