Sheila Wright's excellent books can be purchased via:
Sheila Wright: (01449) 766392
Sheila Beswick: ( 01449) 737101
- Drinkstone School and village: A Suffolk History
- Drinkstone revisited: More stories from a Suffolk Village
The Books are £10.99 each, or both for £20.
There is some evidence that the Romans settled in Drinkstone and certainly there was a thriving Anglo-Saxon community - fragments of Saxon pottery have been found in the stream that courses through the village.
The three entries for the village in the Domesday Book (1085) show three different spellings – Rengestuna, Drencestuna and Drincestona. The fullest entry records that it was held by St. Etheldreda when there was “… one church and 12 acres, 15 small holders, 6 slaves, woodland at 100 pigs, 2 horses at the hall, 10 cattle, 32 pigs, 8 goats …”
Robert Bacon, grandfather of the illustrious philosopher Francis Bacon, was born in Drinkstone in the 15th century at a time when it was “the seat of ambitious yeomanry” according to one writer.
In the 18th century Drinkstone became a squirearchy and several wealthy gentlemen built large houses surrounded by beautiful grounds giving employment locally to grooms, gardeners and servants.
The three entries for the village in the Domesday Book (1085) show three different spellings – Rengestuna, Drencestuna and Drincestona. The fullest entry records that it was held by St. Etheldreda when there was “… one church and 12 acres, 15 small holders, 6 slaves, woodland at 100 pigs, 2 horses at the hall, 10 cattle, 32 pigs, 8 goats …”
Robert Bacon, grandfather of the illustrious philosopher Francis Bacon, was born in Drinkstone in the 15th century at a time when it was “the seat of ambitious yeomanry” according to one writer.
In the 18th century Drinkstone became a squirearchy and several wealthy gentlemen built large houses surrounded by beautiful grounds giving employment locally to grooms, gardeners and servants.
The painter Gainsborough was summoned to make a portrait of a rich businessman, Joshua Grigsby, who had built for himself a grand house at Drinkstone Park.
Thomas Gainsborough also painted several rural scenes around the village, the most famous of all, “Drinkstone Park”, is currently in the San Paulo Museum in Brazil.
Thomas Gainsborough also painted several rural scenes around the village, the most famous of all, “Drinkstone Park”, is currently in the San Paulo Museum in Brazil.
In the nineteenth century the estate of Drinkstone Park was inherited by Joshua Grigsby the Third who loved the place and asked to be buried in a corner of his garden. This piece of land was duly hallowed and on his death in 1829 he was buried there beneath a mulberry tree.
During the war the big house at Drinkstone Park housed American servicemen who were attached to Rougham airfield, but was demolished just after the war, having fallen prey to death watch beetle.
During the war the big house at Drinkstone Park housed American servicemen who were attached to Rougham airfield, but was demolished just after the war, having fallen prey to death watch beetle.
The lake on the estate is still there and in the grounds homes were fashioned from the converted stable block.
The village school, sited next to the church, was founded in 1859. It closed in 1986 after a valiant fight to keep it open, and has since been converted to a private house.
The old village hail was a legacy from the First World War. Originally an officers dining hall
The village school, sited next to the church, was founded in 1859. It closed in 1986 after a valiant fight to keep it open, and has since been converted to a private house.
The old village hail was a legacy from the First World War. Originally an officers dining hall
from the airfield at Great Ashfield, the building was brought to Drinkstone in sections by horse and cart in 1924 and re-erected and dedicated as a War Memorial. When a fire put an end to its useful life in 2010, it was dismantled and taken to Stow Maries Museum to be used there.
The Cherry Tree, Drinkstone’s last public house, closed in 2002. The site is key to a new Village Hall. See our New Hall page.
These are just snippets from Drinkstone’s past. The History Archive contains more comprehensive material.
The Cherry Tree, Drinkstone’s last public house, closed in 2002. The site is key to a new Village Hall. See our New Hall page.
These are just snippets from Drinkstone’s past. The History Archive contains more comprehensive material.