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There has been a settlement in Haughley since Anglo-Saxon times and the village could once boast of a Norman castle. The castle was destroyed on 27 October 1173 by the Earl of Leicester as part of the revolt against Henry II. All that remains today is the castle mound and moat. Haughley was a market town from 1227 when trading took place on what is now the village green. A fire in 1710 destroyed most of the buildings, and proved a major set-back for town. It never recovered following the fire and as a result Stowmarket took on greater prominence as a market town and trading centre. In the seventeenth century the Lord of the Manor held court and was given the power to try criminals. If found guilty of a capital offence, they were taken to the gallows on Gallows Field near what is now the picnic area, just off the A14 dual carriageway. The parish church, which is dedicated to St Mary, is mainly fourteenth century and late fifteenth century with a tower of c1330 which contains the entrance. The bellchamber contains five bells. The church houses many monuments, some to members of the Ray family (Richard Ray was vicar of Haughley from 1702 - 1758) and of Robert Offwood d.1756 and his wife and three children. An annual toy fair used to be held on 15th August each year. This was abolished in 1871. The font is said to be 500 years old with angels on its bowl and lions with wild men with bludgeons guarding the base. The Primary School, Post Office and the charity coal house were built by the Rev. W H Crawford in 1861. Only the Post Office and school are still in use. As intended, the charity coal house on the village green served to distribute coal to the poor of the parish. This was arranged by the church officials. In Old Street you will find the United Reformed Chapel founded in 1843 by Mr William Prentice and eleven men from the Stowmarket Chapel. A weekly Sunday morning service is still held. The Haughley parish boundary covers a large area with Tot Hill to the south, Haughley Green to the north and New Street to the west. The population of Haughley, from remaining almost dormant for several centuries, has more recently greatly increased. This stood at 762 in the 1066 Doomsday census, 916 in the 1841 census and 1554 in the 1991 census. As you can see, Haughley has had an interesting past, but the centre of the village has changed little. Haughley is a friendly and thriving village. Most who live here have no wish to leave and the village has a strong and hard working Parish Council to take it into the twenty-first century. Geoff Clarke, Recorder & Parish Photographer |
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