History

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St. Mary’s Churchyard and Richer Road Churchyard Extension Headstone and Tomb Research – 2022

No written grave records exist for the burials in either the Churchyard surrounding St. Mary’s Church or oldest part of The Churchyard Extension, dating from […]

Hester Maria Payne

29th June 1826 – 24th December 1916 Our story is about the two people who in the second half of the 19th century, made Badwell […]

Archaeology

Badwell Ash has a rich archaeological heritage from palaeolithic flint tools to Roman, Anglo Saxon and Medieval remains and much more. Discover more about our […]

The Badwell Ash Association for Prosecuting Persons guilty of Felonies, Burglaries, Larcenies and Thefts

A brief history of rural crime and punishment in 18th and 19th century Badwell Ash The first police force in England was created in London […]

A History of Taxation in Badwell Ash

You’re probably thinking that this is a subject to avoid! But, to a Historian, the tax schedules can give a unique insight into who lived […]

The Great Fire of Badwell Ash

It is believed that in 1723 there was a “great fire” in Badwell Ash that destroyed a significant amount of the original medieval village. There […]

Badwell Ash Windmill

» Dowload PDF Document There was a windmill in Badwell Ash for over 140 years until circa 1930 when it was taken down. The mill […]

B17 Crash in Badwell Ash during WWII

B17 Crash in Badwell Ash during WWII. B17 “Flying Fortress B17G Flying Fortress “Stars and Stripes” serial no. 42-3544. The 385th Bomb Group and Great Ashfield […]

The 1939 Register

The 1939 Register was taken on 29 September 1939 shortly after the outbreak of WWII. The information was used to produce identity cards and, once rationing […]

The National Farm Survey 1941

When the Second World War began in September 1939, Britain was faced with an urgent need to increase food production, as imports of food were […]

Royal Observer Corps WW2 Observation Post

The Royal Observer Corps

In Badwell Ash and Long Thurlow Charles Castell from the Beeches in Long Thurlow was a member of The Royal Observer Corps. The Royal Observer […]

Badwell Ash, Long Thurlow and Great Ashfield Home Guard

The Badwell Ash, Long Thurlow and Great Ashfield Home Guard seen in the photograph were part of ‘C’ Company, 2nd Battalion Suffolk Home Guard. The […]

Air Raid Precautions – ARP

Several people in the 1939 Register of Badwell Ash and Long Thurlow are shown as being members of the ARP. So, what was the ARP? […]

First World War veterans in the LDV line up for inspection, 1 July 1940

The Home Guard

After the fall of Dunkirk on the 5th June 1940, the German Blitzkrieg, turned south and swept across France. Less than 3 weeks later, on […]

A Type 22 Pillbox at the Stowlangtoft “Y” Junction

The Defence of England against Invasion – 1939/40

The Threat of Invasion towards the end of 1939 and in 1940 was thought to a very real prospect, especially after the fall of Dunkirk […]

Men who fought in World War II who came from Badwell Ash

William Hovell 1715 – 1769 “…a Doctor of Physick”

William is the oldest memorial/grave inside the church. William was related to Rollo, the first Norman Lord of Normandy in the C1 and his descendants have been traced as far as New Zealand.

BBC Radio Suffolk Interview : Pat

BBC Radio Suffolk’s Lesley Dolphin discusses the history of Badwell Ash and interviews Patricia Monk from Badwell Ash History Society on the 22nd March about the forthcoming […]

WWI Exhibition

To commemorate and celebrate the men and women who went to WW1 from the Parish of Badwell Ash, The Badwell Ash History Society held an […]

The First World War: 1914 – 1918

WW1 ended 100 years ago this year on Armistice Day, the 11th November 1918. One hundred years on, whether we are aware of it or […]

St. Mary’s Church Badwell Ash

“What would you be, you wide East Anglian sky, Without church towers to recognise you by” John Betjeman A Brief History There was possibly an […]

BBC Radio Suffolk Interview : Howard

BBC Radio Suffolk’s Lesley Dolphin discusses the history of Badwell Ash and interviews Howard Newman from Badwell Ash History Society. Download mp3

The Village Recorder

A “Village Recorder” records the day to day events in your village so that these are maintained as an accurate historical record for the future. […]

Clock Restoration in Progress

Photographs taken by Karl Hort during the Restoration of the Turret Clock 2016 – 2017

Photos of St. Mary’s

These rare black and white negative of photographs of St. Mary’s Church, Badwell Ash, have recently been discovered

Clock Restoration at Haward Horological

Ian Haward of Haward Horological explains how the turret clock will be restored

Aerial views of Badwell Ash

Videos and photographs of Badwell Ash St. Mary’s Church taken from a drone

Badwell Ash Trades Map 1903

Badwell Ash Trades Map 1903 (click to Enlarge) Henry Harvey – Farmer Fred Matthew – Farmer Nelson, Ernest and William Lynn – Bakers (The Bake […]

Trades in Badwell Ash in the C19

The Parish of Badwell Ash in the C19 was primarily an agricultural community. The majority of people worked in agriculture in and around the […]

St. Mary’s Church Turret Clock

The Turret Clock in the tower at St. Mary’s is believed to have been made in the late C17, around 1680. This was either during […]