SEVEN

Notes extracted from ye olde 'Tolly Ghosts' websyte and other sources, Autumn 2004 & 2005:

Red Lion Cottage

East Bergholt Society references Newsletters (thanks to Gillian Walker, Hon Secretary 1973 – 1988/9.

The Newsletter of the East Bergholt Society No. 2 Autumn 1973 "Many people in the village have been concerned at the condition of this charming 18th century listed building. It has been unoccupied for a number of years and appeared to be deteriorating. "We have recently been in touch with Mssrs. Tollemarche (sic) & Cobbold about the cottage and are pleased to report that they are now actively considering its future use, either as an adjunct to the Red Lion or for some public purpose which could benefit the village. They have undertaken to keep in contact about this important building and we are extremely grateful to them for their very helpful response to us."

The Newsletter of the East Bergholt Society No. 3 Spring 1974 "You will remember, if your read your last Newsletter, that the Society had approached Mssrs. Tollemache (sic) & Cobbold about the future of this Listed cottage. The position at the moment is that the Brewery has decided it cannot use the building in conjunction with the licensed premises. We have therefore been asked to suggest some other purpose to which it could be put, for the benefit of the village. This we are doing."

The Newsletter of the East Bergholt Society No.5 Winter/Spring 1975 Report on "Committee Notes" – "Other subjects for discussion and progress reports at most meetings have (included)…Red Lion Cottage…" Also "A detailed report on Red Lion Cottage has been prepared for the Parish Council, by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. We must now wait to see how the money for this most important work is to be found."

The Newsletter of the East Bergholt Society No. 6 Autumn 1975 Some point s from Committee minutes: September: "It was reported that the Field Director of the Suffolk Preservation Society had invited the Chairman of the Parish Council and Mrs. Jennings, representing the Society, to visit Lord Tollemache (sic) to discuss the future of Red Lion Cottage. (This meeting has taken place and it is hoped shortly to make a report to members)."

The Newsletter of the East Bergholt Society No. 8 Summer 1977 Committee notes, September 1976 – "Report on Red Lion Cottage. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Parish Council and the Chairman [Mr JF Elam, White Cottage] and Vice Chairman [Mrs Celia Jennings, Hill House] of the Society had met Mr.John Popham, Director of the Suffolk Preservation Society, to discuss the future of the cottage" July77 – "It was noted that Tolly Cobbold had at last applied for permission to demolish the green corrugated iron garage next to Red Lion Cottage."

The Newsletter of the East Bergholt Society No. 10 Autumn 1979 Ref to "Very few people seem willing to use the beautiful new car park behind the Red Lion…" "The sad saga of Red Lion Cottage continues. No sooner were plans approved by Babergh District Council for its restoration and conversion into four letting units, with the help of a Grant from the Historic Buildings Council, than it was again sold. We understand that the new owners intend to do the work as planned, but everyone concerned with the deteriorating condition of the cottage, and the extremely unpleasant appearance it now presents in the very centre of an Outstanding Conservation Area must hope that no further time will be lost in setting about this work which is very long overdue."

The Newsletter of the East Bergholt Society No. 11 Autumn 1980. "1980 has been a good year for the East Bergholt Society. One of the most satisfying events has been the beginning of work on Red Lion Cottage after more than ten years of anxiety about its condition. This endearing little building has a firm hold on the hearts and imagination of a large number of village residents; ever since it has stood empty indignation has been expressed about it s condition ay Annual Parish Meetings, at East Bergholt Society Annual General Meetings and in general conversation in the street. Visitors to the village have often been surprised that a listed building, in the centre of the Conservation Area of a village as well known as East Bergholt has been allowed to decay so dramatically. By 1975 local feeling was so strong that representatives from the Society, the Parish Council and the Suffolk Preservation Society met Lord Tollemarche (sic) to try and reach some solution to the problem. Since that time, the Society has kept up constant communication with both Babergh District Council and subsequent owners in the hope that the cottage would eventually be saved. Now, at last, success seems in sight. Red Lion Cottage would be worth saving even if it were not listed or in the Conservation Area. It is a rare survival of a modest domestic building of probably the mid 18th century. Its timber frame, though strong, was never meant to be a decorative feature, and has undoubtedly always been plaster covered. The pretty little gothic windows are presumably an early 19th century embellishment, perhaps contemporary with the more delicate work on the façade of Stour Cottage. In plan the building is of a type common from the mid 17th century onwards – a central chimney stack with fireplaces back to back and a small entrance lobby to the front door formed by the fireplace jamb. The spiral staircase (the original survives here) is boxed in between the thickness of the chimney breast and the back wall. The two downstairs room still have original brick floors. It is likely that the house was a single dwelling at first, later divided into two cottages with two new doorways punched through and the middle doorway filled in. Perhaps at the same time the small lean-to was added at the back. Some time before the 1950’s the cottage was converted back to one dwelling again. There will be general pleasure that such a valuable little building is no longer in danger of disappearing. Such houses are often swept away without protest, and our knowledge of the way in which people lived in the past is confined to the study of the grander houses of the wealthy. The loss of the cottage would have meant not only an ugly hole in the familiar village scene but a hole in our understanding of the social history of East Bergholt and its pleasant mixture of large and small historic houses. The repair of Red Lion Cottage will restore an important small building to the centre of the village. Celia Jennings" (then Chairman of the Society). "And secondly – no doubt you have all seen, and rejoiced at the work being done on Red Lion Cottage. The Society has been absolutely committed to saving it and there can be few people in the County or Babergh Planning Offices who have not known of this determination. In the world on conservation, it is so often said "you can’t win them all", but here is a victory to be proud of. We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Suffolk Preservation Society over the years. And we must not forget that the work would not have begun without the commitment of the present owner, Mr Lionel Evans."

The Newsletter of the East Bergholt Society No. 12 Autumn 1982 Article on listed buildings, it wasn’t until July 1950 that a "Provisional List for Consideration" appeared for Samford Rural District including EB. Nothing then until 1967 when a definitive list was issued including 18/86 Hatters (and adjoining), 18/93 Red Lion Inn and 18/93 (sic) Red Lion Cottage. "In 1981 Mrs Walker told the (Dedham Vale Joint) Committee of the Society’s struggle to persuade Babergh District Council to press the owner to start work on the restoration of Red Lion Cottage."


Note: Constable was born in East Bergholt.


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