All the information on this 18th century page comes from the Town Wardens’ Accounts that can be found in the Record Office in Bury St. Edmunds. The Town Wardens were, in a sense, forerunners of the Parish Council.
A bill for labour and materials including lime and hair and white Woolpit bricks which cost nearly twice as much as ordinary red bricks.
| A Bill for the Town Wardens | for looking after the clock | 8s | 0d |
| for keeping the register | 4s | 0d | |
| for washing the surplice | 2s | 0d | |
| for sweeping the leads | 6d | ||
| for oil | 8d | ||
| in all | 15s | 2d | |
| Richard Willit |
| For writing the commandments and painting the font | 8s | 0d |
| For 3 days work of myself in whiting the church | 6s | 0d |
An old postcard depicting the crossroads as Stocks Corner suggested Walsham had stocks. Here is further evidence – “for mending the irons to the stocks 1s 0d”.
A receipt for payment of one shilling for a prayer for the king’s recovery refers to the “madness” of King George III.
Goodman Smith’s Bill of Walsham. For cutting off a cancer upon his lip and looking after the same for six weeks including all medicine £2 2s.
Every year, on Rogation Sunday, villagers walked round the parish boundary “beating the bounds”. They were refreshed with ale – 14 gallons on this occasion.
The last item on this bill reads – “for sparring up the maypole 3s 6d”.
A bill to the Town Wardens for bread for the poor £1 2s 3d. Received the contents – John Finch.
April 30 1788 Delivered 4 loads and a half of wood at the workhouse at 10s per load £2 5s 0d. This Bill received – Ezekiel Simpson.
