Tydd St. Giles
Encyclopedia
Tydd St. Giles is a village in Cambridgeshire
, England
. It was founded in the late 1000s with the building of the church of St. Giles in 1084 on a natural rise in the land of the Fens. The church itself is built of Barnack stone, known to be the gift of the Bishop of Peterborough
.
The name 'Tydd' is known to derive from a corruption of the word "Tide", as the village was home to an important sluice used for draining the Fens. Although many Fenland names derive from Anglo Saxon words, a few scattered around Wisbech
include Anglo Saxon words referencing the native British population. Even though the village is old enough, it does not appear in the Domesday Book
, because the village was in the liberty of the Bishop of Ely
.
It is the northernmost village in Cambridgeshire
(bordering Lincolnshire
), on the same latitude as Midlands towns such as Loughborough
, Leicestershire
and Shrewsbury
, Shropshire
. The village is in the distribution area of two local free newspapers, The Fenland Citizen and The Wisbech Standard.
The civil parish
of Tydd St. Giles also includes the hamlets of Foul Anchor, and part of Tydd Gote which lies partly in Tydd St Giles and partly in Tydd St Mary
in Lincolnshire
. the village has no direct "A" road access, but is joined to the A1101 by the B1165. Tydd St. Giles is in the (old) Wisbech
postal district, and is the northern-most settlement in Cambridgeshire, it is also the northern-most, and last, parish in the Diocese of Ely, this is enhanced by the fact that the traditional county and diocesan bound is Eau Dyke, to the north of the village.
Eau dyke is the only natural watercourse in the village, as it follows the course of the old Cat River. Across the southern boundary of the village runs a part of the North Level Main Drain, the drain is a vital part to the draining and continuing existence of the Fens, the drain then joins the River Nene at Foul Anchor, after passing through a pumping station, that brings the water up to the level of the river.
Although the village is officially recorded at an altitude of 0 metres, the age of the settlement, and the vowels "i" and "y" in the village name suggest that it stands on a low mound that would have been above the surface of the fen. It is certain that the village was inhabitable before the 16th and 17th Century draining of the fen, because of the age of the church.
A survey of 1868 described it thus: TYDD ST. GILES, a parish in the hundred of Wisbech, Isle of Ely, county Cambridge, 5 miles north-west of Wisbech, its post town, and 6 from St. Mary Sutton. The preparation of woad for dyeing is carried on. The construction of the Bedford Level canal, which is 100 feet wide and 30 feet deep, has greatly improved the quality of the land. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ely, value £653, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dedicated to St. Giles. The parochial charities produce about £80 per annum. There is an endowed school, and the Independents have a chapel.
constituency and is represented in Parliament by Mr. Steve Barclay MP (Conservative), he stood in the 2010 General Election
after the retirement of Malcolm Moss
(Conservative). The village Polling Station
is in the Community Centre to the west of the village.
In local politics the village is in Roman Bank - Wisbech Ward of Fenland District Council. The councillors for Roman Bank are: Councillor Phillip Hatton (Conservative), Planning and Staff committees Vice-Chairman,Councillor Michael J. Humphrey (Conservative), Vice-Chairman of the Council and Councillor Christopher J. Seaton (Conservative), portfolio holder for open business.
On 5 May 2011 there was a local election, the ward recorded no change.
, the designer of the famous "octagon" lantern on Ely Cathedral
, this rare clear glass medieval window (which survived the depradations of Oliver Cromwell
) fills the whole of the western end of the building. All of the woodwork and pews in the church are later Victorian additions.
In the Lady Chapel there are still some remnants of the church's original medieval stained glass, the rest of the church's stained glass is Victorian. The East Window shows the life and passion of Christ
, while the North-Western Window depicts the church's (and village's) patron saint, Saint Giles and St. Paul (one of the patrons of the Church of Ss. Peter & Paul in Wisbech).
The outer southern wall of the church still has the remains of a medieval sundial, which was in use when the church was a cell of the priory in Wisbech.
The Tower
The church is one of the few in the area to have a separate tower. The tower fell away form the eastern end of the church in the 18th century (due to poor foundations and strong wind), and was rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott
when the building was extensively renovated in the 1880s. Local legend has it that the tower was pushed over by the devil, as he could not abide the sound of the church bells.
The tower has a ring of six bells with a tenor weight of 8-2-8cwt tuned to A. The bells were recast for the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, from the original ring of 5, six bells were cast. The bells hang in a wooden frame, and are rung in the traditional English full circle ringing system.
Renovation by Sir George Gilbert Scott
In the 1880s the church was renovated by the famous architect and designer of the "K" Class red telephone box
es, Sir George Gilbert Scott. The church was shortened, where the collapse of the tower had destroyed the original sanctuary (The east wall of the building still has the original blank arch). The nave roof was built up to its present level, and a new clerestorey was installed—the original can still be seen on the inside where the builders filled the Norman windows. The side aisles were also extended and the roof was re-leaded. The original plans, drawn by Scott can be seen on display at the back of the church, where they are now displayed after being found in a drawer in the church vestry.
Repairs to the roof
The church's roof was repaired in 2001–2002, as the original Victorian tiling and structure had decayed, letting in rain water along the whole of the nave and the side aisles. At the request of English Nature (now Natural England
) the woodwork in the new rooves had holes bored into them to allow the resident colony of pipistrelle bats in and out of the building. The nave roof was blessed by the Right Rev'd Anthony Russell
(retired) Bishop of Ely
and Lord Spiritual, and the then incumbent of the parish, Rev'd Nigel Whitehouse, the roof was baptised using a bottle of specially brewed ale by Elgood & Sons Ltd., called Tydd St. Tiles.
Other Items of Interest
The Church has a copy of the Coventry Cross of Nails hanging in the sanctuary.
The church also has a (tentative) claim to having had a pope in the parish. It is believed that Nicholas Brakespeare (Pope Adrian IV
) was a curate of the parish. As a consequence the local pub is called the 'Crown and Mitre'.
The parish is the owner of a rare Elizabethan chalice
, gifted to the church by the then lord of the manor. It is inscribed: "A gift for Tedd sent Gyles". The chalice is only used by the church on special occasions, and when not in use is kept under lock-and-key in a local bank vault.
The church has a restored Victorian bier, found and restored by a parishioner. The original wooden framework ond cast iron suspension units were in rescuable condition upon its discovery, but the wheels were made by a local smith, and the side rails are in actual fact lengths of copper heating pipes.
Parish Priests
The Great War
The men are recorded as "Fallen from this parish in the Great Wars 1914–18 and 1939–1945"
The Second World War
Northern Ireland
B&W was originated in the British attack on the Dutch in Sole Bay in 1672. One of the officers involved was Matthew Wren, son of the Bishop of Ely. In his will (written just before the attack), Wren left 15 acres of Low Marsh to the poor of the village. By 1837, the Charities Commissioners also acknowledged that John Brigstock had left land to the poor in 1667, although Brigstock never owned the land. He had merely controlled the land for an older charity (whose name is now lost), and his name was on the deeds
Tydd Steam's Armageddon ale was awarded a bronze medal at the CAMRA Peterborough Beer Festival in 2008.
On Hockland Road is Paget Hall, a Grade II listed building. It was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott for his brother Rev'd Canon John Scott, then Rector of the parish. It was built around the same time as the church was renovated. Paget Hall is most famous for 'The Barn' or 'Party Barn'. Large gatherings were once held, and the tradition is still kept going. People such as Charlie Wood, Bertie Wearing, Zekeriya Keskin and Lawrence Davis have been known to show their faces around there from time to time.
The Guild of Our Lady
The Guild of Our Lady had a membership restricted to twelve brethren. It was founded by William Everswell, chaplain and Nicholas Clerk. The foundation of the guild also established a chaplaincy. by 1535 the value of the guild was valued at £4 13s 1d. The guild provided candles and torches for the icon of Our Lady in the church.
The Guild of the Holy Cross
The Guild of the Holy Cross had a chapel at Sea Gate, near the outfall of the North Level Main Drain (Then the Shire Drain).
The guild of St. Giles
The Guild of St. Giles, provided candles for the mass in the church. The membership was paid in bushel
s of barley. The members was also required to attend Vespers
on the eve of St. Giles and mass on the feast day itself (1 September). The guild was also involved in charitable acts in the parish, being required to donate 1s 8d worth of bread to the poor after St. Giles' mass.
There was also a Guild of St. John, although no guild documentation exists. They may have met in a chapel by the Tritton (now Tretton) Bridge.
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was founded in the late 1000s with the building of the church of St. Giles in 1084 on a natural rise in the land of the Fens. The church itself is built of Barnack stone, known to be the gift of the Bishop of Peterborough
Bishop of Peterborough
The Bishop of Peterborough is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Peterborough in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the counties of Northamptonshire, Rutland and the Soke of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire...
.
The name 'Tydd' is known to derive from a corruption of the word "Tide", as the village was home to an important sluice used for draining the Fens. Although many Fenland names derive from Anglo Saxon words, a few scattered around Wisbech
Wisbech
Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges...
include Anglo Saxon words referencing the native British population. Even though the village is old enough, it does not appear in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, because the village was in the liberty of the Bishop of Ely
Bishop of Ely
The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the...
.
It is the northernmost village in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
(bordering Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
), on the same latitude as Midlands towns such as Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
and Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. The village is in the distribution area of two local free newspapers, The Fenland Citizen and The Wisbech Standard.
Geography
The village is completely low-lying, with an average altitude of 0 metres. The village is roughly square shaped (formed by the four main roads of Church Lane, Hockland Road, High Broadgate and Newgate Road). The eastern side of the village is dominated by the Norman church. The western side of the village is dominated by the Community Centre, a large blue roofed barn-like structure.The civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Tydd St. Giles also includes the hamlets of Foul Anchor, and part of Tydd Gote which lies partly in Tydd St Giles and partly in Tydd St Mary
Tydd St Mary
Tydd St Mary is a village and civil parish in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England, about east of the town of Spalding and about north of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. the village has no direct "A" road access, but is joined to the A1101 by the B1165. Tydd St. Giles is in the (old) Wisbech
Wisbech
Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges...
postal district, and is the northern-most settlement in Cambridgeshire, it is also the northern-most, and last, parish in the Diocese of Ely, this is enhanced by the fact that the traditional county and diocesan bound is Eau Dyke, to the north of the village.
Eau dyke is the only natural watercourse in the village, as it follows the course of the old Cat River. Across the southern boundary of the village runs a part of the North Level Main Drain, the drain is a vital part to the draining and continuing existence of the Fens, the drain then joins the River Nene at Foul Anchor, after passing through a pumping station, that brings the water up to the level of the river.
Although the village is officially recorded at an altitude of 0 metres, the age of the settlement, and the vowels "i" and "y" in the village name suggest that it stands on a low mound that would have been above the surface of the fen. It is certain that the village was inhabitable before the 16th and 17th Century draining of the fen, because of the age of the church.
A survey of 1868 described it thus: TYDD ST. GILES, a parish in the hundred of Wisbech, Isle of Ely, county Cambridge, 5 miles north-west of Wisbech, its post town, and 6 from St. Mary Sutton. The preparation of woad for dyeing is carried on. The construction of the Bedford Level canal, which is 100 feet wide and 30 feet deep, has greatly improved the quality of the land. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ely, value £653, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dedicated to St. Giles. The parochial charities produce about £80 per annum. There is an endowed school, and the Independents have a chapel.
Politics
The village is in the North East CambridgeshireNorth East Cambridgeshire
North East Cambridgeshire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
constituency and is represented in Parliament by Mr. Steve Barclay MP (Conservative), he stood in the 2010 General Election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
after the retirement of Malcolm Moss
Malcolm Moss
Malcolm Douglas Moss is a British Conservative Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for North East Cambridgeshire from 1987 until his retirement at the 2010 general election.-Early life:...
(Conservative). The village Polling Station
Polling station
A polling place or polling station is where voters cast their ballots in elections.Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling places are often located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, churches, sports...
is in the Community Centre to the west of the village.
In local politics the village is in Roman Bank - Wisbech Ward of Fenland District Council. The councillors for Roman Bank are: Councillor Phillip Hatton (Conservative), Planning and Staff committees Vice-Chairman,Councillor Michael J. Humphrey (Conservative), Vice-Chairman of the Council and Councillor Christopher J. Seaton (Conservative), portfolio holder for open business.
On 5 May 2011 there was a local election, the ward recorded no change.
St. Giles Church
The Norman church dedicated to St. Giles, dominates the eastern side of the village. The church, although extensively redesigned in the 1800s (see below), still retains its Norman architecture and feel. The West Window was designed by Alan of WalsinghamAlan of Walsingham
Alan of Walsingham , also known as Alan de Walsingham, was an English architect, first heard of in 1314 as a junior monk at Ely, distinguished by his skill in goldsmith's work, and for his acquaintance with the principles of mechanics....
, the designer of the famous "octagon" lantern on Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral is the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of Ely and a suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Huntingdon...
, this rare clear glass medieval window (which survived the depradations of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
) fills the whole of the western end of the building. All of the woodwork and pews in the church are later Victorian additions.
In the Lady Chapel there are still some remnants of the church's original medieval stained glass, the rest of the church's stained glass is Victorian. The East Window shows the life and passion of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
, while the North-Western Window depicts the church's (and village's) patron saint, Saint Giles and St. Paul (one of the patrons of the Church of Ss. Peter & Paul in Wisbech).
The outer southern wall of the church still has the remains of a medieval sundial, which was in use when the church was a cell of the priory in Wisbech.
The Tower
The church is one of the few in the area to have a separate tower. The tower fell away form the eastern end of the church in the 18th century (due to poor foundations and strong wind), and was rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott
George Gilbert Scott
Sir George Gilbert Scott was an English architect of the Victorian Age, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches, cathedrals and workhouses...
when the building was extensively renovated in the 1880s. Local legend has it that the tower was pushed over by the devil, as he could not abide the sound of the church bells.
The tower has a ring of six bells with a tenor weight of 8-2-8cwt tuned to A. The bells were recast for the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, from the original ring of 5, six bells were cast. The bells hang in a wooden frame, and are rung in the traditional English full circle ringing system.
Renovation by Sir George Gilbert Scott
In the 1880s the church was renovated by the famous architect and designer of the "K" Class red telephone box
Red telephone box
The red telephone box, a public telephone kiosk designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is a familiar sight on the streets of the United Kingdom, Malta, Bermuda and Gibraltar, and despite a reduction in their numbers in recent years, red boxes can still be seen in many places and in current or former...
es, Sir George Gilbert Scott. The church was shortened, where the collapse of the tower had destroyed the original sanctuary (The east wall of the building still has the original blank arch). The nave roof was built up to its present level, and a new clerestorey was installed—the original can still be seen on the inside where the builders filled the Norman windows. The side aisles were also extended and the roof was re-leaded. The original plans, drawn by Scott can be seen on display at the back of the church, where they are now displayed after being found in a drawer in the church vestry.
Repairs to the roof
The church's roof was repaired in 2001–2002, as the original Victorian tiling and structure had decayed, letting in rain water along the whole of the nave and the side aisles. At the request of English Nature (now Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
) the woodwork in the new rooves had holes bored into them to allow the resident colony of pipistrelle bats in and out of the building. The nave roof was blessed by the Right Rev'd Anthony Russell
Anthony Russell
Anthony John Russell was the previous Bishop of Ely in the Church of England.Russell was educated at Uppingham School, St Chad's College, Durham University and Trinity College Oxford, where he earned a DPhil degree...
(retired) Bishop of Ely
Bishop of Ely
The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the...
and Lord Spiritual, and the then incumbent of the parish, Rev'd Nigel Whitehouse, the roof was baptised using a bottle of specially brewed ale by Elgood & Sons Ltd., called Tydd St. Tiles.
Other Items of Interest
The Church has a copy of the Coventry Cross of Nails hanging in the sanctuary.
The church also has a (tentative) claim to having had a pope in the parish. It is believed that Nicholas Brakespeare (Pope Adrian IV
Pope Adrian IV
Pope Adrian IV , born Nicholas Breakspear or Breakspeare, was Pope from 1154 to 1159.Adrian IV is the only Englishman who has occupied the papal chair...
) was a curate of the parish. As a consequence the local pub is called the 'Crown and Mitre'.
The parish is the owner of a rare Elizabethan chalice
Chalice
A chalice is a goblet or footed cup intended to hold a drink. This can also refer to;* Holy Chalice, the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine* Chalice , a type of smoking pipe...
, gifted to the church by the then lord of the manor. It is inscribed: "A gift for Tedd sent Gyles". The chalice is only used by the church on special occasions, and when not in use is kept under lock-and-key in a local bank vault.
The church has a restored Victorian bier, found and restored by a parishioner. The original wooden framework ond cast iron suspension units were in rescuable condition upon its discovery, but the wheels were made by a local smith, and the side rails are in actual fact lengths of copper heating pipes.
Parish Priests
- 2005–Present Rev'd Sandra Gardner
- 1998–2004 Rev'd Nigel Whitehouse (promoted)
- –1998 Rev'd Richard (Jack) Tofts (retired)
- 1320 Nicholas de Houton (first rector)
The War Memorial
The War Memorial for the parish of Tydd St. Giles and Foul Anchor records the details of 15 men who fell in the Great War (12), the Second World War (3), and in Northern Ireland (1).The Great War
The men are recorded as "Fallen from this parish in the Great Wars 1914–18 and 1939–1945"
- Sidney Aubin - Of the King's Royal Rifles (A/200552 - Rifleman), died of his wounds on 25 March 1918. His remains lie in the Roye New British Cemetery, SommeSommeSomme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. It is part of the Picardy region of France....
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. - Hugh Clark - Of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (26310 - Private), killed in action 25th OCtober 1917. His remains were never recovered and he is remembered on the memorial wall in Tyne Cot.
- Richard Herbert Clarke - Of the 6th Battalion, Royal Berkshire RegimentRoyal Berkshire RegimentThe Royal Berkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 49th Regiment of Foot and the 66th Regiment of Foot.The regiment was originally formed as The Princess Charlotte of Wales's , taking the...
(Princess Charlotte of Wales) (36544 - Private), died of his wounds on 11 March 1917. His remains lie in the Pozieres British Cemetery, Somme, France the site of the Pozieres MemorialPozieres MemorialThe Pozieres Memorial is a World War I memorial, located near the commune of Pozieres, in the Somme département of France. The memorial lists 14,692 names of British and South African soldiers with no known grave who were killed between 21 March 1918 and 8 August 1918 during the Second Battle of...
. - Harry Cragg - Of the 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (15760 - Private), killed in action on 28 November 1915, at Kirtech Tepe Sirt, in the SuvlaSuvlaSuvla is a bay on the Aegean coast of the Gallipoli peninsula in European Turkey, south of the Gulf of Saros.On 6 August 1915 it was the site for the Landing at Suvla Bay by the British IX Corps as part of the August Offensive during the Battle of Gallipoli...
sector at the Battle of GallipoliGallipoliThe Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
. His remains lie in the Azmack Cemetery, Suvla, Gallipoli, Turkey. - John William Fincham - Of the 11th Battalion, Suffolk RegimentSuffolk RegimentThe Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the Royal Norfolk Regiment as the 1st East Anglian Regiment in 1959...
(20755 - Lance-Corporal), killed in action on 1 July 1916. His remains lie in Ovillers Military Cemetery, France. - Arthur Godfrey - Of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (15325 - Private), killed in action on 1 July 1916. His remains were never recovered and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
- Frederick Godfrey - Of the 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (25064 - Private), killed in action on 12 November 1916. His remains lie in Regina Trench Cemetery, Somme, France.
- William Harry Godfrey - Of the 5th Battalion, Machine Gun CorpsMachine Gun CorpsThe Machine Gun Corps was a corps of the British Army, formed in October 1915 in response to the need for more effective use of machine guns on the Western Front in World War I. The Heavy Branch of the MGC was the first to use tanks in combat, and the branch was subsequently turned into the Tank...
(148824 - Private), killed in action on 29 May 1918, he was awarded the Military MedalMilitary MedalThe Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
. His remains lie in the Tannay British Cemetery, ThiennesThiennes-References:*...
. - Arthur George Groves - Of the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (26746 - Private), killed in action on 9 August 1918. His remains were never recovered, he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
- Amos Hill - Of the 10th Battalion, Canadians (886424 - Private), killed in action on 11 November 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele. His remains lie in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. - Alfred William Monkton - Of the 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (L/7158 - Private), he died on 22 March 1915. His remains were never recovered, he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper (Ypres), Belgium.
- Harry Smith - Of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (15272 - Private), killed in action on 1 July 1916. his remains were never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
- Arthur Biss - Of the D Company, 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (14568 - Private), killed in action on 26 September 1915. His remains were never recovered and he is remembered on the Loos MemorialLoos MemorialThe Loos Memorial is a World War I memorial forming the sides and rear of Dud Corner Cemetery, located near the commune of Loos-en-Gohelle, in the Pas-de-Calais département of France. The memorial lists 20,610 names of British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave who were killed in the...
, Pas-de-Calais, France. - Herbert F. Brown - Of the 4th Suffolk Regiment (Private), Gassed.
- Walter James Green - Of the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (9452 - Private), killed in action on 14 September 1914. His remains were never recovered, he is remembered on the La Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorialLa Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorialThe La Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorial is a World War I memorial in France, located on the south bank of the River Marne, on the outskirts of the commune of La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, 66 kilometres east of Paris, in the department of Seine-et-Marne...
. - Jesse T. Holmes - Of the 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (24068 - Private), died of his wounds on 30 November 1916. His remains lie in the Trois Arbres Cemetery, SteenwerckSteenwerckSteenwerck is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is located about north of Lille and as of 2003 has a population of 3260....
, Belgium. - Reuben Charles Kettle - Of the SS (MPS) Westergate, Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(LZ5581 - Gunner), ship torpedoed on 21 April 1918. His remains lie in Gefossen Churchyard. - Harry Rowell - Of the 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (15272 - Private), killed in action on 15 September 1916. His remains were never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
- Fred Wells - Of the 21st Light Railway Operating Company, Royal EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
(256806 - Sapper), killed in action on 20 October 1917. His remains lie in the Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium.
The Second World War
- Charles T. Clfton - Details unsure, died 1942.
- Bernard Raymond Pentelow - Of the 287 Field Company, Royal Engineers (2090367 - Sapper), died as Prisoner of WarPrisoner of warA prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
on 9 October 1943. His remains lie in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, MyanmarMyanmarBurma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
(Burma). He is also remembered in the church on a plaque on the eastern wall. - R. Henry Wright - Details unsure, died 1943.
Northern Ireland
- Michael John Gay - Of the 18/20 Squadron, Royal Corps of TransportRoyal Corps of TransportThe Royal Corps of Transport was a British Army Corps formed in 1965 from the transport elements of the Royal Army Service Corps and the movement control element of the Royal Engineers . The depot was Buller Barracks in Aldershot...
(Driver), died as the result of an IRAProvisional Irish Republican ArmyThe Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
bomb on 17 March 1973
Brigstock and Wren Charity
The village is home to a local charity, Brigstock & Wren (B&W). B&W was recognised as a charity in 1910, in order to help people in the parish. At the time of the charity's founding it managed 29 acres of land and three cottages in Tydd St. Giles, B&W also controlled 12 acres of land in Sutton St. Edmund. The aid from B&W generally comes in the form of money, although sometimes items will be bought for applicants considered worthy of aid. The committee of B&W consists mostly of local landowners, all elected by the wider membership. The parish priest is an ex officio member of the committee.B&W was originated in the British attack on the Dutch in Sole Bay in 1672. One of the officers involved was Matthew Wren, son of the Bishop of Ely. In his will (written just before the attack), Wren left 15 acres of Low Marsh to the poor of the village. By 1837, the Charities Commissioners also acknowledged that John Brigstock had left land to the poor in 1667, although Brigstock never owned the land. He had merely controlled the land for an older charity (whose name is now lost), and his name was on the deeds
Tydd Steam Brewery
The village is home to a micro-brewery, Tydd Steam. The brewery was founded in 2007 by Will and Anna Neavson. The newly installed plant is capable of producing 5 barrels per brew. The Brewery is situated in a renovated and converted barn. The barn was used as a garage for two steam tractors that were used by the farm. The tractors are now kept in the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln.Tydd Steam's Armageddon ale was awarded a bronze medal at the CAMRA Peterborough Beer Festival in 2008.
Notable Buildings
The village has seven listed buildings in its "historic centre" (around Church Lane and Kirkgate). Two of these are the Church and Tower. Also included are the "Old School", a Victorian primary school building and school master's house on Church Lane, which unfortunately has fallen into a state of considerable disrepair. The Old Tithe house (also on Church Lane) is a Grade I listed building, that formerly was part of the parish properties (and used as a parish hall). For centuries it was not used, but was bought by a local member of SPAB, and restored it to its former glory. The other notable building is the Grade 1 listed Elizabethan manor house (Tydd Manor).On Hockland Road is Paget Hall, a Grade II listed building. It was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott for his brother Rev'd Canon John Scott, then Rector of the parish. It was built around the same time as the church was renovated. Paget Hall is most famous for 'The Barn' or 'Party Barn'. Large gatherings were once held, and the tradition is still kept going. People such as Charlie Wood, Bertie Wearing, Zekeriya Keskin and Lawrence Davis have been known to show their faces around there from time to time.
Village Guilds
The village had three guilds: the Guild of our Lady (1350), the Guild of the Holy Cross (1385) and the Guild of St. Giles (1386).The Guild of Our Lady
The Guild of Our Lady had a membership restricted to twelve brethren. It was founded by William Everswell, chaplain and Nicholas Clerk. The foundation of the guild also established a chaplaincy. by 1535 the value of the guild was valued at £4 13s 1d. The guild provided candles and torches for the icon of Our Lady in the church.
The Guild of the Holy Cross
The Guild of the Holy Cross had a chapel at Sea Gate, near the outfall of the North Level Main Drain (Then the Shire Drain).
The guild of St. Giles
The Guild of St. Giles, provided candles for the mass in the church. The membership was paid in bushel
Bushel
A bushel is an imperial and U.S. customary unit of dry volume, equivalent in each of these systems to 4 pecks or 8 gallons. It is used for volumes of dry commodities , most often in agriculture...
s of barley. The members was also required to attend Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
on the eve of St. Giles and mass on the feast day itself (1 September). The guild was also involved in charitable acts in the parish, being required to donate 1s 8d worth of bread to the poor after St. Giles' mass.
There was also a Guild of St. John, although no guild documentation exists. They may have met in a chapel by the Tritton (now Tretton) Bridge.