| NEW
PUBLICATIONS |
| The north Norfolk of 1883 was
a select area. The Sheringham of today hardly existed and Cromer, though already a holiday
resort, was a difficult place to reach until the railway had finally arrived in 1877.
The Great Eastern Railway Company was keen to develop the use of its line to north
Norfolk, and we can imagine that they were quite happy to supply London-based travel
writer and theatre critic Clement Scott with a ticket from Liverpool Street station to
Cromer. The consequences of his visit were to be considerable for Sheringham and Cromer,
Overstrand and the Runtons. Clement Scott had established himself as a prominent
writer for the Sunday Times and then for the Daily Telegraph some ten years earlier. He
arrived at Cromer probably in early August 1883, and looked for a place to stay. From his
own account we read that there wasn't a suitable place to stay in the town itself, so he
began to walk eastwards. Along his way he passed many cornfields, full of bright red
poppies. Today our cornfields have few poppies because of the use of weed-killers, but
then it was normal for the poppies to grow amongst the corn and be separated out at a
later stage. When he sat down to write his first article, he would christen the area
'Poppyland'. The story of his arrival at the Mill House in Sidestrand, his meeting
the 'Maid of the Mill', his 'discovery of the Garden of Sleep' on the cliff top and the
way his writings changed the look of north Norfolk is the stuff of legend. He would return
to the area many times before his death in 1904. |
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| One hundred years later the
story is told once again through a new edition of the book 'Poppyland in Pictures', by
Elizabeth Jones. This new edition carries fresh insight into the story through a visit
publishers Peter and Brenda Stibbons made to the library of Rochester University in New
York State last November. Clement Scott's personal papers, including fifty years of
correspondence with the leading actors and actresses of his time are deposited in the
library, and mentions of Sheringham, West Runton, Cromer and Overstrand are all to be
found in the letters. As well as the new edition of the book, Poppyland Publishing -
which is extremely grateful for Scott for thinking up the name it continues to use! - has
produced a video of the story, narrated by actress Bryonie Pritchard, with actor Michael
Strobel speaking the words of Clement Scott. There is also opportunity to hear the
original 'Garden of Sleep' song, and to enjoy many aspects of the story which cannot be
included in the printed text. The video 'Poppyland' is available from Bertram Watts and
Starlings of Sheringham, Jarrolds of Cromer, and other shops in the area. 'Poppyland in
Pictures' now including colour illustrations, is £8.95 and the video 'Poppyland' is
£10.95. |
Baconsthorpe Village Hall
50/50 Auction on Saturday 11th September, Viewing at noon sale at 1-30 pm. Light
refreshments will be on sale. ‘’Lots’’ can be brought to the Hall
between noon & 4 pm on Friday 10th. No lots will be accepted after 4 pm. Items not
sold will need to be collected after the sale. Thankyou for your support. |
|
An
Evening of Clairvoyance
with Roger Coleman and Norman Lewin
To be held at The Dunstable Arms Sheringham
Friday 3rd September 7.30pm
Tickets available at The Dunstable Arms
Or reserved by telephoning 01692-500298 or 07766-722616
Psychic Fayre and Alternative Therapies.
To be held at the Ingleside Hotel Trimingham
Saturday 4th September 10am- 4pm
Eight mediums available to give private readings
to book a time slot or for a list of the days activities
please telephone 01692-500298 or 07766-722616 |
CARNIVAL RAFFLE—UNCLAIMED PRIZE
WHITE 791.
To claim prize contact, John Ashton, on 01263 823711
giving your full name and address. |
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