The Walford Family of Foxborough Hall

The Walford family connection to Melton is via Foxborough Hall, although neither George nor Alexander Walford, who are both named on the Melton War Memorial, ever lived there. It was their great uncle, Charles Walford, who purchased Foxborough Hall in about 1843 and lived there with his sister, Mary Ann, until his death in 1879. The hall was then inherited by his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Alexander Walford, who was George and Alexander’s father, but Mary Ann continued to live there.

In 1895, Henry died as the result of falling down the stairs during a visit to the Hall and the estate was passed on to his son, George. In January 1900, Mary Ann died and was the last member of the family to live there. The Ipswich Journal reported her death in their 13th January 1900 edition: 

Death of Miss Walford. The village has lost a benefactress by the death of Miss Walford of Foxborough Hall, which occurred on Wed morn at advanced age of 92. The deceased lady succumbed to influenza, but she had been an invalid for past 10 years practically confined to the house. She was the daughter of Rev William Walford, rector of Long Stratton, Norfolk, and with her brother Charles settled in Suffolk in the year 1843. For years they were the mainstay of national Schools in Melton and Bredfield and their generosity in Church matters was unbounded. Miss Walford was a staunch Churchwoman and laboured assiduously in the Sunday School until advancing years compelled her to relinquish the work. Her whole life was spent in looking after the interests and comforts of others. She will be greatly missed by the poor of Melton and Bredfield.

Both Major George Henry Walford and Lieutenant Alexander Ellis Walford are remembered on the Memorial at St Andrew’s, Melton, and St Mary’s in Dallinghoo, where their grandfather was the vicar. The altar rails of the Suffolk Regiment Chapel in St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds, are a memorial to them both.