Cowlinge



Cowlinge (/ˈkuː.lɪnʤ/), pronounced "Coolinje", is a village and civil parish in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England close to the Cambridgeshire and Essex borders.

Village name
Over the years it has been known by many names:


 * Culinge - 11th century.
 * Culinges - 1195.
 * Cooling - David Elisha Davy in the early 19th century.

The name probably means the home or settlement of Culs or Cula's people.

The village
Cowlinge village encompasses a large area of countryside and the local parish stretches some three miles (5 km) from its northern border with Lidgate to its southern border near HMP Highpoint, formerly Stradishall airfield. Its north-west border is the county boundary between Suffolk and the parish of Kirtling in Cambridgeshire. At this end of the parish is the 200 acre estate of Branches Park, which was laid out by Lancelot "Capability" Brown. The great mansion, which was the home of the Dickins, Usborne and other families has unfortunately been demolished but has been replaced by three large residences.

The oldest building in the village is the mediaeval Church of St. Margaret of Antioch. This lovely building was built approximately 650 years ago and is still in regular use for Christian worship. The building has evolved over the years and is the product of a great deal of love and care which people of many periods and traditions have lavished upon it.

The 19th century former village school is now a private residence.

At the centre of the village is the Freehouse - Public House The Three Ways currently owned and run by Sue and Chris Smith.

Another prominent feature in the village is the WWI Memorial situated at Tillbrooks Hill and bordering Queen Street.

Village publications
The Cowlinge Chronicle is a free, quarterly publication produced for the benefit of residents, past and present. It is kindly produced on an entirely voluntary basis to an extremely high standard. Much acclaim has come its way in recent years from many sources with regard to, amongst other things, its interesting and often amusing content, lay-out and graphics and sheer professionalism. The editor, Christina Robson, can be contacted on: editor.chronicle@cowlinge.suffolk.gov.uk

Cowlinge in the news
1839-1840 Bury and Norwich Post newspaper archive

"August 7, 1839

At Cowlinge Fair on Wednesday last, a brutal outrage was committed on Sergeant Johnson of the 94th Foot, he has been for several years stationed in Bury on recruiting service, his party enlisted five recruits at the Fair, two of them fell fighting and Johnson intervened to stop them when about 20-30 desperate characters set upon him with sticks and beat him in a savage manner, such was the force that the whalebone support of his hat and the brass on the peak broke, but for the protection these afforded him his life would have been sacrificed, the ruffians attempted to draw his sword but Johnson with exemplary coolness drew the blade and declared he would use it against his countrymen, he was rescued by Mr Bryant from Newmarket by riding his horse into the crowd. The mob afterwards demolished several stalls and threw ginger beer bottles about and staved in a cask of beer and we believe broke woman's arm, 10 were apprehended of whom four were committed to Bury gaol for rioting, they were Samuel Outlaw, Edward Reeve, John Race and George Stigwood for violent assault on John Coe and his wife at Cowlinge Fair."

Tourism

 * National Horse-racing Museum & Tours 7 Miles
 * Ickworth House, Park & Garden 7 Miles
 * Newmarket Racecourses 8 Miles