John Pryke reveals some fascinating history from the Fordham parish registers.

Parish or Parochial Registers were established by Thomas Cromwell, advisor to King Henry VIII, in 1538. But records in Fordham did not begin until 1567.

The registers record that on May Day 1600 there was major fire in the village.

With so many timber framed buildings, fires were not uncommon. But this particular incident destroyed 13 dwellings in the High Street.

‘A strong wind advanced the fire like no other’ the record states.

The registers also record that on February 27, 1605, King James 1 ‘hunted the hare with his hounds in the fields of Fordham called ‘Blacklands’. This is an area of land near Trinity Hall Farm.

The King visited nearby Newmarket almost every year of his reign after purchasing a property there. After the monarch died, his son and successor, King Charles 1 visited.

The visit of King James is commemorated on a beam in the South Isle of Fordham parish church by a carved representation of two hounds pursuing a hare.

A similar carving is portrayed on the village sign near the church crossroads.

It is generally assumed that Kings Path in Fordham was named after the monarch, but history tells us that the path was already named early in the 15th Century, although it was spelt ‘Kyngs’ at that that time.

Another royal visit occurred centuries later when Princess Margaret visited Charles Townsend Nursery, although this appeared to be a private visit.

Charles Townsend’s Nursery received the ‘By Royal Appointment’ award and supplied goods to the Sandringham Estate.

The registers also record that on February 10, 1745, there was a ‘Great Flood’. Several dwellings, barns and outhouses were consumed by water and it threatened to sweep away the Almshouses then situated in Pool Fen. Fortunately no lives were lost.

During this time, water covered vast areas of the Fens and boats may have come into Fordham. In the Middle Ages there were ports at nearby Isleham and Freckenham.

The Almshouse were built in1626 but were relocated to higher ground in 1855.