Reference
AU10/80/6
Title
Letter from Edward Fielder in West Kilburn [Middlesex] to Andrew Underwood:
- he sang in Ampthill church choir until he was about 16; a number of choirs in the area banded together for an evensong in Summer followed by a tea, he particularly remembered doing this at Houghton Conquest, Shefford, Maulden and Ampthill; he also remembered a choir from Turvey Abbey attending, the local squire, [Charles Longuet] Higgins, being very keen on the festivals, he attended the festival at Ampthill in knee breeches, red silk stockings and silver buckled shoes;
- local story that Charles I had been held for a time at Ampthill and Oliver Cromwell had stayed the night at Woburn Abbey; Higgins family noted as adherents of Charles I and as Bedford brewers;
- Rev. [Cecil] Bromley of Maulden was noted for fine musical services, engaging well known singers;
- the writer's father Richard gave a tenor bell to Ampthill church, cast at Loughborough [Leicestershire] and costing £90 it was inscribed "To the Honour and Glory of God in memory of Richard & Eleanor Waterloo Fielder";
- Arthur Low had showed him a bat presented to him on his retirement from cricket autographed by Ampthill club members
Date free text
31 Oct 1956
Production date
From: 1870 To: 1956
Level of description
item