MILDENHALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 281, 25 October 1934, Page 12

MILDENHALL.

OLD QUIET DISTURBED. Writing of Mildenhall, the starting point in the famous Centenary a.ir race, J. B. Tennent, in the Sydney Morning Herald, says: —- 111 looking back to the happy years spent in that peaceful rural town, it seems to me almost incredible that it should be the starting point of such an important event. That its tranquil old world atmosphere should be shattered by the roar of aeroplane motors and the machine-gunlike cracklings emitted by exhausts appears deplorable. Mildenhall is a market town in the county of Suffolk, _ 76* miles N.N.E. from London, and is reached by train on a branch line of the London and North-Eastern railway from Camhridge. The distance from Cambridge to Mildenhall is 22 miles, and the journey is through some of tjie finest agricultural land in England. A short distance from Cambridge is a railway station which surely possesses the shortest name of any in England, namely, Quy. Mildenhall is situated on the River Lark, a tributary of the Ouse. The Lark is a navigable river, being made so by the erection of a series of locks. The vessels which are navigated thereon are mostly large barges, towed by draught horses of the Suffolk Punch type, which walk along the well-defined towing path. For sylvan beauty the Lark is unsurpassed. The fishing is good, and the Lark Angling Club, whose headquarters are in the town, is a very active and well-known body. The town of Mildenhall, with a population of 3370, lies on the edge of Mildenhall Fen the great fen district stretching northward and westward from that point. Its surroundings are purely agricultural, and it boasts of fine flourmills and maltings. In its main street, High Street, is a beautiful church whose register dates from 1559. The church is known as St. Mary’s, or St. Andrew’s (the dedication is disputed), and has a fine east window and chancel arch. The remainder is principally perpendicular, with a magnificent carved oak roof, ornate north porch, and lofty tower, with fan tracery within. It contains sittings for 1000 persons, and 470 are set aside for poorer people. In the church grounds is the tomb of Sir Henry de Barton, Lord Mayor of London in the reign of Richard 11., and under whose auspices the metropolis was first lighted. The Manor of Mildenhall is a gabled building of the 17th century, standing in magnificent park-like grounds, and is still in use. STONE AGE RELICS. Mildenhall was apparently the site of largo settlements of the Stone Age races, as relics of this Ago are very abundant. Flint implements of great antiquity are found there. Belonging to the palaeolithic poriod of the Stone Age, thev are usually rather large, and in shape either pointed or oval, and include chipped and ground axes, delicately worked arrowheads and spearheads, and thousands of smaller tools called scrapers, which were mostly used for dressing skins. Bronze age relics, in the form of swords, spearheads, and ornaments of bronze, have frequently been found around Mildenhall, and" also floors and foundations of Roman villas have been unearthed. Great numbers of Roman coins, brooches, and ornaments have also been discovered. The ancient industry of flint-knap-ping is still largely carried on around Mildenhall, and archaeologists claim that it is the only industry that can be traced without interruption from prehistoric times. These flint-knappers at present make gun flints for Africa and panelling for church walls. Many of the houses of Mildenhall are constructed of flints and nibble, which make pleasing Mosaic effect, and miles of low walls, constructed entirely of flints, enclose the surrounding fields. Strangely enough, and yet not so strange a great number of the farmers of ’the district are Scotch or of Scotch descent. Evidently they prefer the flat, low-lying country to their native rugged heather hills. Friday is market day m Mildenhall, and all manner of queer conveyances are to bo seen laden with farm produce, pigs, calves, etc., making their way to the market-place, near to which stands a market cross of the 15th century. The cross is of timber, and is hexagonal in shape and roofed with lead. It is in perfect condition. Such is Mildenhall, ancient yet modern.