Bungay Honeypot.

The meadow, which became known as the ‘Honeypot’, abuts upon Upper and Lower Olland Streets and Bardolph Road. It was originally church ‘glebe’ land attached to Holy Trinity Rectory, a large 17th century house now Holmwood, the residential home for the elderly. At the end of the 19th century William Walker, who was owner of the Staithe navigation and various maltings and mills, created a footpath from his home, Olland House, in Lower Olland Street, (now PDQ printing services) as a short cut across the Honeypot meadow to the Congregational church where he worshipped. This lane, which now divides Holmwood from the Honeypot, became known as ‘The Folly’.

Early 20th century photographs in the Museum depict horses grazing on the open stretch of meadow which at that time had no buildings on it. It was also used for recreation, football, cricket and many other events and entertainments.

In the 1930’s or maybe a bit earlier, a corrugated iron hut was built on the Bardolph Road side of the meadow, and used as a community hall. It had a good dance floor, local bands performed there and it housed a variety of other events including Bungay Horticultural shows. In 1953 the childrens' parties to celebrate the Queen’s Coronation took place there.

During WW2 the British Restaurant opened at 48, St. Mary’s Street, now a hair salon. It was organised by the Women’s Voluntary Service on behalf of the Bungay Urban District Council. It offered food, hot drinks and somewhere warm and welcoming for the needy during times of deprivation with many local men serving overseas.

At a Council meeting in January 1943, it was reported that it had proved a great success and that during the three previous months "540 main meals, 3100 subsidiary meals, and 7270 cups of tea had been served". These figures were slightly above those for the previous quarter which was not surprising during the colder autumn and winter period.

In November 1942 the Beccles & Bungay Journal had reported that there was little for the armed forces (including American airmen based at Flixton aerodrome) and young people to do in the town on a Sunday. So it was suggested that the Churches should offer them use of the British Restaurant - “We want to keep the men and youth of the town off the streets” said the Vice-Chair of the Council. It was also discussed whether the Mayfair Cinema in Broad Street should be permitted to open on Sunday evenings in the winter period only and servicemen admitted at half-price. This latter proposal brought angry objections from some members of the public who protested that the Christian Sunday was ordained as a day of rest for everybody without exception.  They added that it had already been encroached upon too much and they intended to oppose any further step which might be made in that direction.

Canon Lummis, for Holy Trinity, said that he and other churches did not wish opening of the cinema to clash with evening church services so it could not open until 8 pm. He favoured making the British Restaurant available for the forces personnel on Sundays, and said they would see how popular it proved as a temporary measure, and it could be reconsidered at a later date, if a planned Y.M.C.A hut became available in the town.

Further discussion in the town proposed it should open from 3 – 9.30 pm, but only for the armed services. The Churches would arrange hymn singing and an epilogue, and they proposed that writing paper, pens and ink, and a library of books should be provided by the Bungay Council, as well as hot baths. The Council tartly dismissed this suggestion, and instead insisted that the Churches should provide the writing paper, pens, books and hymn services, and the proposal for hot baths was unnecessary and impractical. 

At the Council meeting in December 1942, it was reported that the decision to make the Restaurant available to the Forces on Sundays had proved very popular. Both British and American service-men and women appreciated the facilities provided and the officers commented on how cosy the place was looking.

So the various organisations involved proceeded to make plans to provide a larger and more permanent venue. After much discussion,  negotiation and delay, at a national level, the following report appeared in the Beccles & Bungay Journal  on February 26th, 1944:

“The hope that many good friendships would be formed within its walls was expressed by Lady Cranworth, wife of the Chairman of East Suffolk County Council, when she opened on Wednesday the Anglo-American Services Club on the Honeypot Meadow, Upper Olland Street, Bungay.

The Town Reeve, Mr. R.J. Reynolds, who presided, said the occasion marked the achievement of the ambitions of all of them at Bungay, for they had wanted a club providing facilities and refreshments for H.M. and the Allied Forces. For many months they had felt the urgent need for such a club. He knew that the voluntary people, who had served them so well during the existence of the Rose Hall canteen, had since carried on in the new building during its preliminary weeks of trial . . . and very much appreciated, as did everybody in the town, the fine service they were rendering."

The Club was presented to the National Council of Y.M.C.A’s by Mr. J.S. Lowe, the Deputy Regional Information Officer. He commented that he felt privileged to hand over the Club on behalf of the Government Departments concerned to the Y.M.C.A as part of the Council of Voluntary War Work, and expressed appreciation of the admirable way in which the Ministry of Works had planned, provided and equipped the building.

The report goes on to say that about twenty similar clubs were being established in the Eastern region – “To this Club all men and women in uniform of our own and Allied and Dominion Services are welcome. The Club was designed to cater for the recreation of the gallant men of the United States Forces . . . a sort of home from home for the American soldiers.”

The members of the Council of Voluntary War Work, the Salvation Army, Y.M.C.A., Church Army, Catholic Women’s League, Women’s Voluntary Service etc. who had so generously promised to undertake the responsibility of operating these clubs were now doing, and would continue to do, their best to provide for the special likes and comforts of all the troops who use them.

On behalf of the National Council of Y.M.C.A.’s the Club was accepted by the General Secretary , Mr. Z.F. Willis, C.B.E. who affirmed  “We are very glad because the Y.M.C.A. is an international organisation working for the men of the Forces all over the world . . . and are glad of the help and comfort that these places would offer to their American friends”.

Lady Cranworth commented that as Chairman of the Women’s Land Army she was delighted to know that the girls of the organisation were also going to be allowed in the Club.

The singing of the Star-Spangled Banner and the National Anthem brought the gathering to a close. Refreshments were afterwards served to the many visitors who were shown round the premises by Mrs. C. Parry-Crooke, of Rose Hall, who was doing so much in the town to help with the War effort, with her willing band of helpers.

 

After the War ended in 1945, the building was taken over as an Employment Office. Then in 1980 it was renovated and extended for use as the town’s Community Centre and remained in use until the new Community Centre was opened in 2021.  As it had started life as a temporary prefabricated utility hut during the war years it was never intended for prolonged usage. So despite some rebuilding, and regular repairs was becoming very tired, difficult and expensive to maintain and not energy efficient.  

A plaque in the Honeypot building commemorated local American airmen and it has been moved to the new Community Centre to provide continuation of the historical context of the facilities.