Historic bridge saw annual migration of up to 300,000 turkeys
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 08:01 · Archive
An historic bridge at Stratford St Mary on the Suffolk-Essex border was a major route for turkeys travelling to London markets in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the bridge over the River Stour at Stratford St Mary on the Suffolk-Essex border served as a major bottleneck for turkeys travelling from East Anglia to London's capital markets. Author Daniel Defoe chronicled this remarkable event in his 1724 work, A tour thro' the whole island of Great Britain, documenting how more than 300 droves of turkeys crossed the bridge every autumn. With each drove containing between 300 and 1,000 birds, as many as 300,000 turkeys could have crossed the bridge yearly.
The turkey drives began after the harvest in August and September and proceeded slowly to ensure the birds would be plump by the time they reached London for the Christmas markets in late November or December. Turkeys were preferred over geese for these journeys because of their calm temperament, which made them easier to manage during the drive. One significant challenge facing the toll collector at Le Talbooth, the tollhouse at the bridge, was managing the sheer volume of birds crossing.
As twilight approached, turkeys' natural instincts prompted them to fly up to roost in nearby trees or hedges. If a drove neared the bridge too late in the afternoon, the birds would aggressively colonise the trees around Le Talbooth and local inns, forcing the drovers to halt until morning. The poultry traffic led to infrastructure adaptations in Stratford St Mary.
How it is being reported
- Up to 300,000 turkeys crossed Stratford St Mary bridge on their way to LondonAn historic bridge in Stratford St Mary on the Suffolk-Essex border played a major role in the annual migration of thousands of turkeys to London.East Anglian Daily Times · 14 Nov, 07:00
- Up to 300,000 turkeys crossed Stratford St Mary bridge on their way to LondonAn historic bridge in Stratford St Mary on the Suffolk-Essex border played a major role in the annual migration of thousands of turkeys to London.Ipswich Star · 14 Nov, 07:00
In this story: Stratford St Mary · River Stour · Suffolk · Essex · East Anglia · London · Daniel Defoe · Le Talbooth
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