Halesworth - History

History

A Halesworth bank used to issue its own banknotes. A 5 guinea banknote, issued by the Suffolk and Halesworth Bank in 1799, has recently been recovered.

In the early 16th century the Angel Hotel was built and held a position of importance as the post house, coaching inn and main meeting place for townsfolk.

Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker the famous botanist and traveller was born in Halesworth in 1817. Hooker House, now a dental surgery, is named after him. His widow declined the proposal of a burial of his body in Westminster Abbey alongside Charles Darwin.

In 1862 the only murder was recorded, Ebenezer Tye (died 25 November 1862, aged 24) was a policeman who was trying to stop a burglary in Chediston Street. However he was beaten to death and is now buried in Halesworth Cemetery. The murderer, John Ducker, was caught and was the last person to be publicly hanged in Suffolk.

In 1862 the Rifle Hall was presented to the town by the family of a late captain of the rifle corps, Andrew Johnston. It is so called because it was used as a drill hall by the rifle corps. The hall was originally built in 1792 as a theatre and was used from 1812-44 by the theatre manager David Fisher. He owned an itinerant theatre group which travelled a circuit of theatres in East Anglia (including the Fisher Theatre in Bungay which has now been fully restored). It would take the company two years to complete the circuit travelling with their costumes, props and sets and publicising their plays as they went. They were highly successful with strong links with the London stage and the acting circle.

Chediston Street was originally the site of many pubs and small breweries. The ghost of Squire Baker is reputed to haunt this street. He is renowned for throwing the vicar down the stairs and breaking his legs. There is also a heavy-footed ghost that walks into a house and clumps noisily through to the other side.

Quay Street takes its name from the original town quay. In the middle of the 18th century the river was made navigable from Halesworth to Southwold. A new brick lock was made at Halesworth and new cuts were dug. The first keel arrived from Southwold in 1761, laden with coal, shortening the journey of the cargo considerably. Part of the old navigation can be seen in the Town Park.

The Town Park was created by Donald Newby (Chairman of Halesworth UDC 1970-71) with the help of Lady Rugby who donated some of the land.

1822-31 - the Reverend Richard Whatley is Rector of Halesworth, living in the Rectory, Rectory Lane. He is a renowned and outspoken academic vociferously opposed to slavery. He left Halesworth to become Archbishop of Dublin. One of his descendants is the actor Kevin Whately.