Parish Council

Contents

Parish Council Elections

1899

The first councillors to be elected after the council’s creation in 1899 were:

Samuel Phoenix
Alfred Baker
James William Clarke
Charles Leverett
Fielding Coldham
James Lloyd
William Dack

The declarations of these men in the minute book can be seen here. Presumably the “X” signatures relate to the members unable to sign their names.

1901

Norfolk News 30 March 1901:-

The polling place was the National Schoolroom. The contest was fought mainly upon political grounds, and, as is usual in this parish, was most energetically fought out. The candidates were Messrs. A. Baker, J. W. Clarke, Fiolding Coldham, W. Dack, C. Leverett, J. E. Lloyd, and S. Phonix (Liberala), who constituted the old Council, whilst Messrs. M. Dunthorne, W. Palmer, W. Peacock, P. J. B. Pitts, Rev. J. S. Treglown, and Mr. A. Watling championed the Unionist side. The result showed that the Unionists succeeded in gaining three seats. Mr. W. P. Smith acted as presiding oflicer, his polling clerk being Mr. E. R. Smith. At the close of the counting a vote of thanks to Mr. Smith for his courtesy and im- partiality was proposed by Mr. J. W. Hart, and seconded by Mr. W. T. Hook on behalf of the Rov. J. S. Treglown. This was suitably acknowledged by Mr. Smith. The following is the result:-
Peacock (U) 37
Clarke (L) 33
Lloyd (L) 32
Pitts (U) 31
Treglown (U) 31
Baker (L) 31
Phoenix Samuel (L) 29
Dack (L) 29
Palmer (U) 28
Coldham (L) 26
Dunthorne (U) 26
Watling (U) 26
Leverett (L) 25
The first seven were declared elected. Messrs. Dack and Phoenix being a tie, the presiding officer drew, the lot falling upon Mr. Phoenix.

1935

The EDP of April 5th 1935 reported:

Polling took place on Monday at the school, Deopham, to elect seven Parish Councillors, the result being:—
Elected —
Herbert Coldham 111,
F. C. Woods 104,
Walter C. Allen 92,
W. A. Allen 90,
W. B. Phoenix 70,
Rev. William Clark 64,
G. E. Mann 55.
Unsuccessful —
Fred Leveridge 50, W. Downes 47, O. E. Darkins 43, P. E. Darkins 42, Harry Jeffrey 40, W. Moore 35, G. S. Darkins 33, H. Goward 30, W. Bunting 27, W. H. Howes 19, W. J. Matthews 15.

1949

The Declaration of Acceptance of Office from 1949 includes signatures for the following councilors (which can be seen here):

Herbert Barnard Coldham
William Downes
Walter James Matthews
Frederick Leveridge
Albert Skipper
W.A. Allen
A.S. Long

School

A Parish Meeting on March 31st 1915 agreed the following resolution: “This meeting is of opinion that there are unsatisfactory conditions existing in the above school [i.e. the tin school] likely to cause a future decrease in the attendance. Therefore we call the attention of the Norfolk Education Committee and the Board of Education.” The Clerk was instructed to write to the separate authorities.

The minutes of a council meeting on July 6th 1920 record that it was resolved to send a letter to the school managers about the “unsatisfactory condition of the school and playground and urge them to proceed with the new school as soon as possible”.

The minutes of the meeting on October 25th 1923 record the following:

The question of the Head Teacher – Deopham School – was raised and it was proposed to send the following resolution to the school managers:
That this Council requests the Local Managers of the Deopham School to urge upon the Norfolk Education Committee the desirability of terminating the engagement of the present Head Teacher (M^rs Hart) and appointing a Single Head Teacher, as they feel that as this is M^rs Hart’s second enforced absence in just over a year that such continual changes of staff cannot fail to be injurious to the education of the children.
Councillors present: M^essrs Bales, Ringer, Potter, Coldham.

There does not appear to be a record of a response from the Education Committee, although there is mention at the following meeting (Jan 15th 1924) of the Education Committee complaining about the Parish Council using the school for its meetings without consulting the school managers!

Housing

A meeting of the Parish Council was held in the schoolroom on December 31^st 1918, during which a report from Mr Alpe the Sanitary Inspector at Forehoe District Council was received concerning the condition of cottages in the parish of Deopham. In summary, he reported that:-

50 cottages were occupied by 178 persons;
The 178 persons were made up of 108 adults and 66 children;
3 houses were empty;
2 of these empty houses are in a very bad condition and unfit for habitation;
One of the inhabited houses should be closed at once being dangerous;
6 other houses need drastic treatment otherwise should be closed;
All the property in the village is old and in bad repair;
Possibly no building has been done for 50 years;
The row of houses on Low Common is bad and encouraging dirty conditions;
There are 33 unsatisfactory houses;
3 should be closed;
10 houses at least required.

Further discussion gave rise to the following sites being suggested:-

Half Lane corner (owner Camis Hustein [?] occupier William Dack);
Park Lane (owner & occupier Mr. P.J.B. Pitts);
Green Corner near the mill (owner & occupier Mr. W. Peacock).

Allotments

The following map shows the location of the allotments on the Ordnance Survey map published in 1906:

Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

For a lot more information concerning the allotments, please see here.

Water Supply

From the EDP of March 19th 1960

Willows

On April 16th 1924 the Parish Council discussed who had authorised Mr Nickalls to cut willow sets. The Council recommended that he be allowed to cut sets suitable for his purpose.

Fire Engines

1920

On October 5th 1920 the Council were advised of a letter received from the Chairman of the Attleborough Parish Council “asking if the Deopham P.C. would support the upkeep of a new steam fire engine.” The minutes record that after discussing the matter, the clerk was instructed to write to the Attleborough Parish Council saying that Deopham Parish Council “were sorry that they could not support it at present”. By January 4th 1921, it appears that the councillors were in favour of paying £4. 13s. 6d. towards the support of the Attleborough fire engine.

1942

On November 21st 1942 the Parish Clerk, Mr. M.J. Askew, wrote to the Fire Force Commander at Hethersett as follows:-

Dear Sir,

Allocation of Fire Pumps
With reference to your letter of Nov. 7th 1942
I have considered your suggestion relating to supplying a two-manned pump for the Parishes of Deopham & Hackford & think the Parishes will be glad to accept the offer.
I have recruited the following persons for enrolment in the N.F.S. to man the Pump:-

Name	Address	Village	Comments
Mr. H.E. Downes	“The Green”	Deopham
Mr. N.J. Long	“Walnut Tree Farm”	Deopham
Mr. A.S. Long	“Shaws Farm”	Deopham
Mr. G.W. Lloyd	“The Green”	Deopham
Mr. F.M. Hurrell	“Church Farm”	Deopham
Mr. C.P. Clarke	Victoria Lane	Deopham
Mr. B. Playle	Hackford Rd	Hardingham
Mr. J. Seaman	Kings Head Lane	Hackford
Mr. A. Medlar	“Wades Farm”	Hackford	is prepared to join provided he is not sent far from home as he has essential work at home to do. He is willing that the pump can stand at his farm (it is about the centre of the two Parishes & also to use his car if necessary.
Mr. A Skipper	“The Green”	Deopham	Added to list 29/11/1942

On November 29th 1942 Mr Askew wrote to W.M. Barnett Esq. Fire Force Commander, Hethersett. Having first apologised for omitting Mr Skipper from the above list, he continued as follows:-

One of the men volunteered (Mr. J. Seaman) Kings Head Lane, Hackford, Wymondham has received his papers to join the Home Guard.
My instructions are that men joining the N.F.S. are exempt from Home Guard.
Would you kindly look into the above case for me & inform me or the man concerned as soon as possible.

The next letter from Mr Askew is dated February 15^th 1943 and reads as follows:-

Dear Sir,

I am sorry to have to inform you that all except one of the men’s names I sent you who had volunteered to join the N.F.S. on condition that a Fire Pump was provided for the Parishes of Deopham & Hackford have refused to sign the necessary Forms which you left with me.
Several of them are small Farmers & have all their work to do alone, & they are afraid they may be called out of the Parish for training & attending Fires.
All of them have cows to milk.
In consequence I am unable to deal with the matter.

Yours Faithfully,
M.J. Askew
Clerk, Deopham Parish Council

On March 9th 1943 Mr Askew wrote to Mr F. Elkins at Wymondham:

Dear Sir,
Please find enclosed list of completed Fire Service Forms.
With the two forms I have sent to Norwich that will make seven in all.
Mr Downes & Mr Skipper whose names I had previously sent in do not now wish to join.

Yours Faithfully,
M.J. Askew
Clerk, Deopham Parish Council

Mr Askew wrote to Mr. Elkins, N.F.S. Officer at Wymondham, on May 30th 1943:-

Dear Sir,
Members of the Deopham & Hackford N.F.S. have been to see me today informing me that they have been instructed to attend Hingham for training purposes.
It appears that only three went & they were told that they would have to be on duty at Hingham two nights a week.
These men are mostly small Farmers & one man jobs & have no one to leave in Charge at home & and therefore are unable to be away all night.
When you called & saw me on the matter you told me it would be in order if they signed the Forms for “Service in Deopham & Hackford Only” & they would not be asked to leave the villages.
I personally saw all these men & explained to them what you had told me & it was on these conditions that they signed the Forms.
I shall be glad to hear from you on the matter as under the present arrangements the men are unable to serve.

Yours Faithfully,
M.J. Askew
Clerk, Deopham Parish Council

It would seem therefore that the full list of men at the end of this correspondence was:-

Name	Address	Village
Mr. N.J. Long	“Walnut Tree Farm”	Deopham
Mr. A.S. Long	“Shaws Farm”	Deopham
Mr. G.W. Lloyd	“The Green”	Deopham
Mr. F.M. Hurrell	“Church Farm”	Deopham
Mr. C.P. Clarke	Victoria Lane	Deopham
Mr. B. Playle	Hackford Rd	Hardingham
Mr. J. Seaman	Kings Head Lane	Hackford
Mr. A. Medlar	“Wades Farm”	Hackford

Highways

On Dec 4^th 1947 the Parish Clerk wrote to Mr R.N. Jones at the Forehoe & Henstead Office:-

Dear Sir,

I am instructed by the Deopham Parish Council to ask you if the Sign Post at the corner near the new Council Houses at Deopham could be moved further back from the road side.
Complaints were received as to Children climbing on the arms of the Post & jumping off in front of traffic.
The Council think that their suggestion might save a nasty accident.

Yours faithfully,
M. J. Askew
Clerk, Deopham Parish Council

Village Hall

On June 21^st1944 the Clerk of the Parish Council wrote to “The General Secretary” (of which organisation is not stated) as follows:

Dear Sir,
I am instructed by the Deopham Parish meeting to ask if you can give me any information relating to the building of a Village Hall.
The Parish has some surplus money & the feeling is for a Village Hall.
I should be glad if you could tell me if Grants of Money or Loans are available for that purpose, also for any available information you can give.
Will you also send me your book “Village Halls” Their Management & Construction Price 1/3.
I will forward the money on.

Yours faithfully,
M. J. Askew
Clerk, Deopham Parish Council.

“Village Halls: Their Construction and Management. Fourth Edition” was published in 1938 by the National Council of Social Service.
The full story of a Village Hall for Deopham can be read here.

Date	Change
26/10/24	Corrected date on 31/12/1918
26/6/24	Allotments information moved to separate page
19/6/24	Link to Village Hall
6/6/24	1949
26/7/23	Added 1906 map showing the location of allotments
13/7/23	Typos corrected in section on housing.
29/11/22	Published