Christmas Market 2024

Samuel Collins of Braintree.

Samuel Collins became vicar at Braintree in the year 1610.  The previous hundred years had seen the arrival of the Reformation, vast changes in England's churches, and in 1603, in an attempt to avoid civil war, England invited James VI to become King of England.  While this avoided civil war it did not enable a peaceful church.   James had a liking for Catholic ways, something which did not go down well in Calvinist Scotland, and James was determined to have his way in an England he saw as more open to his ideas.  

The Reformation had arrived in England not via good preaching from courageous men but by a deranged King desperate for a male heir.  The conflicts that followed Edward, then Mary, then Elizabeth had left their mark and James did manage to bring equanimity to the nation if nothing else.  His desire to be seen as an academic brought about his translation of the bible know to Christians as the 'Authorised Version,' (AV).  James had already attempted such a translation by himself.  

However, in 1625 Charles I became king as he had neither his fathers religious knowledge of faith but he had inherited his approach to the 'Divine Right of Kings.'  Therefore until his death the nation had much trouble.

Charles employed William Laud as Bishop of London and then Archbishop of Canterbury.  This led to trouble for Samuel Collins and all vicars who leant towards Puritanism.  Collins was not of an ilk to leave the Church of England, and rather despised those who did.  However, he did support those who did as much as was possible without losing his job.  Essex being a Puritan county there were many churches run by Puritan leaning men, usually with a similar mind set off the congregation.  This was trouble.

Archbishop Laud was not a Puritan!  He was no Catholic, but he strongly opposed the Puritan influence on the church and instructed all to follow what many considered 'Popish' ideas.

Over the next few years many men lost their livelihoods, were refused the right to preach, and soon people were leaving for Amsterdam or New England.  When the 'Lyon,' left for New England in 1640 some 15 leading families from Braintree went with it.  Such numbers caused many practical problems, let alone the loss of revenue, usually suffered by the vicar who's income was hit by the lack of tithes. 

During these years Samuel was seen as a man who held off, at great risk to himself and family, Laud's approaches, preached on Sundays and led many other meetings.  Led the 'Four & Twenty' leading citizens who formed a type of council, provided cash to aid the poor and other emergencies and was seen as a man who spoke for God at all times.  He was clearly loved by most of the people, trouble coming only from those who felt he ought to join them and leave aside the 'Popish ways' demanded by Laud.  Of a population of around 5000 in the two towns of Braintree and Bocking, some 800 would meet in John English's barn to worship freely in what they considered a biblical manner.  No wonder Laud was Irked!  But that is typical Essex.

In spite of his troubles Collins was popular enough to last as vicar from 1610 until 1661 when he retired, probably worn out!  He lasted longer than Archbishop Laud who's troubling antics came to an end in January 1645 when he was beheaded.  I think this a good way to deal with heretical Archbishops and Bishops myself.  Laud was not lauded when he lost his head, Samuel Collins was.  The sermon preached at his funeral in 1667 was some 60 pages long!  Try that today!  His biblical approach, his love for God and people, his determination, indeed his impatience, led to many favouring him.  This included those who sailed away to the New World.  (incidentally, of the approx 125 who sailed, there are some 3 million descendants, including those called 'Kellog,' consider that when eating breakfast.)  

A vicar who had a large congregation, a powerful town council, an angry Archbishop, Puritans separatists, Civil War, and loss of congregation to foreign parts, yet attempted to follow his Lord through all this, often at great risk to himself.  Samuel Collins is a man who ought not to be forgotten by this town.

A Wander

Yesterday morning, enticed out by a bright sun and deep blue sky, and also reduced prices for old men on Tuesdays, I wandered around to the 'Esquire Barber Shop' for a haircut.  A short prayer to ensure there were no queues succeeded, and one of the three busy lassies were soon tidying up the mess above my head. 

Leaving behind enough gray hair to make a 'Dulux Dog' I wandered about our ancient city contemplating the history, the coffee bars and the women.  The history we know, the coffee bars too dear, the women ignored me.  I wondered how many knew that on that side of the road a Roman complex of some sort once existed.  Could they imagine the Saxon Roundhouses down near the traffic lights?  Did the realise that the High Street did not exist until probably the late 1200s when it was erected to ease the Bishop of London and his men on the way to their chapel along the road?   I suspect few contemplated such things.  

St Michaels has  stood here in one form or another for well over 800 years.  Possibly a Saxon church was built before that, certainly Roman graves have been discovered near the spot.  The Romans were dead by the way.  At the rear is an alcove, if that's the word, where pilgrims passing by on their way to Bury St Edmunds to visit the dead saint would stop to worship.  Quite what stood there I know not, possibly a priest would allow them to congregate at certain times.  This ended with the Reformation, it was in a all the papers, and the pilgrims ceased passing by.

A gargoyle to remove excess water?  I wonder if he was modelled on one of the main men of the time?

There are a few werewolves around here I can tell you.

Some towns do not appear to have much history in themselves but the people who have lived there often do.  Notley Road, which leads you may guess to Notley, saw many men go off into the Great War, not all returned.  Percy Lanham from No 29 died of wounds at St Omer, way behind the lines, and was buried there.  His service was with the Army Service Corps, the people taking horse and cart full to ammunition and other supplies to the front.  It is likely a shell brought him down, though in war anything can happen.

Just a wee but further down the road, passed what once was the 'Angel' Pub on the other side of the street once stood a house of a famous name.  A man named Martin Kellogg lived there on Godlings Farm until he took off for the USA in the 1600s.  Possibly they were non-conformists and thought New England would be a free place to live.  Among the descendants of the Kellogg's 8 or 9 generations down, we find John Wayne and Clint Eastwood have connections.  Whoever they are.  The one we all know however, is William Keith Kellogg, a Seventh Day Adventist, like his family at the time.  He joined his brother John at his sanitorium, run on healthy vegetarian lines, until, after some problems, beginning what we now know as 'Kellogg's Corn Flakes.'  

This cereal was supposed to trap the sun in the corn and pass on the health benefits to the people.  You may question this, I find the packet tastes better myself.  Still, William was born in 1860 and died in 1951, so his health was good for a long time.

All this beginning, amongst much else, in Braintree!

One item noticed most days and not completely taken in is the pillar box.  A system for collecting stamped mail designed by William Trollope the novelist.  He was in charge of the Post Office in Ireland.  He did not get on with Rowland Hill, the top man who had developed the 'Penny Post,' but top men do not get on with one another often, do they?  Trollope travelled constantly and wrote many of his books while on the train.  As even today writing is not always easy on a moving train I wonder how he managed so well?  His books are very thick, this is because the 'Lending Library' charged money on each lend, and two volumes were not advantages to the shop.  Books to be used by the library, the best Victorian way to be seen, had therefore to come in three volumes or were rejected.  Trollope was not the only writer to grumble at this.

The box bears the letter 'GR,' indicating the box was built in the reign of King George.  He reigned from 1910 - 1936, and is not to be confused with King George VI who reigned from 1936-1952.  His stylised GR includes a VI above the letters.   We await the introduction of  King Charlies Post boxes.  I wonder what they will do re the ones in Scotland?    

In Scotland boxes did not have 'EiiR' as Scotland did not have a 'Queen Elizabeth' before 1952.  The Crown was used instead.  This is because many complained, and Westminster ignored them, until a box in Craigmillar was removed by a wee stick of Gelignite.  The PM at the time, Churchill, decided 'something must be done.' 

Car Show: at Braintree & Bocking Gardens 2023

I played truant from the Kirk on Sunday.  The service was going to be a long one and I conversed with myself as to missing it, I agreed with myself, and then went over to the gardens for the car show.

The 'Pickup Truck' seen here is one of those things many worldwide long for.  In the UK and much of Europe it means little, but the wide open spaces in such lands as the USA, New Zealand and Australia, saw a need among farmers and others for such vehicles.  

The Ford Model 'T' was adapted as far back as 1917 into a 'pickup' and developed somewhat during the 1920s.  However, as far as I can make out it was in 1940 when General Motors introduced the 'AK Series' that what we know as a 'Pickup truck' first appeared.  Ford soon followed and a generation of young Americans saw the vehicle as their main aim.  In the UK we still longed to afford a bike!

This one on show looked somewhat tarnished, but I bet the price to buy would be great.

The Ford Anglia.  This car sits in my mind as representing the period when the UK found the modern world.  No longer would cars all be black, nor would they be curved all round, instead the modern US styled fashion was here.  A bright ne world existed and was to be cherished.  Mind you, I was only 10 years old!  

The 'Zodiac,' another example of the modern desire to copy the flash US cars of the late 1950s.  Old people may remember these cars as fronting the revolutionary TV police programme called 'Z Cars.' Here, the modern police ran around in white Zodiacs catching criminals in a new manner and putting the world to rights.  The series lasted for many years.

Personally I would prefer one of these.  Ideal for us young bucks while running around during the summertime, especially down by the seaside.  Of course I may be confusing US adverts and movies with a day under the Haar at Cramond beach, but you know what I mean.

I did not hang around long enough to discover who got prizes for the machines, but when I saw this 'Alvis' I gave it top prize.  Of course I had not seen half the cars there at the time but this car looked what a car ought to be.  Running boards over the wheel, huge headlights, bright radiator, and a wonderful wee mannie on the front.

The wee mannie...

While as a 10 year old I looked into the future of vehicle travel, now I look at this curved beauty and realise my mistake.  US imitations are well enough but this 'Morris' had a quality that the flat air resistant cars of today lack.  It may weigh a ton, be slow, and in todays world unsafe, but it looks like  bit of class in comparison to cars today.

It is always difficult to beat a Jaguar, and this is a beauty!   I think this is the 'D' Type, but I found nothing to confirm this as I pushed and shoved the fantasists of all ages dreaming of being John Surtees or Stirling Moss.  

A roll bar added to the 1965 great, but nothing else.  I would be scared to drive fast in this in case it rolled and scratched the paint.  The car is too good to drive fast!

This may be more my 'cup of tea.'  Slow, in danger of tumbling over at all times, and in danger of attack by 'Mr Bean!'  

As always there are the bikes, with many a biker gathered together talking about bikes and boring everyone in the family around them.  Fabulous set of bikes of past ages.  I bet many of these men have a 'Honda' at home...

Situated in front of the war memorial is a vehicle from the 1950s.  The 'Ferret Mk 2,'   Built by 'Daimler' in 1948 and brought into service between 1952 -1971 the 5000 'Ferrets' were a scout car that saw service with the British Army and many other friendly nations.  This one lives in the locale.

A different type of 'Daimler.'

A different type!

Entertainment of suitable vintage was available, and these two were very good indeed.

This is only a sample of the days 165 pictures. 

 I will put the rest on the Photo Page.

Shakespeare Café, Braintree

Shakespeare Café

Having risen at the usual time, even though it is a Monday Bank Holiday, I sat lamenting my life for a while at the laptop, including lamenting the fact that the spare laptop would not switch on last night, and downed coffee in a vain attempt to waken up.

By 9:30 I decided to venture out into the chilly sunshine and cross the greenery in the park.  The need for a small bit of green is within us all, though not if it is growing on the wall.  So, off I trotted, passing only a couple of dog walkers, and a young dad proving eh is a 'modern man' by walking the two Labradors along with a pram.  The dogs were too much under control, but dad will think he is 'strong.'

I wonder what my nieces would say to him?

Slowly hobbling up the hill I decided to breakfast in the 'Shakespeare Café.'  You will note the spellchecker ensures 'café' is always spelt correctly!  This was indeed a good idea.  Not long after 10 ish I was served by one of the two friendly staff.  These places make it easy today, the menu has set breakfasts etc, and all you do is choose one and ask for 'Set 2 please.'  This gave me a decent sausage, two eggs, on fried bread, two bacon, two hash browns, a wee bowl of beans, tea and two thick slices of bread, all for £9 plus small tip.

As I ordered it did not sound much, but in time a large plate appeared and I realised just how much there was here.  By the time I looked at the two toasts I thought I might not finish it all!  But I did!

A very good clean café, with friendly staff, usually lots of customers, today I arrived when it was quiet, and I certainly intend to make use of this place again.  Neatly laid out, tidy, well cared for and I suspect a great many regular customers.  I recommend this place!

Of course, now I am stuffed I can hardly move.

After this, I carried my increased bulk into Sainsburys, chatting to a Labrador pup guarding the owner at the door, and picking up a bag of wee orange things without a label thus holding up the ever growing queue at the other end.  I blethered my way out of their unspoken fuming, and ran for the door.

Altogether it has been a good morning, now to see what can go wrong with the day.

As I left the Kirk yesterday I sauntered along a road I have not walked for years.  The long way home took me past things often noticed but never pictured before.  The old museum habit of taking shots of anything remotely of historical interest has not died.  So, the school sign, declaring it was Essex built in 1929 somewhat boastfully is taken.  Not a school anymore, but still used for kids in some way. 

At the bottom of the hill stands the 1930s pub 'The Oak.'  Now long changed use it stands on the busy  corner.  This picture shows how much things have changed in just over 100 or so years.  

The 1930s building stands slightly to the right of this ancient one.   Judging by the motorbikes and the fashions in the picture this may be around 1914 time.  The distant houses have gone, industrial use now, but at first sight, apart from the rickets, 60 hour weeks, and low pay, life appears more leisurely. 

Only those who know their history would realise this lonely, and probably unused light appears to be part of the original 'Lake & Elliot' factory.  Most buildings remain, all in some sort of use, but only one such as I would jump to a conclusion, probably wrong, that this is ancient.

I limped home, getting slower as I moved, wondering if anyone tends these plants that appear to grow wild at the side of the road?  Possibly the council tend them, but I have never seen any action here.  Still, this is better than another fence, however well painted.