Freston Parish

Freston

In the time of Queen Elizabeth, Thomas Gawdy, Esq., who was afterwards a Knight, and Judge of the Common Pleas, was owner of Bond's manor, in this parish; and also of Woolverstone and Tattingstone, into which parishes it extended.

Henry Gawdy, his son, was created a Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of King James I.; he married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Warner, Esq., of Mildenhall, in this county.

ARMS. Gawdy: argent; a tortoise passant, vert.

The manor of "Bonds," in Freston, is the property of Sir Philip Broke, Bart., of Nacton.

The patroness of the Rectory, is Mrs. Bond, who resides in the parish; and the present rector, is the Rev. George Murray.

One of the most interesting objects upon the banks of the Orwell, is Freston Tower; which was, in all probability, built by one of the Latimers. It is a strong, quadrangular building, of red brick, with a polygonal turret at each angle: it is six stories high, each containing one room, communicating with each other by a winding stair-case, on the east side; and all are of the same dimensions.

The best apartment seems to have been on the fifth story, being higher than any of the others, and the windows are considerably larger. There being no building connected with it, there can be no doubt but that the object of the founder was to command the most extensive view upon the river.

A print of this Tower was published, in 1827, in the "Architectural Antiquities of Suffolk," by Mr. Henry Davy; and some beautiful lines upon this interesting object of antiquity, from the pen of Mr. John Hannah, of Ipswich, are printed in Clarke's "History of Ipswich."

County of Suffolk

Topographical and Genealogical, The County of Suffolk, 1844, Augustine Page

British Isles Genealogy

Add/Correct a Link

Comments/Submit Data