PAVENHAM

Pavenham Notes

John Bunyan used to preach in a farm-house in this parish.

The local mat trade was brought here by a family of the name HIPWELL which probably followed a wagon from London in 1665 to escape from the Plague.  The name appears in the Church Register for the first time in 1601 and several times before 1665; suggesting that some member of the family emigrated to London early in the 17th century, there learnt the trade, married and returned with his family and his craft to his native place.  The making of rush mats continued in the village for some 300 years.  In the Pavenham Jurors' List for 1787 three HIPWELL's appear, all described as mat makers and almost certainly were also employers of several men.

In 1947 there were several mat shops; the largest being owned by Mr James READ who had purchased a business once HIPWELL owned.