Continental invaders visited the area in the 9th century as evidenced by the Viking campsite and quay at Frostenden for it once stood on a sea inlet and was the only inland port in Suffolk mentioned in Domesday. At the time the hamlet was known as Froxedena and sea going ships tied up there until the river became silted up in the 12th century. There were also salt workings at Frostenden. An old milestone at Frostenden indicates the village is 103 miles from London, 34 from Ipswich, 20 from Yarmouth and 10 to Lowestoft. Since that time after passing through the hands of some who had been slain in battle, attainted for high treason and beheaded, or who had forfeited their lands for other reasons, Frostenden manor was granted to Henry VIIIs fourth wife, Anne of Cleves (1515-57), for life as partial compensation for being set aside.
She also received Hever Castle, Ann Boleyn’s home in Kent. After passing through various hands Frostenden was eventually bought by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster who became the lords of the manor.
Three miles of farmland now separate the village from the sea. Frostenden Lodge had once been the home of the incumbent of the nearby parish church of All Saints which has a wooden sundial over its south door with the words ‘Vigilate et orate’ - wake and pray - and is one of oldest of the 38 Suffolk churches with a round Norman tower. The date 1606 has been scratched on the wall of the porch, the year Europeans first sighted Australia. For centuries sheep have grazed in its churchyard.
Despite being a quiet isolated hamlet violence was not entirely unknown for the Ipswich Journal of Saturday March 18th 1826 reported ‘On Tuesday evening last about 8 o'clock as Mr John Woods, miller, of Lowestoft was returning from Wangford, when within a quarter of a mile of Frostenden Lodge and just opposite a road leading to Reydon he was attacked by two men who, without uttering a word, seized him on the left side and in a few minutes unhorsed him, but he still clinging to the mare's rein, which in his fall came over head, gave so sudden a check to the mare that she flew with great violence and drove the men some yards from her. On Mr Woods recovering himself, he set most resolutely to work on the fellows, who, after a severe struggle took to their heels up the road leading to Reydon and left Mr Woods almost covered with blood, who then proceeded after his mare which he found near Wangford but, from his exhausted state was unable to pursue the robbers.

Jean C Noble, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear

WANTED

Frostenden, Uggeshall & South Cove Group Parish Council have joined with Wrentham Parish Council to try to form a First Responders group to cover their immediate area. Volunteers are trained and equipped to attend emergency calls to patients with problems such as chest pains, breathing difficulties etc. They are not asked to attend road accidents, neither are they expected to be on call 7 days a week. The local contact is Mrs Gwen Stockdale, 5, The Hill, Uggeshall. Volunteers are needed particularly from Frostenden. You could save someone's life. The First Responders are an invaluable group - can you help ?

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Paul Scriven
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Uggeshall News