MY FAMILY & BARROWAY DROVE – Vicky Howling.

In earlier times Barroway Drove was in the fen marsh, but on higher ground & dry during the summer months. The land was eventually improved by drains known as tongs. The village is mainly one long straight road.
Vicky said she had always lived in Barroway Drove except for a few months, after which she was glad to come home. She had always been interested in family & local history, and after speaking to her father & doing some research she found, as we all have, that it took a lot of her time.
She got married & when the children were at school, she spent time with her like-minded friend researching & visits to the Norfolk record office, & found her roots back to Gt.Gt.Gt G parents living In the Drove, which was often referred to as the Fen.
Vicky gathered stories from her father & local people & this enhanced her knowledge of the history of Barroway Drove. It was previously known as Bardolph Fen & to enhance his self esteem the lord of the manor decided he needed more recognition for his work & decided to name the place Lords Drove & Lady drove. The locals didn’t accept the name Lords drove & decided to call the place Barroway Drove (although Lady drove still exists) the name thought to derive from the lattice wheel barrows that men used to carry peat out of the drove towards Nordelph & eventually to the barges at Welle.
At the time of the Queens Golden Jubilee she hit on the idea of celebrating this with a pictorial display of local people, buildings & events in the village hall. Helped by her friend and the local school children during the summer holidays, models were made of their homes & various buildings & laid out on a plan of the Drove. The event proved very successful.
There was a tale of a murder in the village in the early 1900’s, but as with all stories told through time the facts were often enhanced. Vicky researched the occurrence & found a newspaper report which said that the man coming home from the pub, died in coma after a head injury which was caused by being pushed over.
In 1944 a plane crashed in fields nearby killing the pilot – again researched by Vicky.
Vicky said that the local Church & chapels, post office, shops & pub have all gone or closed & the only facility left is the village hall.
She hopes one day to write a booklet about Barroway drove to sell, the proceeds going toward the village hall, and her research continues.
She brought with her a marvellous collection – many pictures, reports, census, maps & drainage plans which the members & guests enjoyed looking at & it seemed that some of the members were able to give Vicky more history of Barroway drove.
Our November meeting is the festive social gathering with a buffet, a quiz, displays of War memorabilia & the displays which were on show at the Octavia centre for Heritage weekend.
[Barbara Holmes]