Two Contrasting animals

Now for a story of two contrasting animals. It may not be generally known, but one of the most celebrated stallions in England was bred by William Welcher, a Watton farmer. Lancashire is justly famed for its fine shire horses, but it was a Norfolk-bred stallion, "Honest Tom", that transformed the quality of cart horses in the north-western county.

The most celebrated stallion in England of the 1870's, Honest Tom, bred by William Welcher, of Snare Hill, Watton, in 1865.

In a book published a few years ago entitled, "The Shire Horses", it was revealed how the history of the breed is inextricably interwoven with that of the county of Norfolk. But the story of how Honest Tom left his home at Watton to take the "red nose" is one of the most intriguing horse tales of all time. Bred by Mr William Welcher in 1865, Honest Tom, in five successive years — 1867 to 1871 — won first prize at the Royal Show, This fine achievement made Honest Tom the target of a wealthy Preston cotton mill owner named Miller, who was determined to procure only the best, to improve the horses in the Fylde area. Miller travelled to Watton to persuade Welcher to sell Honest Tom to him. He was reputed to have come loaded with golden sovereigns which he produced in in­ stalments until Mr Welcher's reluctance was overcome. In Lancashire Honest Tom went on to win his sixth successive first prize at the Royal Show, this time for the Fylde Company in 1872. In the same year that Honest Tom won this latest honour, a photograph appeared in the local newspaper showing Stebbings, the Watton street cleaner — who always wore a Top Hat whilst doing his work — standing beside his donkey and cart. What a sad contrast this poor wretch must have made with the fine physique of the champion stallion. The photograph of the street cleaner was taken out­side what is now Carter's furniture shop and there wereno raised pavements at that time.

Stebbings, the street cleaner of Watton, always wore a "Top Hat" when he was at work. This photograph was taken in 1872, outside what is now Carter's Furniture Shop.

During Kett's rebellion in 1549 Watton was over run by a military force of over 12,000 armed peasants during July. In the spring and summer of that year there was widespread hardship and rioting in the county. This was caused when many of the common lands were fenced in by the local gentry, thus denying the peasants their common grazing rights for their cattle and sheep which enabled them to support their families.

The peasants set about destroying the fencing and Robert Kett of Wymondham, who had visions of a better Norfolk, led the rebel movement. He made it clear that he was not rebelling against the government in London, but against the local government of the county. Thousands of peasants rallied to support him and their first military attack was repulsed at King's Lynn. Kett and his rebel ar­my then retreated to Watton for regrouping. Here their forces rapidly increased and when nearly 20,000 strong they moved towards Norwich which they attacked on the night of July 31st.

Fred Robinson, a member of a Watton family of solicitors who practiced in the town for over 75 years, was known throughout England as an eminent Norfolk botanist. A member of the Botanical Exchange Club, he contributed no fewer than 3,700 sheets between 1913 and 1924. He discovered a number of plants around Watton that were new to Norfolk and in 1909 his was the first record for Cerastium arvense var. latifolia, in the country.

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