Letter from Shrublands

We recently received the original of this letter from Sue Smith in Mersea who had found it in her attic.  It was addressed to a Mrs Fincham in Long Green, Marks Tey and was from a Mrs. Edwards who lived in Shrublands farm.  Her handwriting was very eccentric but after some hard work by Anna, Janet, Linda and Stewart we think we have decoded it.

Shrublands

Fincham

Downham

11th Sept 1899

Dear Madam

I should have answered your letter before but have not been at all well, so please excuse delay.

The grand old church of St Martins is still standing and in fairly good preservation. It contains many painted windows with a very ancient font and there is also a splendid screen at the entrance of the chancel on the top of which is the coat of arms of the Fincham Family. If at any time you would like the photo of the church, I could send you one. They are 1/- each and a pretty picture it makes. If you refer to the Norfolk Directory you will find further details of the church. Fincham Hall is still standing which was previously the residence of the Fincham Family. There is also a respectable man whose name is Lot Fincham residing in the village in the parish. He is a working mason. I have heard that he is descended from the earlier Fincham Family. Fincham is a nice clean village with about 600 inhabitants In the event if you were wishing to visit Fincham the direct way would be via Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Ely to Downham Market where you could hire a conveyance from either The Crown Hotel or the Castle Hotel. A buggy(?) from each meets most of the trains during each day. We are about 6 miles from Downham Market Station

Mr Edwards is a farmer and has been here nearly 9 years. I like this village it is not as beautiful a place as it was about 20 or 30 years since owing to the depression of agriculture, I suppose

with kind regards

Yours faithfully

Mrs Edwards