28th April 2004. From Bryn Thomas. Bryn is seking information about Flint Cottage Stables, pre Mark Tomkins.He has looked on the internet without success so far and would be grateful for any assistance.
(We are in touch with the racing community and will find out what we can about the history of the yard. Ed).

8th March 2004. From Sue Coe
I do not know if what I have will be of interest to you, as I thought it would be of more interest to family rather than local historians. I have a very large framed portrait photograph of 4 children of the Taylor family, who used to run the "Rutland Arms Hotel" in Newmarket. I inherited the photo from my Mother's cousin, Daisy Taylor. The eldest boy in the photo is Daisy's husband, Henry (whom we used to know as "Pip").
The photo was probably taken in Edwardian times. Henry is the oldest of the 4 children and looks to be about 14ish. I have located the family on the 1901 census and have just found out that Henry's brother Ferd (presumably Ferdinand) was the youngest child, that the other brother was called Robert and the sister was Edith. The children's parents were Henry and Jane Taylor. Henry senior and Jane were both born in Margate in Kent and all the children apart from Ferd were born in London. Ferd was born in Newmarket.
I want to find a good home for the photo and was hoping that I might be able to trace some of the descendants of the other 3 Taylor children (as Henry did not have any children). However, I have written to the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Family History Societies and they do not know of anyone who is researching the Taylor family. If I cannot trace any present days descendants of the family, would your society be interested in having the photo?
Any information will be passed on (Ed)

16th February 2004 A touching message sent to Newmarket Town Council by Kathelijn Scheerlinck from Erembodegem Belgium and referred by them to N.L.H.S.
Hello, My father was an RAF soldier stationed at Newmarket during WOII. At that time he met a lady named Barbara Dunn, born around 1928, who lived on Dunmore Road. He is 79 years old now and lately talking a lot about her. It is one of his last wishes to know if she is still alive and how she has been. I am desperately looking for her, can you help me please? Thanks a lot Kathelijn.
(Kathelijn's father's name is Cyriel Marcel Scheerlinck. We cannot recall a Dunmore Road in Newmarket, can anyone help? Any responses will be passed on Ed.)

23rd February 2004. From Curtis Ball
I am wondering if you can help with my research concerning my grandfather Mr Charles Henry Ball. Would you be able to tell me if you or any of your collegues know of the existence of any reference information about the Newmarket Sewage Works or Water Purification Works during the period 1895 - 1900. My grandfather, according to his orbituary, was the Works Manager for a while during this period. His later career was of particular note as he was involved for many years with the development of the activated-sludge method of treatment which is still in use in many places today.
Best regards Curtis Ball
Any information will be passed on Ed.)

February 2004. From Rosemary Foreman, Secretary of Newmarket Local History Society.
This query concerns a Zeppelin raid on Newmarket in 1916.
"According to my father's family, his mother, Daisy Marshall, was injured when this bomb fell. She was pregnant and gave birth prematurely to a little girl who, according to St Mary’s Church records, lived just a day and a half and died on 14th January 1916. It would therefore appear that the raid was on 13th January. Daisy died on the 15th January 1916. They lived in Lowther Street at the time.
As Daisy’s husband died in 1919, details are rather scarce and I would be very interested to hear from anyone who knows anything about the bombing or has any photographs I could see."
The picture left appeared in The Newmarket Journal of 29th January and caught Rosemary's eye. It shows children standing in the crater created by a bomb dropped by a Zeppelin in Regent Street, one of the old streets that were close to what is now the St Mary's Square end of Rowley Drive. The youngest of the boys is believd to be John Parfitt, brother of N.L.H.S. member Peggy Parfitt Moule. Apparently the boys were digging out bomb splinters from the crater and selling them as souvenirs.
3rd March. Further information has come to light in the form of a newspaper cutting from The Journal of a few years ago. George Cottrell then of Rous Court said that he was the boy with the round hat. He also named the others as Parfitt, in front, Nichols at the back, and Stubbs behind Parfitt. He said they were doing a roaring trade selling bomb splinters but when they ran out the boys found an old cast iron pipe which they broke up into small pieces in order to satisfy the demand for souvenirs.(Ed)

30th January 2004
Dear Sir,
Please could you enlighten me as to The Boy's Grave. I have heard several tales about it and wondered if you knew the truth.
Of course it may just be hearesay, but I would be interested anyway.
Many thanks Ann Manns
Yes Ann, we did an article about The Boy's Grave on the NLHS website some time ago. There are several versions, one is that Joseph, an orphan boy, belonged to a wandering tribe and was left in charge of a flock of sheep. He fell asleep and some of the sheep escaped. Another version is that he was wrongly accused of stealing sheep. Filled with remorse at his failing he hanged himself.
The grave goes back at least to the early 20th c and may well be older than that. It has always been tended by some person or persons, and flowers are nearly always on the grave. They were always believed to have been put there by the kindness of passing gypsy folk, but how they get there or who puts them there is a mystery to most. Another less likely story is that the colour of the flowers can predict the winning colours at the next big race at Newmarket.
As you are no doubt aware the grave is by the crossroads about a mile along the road to Newmarket coming from the village of Kentford. (Ed.)

January 2004 -from Jan Stephens.
I am researching the life of Sam Chifney Snr. I know that he died in London, where he was living in cheap lodgings ‘under the prison rules’, having been sent to Fleet prison for debt. I am intrigued to know why his family had not helped him with his financial problems and indeed why he had left Newmarket in the first place. If you have any information or can suggest sources for Sam’s life I would be very grateful.
With thanks.
Several paragraphs about the chequered career of Sam (senior) appear in Volume 1 of the Newmarket Local History Society's book on Local History. Briefly he was under strong suspicion for influencing the outcome of races in 1791 when riding the then Prince of Wales' horse Escape. His integrity was upheld by the Prince who gave him an annuity. Sam left Newmarket after selling the annuity and then got into debt. As you know, he died while serving a debtors' prison sentence in 1807 (the punishment for those who did not pay their debts). Ed.

26th December - a further e-mail from Ben Rudder after we gave hin some information about Newmarket Heath being used for emergency landings by various aircraft during the latter part of the war. See also Ben's query of 16th December. Lancaster bombers were not based at Newmarket but a few visited, mostly when in trouble. (Ed)
"I spoke to my grandfather about the Newmarket Lanc. emergency landing. From his log book we found that the landing occured on the 2nd Nov 1944 and the aircraft number was LM692 with OJ-S markings. I queried him on the fact that Newmarket had a grass runway, and he said he just aimed for the place that had the softest looking ground! This was probably the actual race course therefore giving the House of Lords something to moan about. They also jettisoned the doors of the aircraft before they landed, so they could make a quick exit if needed.
Thanks and Merry Christmas" Ben Rudder

21st December 2003. Hi, Peter McNamara here, I was wondering (hoping!) if you could help me. I have been trying to find out where Plantation Hill (at Newmarket, or near to it) is.
Please let me explain: I have read that sometime between the two World Wars (1914-1939), a man was at the (Old?) Water Works (at Newmarket) and was looking in the direction of 'Plantation Hill'. What I wish to know is "In which (general) direction was this person looking?" (North; North-east; South, South-east; that sort of general direction.
I am hoping/expecting that the direction is North,or North-easterly, and it would aid me no-end if you could perhaps give a line-of-reference through a town, or city, such as Newmarket-to-Mildenhall, Newmarket-to-Thetford, that sort of thing (I will be able to see those on a map!).
I am sorry to trouble you, but I can assure you that it is a very worthy cause (historically speaking). I have tried looking at the Ordnance Survey maps for the location, but whilst there seems to be no-end of 'Plantation' references, I can find nothing specific to a 'Plantation Hill' in the Newmarket area.
(As I said earlier, the Water Works in question would have been the Water Works that was in use between the two wars - (there may well be a newer one now)) If you could help I would be extremely grateful - and you may well read about it in the media.
Thanks for your time, sincerely, Peter McNamara
(Warren Hill was originally known as Plantation Hill, owing to the trees at the top, probably planted there in the late 19th or early 20th century. We have a copy of a Roger Newman postcard sent in 1909 showing horses exercising on Plantation Heath. Ed.)

16th December 2003 - from Ben Rudder
Hi, I am trying to find out some information regarding my grandfather's World War 2 experiences. My grandfather was a squadron leader and flew Lancasters during the second world war. He told me that he had to perform a crash landing actually on Newmarket race course. He called it the golden mile. This would have been in the early forties I think. Does this mean anything to you or your colleagues.
I would be very grateful for any information you have.
Thanks Ben Rudder

27th November 2003 - from Alan Radcliffe e-mail alan.radcliffe@ntlworld.com
Could you please inform me of the whereabouts of Rosa Cottages in Lisburn Road. I always thought that my g/parents lived at 6 Lisburn Road but I see in the 1901 census they lived in Rosa Cottages.
Rosa Cottages numbers 1 - 10 existed in Lisburn Road but had their own separate numbering according to the 1891 census. Ed

26th November - from Jean Getchell in California U.S.A. e-mail cjgetchell@aol.com
Dear Rod, Again, sorry to miss meeting you in person when I was there in Sept/Oct. Can anyone give me any information about Robert Bones, Gentleman, Newmarket, 1730 - 1780, or his son, also Robert Bones, 1760 -1812. I know nothing about them other than the fact that they owned property in Newmarket and have a plaque in St. Mary's Church.
The web site is looking very good.
Peace, Jean

21st November - from Barry Bevington
Rod, Please could you help me? Could you throw any light onto this very, very vexing quiz question?
Who famously lived under the stand at Newmarket?
It has been driving me mental - could you put me out of my misery?
Yours in anticipation

5th November - from Ian van der Waag
Good afternoon, I am writing a biography of Hugh Wyndham. His uncle was the 5th Earl of Rosebery, prime minister and Derby winner. Rosebery apparently resided at Cleveland House in Newmarket, a home he inherited from the Vanes through his mother, the last Duchess of Cleveland. Do you know whether any historical information on Cleveland House is available on the net?
Kind regards, Ian J.W. van der Waag, Department of Military History, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X2 7395 Saldanha South Africa Tel. 022 - 702 3104 Fax. 022 - 702 6030 Cell. 083 4500 852
E-mail Ian@ma2.sun.ac.za
'All theories are grey; but life is green.'

24th November. Ian has been supplied with information provided by Society member Joan Shaw. Cleveland House was rebuilt from an existing old building in 1820 by Lord Darlington for jockey Sam Chifney junior, in grateful thanks for his outstanding riding successes. It still contains some original features like a fine staircase that pre-dates it to three centuries before the rebuild.

22nd.October 2003 - from Warwick Hirst
I am seeking help on 2 topics please.
1. The history of the Memorial hall & that of Cassels, who gave it to Newmarket.
2. The history of the Newmarket Market and if it is a charter market.
I will look at the 2 reference volumes in the library on Saturday and any other help will be great. I was a member of the society last year. E-mail hirstjwh45@aol.com

19th October 2003. From Dawn Williams.
We are researching my wife's family history and are hoping that Newmarket local historians might be able to help; her grandmother, who was always known as 'Nanny Samuels' was in fact not married to her grandfather Alfred Samuels and was, in fact, named Violet Archer. She died in the early 1980s after living in Birmingham with him since the 1920s and raising three children. We are trying to find any link between Violet and Fred Archer.
Of great help would be any details about what happened to Fred and Helen Archer's daughter Nellie, born in 1884 in Newmarket - a birth which, of course, led to the death of her mother. In the 1901 Census the orphaned Nellie is living with the family of her mother, horse trainer John Dawson in the town, but what happened thereafter we do not know. Was she to become the mother of Violet in her early twenties? The details that we have so far are, firstly, a handcoloured postcard of the Archer's grave in Newmarket sent from there in 1908 to a brother of Alfred Samuels in Woolwich, London, signed 'from your old pal, B'. We do not know how this apparent friendship came about between someone in Newmarket and the Samuels family. Secondly, Violet Archer kept a photograph of a man who bears a very strong likenness to, and could well be, Frederick Archer. If there is a link, he might have been her grandfather.
Any information will be useful! Thank you, Dawn & Jonathan Williams - DAWNWILLIAMS513@HOTMAIL.COM Solihull, West Midlands.

16th October 2003. Further e-mail from Martyn Nutland (see also his message of 19th September - below) after we sent him information from Brian Rudkin of Newmarket, who worked for Hammonds. We have now sent Mr Nutland a picture of a Reo Speed Wagon horsebox, with coachwork by Hammonds, dated 1926, kindly supplied by Brian Rudkin.
Very many thanks for your message, which I was extremely pleased to receive.
All this is of great interest to me and I would very much like to see the pic of the 'Speed Wagon'. Speed Wagons seem to have sold well in the UK as I have references to them in coach service. I would guess the Commers and Bedfords come after the Austins or there is an overlap. The main pic I have and I will send it to you when the accursed computer is working properly again is from the 50s and the horseboxes would be late 40s K4 Austins and there is an artic among them. The other shots are a bit later.

16th October 2003 e-mail from Bruce Hunt
Dear Mr Vincent My Wife's Grandfather, Thomas William Crouch, ran a "Grocers, Tea and Provisions" Shop in Lower Station Road Newmarket (Parish of All Saints) from about 1900 to about 1906. I have found this in the 1901 Census, the 1902 Eastern Counties Trades' Directory and the 1904 Kellys'.
Lower Station Road no longer seems to exist. Can you tell me how I can find where it was and whether any photographs might exist of the area from that time - there are none on Frith. Any help you could give would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance Bruce Hunt e-mail bruce.hunt@lineone.net
We have informed Bruce that Lower Station Road became All Saints' Road and we have sent him a picture of the road from the Roger Newman collection taken in 1905 (RHV).

23rd September 2003. Two queries from committee member David Occomore in the hope that someone can throw some light on them.
1. Seen in Notes and Queries Sept 5th 1863
That it is possible for a wheeled carriage, driven by sails, to pass over uneven ground, was experimentally proved about 1820 when such a carriage travelled along the turnpike road from Great Chesterford to Newmarket, a distance of about 15 miles, over some considerable hills at the rate it is said, of about thirteen miles an hour. The writer of this reply saw that sailing carriage in motion on Newmarket Heath. It was cutter rigged with fore-and-aft mainsail and triangular fore sail. It carried several persons, worked easily to windward, coming up to the wind and tacking as readily as a boat on the water and its speed was then such as to keep a horse at a moderate canter in order to accompany it.
Can any reader give more details about this event???
(Seems feasible, land yacht racing is a popular sport and high speeds are reached. Perhaps this is one answer to the energy crisis! Ed.)

2. I would be interested to know if anyone can provide proof, details or newspaper reports about this statement :- For Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee in 1862 a request was issued for towns and villages to change the name of a street etc., to Silver Street.

19th September 2003. Dear Sir,
I wonder if you could help me with what I have to admit is a fairly obscure Newmarket query.
I am a motoring journalist specialising in transport subjects and I am currently researching an article on Austin horseboxes!
From the 1930s until at least the 50s a firm called Hammond, headed by a Mr A P Hammond designed and built horseboxes in Newmarket. Latterly their preference as a chassis was the Austin commercial frame. Hammond had some noteworthy customers including Lady Yule and the Ceylon Turf Club. They may also have operated a transport business as Horse Transport Limited Newmarket and I have a period photo of the vehicles in Newmarket. I am wondering, therefore, whether you may know anyone who has information about this firm or the family. I have tried the Horseracing Museum and heard from the extremely helpful Mr Snelling, who may, in fact, have mentioned my query to the Society. Unfortunately though he has no information himself.
I think Hammonds must have been a prominent organisation (there is a Hammond Close in Newmarket, I believe; possibly connected) so do hope you can think of someone who might remember them and the Austins. Someone interested in vehicles perhaps, or a garage or coach proprietor from the 50s. Look forward to hearing when you have a moment.
Best Regards, Martyn Nutland

18th September. I was born in Newmarket, Suffolk, England. My grandfathers were Henri Jellis and George Archibald. They are both buried in the Newmarket memorial cemetery. My father, George W. Archibald let the coronation parade of Elizabeth II in Newmarket on a chestnut horse in his World War II uniform. I wondered if this was in the Coronation memorabilia and if so, if I could purchase a copy of the picture? My uncle Harry Jelliss lived at Palace House for a number of years. I am also writing to see if I could purchase the Newmarket Local History book.
Kindest regards, Valerie Archibald Embrey
(Valerie moved to the U.S.A. in 1957 where her father trained until his death in 1997. Ed.)

September 2003 from Mrs. J. Kieviet-de Visser
Dear Mr. Vincent Thanks for your e-mail from 06-09-03. I read that you can't help me about the Newmarket Academy where Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a articled pupil. I will ask you this:
Do you no the address of the Newmarket Academy out of Spurgeons time, I mean, do you the name of the Street where the building of the school stood?
I saw on the internet site which you write in your e-mail many old pictures of streets in Newmarket. May be is there in the collections on internet a picture of the street where the building of the school stood? Is there in Newmarket on this moment a school who named 'Newmarket Academy'? So yes may be you have there address or e-mail address for me? I can ask them about C.H. Spurgeon?
I hope you can help me and I looked forwards to hearing from you With Kind regards
Violierstraat 10
3245 CW Sommelsdijk
The Netherlands
kieviet.j@hetnet.nl

September 18th 2003. From Kenny King. Hello, I don't know if you can help, but. I'm looking for info on my great grandfater Alfred White "Tiny White" who according to my grandmother, was a well known jockey in the 1880's. I have found nothing in my search, although I do have an old photo album with pictures of him with Fred Archer. My grandmother said that they were friends. Any help would be great.
Thank you. kennycanuck@yahoo.com

Sept 3rd 2003. The article on Alex Henshaw (see link on NLHS main page) has brought a response from David Woollard, whose wife's father John King worked on Spitfires during the war.
John went to Morris Motors, Cowley and fairly quickly started on aircraft engine repairs at No 1 Civilian Repair Unit. He mostly worked on Hurricanes but also repaired Spitfires as well as Miles Magisters and Tiger Moths.
Alex Henshaw used to fly up to Cowley airfield to test the repaired Spitfires as they became ready. The ferry pilots (including ladies) would then fly them back to their units. John was working there during The Battle of Britain and was used to seeing aircraft with incredible damage, such as cannon shot through armour plate into the pilots seat. Most were repaired and sent back to the front line.
All the repaired Spitfires were tested by Alex Henshaw who would fly up from Castle Bromwich as soon as there was one ready. Of course this was break-time for the workers so everyone would go outside and watch as he pulled the most amazing feats, flying inverted, rolling and most spectacularly diving to within what seemed only a few feet from the ground before pulling up. They often thought he couldn't pull up in time but he always did.
John remembers Alex Henshaw as a pleasant man, with no “old buck” about him and a shock of blonde hair before he pulled his flying helmet on. He also clearly remembers the famous Birmingham inverted flying incident too, “There was a lot of fuss about that” he said.

22nd August 2003 - From Sue Richardson
I am a member of the NLHS, and wonder if anybody could give me some information regarding the trees at the top of Newmarket Heath. I grew up in the town, and my family always referred to this belt of trees as "The Daffs". However, when chatting to a group of people in our local pub the other night, nobody seemed to have heard this name. Can you enlighten me, please?
Thank you Sue Richardson, Woodditton
Our archivist William Smith remembers the chalk pits on the left of the Moulton Road always being referred to as 'the daffs'. Origin unknown but presumably because daffodills once grew there.

17th August 2003 - from Brian Morgan e-mail brian.morgan9@btinternet.com
My cousin Caroline and I are researching the Gully family from Wick, in south Gloucs. Their most famous son was in your area for many years and we wondered if you have any information? We don't have for example the death of his first spouse. Mary nee Mealing who died sometime after Aug 25, 1821 prob after the birth of their son John on that date (the boy died 12 Feb 1822) and they were both probably buried at St Mary, Newmarket. John then married Mary Lacy (of Easingwold, Yorks) at St Mary on 15 May 1828 and they had their first child in Newmarket bap March 25 1830 and I assume he died too, soon after. The Gully family then moved to Pontefract as their next child was born at Ackworth in 1832.
If there is anything which you can contribute we shall be very pleased and I can offer a reciprocal in this area (Wiltshire).
Best wishes Brian Morgan Winsley, Wilts
St Mary's records are kept at the Bury St Edmunds County Record Office and this might be the best line of enquiry. (Bill Smith, Archivist).

16th August 2003 - from our regular contributor Roger Newman.
Is it known when the Carlton Hotel, originally called the Hotel Victoria was built as from somewhere I acquired a knife and fork with the name on it?

13th August 2003 - E-mail from jayreene@aol.com
Hi I wonder if you might be able to help me or point me in the right direction.
I am trying to find out anything at all about a jockey (M R Hastings) who died at Newmarket in 1912ish. My grandmother believes him to be her father.
I hope I hear back from you
Many thanks Jay

30th July 2003 - From Mrs Sue Williams e-mail brian@blackmere8.fsnet.co.uk
Asks for a picture of Warren House in Old Station Road., built in the 1820s by Bill Chifney and demolished in the 20th c. She believes it stood next to Cleveland House. Sue's g.g. grandfather Henry Bradly was running the training establishment at Warren House in 1861. John Dawson was running the stables from 1871 and his daughter Nellie (Helen) married Fred Archer, the wedding breakfast being held at Warren House.
An article from 'The Strand' magazine of around 1890 entitled 'About Newmarket' has been traced. It gives pictures of Warren House and there is much written about John Dawson of Warren House Stables, trainer for Sir R Jardine and previously trainer for Prince Batthyany. A litle girl, Nellie Rose Archer, presumably Fred Archer's daughter, was apparently living at Warren House, the home of her grandparents, after having lost both her parents at a very early age. Fred Archer shot himself in 1886 and her mother Helen Rose died after the birth of her daughter Nellie Rose in 1884

30th July 2003 - A letter from Mr A Radcliffe 144 Putnoe Street Bedford MIT41 8HJ asks if anyone can help trace dates of birth of his great grandparents George Isaacs and Jane Isaacs (Crustfield) who lived at 6 Lisburn Rd Newmarket in the late 19th c and had children Ernest, Alice, Benjamin, Margaret and Bertie. George was a stable lad/tipster. Mr Radcliffe's grandmother had memories of Lily Langtree living in Rous Road and also of playing cards with Harry Wragg in his lodgings when he first came to Newmarket.

28th July 2003 - from M/s Susan Chifney
Dear Rod
Whilst in Newmarket I picked up the pamphlet on Newmarket's Local History Society which is how I have your email address.
On a couple of occasions I have visited Newmarket with the view of researching Sam Chifney senior and junior who were jockeys to The Prince Regent, George IV in the 1700 and 1800's. I have managed to find some information on them. There is very little general information.
I was wondering if you would be able to assist. I like to do hands on research but have come to a dead end! Would there be anyone in Newmarket that I could talk to? Even buildings and stables that they had an association with. This is a long shot but I thought worth a try!
Thank you. Yours sincerely
Ms Sue Chifney
(Susan has been put in touch with N.L.H.S. Chairman Eric Dunning who has information on these famous jockeys(webmaster)

For current corrspondence from January 2016 (page 10) select here

For correspondence from May 2014 - December 2015 (page 9) select here

For correspondence from January 2011 - April 2014 (page 8) select here

For correspondence from January 2011 - December 2012 (page 7) select here

For correspondence from November 2008 - January 2010 (page 6) select here

For correspondence from January 2008 - November 2008 (Page 5) - select here

For correspondence from August 2005 - December 2007 (Page 4) - select here

For correspondence from June 2004 - August 2005 (Page 3) - select here

For correspondence May 2002 - June 2003 (first page) select here

Return to NLHS index page.