This was our first meeting of 2025 and was well attended. Sarah Doig, our speaker, gave a good account of Daniel Defoe and his tour of the Eastern Counties.
Daniel Foe was born in London around 1660, later adding the aristocratic-sounding "De" to his name. He was of Flemish descent and, during his early years, lived through the great Plague of London in 1665 and then the Great Fire of London a year later. The Georgian period from 1714 to 1830 was a time of tremendous social upheaval, which had a great effect on Defoe. He was a prolific writer, and his account of his tour around the Eastern Counties in 1722–24 is a reflection of the changes he was experiencing.
Arriving in Colchester, Defoe was impressed by the eight churches and the main trade of spinning wool and making fine cloth for export.
Then on to the medieval town of Harwich — an important port and place for shipbuilding and for Packet boats travelling to Holland.
Ipswich was recorded as having an easy passage to London, coaches arriving in just a day. There didn't appear to be any manufacturing, so property owners could not afford to rebuild their houses to the standards of the day; many had new façades added instead — you can still see some of these fine old buildings today.
"Good company and plenty of provisions" — Defoe on Ipswich
On to Sudbury in the Suffolk countryside, with more turkeys being bred in Suffolk and Norfolk than anywhere else, and up to 2,000 geese walking the livestock to the London markets — it must have been quite a sight.
The quiet town of Bury St Edmunds was next on Defoe's list. This impressive market town reflects the Georgian period in its buildings — for example the Athenaeum, built in the early 18th century as assembly and reading rooms. Defoe described Bury as "the Montpelier of Suffolk and perhaps of all England."
From here he travelled to Norwich, where Defoe writes that the city is "full of people, but where are they?" At this time the textile industry in Norwich was at its peak, with over 10,000 folk working in small home workshops.
"They dwell in their Garrets at their looms, in the twisting mills and the work-houses." — Defoe on Norwich
Then to Yarmouth, where Defoe was impressed with the South Quay. The Herring fish fair was thronged with people, and the quay with 110 Barques and Coble boats filled with fish exported both abroad and to London. With the great advantage of easy access to the Low Countries and the Baltics, boat building was an important industry.
"It is the Finest Quay in England if not in Europe." — Defoe on Yarmouth's South Quay
Eventually he reached King's Lynn, where Defoe records that he had a good time. The towns of Newmarket and Cambridge were also recorded as having been visited.
Daniel Defoe was a complicated man as he travelled through life's journey 300 years ago. Today, as we travel life's journey, we look to each other to appreciate what is around us.