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MORSTON NEWS
&
MORSTON MARDLE
Compiled by Samphire
  © 2003, 2004
(from information provided by J.J.R.Wingfield)

Excerpts from local Lynx 2002-2004 up to the present day







Morston Village














Coming soon   
"East Anglia; Birthplace and Home of the Powditch's;
Part 1. Norfolk"
++++++++++








Morston Village














Coming soon   
"East Anglia; Birthplace and Home of the Powditch's;
Part 1. Norfolk"
++++++++++








Morston Village














Coming soon   
"East Anglia; Birthplace and Home of the Powditch's;
Part 1. Norfolk"
++++++++++
To be continued .........................
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Thu 23rd Dec. 5.00 pm. Candlelit Carol Service.
The Revd Michael Wilson will officiate.

Sat 25th Dec. 9.30 am. Christmas Day Holy Communion.
 Collection for the hospitals at Kelling and Wells.

Sat 19th Mar 2005.
Friends of Morston Church Quiz.
MORSTON ENTREPRENEUR GETS DAILY TELEGRAPH SPREAD
Morston's Tom Kay got a third of a page in the Business Section of the
Daily Telegraph of 18th October , half of this being a coloured picture of
him holding a surfboard and wearing his successful product, a "Finisterre
Fleece".  In 1972 Tom set up a "technical clothing" company called
"Finisterre" in St Agnes, Cornwall, near the UK's surfing capital,
Newquay. This was after eight months' designing and testing his fleece
prototypes in conjunction with Leeds University - at the end of which he
came up with his state-of -the-art, long-sleeved, zip-up, anti-the-elements
fleece, beloved of surfers. One resident of Morston wore one in the
Himalayas recently at heights of up to 17500 ft and says it "saved her life"!.
The Finisterre retails at £120 and is currently being tested by the RNLI  
Projected turnover for 2005-2006 is £200,000 with 2% of pre-tax profits
going to Surfers against Sewage and the Marine Conservation Society.

MORSTON HAD A MILL BEFORE THE ARMADA
On July 20th in 1583, five years before the Spanish Armada, Mr. Robart
Dye signed an "Agreement for removing of mill from Morston to Langham",
after the harvest. The miller was called Dry. [Bacon & Townshend Papers
1496-1735, MC 1872/4].

  In the 1870-80s there was a Mill Cottage in Morston mentioned in the
Census and in about 1884-1898 the prolific American lithographer,
Joseph Pennell, depicted a windmill in the present farmyard of Hill Farm
[Dutt, Highways & Byways of East Anglia, 1932, p.217] - which is used as
the logo on Morston concert programmes. The grandparents and great
grandparents of those living here today apparently never mentioned a mill
to them, so maybe this 19th century mill was assembled and dismantled
as required. Clearly the 16th century mill was movable. Yet for Miller Dry to
require  a written "Agreement" to move the 1583 one, it was surely quite a
substantial edifice. Since there is no river here, both mills must have been
windmills; and it is likely that the 1580s mill - like the 1880s one - was
sited at or near Morston's highest point (on which stands the church), in
what is today the farmyard of Hill Farm.


WEDDING NOV
WEDDING Oct
MYSTERY LANDHOLDER
In the Norfolk Archives is an undated manuscript [3333] showing that
Thomas Borditch - who has to be a Powditch! - held 60 acres at Morston
for a rent of £20 p.a., at the same time as Thomas Shorting was a
landholder here. Shorting, who was Collector of Customs at Cley, married
Morston lass Ann Flaxman, the half-sister of Admiral Sir Cloudesley
Shovell, in late 1691. There were five men called James Powditch living
at Morston between the 1530s and about 1717, so this is probably
James IV who married Hannah Holden 1679/80, or their son, James V,
who married Dorothy Holden in 1691. (The new, young  Ipswich football
star, Bowditch, is sadly not a "Powditch of Morston").
17th-19th Sep 2004

475th year "Reunion": North Norfolk Family named  Powditch;
Morston Celebration in Aid of  All Saints Church
Just over a year ago I was intrigued by a pedigree of "Powditch of
Morston, North Creake & Wells" in Patrick Palgrave-Moore's Norfolk
Pedigress (Part Five).  Ned Hamond then told me about the two ancient
family memorials in the church and two graves just outside the porch door,
and lent me a book on the family by John Algar of Swansea (who runs the
family website). The book, which showed that the family had emigrated all
over the world, fuelled my interest enough for me to contact John and
suggest a long weekend programme a year's hence for the family, to be
centred on Morston and "their ancestral church". John contacted family
members and they liked the idea, so a year ago we planned the visit in
detail.

  The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt. Revd Graham James was present at All
Saints' Church on 18th September during the unveiling of a Memorial to
ancestors of the Powditch family, who lived in Morston from 1530 - 1750.

31 members of the Powditch family appeared in Morston from Australia
and New Zealand and from England and Wales, and celebrated their first
ever get-together, the highlight being a Service of Thanksgiving, with the
wonderful St Andrew's Singers from nearby Field Dalling conducted by
Rosemary Kimmins. (At the last moment the Powditch family members
from Chile and the USA were unable to come).

  Many were meeting their relations for the first time. A 4ft by 5ft pedigree
depicting the many lines of the  Powditch family from 1538 (when James
Apowdiche arrived and married Annabel of Morston) down to the present
day, researched by John Algar and professionally created with beautiful
calligraphy by Ken Bartlett of Langham, was displayed in the church. The
weekend included three coach trips (to Wells, Blakeney area and North
Creake), a tea party given by Diana Scott at the idyllic former Powditch
home of Creake Abbey (1670s to 1770s), a seal trip (given by Friends
Vice-Chairman Carole Bean & John Bean), a Lunch, and a Dinner (with
Raffle Prizes and Auction Lots kindly presented by those living in Morston  
- as was the Lunch), and - at their Family Dinner - a Performance of Shanty
Songs generously sung for free by the Old Wild Rovers (arranged by Tom
Harrison, who also generously supported the Invitation Letters to the
Powditch clan and the printing of the Service Sheets).  

  The visit of the Powditch family, is part of the programme of Friends of
Morston Church, to maintaining the fabric of Morston Church. The
weekend - money is still coming in - has made £850.00 so far.

JUNE WEDDING
On June 12th 2003, All Saints' Church, Morston was packed when
Morston's Emma Kay married Sam Curtis of Blakeney. The wonderful
blaze of flowers in church was arranged by friends from the village. Given
away by her brother Tom, Emma looked stunning. The Reception, on the
lawn of Church Farm House in warm sunshine, preceded a dinner and
dance in a marquee in the Kays' field overlooking the marsh. The great tent
was beautifully decorated by Sam's mother, Pooh, with gorgeous flower
arrangements. Sam and his radiant bride left the Reception in a pony and
trap. They are now living and working in London, but return to Morston
frequently.

BIRDS INCLUDING SIBERIAN VISITORS
In November when the migrating Bewick's Swans and
Whooper Swans from Siberia were expected in UK, an
assemblage (is that the right noun of assemblage?) of
fourteen Whooper's Swans was seen flying over Morston.
Since then their hoop-hoops have been occasionally audible
in the direction of  Stiffkey Fen.  Also in November here on
the marsh or on Morston Downs, Red Kites and Marsh
Harriers; and a Scops Owl (not normally seen north of
Central France) have also been seen.
FISHMONGERS' COMPANY: £1,000 DONATION
FOR CHURCH REPAIRS
Last year (2003) J.J.R.Wingfield translated the Latin memorial
in the church near the lectern, a stone wall-tablet in memory of
Susan King, the wife of John King.  
Aged but 23, she died on 16th March 1615, apparently, it
transpired, in childbirth. (This was their second surviving
child - christened Susan after her mother - who was to die a
week and a day after her mother).  
After J.J.R.Wingfield had discussions with Professor
Hassall-Smith of the UAE, (whom J.J.R.W. knew had been
researching the King family of Wiveton), he learned that not
only did Susan, daughter of John King of Wiveton, marry a
second John King - thought to be her cousin - a substantial
landholder farming in 1619 some 160 acres in Morston, but
that the father of Susan King the elder, traded with London -
mainly sending fish to the capital, and who - joy of joys! -
was apparently a member of the famous livery company,
the Fishmongers' Company.  And so Friends' Chairman,
Dominick Harrod approached the company; and in
November, "in recognition of the links between the village
and Gresham's School"  the Fishmongers sent Friends a
most generous donation of £1,000.  The Company are
Trustees for Gresharn's School and "are intimately concerned with salmon and fresh water fishing as well as shellfish
throughout the country and support research".
MORSTON PRIZE QUIZ:
NOW ON MARCH 20th 2003, 7.00 PM FOR 7.30 START
By kind permission of Mrs. G. Bullard, this will be held at the
Garden of Eden, the house across the main road from
Morston Hall.  Parking will be in the garden.
Teams will be seated at tables of 8, some teams being
made up on the night.  Tickets: £10 a head - to include a
2-course supper with a glass of wine.  More wine or beer will
be available at a cash bar.  Before Supper there will be five
rounds, each of ten questions, and the same again after
Supper.  Rounds will include: General, Sport, History
(including Local History), Countryside (including Flora &
Fauna), Food & Drink, Music, Art & Literature, TV and Films.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
MORSTON HALL HOTEL TICKET DINNER: 4th FEBRUARY
Tracy & Galton Blackiston have kindly offered Friends of
Morston Church a charity black-tie event on Wednesday 4th
February (7.30 for 8.00 pm) at £60 a head.  The evening will
start with champagne and canapes followed by a delicious
3-course dinner prepared by Galton and his team.  Each
course will have a specially selected wine supplied by
Ferrers, Le Mesurier & Son. To round the evening off  
Nick Barton, the producer of Calendar Girls, has kindly
agreed to be our guest speaker.
We would all like to thank those above, together with
Blakeney Trading Company, The White Horse Hotel,
Blakeney,  Jeremy Barlow ROI,  Six Appleyard,
Burrows Clothes of Distinction, Keyline Graphics and
Floribunda Flowers, for supporting the evening, and - last
but by no means least - the North Norfolk Fish Company,
who are giving the fish for Dinner.
NEW CHANDELIER PRESENTED TO THE CHURCH in 2003
Ned Hamond has made a third magnificent 12-candle chandelier for the church.
This has been presented to the church by churchwarden Gill
Kay in memory of her late husband, Sandy Kay (1927-2003) -
who worked hard to preserve our lovely church.
WHO WERE THOSE MORSTON FOLK OF 1896?
They included: the rector: the Revd Eugene Sweny (M.A. of
Trinity College, Dublin), King William, the Chief Boatman of  
"the Coastguard Station" (an area of Coastguard House,
Tide's Reach and the present day boatyard and field and the
area where the Coastguard Cottages were built in 1890);
Brereton P. Wood, William G. Wood and James Myhill,
running, the three farms, Mrs. Sarah Temple (Jim Temple's
grandmother) running the Townshend Arms Public House
(where Point House now stands, along to the Beans'),
Jeremiah Piercey running the Anchor Public House, Mrs.
Ann Potter, dressmaker, and Robert W. Russell, grocer and
draper.  Letters came from East Dereham via Blakeney by
8.00 am and the postbox was cleared at 4.45.  The nearest
"money order and telegraph office" was at Blakeney.  
Children went to school in Langham.  Walker, "the carrier to
Norwich". . . "passed through every Monday and Thursday,
returning Friday".
WERE MORSTON FOLK SLIMMER IN 1896?
In 1896 Morston was one of the Manors of the Marquess of
Townshend.  The parish consisted of 1,715 acres ("exclusive
of a tract of low marshes, which are overflowed at spring
tides").  The population in 1891 was 162  -  and "the church
affords 200 sittings"!  It sounds like a canteen!  And it was
described as "a building of rubble".  Today, working on about
six to a church pew, we count on being able to seat  -  
including in the chancel  -  about 110 (of which about a dozen
can't see because of the pillars); and a further 40 can be
seated in chairs, where they can see (total: 150). If you add
another 20 chairs (where people are unable to see the
rector), you still don't reach "200 sittings".  So I conclude that
Morston folk and their visitors back then. were not so broad
in the beam: so that  -  then  -  one could cram eight instead of
six into the pews.
1848: MORSTON BLUEJACKETS' GUARD OF HONOUR
FOR MARRYATT
In response to a recent letter from James Tilmouth of Kent
with the query: "Who was the Chief Officer of the Morston
Coastguard, who in 1830 was reduced to the rank of
Boatman and was posted away from Morston "for going into
a crowd of smugglers at or near Morston without having his
cutlass drawn or his pistols ready"?
The answer, according to Bernard Scarlett's Shipminder:
The Story of Her Majesty's Coastguard [1971, p.53] is:
Captain George C- [full surname name not given].  This
cannot have been Lieutenant George Thomas.  In 1830 at
Morston [near] Cromer, Chief Officer George C- ", was tried
on a charge of "negligence and want of exertion and
determination, by which the persons and goods of certain
smugglers escaped capture" (and then followed the details
as given above).  The entry, recorded in the Court of Inquiry
General Order Book, also shows two further charges:
(2) By collaring a smuggler and at once discharging his one
and only pistol, he rendered himself defenceless, and was
therefore easily neutralised by the smugglers, and
(3) Giving varied accounts of what actually transpired.  To
make collusion less likely, Coastguards had to serve over
20 miles from their home.  That didn't stop collusion here in
1830 - or so it seems..
Coastguard House was built that very year (1830) and was in
1834 occupied by a Navy contemporary of Marryatt's, the
red-faced bearded Lieutenant George Thomas as Captain
of the Coastguard here [Tom Pocock, Captain Marryatt,
2000, pp. 182-184].  After being wounded in "the War of
18I2" (fought between Britain and the USA in 1812-1815)
- including being present at the burning of Washington and in
the Battle of New Orleans (1815), Lieutenant George
Thomas, RN, served in 1817-1830 under the command of
the famous Captain Lord Cochrane, in the navies of Chile,
Brazil and Greece as they fought their wars of independence.
Captain Marryatt had bought Manor Cottage, Langham
(where the nunnery stands today) in 1830 and wrote several
novels there - about America, Canada (both of which he
knew from 1835-37) and Africa, as well as The
Privateersman and Children of the New Forest.  From 1834
(the year Mr. Thomas arrived to live here in Morston),
whenever Marryatt was living in Langham rather than London
or was abroad, "often," and from 1843 until Marryatt died
in 1848, "nearly every day", Frederick Marryatt used to ride
up here on Dumpling to come drinking at  Coastguard
House - or George Thomas would ride over from Morston
to visit Marryatt in Langham.  When Marryatt died on 9th
August 1848, it was no surprise that Lieutenant George
Thomas, captain of the Morston Coastguard and his
Bluejackets of Morston, provided the guard of honour for
Frederick Marryatt at his funeral at St. Andrew's, Langham.
1838 COLONEL COLBY MAP OF
MORSTON, STIFFKEY & BLAKENEY
A copy of this magnificent coloured map dated 1st November  
"the Outline and Writing by J. Adkins, the Hills by L. D'Elbouw,
the Water by B. Baker, published by Colonel Colby, is now
on display on the Millenium Board in the church.  It shows
places that most readers will recognise including Signal
Staff, Pilot's House, Rinham Lane (yes!), Preventive Watch
Boat (east of the "NorthBite", and with a picture), Oul Bank
and Hun Lane, and a splendid picture of a man carrying eight
rabbits on two sticks, walking inland "this way" from Patch Pit
Creek.  
The Preventive Waterguard was instituted in 1809 - when the
third of England's three Excise Districts, the coast from
London to Berwick, disposed of 10 cruisers and 13
preventive boats.
VILLAGE DESIGN STATEMENT
This is in the process of having some graphics and pictures
added.
After further editing it will be brought back to the VDS
Committee for final approval.
OBITUARIES 2002-2004








Morston Village














++++++++++
DOROTHY TERRY
Dorothy Terry died in Morston on December 4th and was
buried here on the 12th.  She was 84.  Her family asked for
the collection at her funeral service (and donations sent to
the funeral director up to 12th January) to go to the PCC's
"Fabric of the Church Account".  Dorothy was born in
London, but moved to begin married life at Wiveton, where she had two sons, prior to moving to South Close, where
she had two further sons and a daughter.  Her children now
live in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Norfolk (Cromer,
Thornage and Langham).  
Dorothy leaves several grandchildren and great grandchildren
- who say that her great joy in life was always her family.  
Since the 1980s Dorothy was also a close and loyal friend of
the Kay family.
DAVID MacGREGOR
Leading authority on merchant vessels in Napoleonic
times
T. David MacGREGOR of Church Cottage, Morston and Bath
died in late October.  He and his wife, Patsy (who died a few
years ago), were keen Norfolk Wildlife supporters.  He was
also a prolific author on naval architecture and clipper routes
and cargoes.  His books included: The China Bird (1961),
The Tea Clippers, Clipper Ships (1979), Clipper Ship Books
(1983), Sources Cited in Merchant Ships, 1770-1815
(1985), Merchant Sailing Ships 1815-1850 (1991), and in
September this year; The Schooner: Its Design and
Development (2003).  He researched the Cruizer -  the brig
belonging to Morston's William Buck of China Row (now
Tide's Reach) just after Waterloo (1815: see Buck's
"Morston Pint" tokens pictured on the church Millenium
Board), and discovered that Buck traded with the continent
and used to have his brig repaired in Lisbon. David was a
keen sailor.
CAPTAIN HENNING POEHLMANN
Fregatten-Kapitaen Poehlmann, German Navy, died in
Germany in October.  Unmarried and in his 60s, he was
passionately interested in Langham s "first son", Captain
Frederick Marryatt, England's most successful author
between Jane Austen and Charles Dickens (whom Marryatt
knew).  Marryatt was also the inventor of the international
naval (flag-) signalling code, which was in use from 1815 to
1949 (formation of NATO), and was augmented in 1857; and
his books are also popular in Germany.  Captain Poehlmann
was also interested in the Marryatt connection with
Coastguard House, Morston (see "Bluejackets" below).  
After Henning's two visits to this area last summer, whilst
researching Captain Marryatt, we wondered whether he was
going to start a Captain Marryatt Society through the internet.  
On his first visit - to photograph Marryatt' s grave - he found
the grave in shadow and the inscription totally illegible.  
Undeterred, he examined his watch and the angle of the sun
to the grave - then in shadow - and announced: "In exactly
eight minutes, the angle of the sun will be precisely right, so
the inscription will be legible and I shall take a photograph."  
It was. On the dot! A true naval officer!
 Links to External Sites re Morston