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Councillor Fred G. Felce
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To-day, the Borough, and indeed the whole district, celebrate the 700th anniversary of the granting of the First Charter of Incorporation to the town “in the 35th year of the reign of King Henry, son of King John,” in 1251. As will be seen in the article by Mr Hugh Barty-King in following pages, the Borough has passed through many vicissitudes, but in 1951 still remains the “blessed spot” to its inhabitants and particularly to those who have been reared in it.
In is a melancholy fact that some of the happenings have been to the town’s obvious disadvantage in years gone by, and when one thinks of the “might have been” as regards Higham Ferrers as a centre of learning, rivalling even some of the present famous schools, the fact of the “Dissolution of the Monasteries” and the present condition of the College (happily to be restored now as an ancient monument) is only too apparent.
It is to be regretted that the First Charter has been lost, but as will be seen in another page we have the reproduction and the translation of the document which accompanied it giving the Burgesses their Freedom, and the names make interesting reading. The later charters and other relics will be on Exhibition during the week in the Bede House.
This introduction would not be complete without the mention of Higham’s famous son, Henry Chichele, Archbishop of Canterbury, who built and endowed the old College, the Chichele Chapel and the Bede House, and later built All Souls at Oxford – an exact replica of the College at Higham. We reproduce a picture of the traditional birthplace of the Archbishop at the South End of the town, the house now occupied by Mr John Pack. Another of Chichele’s benefactions is the Bedesmen’s Charity.
To worthily celebrate the 700th Anniversary, together with the Festival of Britain, 1951, an ambitious programme has been arranged. Undoubtedly, the Civic Lunch on June 2nd will be an opportunity to wish the Borough “many happy returns,” and the presence of the distinguished visitors at that function will, we hope, be a worthy send-off to the programme to follow.
The “Freedom of the Borough” being the “highest distinction the town can bestow” is to be conferred on Alderman H R Patenall, CC, Alderman J W Barker, and John White, Esq, each of whom in their several ways, have served the town during the past 30 years.
On Sunday, June 3rd, a United Service will be held in the Parish Church at 3 pm. The service will be conducted by the Vicar (Rev H S Hoar, BA), assisted by the Superintendent Methodist Minister (Rev J W Utley) and the Choirs of the town will lead the singing. The Lord Bishop of Peterborough (the Right Rev Spencer Leeson) will preach the sermon.
Various other functions have been arranged throughout the coming months, culminating in September with a grand Festival Play – “The Boy Will Do,” written around the life and time of Henry Chichele. This will be given in the Bede House.
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