It came as a surprise to me, although I am sure that many in Great Waldingfield are well aware, that the site that is scheduled to be developed as a housing estate in Folly Road (the Piggeries site) was once effectively the ‘town centre’ of the US Army Air Force’s camp towards the end of the Second World War. There are still a couple of buildings on the site, one of which served as the camp’s gym, cinema, social centre and church.
This fact has been brought to my attention by Mr. Norman Wells of Pebmarsh in Essex, who recently gave a talk to the Sudbury History Society about Chilton Airfield. He has suggested that, when trying to think up names for the roads in the new development, the Parish Council bear its historic connections in mind! At Monday’s Parish Council Meeting councillors seemed to be receptive to the idea which I also think is a good one. It was felt that perhaps some of the veterans, who still meet regularly in the US, might be asked for some suggestions.
According to Valerie Herbert, who as a trustee of the Sudbury Museum, has been much involved with the documenting and recording of Chilton and Sudbury’s wartime connections, ‘The squadrons had boring numbers but also zodiac names such as Scorpio’. When it comes to naming roads this could be a rich seam to mine.
She also tells me that the part of the Museum Trust website dedicated to Chilton Airfield has just gone live. (To access this go to : sudburysuffolk.co.uk/photoarchive (then click on the Americans button). There is actually a picture of the Folly Road site in the archive which is reproduced below.
Those of you who would like to learn more about Sudbury and District during the war might be interested in buying a copy of Valerie’s new book that has recently been published by the Sudbury Museum Trust. Pre launch copies of the book, No Glorious Dead: the impact of war on Sudbury – a Suffolk market town, are available for sale at a discount price at the Visions of Sudbury Exhibition that is currently taking place at St Peter’s Church. The exhibition continues until Saturday and is open from 10 am until 4 pm.
The book has more than 245 illustrations and includes a map of Chilton airfield. Proceeds from sale of the book will be shared between the Sudbury and District Royal British Legion and Sudbury Museum Trust.
