By Ivor Traktor, Farming Correspondent (intern)
A fascinating book about the devastating 1840 Norfolk Dumpling Famine is heading for the top of this year’s Christmas best-sellers list.
Suffolk author Derek Trotter has uncovered new evidence about the horrific famine, which wiped out tens of thousands of Norfolk peasants and sparked the war with Suffolk which, like that between North and South Korea, is still not “officially” over.
Mr Trotter, 73, of Lowestoft, has pieced together new claims that it was undercover agents from Suffolk who caused the famine by introducing a virus that prevented the dumplings from growing.
Rather than starve, and in desperate attempts to escape violence and hardship, tens of thousands of Norfolk peasants began trying to cross the border into wealthy Suffolk from March 1840.
But guards refused entry, sparking skirmishes that escalated quickly into full-scale conflict, with pitchforks and shovels used to awful effect by both sides.
Those so-called Dumpling Dustups began the fierce hostilities that remain between Norfolk and Suffolk today. The war has never been truly declared over, and fights continue in the borderlands and when the counties’ two football teams meet up.
Mr Trotter said: “It took years of research, but my book will for the first time reveal it was Suffolk dirty work that caused the famine.
“It tells how the peasants watched in horror as their dumpling crop failed in front of their eyes, causing social unrest and eventually war with Suffolk.
“The book then details how a scientist from Cromer came up with an antidote for the dumpling virus, and how crops were able to recover from 1841 onwards – but not before 37,000 Norfolk people died.”
Mr Trotter’s book, published by the Suffolk Defence Archive, is available from all good book shops, and some bad ones, priced at a very reasonable £4.99.
Blodgett’s nose can be seen, preserved in a contemporary druggist’s carboy, in the Diss town museum. Every year, on the anniversary of the battle, members of the Blodgett Society gather to drink the nose’s health. Upon which its pores are said to shed drops of fluid resembling sweat. A sample of the ‘sweat’ was recently sent by the Society for analysis by the South Norfolk Police laboratory in Long Stratton. It was found to consist of 70%-proof alcohol. Negotiations are currently on-going between the Society and the trustees of the museum for the sale of the unique fluid to the public in special commemorative phials.
Also known as the War of Blodgett’s Nose, in honour of heroic Diss turkey-stuffer, Tom Blodgett, who had his nose severed with a bill-hook while leading an heroic assault on Eye castle.
Dear Major
These types of military action are still going on sporadically all along the border. We will endeavor to bring dispatches from our Defence Editor Doug Trench as often as we can.
Regards,
The Editor