Barrington data

Barrington data

For an excellent Tour of Barrington see

Barrington – A Tour in Old Photographs by Raymond and Margaret Jude, 2022, originally published by the Barrington Society in 1995.

The Royal Archaeological Institute Summer Meeting report of 1967 contains the following map:

Barrrington Green (Royal Archaeologial Institute)

Barrington green (RCHM)

Coprolite diggers between Barrington and Orwell in 1880s.(MoC200/68)

The Rhee, Barrington (MoC121/57)

Barrington fountain circa 1902

1837 – 1838

Thomas Jepps, valuation and auction documents, held by the Museum of Cambridge (142/63, 136/63, 145/63):

Barrington gleaners c.1902

1900 09 04
The right of turning out horses on Barrington village green seems to be a very sore point with many of the parishioners. It was agreed to allow owners the right of turning out their horses to feed at 1s per head, or 1s 6d for two horses but this had been absolutely ignored, not one of the persons owning horses having paid. This has caused a deal of feeling in the village. The wording of the parish award is that the feed of the village green is for the use of cottagers only, but how far this is adhered to may be judged by the number of horses seen daily on the green.

1901 05 23
Barrington parish clerk reported that at the recent parish council election the stock owners obtained a majority on the council, only two of the old members being re-elected. He asked whether the fact of their pasturing their horses and stock on the green disqualifies them from serving, as their intention is to evade all the laws relating to the village green. The Enclosure Award states that the common shall be enjoyed by occupiers of cottages who are not owners of land within the parish. Any others shall forfeit 5s. (25p) for every horse, ass or mule, 3s (15p) for every head of neat cattle, 1s (5p) for every sheep or swine and 2d (1p) for every goose. Councillors must not manage the green for their own personal interests. There were 15 horses, besides other stock on the green. (Mike Petty)

1904 03 31
Sir – I must protest against the sanitary inspector’s report on the pump on Barrington green. All the people living near it and having horses use it and have done so since the year dot. The water is not any worse now than it was then. If the inspector were to visit some of the cottages and make the owners keep them in a thoroughly sanitary condition, instead of trying to upset old customs, it would be better for the village. But there is the old story, ‘I must not upset my masters’, who are generally the owners – A Villager

1909 02 05
An alarming accident occurred at Barrington when the gable end of a house in the Orwell Road collapsed. Fortunately Mr H. Coningsby and his family were at tea in the other end of the house at the time so that no one was injured. The building, which was erected 40 years ago, is of clay bats, which have become damp through the plaster covering coming off, and gave way in the rough wind, leaving the roof suspended. Mr Fred Patman removed the suspended portion of the roof which threatened to pull down the remainder. 09 02 05

1909 11 26
A clergyman who had ministered temporarily at Barrington in 1908 was cited as co-respondent in a divorce case. Mr K.W., not thinking there was anything between his wife and the cleric, had consented to his family staying with him but afterwards came to the conclusion there had been misconduct. He had thrashed the curate three times for visiting his wife during his absence but the man refused to cease his visits to her. The wife petitioned for a judicial separation on the grounds of cruelty. CWN 09 11 26

1914 03 27
The Grazing on the Green. – Great excitement has been caused in the village of Barrington through the Council endeavouring —as the villagers consider—to take away the right of grazing horse and cattle on the Green. It was thought that a certain resident was responsible for this, and a trench was dug in front of his house by some of the villagers, and an effigy was placed on the Green, together with a notice, with a Union Jack flying over the same, urging the villagers to stand up for their rights. The whole village was in an uproar. This culminated in a discussion, after the ordinary meeting of the councillors, held in the Barrington Schoolroom on Tuesday evening last, when there was a very large gathering. At first there was some little disturbance caused by one of the villagers, but fortunately, under the influence of the able chairmanship of Mr. Rate, this was quelled. Later Capt Fanshawe explained the scheme as formulated by the councillors, but he emphatically informed the gathering — and this was borne, out by the minutes of the previous meeting — that he had been, and still was, averse to the new scheme, inasmuch as he did not consider it would be to the advantage of the villagers of Barrington. Up to the present, the villagers have grazed their cattle, etc., upon the Green without any payment, but the councillors, excluding Captain Fanshawe, have, now applied for authority to make certain charges, which, as previously mentioned, has been greatly resented. At the end of the meeting one of the villagers asked that the matter should not be allowed to rest, and it was suggested that a further meeting, should be called at an early date to discuss the matter more fully 1914 03 27 CIP

The extensive green of the pleasant village of Barrington, which has for many years been a source of prosperity and enjoyment to the inhabitants, has lately become the source of disputes and discord. A number of abuses have arisen and a sub-committee was appointed to go into the question. A draft scheme was drawn up by the Charity Commissioners allowing horses, assess, mules and goats to be grazed, which caused heated discussion and was rejected 14 04 03

1914 04 03
Barrington Differences.—A meeting held at Barrington to consider matters connected with, the administration of the village green has resulted in the rejection by the villagers of the proposed scheme for the better control and management of the property (says Free Lance). The sequel to the meeting is a somewhat unsatisfactory one in view of the fact that without some definite rule, the present abuses of the Common and state of chaos will continue to prevail. The villagers declared themselves against a scheme which certainly had some satisfactory features in it, but they made no attempt to define the lines of a system of control which would be acceptable to them. I congratulate Mr. M. V. J. Webber on his lucid explanation with respect to the Green, and on his courageous defence of the scheme —even when he was deserted by those members of the Parish Council who had previously expressed their approval of it. Mr. Webber emphasised the point that he was speaking as the mouthpiece of the Council—which had endorsed the proposals—but at Wednesday’s meeting his colleagues left him to bear the brunt of the attack by the villagers. It is regrettable that personalities were introduced into the discussion, but the suggestions made can; only be regarded as paltry when … – 1914 04 03

Barrington – councillors resign Barrington has achieved the unusual double distinction of being without a Vicar and without a Parish Council after the resignation of the chairman and five of the other seven members. The clerk turned up for the annual meeting of the council with his case of books though he knew no meeting could be held as three members are required to form a quorum and there were only two members left. It did not seem worth getting the key for the school so an informal meeting was held outside in the presence of two reporters and three villagers who strolled up to see what was happening. The situation was irresistibly funny and merry laughter rose with the tobacco smoke – for smoking was permitted 14 04 17

1914 04 17
Barrington’s Difficulties. Today (writes Free Lance) the parish of Barrington is in the unfortunate position of being without a Vicar and a Parish Council. This “double event” was the cause of a good deal of good-humoured comment on Wednesday night, when a meeting of the Council should have taken place, but had to stand adjourned on account of the wholesale resignation of the members. The two events, of course, have no relationship to each other and it anticipated within a very short time a new Vicar will be offered the living, which is, I believe, in the gift of Trinity College Matters connected with the Parish Council and the Village Green, however, are not likely to be settled so quickly, judging by the general tone adopted by the two sets of contending parties. What has happened is that since the recent parish meeting the whole of the councillors, with two exceptions, have tendered their resignations, and as three constitutes a quorum, it is impossible for the present two members to transact any parish business. As a matter of fact, in response to the notice calling this week’s meeting, only one turned up. – 1914 04 17 CIPof

1914 05 08
The large majority of cottagers would like to see Barrington Green properly regulated and if horses are to be permitted to graze the green, they are to be looked after by those who turn them on, and not allowed to roam wild, a meeting was told. They heard, probably for the first time, a lucid explanation of the conditions under which they hold the green. It should never be ploughed up for allotments. 14 05 08,

1914 05 22
A meeting was called at Barrington to fill the six vacancies on the parish council caused by the resignation of members due to the dispute over the Green, leaving Mr H. Bedford as the only remaining councillor. They must choose members who would fight and not indiarubber men who would stretch and say ‘yes’ to everything. There were eight nominations for six places but it was found that many people voted seven times. The Clerk read a section of the Corrupt Practices Act. No results were announced and a poll will now take place 14 05 22

1914 05 29
Barrington Green was in a better condition today than it was 50-years ago. The villagers managed their own affairs and did not want the proposed Charity Commissioners scheme, an inquiry heard. It was entirely the emanation of one or two parish councillors. Many smallholders moved on to own small quantities of land. If a labourer scraped together a few pounds to buy a couple of acres, yet continued in manual labour and lived in a cottage he would have to pay for his stock on the green while others would be allowed to graze freely. It would be a hardship.

Barrington village history:

https://barringtonparishcouncil.gov.uk/local-history/

Mike Petty:

Barrington Scrapbook