177 Years of Farm Experience

On the 11 September 1948 the Newmarket Journal published this article about three workers on Hill Farm, Dullingham.  The three, Jack Bye, Alfred Jeffery and George Burling had worked for the Taylor family for a combined period of 177 years. 

George, who'd worked for 60 years, was 70 years old when this article was originally published which suggests he must have started work at the age of 10.  In the Census held on 2 April 1911 his occupation was described as "Thrashing machine labourer drum feeder on farm" which reads more like a job description.  No doubt nowadays in the 2020s he'd now be described as a "farm technician". 

The article included a picture of large number of the workers who worked on the farm, many of whom are fathers and grandfathers of current day villagers.  Seventy three years ago the Journal captioned the picture as follows:

"Part of Mr.F.B.Taylor's staff, many of whom have spent all their lives at Hill Farm, Dullingham"

The Archive includes an index for this picture.  Unfortunately the middle row for the index only includes the names of three men and two unknowns, yet here are six men in this row so it's not clear who's who.  The names are Jack King, Alan Bye and Jack Bye. 

If you know any names - or spot any errors - please don't hesitate to email Dullingham Memories or comment/message via Facebook

The Royal Oak

Over the years villagers have been able to frequent at least five public houses in Dullingham.  The Boot, The King's Head and The Royal Oak and, in Dullingham Ley, the Rising Sun and The Three Tuns.  Alas, today, only one remains open but at least you can be guaranteed a warm welcome at The Boot.

Records show that The Royal Oak Inn was run by Charles William Smith and his wife Emmaline in 1891.  Both appear in that year's census and Charles's occupation was given as carpenter and licensed victualler.  Emma's occupation isn't given but no doubt she was working hard in the inn as well as being mother to 10 month old William.

Ten years later and Charles, Emma and William were still living at The Oak - note the name change over the years.  Another ten years and the 1911 Census records that John Smith and his wife Elizabeth and their six children were living in The Royal Oak.  The census makes no mention of him being a licensed victualler but just a carpenter.  I have a theory - yet to be proved - that Charles and John may have been brothers as in the 1881 Census Charles Smith (a carpenter) and John Smith (a servant) were both living  with Samuel Bank, the vicar.  Emmaline Ager, soon to be Charles's wife, was also a servant living with the Rev. Banks at this time.

The electoral rolls from 1920 through to 1931 show that Richard Bye was now the landlord.  Incidentally, the name Bye crops up a fair few times in the history of Dullingham as future posts will show.

By the outbreak of the Second World War the publican of The Royal Oak Inn was Conway Lawrence and his wife May.  Also living at the Inn was 11 year old Rose Wright.  Another piece of conjecture, but based on her age, her different surname to the Lawrences and the dates,  Rose may have been an evacuee from London.  The 1939 Register which records this information was taken on 29 September 1939 and children were evacuated from London in the early weeks of September and Dullingham did have its share of evacuees.  Hopefully further research will confirm this theory.

The Royal Oak closed as a pub in 1974 but not before it became a temporary Post Office as described in the local newspaper.

Since its closure it has become two private residences and, as the following photographs show, part from some windows and gates, has changed little externally from the street.  

August 2022

ca.1974

Post 1989 - 2000?

August 2022