Information from our oral history interviews and from local historians in Radio 4 Programme, Open Country – brief mention of how people historically used Thompson Common.
Local historian Bronwen Tyler mentions some memories from villagers of using the common, including those we interviewed: Betty Norris; and Lord Walsingham who owned the land in those days. Bronwen organised the Thompson Heritage weekend that we attended with displays in May 2025, and she originally introduced me to Betty and to Lord Walsingham’s relatives and helped make the interviews happen.
Listen at 6 min 58 in, Open Country Pingos and Pool Frogs – BBC Sounds, 04 Sep 2025 (available for over a year), about how Bronwen’s family and other villagers, including Betty, would go to Thompson common to fish, paddle and skate.
Some interesting stuff about pingos and frogs and wildlife as well!
Listen to the oral history interviews with Betty Norris and Lord Walsingham and read transcripts/summary on this website (Betty, after 5 mins in to about 15 minutes, Lord Walsingham, 1hr 58 and 2h 07), including how Betty and her family and friends played on Thompson common, paddling in the pingos, skating and fishing at Thompson Water, and from Lord Walsingham about his management of the common and how villagers were free to come and fish.
Photos from the village archives, from Thompson Heritage weekend May 2025: the press cutting and a map of the village.
