Ashfield Church

Information from Glasses Directories obtained in 1983 by the late Lt Cmdr T D Helps, of Thorpe Hall:

Church notes taken 19^th June 1839:

The Church has long been down, though the walls may still be traced. Length of Chancel, about 6 yards, and about 6 yards wide. The nave is about 16 yards long and 7 yards wide. Part of the steeple still remains, and is a picturesque object: square, with buttresses, about half its height still standing. A small bell hangs hear the ground, in a latticed room at the East end of the Chancel. Ground plan:

The only memorials in the churchyard are two headstones, for "Weakling", and "J Abbott".

Remuneration or stipend of one Chaplain celebrating there under Agreement of the aforesaid indenture, totals per annum 46s 8d, and is worth clear per anum 115s 2d. Memorandum: The Woods and parsonage of the said Manor to be remembered in the bargaining and sale.

Post Reformation cites two "owners" under the Queen for 1/30 of a Knight's fee - Charles Framlingham and Charles Gawdy.

From a source of 1810:

Ashfield Church has lain in ruins and has not been preached in these 30 years past. Two sides of the upper part of the steeple are fallen down, and what remains standing is rotten with large cracks from top to bottom; the Bells, three in number, are dislodged, and the timbers which support them are so much decayed, that 'tis a wonder they have not yet fallen down; it having been expected that every great wind might shake 'em down and dash 'em to pieces. And as there is no prospect that ever the Church will be repaired or rectified, the Great and Small Tythes being inappropriate, and as the Chapel of Thorpe stands convenient for the use of the parishioners, they have for many years past resorted thither for Divine Service, but still bury their dead in the churchyard of the derelict Church. The parishioners desire the 3 Bells to be taken down and the 2 small ones to be sold, to defray the charge of the building of a receptacle in which to hang the biggest Bell, to ring and toll upon all Parish occasions, as at the death and burial of the inhabitants; and Mr. Revetts has made a contract with the parish Officers for the 3 Bells, if a license may be obtained for the improvement of the peal of bells at Brandeston, a neighbouring Town to Ashfield.

Article from Ipswich Journal 20^th November 1824:

"Some persons did on the night of Tuesday last or early on the following morning feloniously steal, take and carry away a Bell weighing about 5 cwt from and out of a cage in the churchyard of Ashfield with Thorpe in this County; whoever volunteers informations shall be paid the Reward of £10 by the Parish Officers."