The Orchard Field

Before 1849, the land to the west of St James and north of the road to Metfield was known as Greshaw Common. Following the Inclosure Act of 1845 this common land was ‘enclosed’ by hedges and allotted to the responsibility of various landowners. John Stagoll, surveyor, of Halesworth assigned a John Howlett of Wissett to measure and map out the various inclosures in accordance with the Act. The triangular piece of land of an acre at the junction of Metfield Road and Common Road was awarded to St James South Elmham for a particular purpose…

AND I DECLARE, that I have set out, and do hereby set out, allot, and award unto the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Saint James, South Elmham, all that Piece or Parcel of Land numbered 43a on the said Map, containing one Acre, to be held by them and their Successors in trust, as a place for exercise and recreation for the Inhabitants of the said Parish and Neighbourhood.

Map of the Greshaw Green field later used for the Village Orchard

The award also directed “that the Fences on the east and west sides of such Allotment shall from time to time be repaired and maintained by and at the expense of the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish for the time being.” The responsibilities of the Churchwardens and Overseers in relation to the Inclosure were passed to the Parish Meeting following the Local Government Act of 1894. The members of the Parish Meeting Committee became the Trustees of the Greshaw Green Inclosure. In past years, the Inclosure has been let to any resident of the village with a good use for the land with payments from the rent from such letting being used to help “the poor and needy, or any such persons in distress” of the village.

In more recent years, the Inclosure had been let to any resident of the village with a good use for the land with payments from the rent from such letting being used to help “the poor and needy, or any such persons in distress” of the village.

The Inclosure from the air, clearly showing the triangular shape which governed the eventual planting plan of the orchard. The picture was taken in July 2010, shortly after the project start; the cuts made to define the orchard’s central clearing, footpaths and to deal with pernicious dock outcrops can be seen. — The Inclosure from the air, clearly showing the triangular shape which governed the eventual planting plan of the orchard. The picture was taken in July 2010, shortly after the project start; the cuts made to define the orchard’s central clearing , footpaths and to deal with pernicious dock outcrops can be seen.

When the land became available early in 2009, half a dozen villagers formed the St James Orchard Project Team and proposed taking a long lease on the field to plant an orchard and assure charitable income for the Trustees. This was received with warm support and the orchard was on its way…