The story of local legend Margaret Catchpole is still as popular in Suffolk as ever as we celebrate her 250th birthday.
Events have been held throughout the area to commemorate the life of horse-thief and jail-breaker Margaret Catchpole who is said to have once rode bareback from Nacton to Ipswich in order to fetch a doctor for her seriously ill mistress.
Molly McGuckian, a former student from Orwell Park School in Nacton recreated the ride and was cheered on by pupils from the school.
She was greeted at the end of her journey by Anthony Cobbold, a direct descendent of Catchpole’s master, John Cobbold and the Rev Richard Cobbold who wrote a novel based on the Catchpole legend in 1847.
He said: “When Richard published his book there were quite a few complaints from people who said that it didn’t stick to the truth. They were quite right. He had elaborated quite a lot. But the fact is that the true story is every bit as good – it is a cracking yarn.”
A group of Catchpole enthusiasts walked from Catchpole’s birthplace in Brandeston, near Framlingham, to Hoo Church, where she was baptised.
There was a short service to commemorate the anniversary and Catchpole fans then had to chance to listen to recordings of some of Catchpole’s letters.
Margaret Catchpole’s fame is rooted back in June 1797 when she dressed as a young man and stole a horse from the Cobbold familystables in order to reach her lover William Laud who she believed was in London.
She was caught on her journey and sentenced to death, but after an appeal from the Cobbold family she was allowed to serve her sentence in prison.
In 1800, she escaped from prison and hoped to flee to Holland to be with her love. She scaled a 22ft wall topped with spikes whilst dressed as a sailor.
She was caught again and sentenced to death, which was later changed to transportation for life and in May 1801 she was sent to Australia. In Australia she was pardoned for her crimes and became a midwife and farmer.
She is famous in Australia for her letters home to Suffolk which offer a unique insight into the experiences, attitudes and thoughts of a “coloniser” and early female convict.