East Anglia

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 3

East Anglia

Under Three Crowns. A. J. Forrest. Norman Adlard and Co. 183 pp.

An East Anglian by birth, Mr Forrest has travelled extensively through the district and the adjoining counties, viewing the places he has visited with an affectionate and a critical eye. But this is not just a travel book. It is divided into three parts and the author begins by surveying the crafts and craftsmen of the region. The reader is introduced to such diverse occupations as carr stone building, crab and eel catching, flint knapping, lead roofing and the making of barrel organs and harness. In part two, Mr Forrest tells us of his 3000-mile journeyings locally in Festival of Britain year (1951), and so.

provides an excellent guide tor future travellers who wish to see more than the mere surface attractions of a part of England rich in history and tradition. He concludes this part with a plea for the preservation of the best of the English inheritance in “this unique region which is ours.” The third part is an account of some researches into some of the ancient features of the region. This includes an inquiry into the origin of the Three Crowns, the unofficial arms of East Anglia, bench ends in the old churches, ancient roads, and a discussion of the probable sites of the burial place and the capital of Queen Boadicea.

This is the work of a real enthusiast with a power of communicating his enthusiasm. There are 32 varied photographic illustrations.