The Great Cley Floods: Chapter 11
Two women who lived who lived in different centuries are trying to track one another down. Jean Day continues her well-researched time-shift novel based on two devastating floods which, a hundred years apart, swamped a Norfolk village. To read earlier chapters please click on The Great Cley Flood in the menu on this page.
June 1853
It was summertime and the school children were on holiday. Rachel spent most of the time at home with her mother. Rebecca had sent her on a fruitless search There was no teacher called Martin Gardner at the Grammar School. The English master was of the age for the man she was looking for, but he was called William Rudkin, and he lived in Holt, not Cley.
Rebecca accepted this information, but even so, on a Friday when she was visiting Holt market, she thought to call on Mrs Palleyne, the wife of the Reverend Benjamin Palleyne, headmaster of Holt Free Grammar School, which was also called Greshams after its founder. Rebecca, who had met Mrs Palleyne some years ago, recalled that she was blind. She took along a pot of homemade strawberry jam.
The Palleynes' house was filled with people. Besides Mrs Palleyne, there was her son Walter, an apothecary, his wife Ann, and their five-year-old daughter Annie. Rebecca was welcomed and offered tea. The Reverend Palleyne, who was also the vicar of Sheringham, then arrived, accompanied by John Slann, who was the second master at the Grammar School.
Rebecca had been hoping to meet the Reverend. Eventually she got around to asking her question.
“Do forgive me, Reverend Palleyne for raising a school matter during your holiday. Recently I met a woman who said her husband was a teacher at your school. I want to contact her again. She said they had been living in a rented house in Cley since January. It was flooded out, and I was wondering whether she had moved to Holt. I think her husband's name is Martin Gardner. He teaches English.''
“I am sorry madam, that name means nothing to me. How about you, John?'' he asked, turning to his companion. "Have you heard of this man?''
John Slann shook his head. "That is not a Norfolk name.''
"Could it be another of our Norfolk grammar schools?'' the Reverend asked. "Could you have misheard the name?''
"Ah, perhaps that is what happened,'' Rebecca said hurriedly.
"We do have the Pitcher brothers at our school,'' said Reverend Palleyne. "The live in Cley. Do you know their parents? I believe William Pitcher, their father, is a grocer who moved to Cley from Brancaster. The boys, William, who also goes by the name of Josiah, and John are very good scholars. I understand they have two younger brothers who will eventually be coming to our school.
“Mr Pitcher and I share an interest in archeology. Perhaps you have heard of the quern found on Cromwell's Hill. It is in my possession, a relic from a Roman camp. Wait a moment and I will fetch it.''
Rebeccashad indeed heard of the discovery of the quern. She had also heard the word "purloined'' used in regard to how it came into the Reverend's possession. However, when it was brought for her inspection she tried to look suitably impressed.
Reverend Palleyne insisted on delivering a small lecture. "Querns were carved stones used to grind corn. This is one of he oldest, known as a saddle quern because over time it was worn into the shape of a small saddle. Can you see that? Although it was found during excavations of the Roman camp it predates the Romans by some thousands of years...''
The Reverend drone on, describing rotary querns, then giving a detailed account of how they worked.
When his flow of words eventually ceased, Rebecca, in a somewhat strained voice, said "How very interesting. Thank you for showing this to me.'' Then, in a warmer tone, "I will tell Mrs Pitcher the kind things you said about her sons.''
Soon after that she made polite excuses and took her leave of the Palleynes, disheartened at the thought of being unable to track down Mary Gardner.
