This section is managed by the Knodishall Local History Group on behalf of the Parish Council. The Group is continually developing the content and welcomes additional information and corrections for this web section. The Group collects old photographs, newspaper cuttings, and other documents about Knodishall and Coldfair Green and would be grateful for donations. There is a display of postcards and photos in the village hall and lots more on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Knodishallhistorygroup/.
Web page contents list (so far!)
KNODISHALL LOCAL HISTORY GROUP
The group started in 2012 with 18 people interested in finding out more about the history of the parish. The group has held events and slide shows to share memories, stories and record oral histories and had stands at the Knodishall Flower Show, Alde Valley Family History Group, and local and family history open days at the Long Shop Museum.
Contact: Julia Pipe, The Forge Mill Road Knodishall, IP17 1YS tel 01728 830639
LOCAL HISTORY
Prehistoric and Roman History
The Suffolk Heritage Explorer holds records of local finds and monuments such as flint axes and other flints, early enclosures, linear features and ring ditches. In 1860 one large and eight small tumuli were recorded on the Common.
In 1973, a Roman bronze head – stud brooch was found on a path running south from School Road (see Suffolk Heritage Explorer record KND 027). The brooch is stored at the Ipswich Museum. Nearby seven Roman coins and one medieval one were found in the 1990s (see Suffolk Heritage Explorer record KND 023).
Kelly’s Directory 1900 edition
The page for Knodishall-cum-Buxlow and Coldfair Green lists shops, farms, businesses and tradesmen.
Extract from Kelly’s Directory 1900 for Coldfair Green and Knodishall. (University of Leicester’s Special Collections Online)
World War I
‘In memory of the brave men of this parish who gave their lives for their country in the Great War 1914-1918. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’.
The Knodishall memorial, a 2.4m high granite obelisk records 16 men from WWI and a further four who died in WWII. The Roll of Honour web site https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/Knodishall.html provides short biographies of each man.
An Armistice Service at the Knodishall War Memorial (undated).
The memorial was listed for its historic architectural interest in 2018. (Brian Godwin collection)
Article from the East Anglian Daily Times 5 November 1919. (The British Newspaper Archive)
In the church porch, there is a tablet recording all those who served in WWI.
World War II
Dave Thurlow is researching the Suffolk Coast WWII defences. He has kindly shared his detailed notes in this pdf Knodishall-in-the-Second-World-War-Dave-Thurlow.pdf . It covers the village's defence preparations and the role of the Invasion Committee, the military, Home Guard and the Field Force. Dave has also mapped the searchlight and gun positions in Knodishall.
The Knodishall Local History Group has been donated the Invasion Committee's minute book (17 July 1941 to February 1945).
There are also two records in the Suffolk Heritage Explorer: a roadblock at the Leiston Road/Aldringham Lane junction (KND 0049), and a machine gun post on the right of way between Snape Road and School Road (KND 048).
N Bailey (Navy)
R Bailey
D Baker (WRAF)
Raymond Barham, Myrtle Cottage
D Bloomfield
S Bloomfield
H Blowers
S Carrington
Denis Cleary, Back Lane
Patrick Cleary, Back Lane (a Desert Rat)
H Collyer
David Cooper
H Cooper
J Edwards
Basil Emmerson, Gorse View
William Emmerson, Gorse View
Charles Henry Everett, Able Seaman died 9 July 1943, commemorated on the war memorial
Robert George Feaviour b1919 Ox and Bucks Light Infantry, wounded in Germany
Frederick James Feaviour b1923 Royal Air Force, served in Malta throughout the war
Gordon Arthur Feaviour b1925 Royal Navy, served on frigates escorting Russian convoys
F Felgate
DH Felgate
Arthur Henry Goodwin, Driver, Royal Army Services died 23 August 1945, commemorated on the war memorial
Douglas Green, Burrells Cottages
William Green, Burrells Cottages
A Hencher
D Hunter, School Road?
J Jennings, School Road?
W Kersey
E Licence
Stanley Miller DFC (RAF 35 Volunteer Reserve Squadron)
Clifford Morsley
S Morsley
M Moss
Stanley Moss
Bob Packard
C Packard
Jack Paternoster, Gorse View (He was at the Siege of Malta.)
D Pearce
J Ridgeon
Thomas Reuben Saxby Able Seaman, killed in action 18 December 1940, commemorated on the war memorial
G Smith
E Strowger
J Thorpe (Navy) commemorated on the war memorial
A Trumpeter
A Vincent
V Vincent, Gorse View
D Watson (WREN)
E Watson
The Suffolk Women's Land Army Memorial Trust www.suffolkwomenslandarmy.com/ is researching the stories of the women in order to ensure their WII service is recorded and to create a Roll of Honour. The trust’s records are available via https://www.historypin.org/en/soil-sisters-the-women-s-land-army-in-suffolk/ . To date, we know about two girls based in Knodishall:
- Constance Eileen Brinkley WLA no. 91117
Constance enrolled on July 20th, 1942. She had been a confectionery worker. She was born in Holbrook and went on to do general farm work at Bull's Hall, Knodishall for Mr Abbott. Constance resigned from the land army on June 2nd, 1946, and married the farmer's son, Ralph Abbott (SWLAMT record).
- Connie Hobson WLA no. 161992
KLHG has copies of Connie’s Certificate of Proficiency in Milking and Dairy Work and Certificate marking her release from the Women’s Land Army.
PLACES AND BUILDINGS
In his 1870-72 gazetteer, John Marius Wilson describes Knodishall as ‘a village and a parish in the Blything district, Suffolk. The village stands 1 ½ of Leiston r. station, and 3 ESE of Saxmundham; and has a post office under Saxmundham. The parish contains also the village of Coldfair-Green, and the quondam parish of Buxlow; and is sometimes called Knodishalll-cum-Buxlow …’
Suffolk Heritage Explorer records that in 1818 there were two privately-run dames schools and 47 children attended. By 1833, there was a small daily school with 12-16 children. The National School on School Road was opened in 1877, and by 1891 there were 70 pupils and by 1912 the average attendance was 90. These National Schools were set up by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education to provide elementary schooling and later they were absorbed into the State education system run by the County Councils.
Kelly’s Directory (1900) names the National School mistress as Miss Laister. She is also listed in the 1901 census (age 50) along with three other teachers - Emma Blowers (age 20), Frederick Barber (age 14), William Mops (age 18) and a school assistant, Catherine Norman (age 24). In the 1911 census, Miss Laister is recorded as retired; and Leonard Smith (age 29) is listed as a head teacher, Emma Blowers (age 30) teacher, Arthur Blower (age 19) teacher, and Irene Barnes (age 21) assistant school mistress, Anne Studd (age 28) infant teacher, all employed by the County Council. In 1911, Ethel Reeve (age 26) is recorded as teaching music at her home in Grove Road.
The papers for the school for 1872-1916 are held in the National Archives, Kew (reference EO21/16429) and the papers for 1912 to 1921 are held in the Suffolk Archives (reference FC136).
Coldfair Green Primary School, Judith Avenue celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.
St Lawrence – see listed buildings section
Remains of an unnamed medieval church’s round tower in the grounds of private properties on Mill Road (Suffolk Heritage Explorer record KND 044).
St Peter, Buxlow – see Suffolk Heritage Explorer records KND001 and KND006 of the former church. It was ‘decayed and ruinated’ by the 17th century. The parish was abolished when the Knodishall-cum-Buxlow parish was created in 1721.
Ebenezeer Methodist Chapel date stamped 1853 (planning consent 2012 for conversion to a private dwelling, also see National Archives HO129/225/6).
St Luke, Leiston Road is date stamped 1888. It is now two private homes, numbers 12 and 13 Leiston Road. St Luke is marked as ‘Mission Room’ on the 1892-1914 OS series maps. There are newspaper articles reporting services in 1894 and an inquest being held here in 1913. The chapel was converted in the 1920s/30s.
The current Methodist Church dates from 1977 and 1988 (planning applications). Previously, the church used an ex-Army hut (Common registration document CL19 which also records that church hall land was removed from the registered common land in 1978).
The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church’s Leewood Gospel Hall, Snape Road 2014 (planning consent).
The Mission Rooms in School Road look like a tin tabernacle and its name suggests strong ties with the church however the building plot (the back part of the current Mission Rooms) started as a stable owned by the horse-dealer, Mr W Sims.
Extract from the 1881 census listing William Sims, horse dealer (born in Beccles).
One evening a group of village elders were walking up to the newly built school for a Parish Council meeting. Some teenage boys came out of the cottages opposite the Butcher’s Arms and started harassing them with clods of earth and abusive comments. James Watson, and some of the other elders, decided something had to be done to help (and occupy) these lads who had nothing to do.
Mr JE Cooper, who lived at Knodishall Hall, acquired Mr Sims’ building and set about converting it for community use. It became known as The Knodishall and Coldfair Green Men’s Club and was used by youths and men. A billiard table, bagatelle board, piano and games equipment was bought.
The Club Room was so successful that Mr Cooper paid for an extension to be built which was opened in 1895. The Rev Daubeney chaired the opening ceremony and sit-down tea for 120 people.
Article in the Suffolk Times and Mercury 8 April 1898. (The British Newspaper Archive)
The extended building was renamed ‘The Mission Rooms’ and is shown on the 1903 Ordnance survey map. In 1901, Mr Cooper gifted the building to the churchwardens and the parish. The 1912 Kelly’s Directory records the ‘church mission room, built 1896-7 at a cost of £250 and seating 300 persons’. Today, the Mission Rooms are still owned by the Church. There was another chapel/mission room in the village on Leiston Road, St Luke’s (built 1888).
The Mission Rooms were the main meeting place and well-used as the Village Hall wasn’t erected until 20 years later. Up until the 1940s, the Church held evening services at the Mission Rooms and in the winter months Sunday services were also held there to save villagers trudging up to St Lawrence’s Church. Missionary work was also organised at the Rooms. People remember the Sunday School that was based at the Mission Rooms in the 1960s and other church services, meetings and events such as harvest suppers have continued to held there.
For many years, a host of events were held such as lantern slide shows, concerts, and talks. There were also evening classes for girls and boys, a YMCA group, Mothers’ meetings and classes in drawing and woodwork. The Managing Trustees (the Vicar and churchwardens) often hired the Rooms out for functions. The local playgroup moved to the Mission Rooms in 1976 having been previously based in Aldringham.
Article in the Halesworth Times and Southwold General Advertise 22 January 1918. (The British Newspaper Archive)
By the 1980s, the maintenance of the Mission Rooms became an increasing problem as it is only a corrugated iron clad- timber frame building. The building also needed modernising. In 1984, the Burningham Trust (a charitable "ecclesiastical & charitable pastoral purposes" fund set up for the benefit of the village) generously contributed towards improvements including plumbing, electricity, roofing and heating. However, by 2006, the running costs and the need for further renovation works forced the trustees to consider the sale of Mission Rooms as it was no longer viable to continue to operate the building.
Concerned about losing their Knodishall home, the playgroup and their supporters negotiated with the Vicar, Rev Christine Brooks and trustees to take on the building on a renovation, repair and upkeep lease in return for a low rent for 10 years from 2006 onwards. It was agreed the playgroup could hire out the Rooms to generate some income. However, it became apparent to meet modern standards, a complete re-build would be necessary. The playgroup (by then re-named Pre-School Group) raised £5000 to draw up plans and surveys for a modern modular building. The trustees favoured a brick building so a committee was set up to re-design the building and seek out grants for the project. The playgroup (now known as the Knodishall and District Playgroup, registered charity number 1023626) and the committee held an open meeting in July 2025 to share their plans.
Tim Haxall, July 2025
References:
Suffolk Times and Mercury 8 April 1898
Halesworth Times and Southwold General Advertiser articles: 17 April 1900 – report of the AGM, 22 January 1918 (and also East Anglian Times), 14 April 1920 – report of the annual dinner including tribute to three members who died in WWI.
Kelly’s Directory 1912
James E Watson 1942 ‘A few facts and impressions of the parish of Knodishall-cum-Buxlow’
Rev Christine Brooks letter dated 27 June 2006
Tony Green, from the Campaign for Real Ale in Suffolk, has compiled a list of the landlords from 1844 to 2012 drawing on information in trade directories and census records. The list is available at https://suffolk.camra.org.uk/pub/598.
The first recorded publican is Nathaniel Cockerell. He was also a butcher.
Undated postcard of the Butchers Arms. (Brian Godwin collection)
For more information about each building, see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list
Billeaford Hall Grade II. C17.
Buxlow Manor Grade II*. Dated 1678 on iron ties in the main gables. Alterations by JA Sherman 1934 (Pevsner).
Cherry Tree Farmhouse and adjoining buildings Grade II. The farmhouse dates from the late C17, the adjoining buildings are early C19.
High House Farm Grade II. C17.
Knodishall Place Grade II, former rectory 1838 with later 19C additions (Pevsner). (Also see Suffolk Heritage Explorer record KND 025 https://heritage.suffolk.gov.uk/Monument/MSF37245).
Knodishall War Memorial Grade II. 1919 (also see WWI section).
Little Moor Farm Grade II. C17. (Also see Suffolk Heritage Explorer record KND 011 https://heritage.suffolk.gov.uk/Monument/MSF17577).
Pattle’s Farmhouse Grade II, C16-C17.
Romany’s Rest Grade II. Early 19C.
St Lawrence Church Grade II*. Mainly C14 and C15, much restored C19. Vestry added 1838.
Romany’s Rest in the Sulley’s Ceramics (Tunstall) miniature buildings collection.
Former Maple House, Buxlow 1783 (Suffolk Heritage Explorer THB 019)The original Forge Cottage and smithy dated from the 1860s (Suffolk Heritage Explorer KND 045)Mill, Mill Road 1785.
Properties dating before 1846 as shown on the tithe map e.g. Cozy Cottage and Nathaniel Cockerell’s cottage and yard which is now the Butchers Arms pub.
Nos 8-13 Burrells Cottages, Post Office Road 1881 (date stamped).
Nutsell Villas, The Common 1897 (date stamped).
The Forge. There is an 1892 invoice from Robert Norman Ironfounder business and we know the forge predates 1892.
Rose Villas, Snape Road 1924 (date stamped).
Telephone box, Post Office Road proposed 1946 (Parish Council minutes), removed early 2000s?
Bus shelter, Leiston Road 1961 (planning application).
Fitches Road houses 1969 (Parish Council minutes).
Burches Close, named in May 1980 (Parish Council minutes).
Undated postcard of Nutsell Villas on the Common. (Brian Godwin collection)
Roads
It was not until 1928 that the roads in the village started to be formally named such as School Road and Post Office Road (Parish Council minutes 20 October 1928). Other roads names have changed over time, for example, St Andrew’s Road was known as Back Lane. Roads such as Post Office Road were not adopted as highways maintained by the County Council until the 1950s (Parish Council minutes 1951 and 1953).
Judith Avenue
Before the new homes were built, Judith Avenue was known by local people as Hungry Hill. Mrs Pat Cuthbert can remember as a child in WWII watching fires in the distance from the highest point. One day, she and friends had to dive into a hedge to take cover from a German plane firing bullets.
Undated postcard of the new homes in Judith Avenue. (Brian Godwin collection)
The village sign was erected to mark the Millennium in 2000. The sign was designed and forged by Robin Pipe. In the base there is a time capsule.
The Parish Council notice board commemorates Queen Elizabeth II’s 1977 silver jubilee.
The history of the Common is included in the Management Plan (see the web section https://knodishall.suffolk.cloud/common/. Suffolk Heritage Explorer includes records of a number of Bronze Age and Early Saxon features and finds on the Common (see Prehistory section).
Knodishall Common was registered as common land under the Commons Registration Act 1965.
The Common registration documents are kept by the Suffolk County Council (Land Charges Team). There are also copies of the provisional maps in the Suffolk Archive. In line with the Commons Registration Act, the Parish Council duly put up posters (Parish Council minutes 23 May 1966) about the formal registration and recording of commoners’ rights which would start in January 1967.
In March 1966, the Parish Council discussed the trusteeship of the common ‘which had been leased to the Knodishall Community Association by Lord Huntingfield for a period of 60 years’ and the Parish Council took on the role as one of the trustees with Blyth Rural District Council as the ‘controlling body’.
There had been queries about the common and public rights of way long before the Commons Registration Act 1966. For example, the Parish Council minutes for 9 September 1927 record that the Council received advice from the national Commons Preservation Society (now known as the Open Spaces Society) about the rights over the common and the extent of the manor. In September 1933, the Parish Council listed the rights of way and the ‘open space’ under the control of the Commons Act, regulated by Blything [Rural District Council]’.
In 1912, under the Commons Act 1899, the District Council set out regulations for the management of the Common (see Common-regulation-and-management.pdf ). The 17 byelaws cover dumping, taking of materials, damage, setting traps and use of firearms, lighting of fires, driving, horse riding, grazing animals, posters, amusements like fairs. The Parish Council requested byelaws as people were concerned about damage being done to the Common. The Parish Council minutes and court cases reported in newspapers record various infringements and action taken over the years. Several court cases.
Today, the total registered common area is just over 14 hectares and includes areas alongside Post Office Road and between Mill Road and School Road. (It is more extensive than the area managed under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme -see https://knodishall.suffolk.cloud/assets/Management-Plan/App-3-Key-Features-Map.jpg ). Apart from some small areas, the Parish Council look after the Common, on behalf of the District Council, as the Lord of the Manor (presumed owner) is not known. Like many commons, there are some rights of use associated with two properties: Myrtle Cottage has grazing rights for three horses and two goats and rights for keeping ducks on the pond, and Cozy Cottage has rights for taking turf, firewood, sand and soil over a specified area.
1913 plan of the regulated Common area (superseded by Commons Registration Act 1965 map).(courtesy of the Open Spaces Society)
Records of fires on the Common:
July 1868 (Suffolk Mercury newspaper 31 July 1868)
VE day 1945 (Leiston Observer newspaper)
4 November 1978 (Parish Council minutes)
May? 1984 (Parish Council minutes)
Sunday 24 July 2022- 16 fire service appliances attended, 100 people evacuated (BBC)
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
The Flower Show is one of the highlights in the village year. It has a long history. The Suffolk Archive holds records from 1934 to 1943. The Flower Show was revived in the late 1970s.
Jo Round, Chris Watts, Jane Hart, Margaret Shreeve, Lynn Brennan, Gill Kimmerling, Janet Crawford, Janice Feller and Wendy Hurr who belonged to ‘The After Eight Club’, decided to restart a Flower Show in the village. The first show was in 1978 and was held at Coldfair Green School on the first Saturday in August, so as not to clash with Benhall Flower Show.
Committee members remember ‘On the day of the first Flower Show we had a lot of entries and lots of events going on in the centre of the school field and stalls all around the edge, also a bouncy castle. We were inundated with people turning up. We had no idea so many would come, and it was a huge success. In the evening, there was usually a dance with a group in the Village Hall.’
The Flower Show has continued every year (apart from 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions) and it is now held in the Village Hall.
Newspaper photograph of the 1989 winners with their vegetables and flowers. (private collection)
