Mutford Millennium: The Last One Thousand Years

An account of the history of Mutford village in Suffolk including developments in living memory up to New Year’s Eve 1999

The video opens with aerial views of Mutford area from a helicopter. It provides an account of Mutford history since Saxon times and Mutford approaching New Year 1999/2000. It includes scenes around the village, interviews with local people, photographs, maps and illustrations combined with Ivan Jacob’s own filming, including recordings of village hall entertainments and community events which he documented in his role as Mutford’s village recorder. Many people are named in the video. Those who appear talking in the film are identified where possible in this description, and any corrections to names and further identification are welcomed. The narrator introduces the film: “Mutford celebrates the end of the second Millennium. Mutford people enjoy celebrating, as we shall see.” Scenes of a party with people dancing and earlier preparations for the party at the village hall including banners and balloons. The beacon which will be lit on New Year's Eve. “Let’s consider, would Mutford villages have celebrated the first Millennium?” Anglo-Saxons 900 – 1066 AD (3:10) Scenes of West Stow Saxon Village and the exteriors and interiors of wooden buildings provide the setting for an account of how Mutford people would have lived at the period. Scenes of the ford where community meetings (moots) were held. Illustration of the Battle of Hastings derived from the Bayeaux Tapestry. Mutford in Domesday Book 1085. Changes in ownership including the De Hengrave family. Scenes of the Church of Saint Andrew with its round tower and galilee porch with simple sundials. In the belfry are three bells dated 1615, 1636 and 1638. Scene of the ringing chamber where, following restoration, the bells are rung by their clappers rather than swung. Views of woodwork inside the church. The narrator shows features of the church architecture including the font, floor memorials, piscina, wall paintings of St Christopher and the Ten Commandments, and other discoveries made during restorations. Old photographs and an illustration to show changes to the church building over time. An appeal on behalf of the 2000 church renovation fund. 1200 AD? (19:30) History and architecture of the Manor House, now recognised as the oldest dwelling house in the Waveney Valley. History of Mutford Hall, changes to the building and the ownership of the farm. Mr Pat Good and Mr Alan Minister talk about their work at the farm when horses were used. Exterior of the hall in 2000. Farming (25:50) The narrator gives an overview of changes in population size and occupations of Mutford people over the centuries. Crop rotation including barley, beans, peas and wheat. Mrs Anna Youngs recalls going to Holly Farm to collect a can of full cream milk in the 1920s. Mrs Doris Garrod remembers watching the blacksmith at work as children after school. Film of a blacksmith at work identified as Jimmy, who had over 36 years of experience. He is seen preparing a cartwheel rim on a fire and shoeing a horse. Through photos and scenes of the building exteriors, the narrator provides the history of three separate Mutford farms all called Holly Farm and their ownership and building alterations. There are scenes of modern combine harvesting, and photos of popular community events including “View a Farm Day” with fairground rides in the 1970s. Photos of Jimmy’s collection of invalid carriages and Mrs Abbott’s mobile catering business. Photos of the fire brigade tackling a blazing field during the hot dry summer of 1976 after a flint was struck during ploughing. Old photos and exterior views of other farms including Church Farm, Lawn Farm, Dairy Farm and Ash Farm. Display of sale particulars for Ash Farm and views before and after the 1988 restoration by the Warne family. The Chapel (40:13) Memories of the Wesleyan Methodist ministers at Mutford and the chapel, built in 1828 and converted into a private house in 1980. Mrs Anna Youngs recalls the annual summer outing for children by horse and waggon to Benacre where they had sweets, sandwiches and yellow cake but found the beach too stony. She was also part of the choir which went carol singing at Christmas time, ending up at Mutford Hall. Mr Alan Minister remembers attending chapel, and a philosophical minister who said “you can get used to anything in time”. Mrs Doris Garrod recalls books presented to the children for good attendance. Details of Mutford village sign accompany an account of changes in ownership of the manor in Victorian times. Can I Help You? (45:34) Photos of Mutford shops and scenes of the buildings they once occupied, including the Post Office and the birthplace of Sir Stanley Rous. Photos of the Crown Inn and Mutford Crossings public houses, and Mr and Mrs Slade and interiors of their grocery shop in the 1960s. A multi-image montage of customers chatting and being served, and the well-stocked shelves at the busy Mutford post office run by Julie Bullen. Speaking to camera, she says that the post office was automated onto the Horizon computer system in October 1999 to align with other post offices across the country, with a range of services filling the gap left by closure of bank branches. She hopes that the shop will continue to serve customers’ needs. School Days (51:58) Photos of school pupils and teachers over the years. School memories from Mr Alan Minister, Mrs Annie Youngs, Betty Higham, Mrs Doris Garrod and Gertie Good. In particular they recall gardening in the school grounds, maypole dancing and getting into trouble with the teachers. Betty won a dictionary in a handwriting competition. The school building was demolished in 1987. Over here! (1:02:14) Photos over the years show Mutford’s famous former resident, Sir Stanley Rous who became President of FIFA. His return visits to Mutford included the opening of the village hall in 1968, and a tree was planted in his memory after his ashes were brought to the village green. As a teenager, Stanley Rous founded the first Mutford football team around 1911. Former player Roy Hurrell interviews Ray Edwards whose father Arthur was in the 1920s team. He names the players in a team photo and displays a red and black striped shirt. More photos show the 1930s men’s team and the Mutford Ladies women’s team in 1937 recalled by Mrs Doris Garrod and Betty Higham, their celebrated goalkeeper. Photo of Airey houses on Mill Road – a resident, Joe Espindola, set up a new Mutford team which became successful in the 1940s, and there was another winning streak in the 1960s. Further photos of the boys’ teams, a Reunion Match of former players, and film of a new Ladies team in 1992. Let’s Celebrate (1:11:16) Photos and memories of the Mutford village hut, a former army hut moved to Mutford after the First World War as a centre for community activities. It was used for celebrations and parties, keep fit and gymnastics, as remembered by Mr Alan Minister. During the Second World War the hut was used by Rushmere Home Guard and WVS. A moment of remembrance with views of the War Memorial. After the hut was repaired following its wartime use, it became a base for the table tennis club, the Good Companions, and Mutford and District Women’s Institute, recalled by Annie Youngs and Sylvia Greenacre, recent President of the WI. Fundraising towards a replacement for the hut included events with Sir Stanley Rous, the England football Captain Billy Wright, and Allan Smethurst, The Singing Postman. The hall was opened in 1968. After initial problems, it became home to more local groups. Film of the youth Super Teams competition and football club tug of war, and a local It’s A Knockout. Scenes of residents sitting at tables laden with food and drink for a VE Day party inside the village hall. Brief shots of singing, the end of a film show, followed by the dramatic recreation of a wartime air raid with siren sounds and lighting effects, and the all clear as a family return to their home. On the improved village hall stage, scenes of singing at a charity musical evening, and “The Circus Comes To Town” presented by Hurjac Productions. Even more ambitious, a spacecraft lands on the stage and an alien visitor watches unimpressed by a range of parodies of human behaviour including teenagers with ghetto-blaster, a mugger and an old lady, a tramp and a prostitute, and a man with a gun, before the spaceship takes off again. More parodies in “The Mutford Folk” starting with postmistress Julie Bullen followed by a doctor, a farmer and wife, the village handyman, the kids that play around, the vicar, the village tart, the car mechanic and a milkmaid. In another Hurjac Production, Little Bo Peep meets other comedy nursery rhyme characters including gay caricature Simple Simon and cross-dressed Miss Muffet with her whip, as well as Postman Pat and his black and white cat. More innuendo from the master of ceremonies warming up the audience for old-time Mutford Music Hall, followed by period birthday party and seaside scenes. Film of the curtain call for the pantomime Cinderella reveals all the character performers as they emerge to take a bow. The video ends with scenes of the 1999/2000 Mutford Millennium party at the decorated village hall. Scenes of guests sitting at tables for pork roast and champagne, then dancing the hokey cokey. As midnight chimes, party poppers are held at the ready and balloons drop from the ceiling. Arm in arm, people sing Auld Lang Syne. Outside, the beacon is lit and people watch a firework display. The narrator concludes: “Mutford people really do enjoy celebrating”.

Intertitles

Anglo-Saxons 900 – 1066 AD (3:10) 1200 AD? (19:30) Farming (25:50) The Chapel (40:13) Can I Help You? (45:34) School Days (51:58) Over here! (1:02:14) Let’s Celebrate (1:11:16)

Additional Description

Opening credits Hurjac Productions present In association with Jayco Films Mutford Millennium: The Last One Thousand Years Closing credits Narration: Paul Randle Original music written and performed by Lisa Bullen Illustrations by Jean Boucher Researchers: Ivan Jacob, Roy Hurrell, Julie Bullen, Ivors Ford Sound and graphics: Ivan Jacob Sound and video editing: Neil Achew, Ivan Jacob Special thanks to: All those who have submitted information and material to enable this film to be made, and to West Stow Saxon Village, Lowestoft Cine and Camcorder Club, Neil Achew, Richard Allen Dedicated to my wife Jan and to the people of Mutford A Jayco Film and Hurjac Production © 2000/2001 Hurjac Productions (Roy Hurrell and Ivan Jacob) Jayco Films (Ivan Jacob) This film was sponsored by Mutford Village Hall and is wholly owned by Ivan Jacob No unauthorised publication is permitted All proceeds from the sale of this film will go towards St Andrews Church Renovation Fund Mutford No responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this film can be taken by Hurjac Productions or Jayco films. The information has been given in good faith, usually from a third party. Anyone wishing to use the information contained in this film for their own use should verify it by carrying out their own research. © 2000/2001 Please respect the copyright in this film, it has taken two years to complete

While living in the village, Ivan Jacob was Mutford’s Village Recorder under the Local Recorders Scheme administered by The Suffolk Local History Council. The video was originally produced on VHS available locally in aid of Mutford church renovation. Dancing at the start includes a popular dance which may not have a name (“Quo dance” doesn’t quite cover it). It is associated with dancing to Status Quo and Mud’s “Tiger Feet”, but it began earlier (late 1960s, 1970s?), particularly as a dance for pairs of boys or men facing one another, hands on hips and both energetically dipping forwards and sideways with their shoulders and elbows.