Welcome to Elmswell History Group
Welcome to our website – please make yourself at home and enjoy exploring our many pages.
Our village has plenty of history, the earliest part of which is described in our publication “Marker for the Millennium” (click onto this link to see it in full).
Our history group exists to make this information known more widely and also, with our monthly talks, to learn more about East Anglia’s history in general.
We hope you will consider coming to a meeting, as we are a very friendly group, and always offer a warm welcome to visitors and new members.
Our current programme of talks and events is shown below.
We would love to hear from you, whether you are interested in local history generally (particularly if you are a current or former Elmswell resident and/or have any connections to our village), helping us with our researches, thinking of joining our group, or have comments or suggestions about this website.
Please click this link to contact us.
2024-25 Programme
Unless otherwise stated, our meetings begin at 7.30pm at the Wesley Hall, School Road, Elmswell, IP30 9EE
12 September 2024:
£12 Annual Subs due, plus £4 per attendance (or Visitors are always welcome at £6 per attendance).
Speaker Neil Langridge, “Hop Cultivation in Suffolk“
10 October: Barbara McElroy, “Royal Connections of Framlingham, Castle and Town”
14 November: Andy Peachey, “Archaeology on Anglia One’s Cable Route”
12 December: Chanters Jigge, “A Merrie Olde Christmas” – an entertaining evening of seasonal readings and songs performed by this talented musical duo on a variety of traditional instruments.
9 January 2025: Members’ Evening – three short talks, being a selection of members’ own researches.
13 February: Mike Walker, “The 1173 Siege of Haughley Castle & Battle of Fornham”
13 March: Don Mobley, “U.S. Military Aviation in East Anglia”
10 April: Our 25th Anniversary Meeting & Celebratory Party.
8 May – 80th Anniversary of V.E. Day, let’s see that bunting flying!
8 May: Claire Jowitt, “The 1682 Shipwreck of HMS Gloucester”. We look forward to welcoming Claire of the University of East Anglia to hear her talk “The Last Voyage of the Gloucester: Norfolk’s Royal Shipwreck, 1682” (a.k.a. ‘Norfolk’s Mary Rose’). Having been discovered in 2007, this 17th-century wreck is historically and archaeologically unique as it sank off the Norfolk coast shortly after hitting a sandbank while carrying James Stuart, Duke of York and heir to the English throne, with many lives tragically lost. The talk will explore the causes of the disaster and why it matters historically, as well as introducing some of the amazing artefacts which have been recovered from the wreck site. Claire is the UEA’s Professor of Renaissance Studies and, since 2019, has been researching the history of the Gloucester, and she co-curated the 2023 exhibition of the same name at Norwich Castle Museum. Do join us then for what should be a truly fascinating and eye-opening evening.
12 June: 7pm, AGM, then Neil Instrall, “The MIDDY Railway“
17th July: 7pm – Outing to Hawstead’s GREAT WAR HUTS WW1 Military Museum, Brook Farm Camp, Bell’s Lane, IP29 5NW. Meet on site, own transport, £3pp payable on arrival, light refreshments available (for small donation).
Book at one of our meetings up to end June, or ring 01359-242601 to book your place on this Private Tour.
Latest Updates
- Elmswell Aerodrome in the First World War
- RAF Elmswell Digging For The Past
- CA Ridley – The Cost Of Bravery
- Officers Of 75(HD) Squadron RFC /RAF 1916 – 1919
- Personnel Of 75 (HD) Squadron RFC & RAF 1916-1919
World War 1 Book For Sale
Read the Synopsis here