This time, instead of an old press cutting, I thought you might enjoy this fine example of early nineteenth century legal gobbledygook from 1801. This is the text; a copy of the original document is at the bottom of this page.
I John Alldis in the said county of Suffolk Farmer, being owner and Proprietor of the lands and Grounds mentioned and described in this plan herewith annexed through which a certain New Common Road or Kings Highway, and also through which contain New Foot Path or Foot Way leading from the Church of Hasketon aforesaid towards Woodbridge in the said County are intended to be diverted and turned in consideration thereof and in consideration of the Land and Soil over which the Old Common Road or Kings Highway and over which the Old Foot Path or Foot Way passed being and remaining my Sole Property without any Payment or Reservation for the same or any part thereof Do hereby consent and agree to the making and continuing such New Common Road or Kings Highway and also such New Foot Path or Foot Way through by the side and over my said Lands and Grounds in Hasketon aforesaid as in the said plan hereunto annexed is particularly mentioned and described.
Given under my Hand and Seal the eighteenth day of September in the ear of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one.
John Alldis.
Just in case that’s not clear I’ll try to explain. The gist of it is that land owner John Alldis, who owned the land on both sides of the south eastern end of Blacksmiths Road (referred to as the ‘Old Common Road’ in the document above), intends to divert this road slightly along a 20 foot wide ‘New common Road’ which would remove the ‘kink’ just outside Manor Farm house.
It actually makes more sense when viewed with the annexed sketch map shown in the diagram below. The originals can be found in the Suffolk Archives in Ipswich, Ref. B/106/5/133.
I’ve redrawn this slightly below, though I’ve drawn it upside down compared to the original.
There was also a footpath, ‘the Old Foot Path’, which ran from this point in Blacksmiths Road, diagonally across the field opposite, across the next field, to join up with Manor Road. Mr. Alldis plans to close this footpath and build a 3 foot wide ‘New Foot Path’ along the side of the New Common Road. Thus if you were travelling out of the village, at the slight right-left kink in Blacksmiths Road by Manor Farm House, the new route would keep straight to run along the edge of the field on the left of the road.
Evidently the only part of this plan that was actually carried out was the closing of the Old Foot Path. It is not clear why this is so, or even if it’s fair to blame Mr. Alldis for not finishing the job. Perhaps it was financial, practical or, just possibly (perish the thought), it was all just a ruse to close up an inconvenient footpath across his land. Whatever the reason, next time you have to walk along Blacksmiths Road and nearly get clattered by a 4×4, you now know who might be to blame!
