Bob Delderfield’s History File
Spring 1995
Dubious Goings-on
The previous owners of Pound Wood, the Church Commissioners, hold correspondence files relating to their lands in Hadleigh and Thundersley. The last thirty years of this archive are not open to public view but a search through the period 1875 to 1965 reveals some fascinating insights into Pound Wood and other woodlands belonging to the Commissioners.
The Rev. Arthur Maley, Rector of Thundersley and the author of “The Ancient Parish of Thundersley”, often wrote to the Commissioners. In October 1930 he complained of motorists camping in the woods at night “with regrettable consequences” which he did not spell out. A month later he wrote that conditions were “as bad as ever” — “Have you done anything?” The correspondence pauses here although no indication is given of any action taken.
However, in 1935, the Rector wrote a stronger letter of complaint that the woods were “being used for immoral purposes, camping by gypsies and tramps and the depositing of rubbish”. He wanted a local authorised person to patrol the woods, and suggested one of the Thundersley churchwardens who has wood-reeve’s experience. Again, there is no indication of any action taken.
Those of us who assisted in the initial clean-up of Pound Wood know very well that the depositing of rubbish was not just a problem of the 1930s! As to “immoral purposes” we can certainly cite current persecution of badgers but I suspect the reverend gentleman was more concerned with human “socialisation” in this instance.
Visitors welcome?
The Trust is to be congratulated for providing access, conducted tours, and the nature trail sponsored by Ridley. They show a hospitality apparently not available in Pound Wood in the 1930s. In August 1935 the Rev. Maley once again writes to the Commissioners, this time with a request rather than a complaint. The St Michael’s Garden Party is to be held in the church field and the Rector is seeking permission for conducted parties to be taken through Pound Wood, led by the churchwarden, Mr C. Goodsell, who had been a wood-reeve.
Permission was not granted and the rather stiff reply explains that this is because of “the unfortunate results which have arisen in the past”. No further explanation is proffered. What heinous crimes did the previous visitors to the wood commit? Perhaps there is someone still living in Thundersley who can shed more light on this mystery?