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 c1660, later adding the aristocratic sounding “De” in front of 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 1722-4 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 the making of fine cloth for export. 

Then to the Medieval town of Harwich an important port and place for ship building 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 so many of them had new facades added, you can still see some of these fine old buildings. Defoe mentions good company and plenty of provisions, sounds like a good time was had by all!
 

On to Sudbury in the Suffolk countryside, with more turkey’s being bred in Suffolk and Norfolk than anywhere else and up to 2,000 geese walking the livestock to the  London market’s, it must have been quite a site.

The quiet town of Bury St Edmonds was next on Defoe’s list. This impressive market town reflects the Georgian period with it’s buildings for example the Athenaeum built in the early 18^th century as assembly and reading rooms. Bury was described by Defoe as the Montpelier of Suffolk and perhaps of all England.

From here he travelled to Norwich where Defoe writes that "it is full of people but where are they?" At this time the textile industry in Norwich was at it’s 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."

Then to Yarmouth where Defoe was impressed with the South quay quoting "it is the Finest Quay in England if not in Europe."  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.  

Eventually he reached Kings Lynn where Defoe records that he had a good time. The towns of Newmarket and Cambridge were also recorded as having been visited by Defoe.

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.

Daniel Defoe