Swavesey & District History Society – December 2025 meeting
Despite a mild evening, only 22 turned out for the AGM because of competing activities, particularly in Over. After the formal proceedings two members gave short presentations.
Firstly, Carole Pook from Swavesey gave a talk explaining the link with Cambridge of the freed slave Olaudah Equiano. A bridge over the River Cam in Chesterton was named Equiano bridge in 2022.
Olaudah Equiano, was born in Africa in about 1745. He became a prominent abolitionist and writer in Britain. He died in London on March 31 1797, aged 52. His marriage in Soham in 1792 to Susannah Cullen who came from Fordham connected him to Cambridgeshire. They lived in Soham and two girls were born there, Anna Maria on 16October 1793 and Joanna on 11 April 1795. After Susannah died in March 1796 aged 34 and Olaudah died in 1797 the two girls were brought up in Chesterton. Anna Maria died there in July 1797, soon after her father. She was buried in the parish churchyard of St Andrew’s, Chesterton where a memorial plaque and her grave can be seen. Joanna married in 1821, died in March 1857 aged 61, and was buried in Stoke Newington. A stained-glass window depicting the family is due to be installed in St. Andrew’s Church Chesterton.
Secondly Mike Day from Over spoke about his early life growing up on the family farm at Beaumont cum Moze near Hamford Water on the Essex coast. The area known as Beaumont after the 12th century was previously known as ‘Fulepit’ – Foul Pit, suggesting it was a bit smelly. The historic church and the old post office, now with a modern roof in place of thatch, are still there, but not the school attended by his sister. The 19th century Beaumont Cut canal, built to serve trade has remains of a quay and a lime kiln. The disused quay was built with stones from London Bridge in 1832.
The family farm that Mike worked on in younger days grew cereals, potatoes, sugar beet and sprouts – which were very painful to harvest in winter weather. There was an orchard and they kept pigs, cattle and chickens. Mike witnessed the severe flooding in his area on 31 January 1953 when the predicted very high tide, driven by a storm from the north, invaded the coast from Lincolnshire to Kent.
Asked why he didn’t carry on the family farm he revealed that his parents thought his elder brother taking over was enough, so he joined NIAB, continuing a connection with agriculture. Hamford Water featured in Arthur Ransome’s “Secret Water” in the Swallows and Amazons series.
Next meetings: –
20 Jan. The Young Charles Darwin in Cambridge. Murray Jacobs.
24 February. The Real Basil Brown: From Rickinghall to Sutton Hoo. Sarah Doig.
17 March. The Old Vicarage, Grantchester. Peter Tatham.
