This site was produced by: LOCAL AUTHORITY PUBLISHING
Publishers for local authorities throughout Great Britain. View more Official Guides at www.officialguides.co.uk

Boudicca (died AD 60)

Roman historians tell us she was the leader of the Iceni tribe after the death of her husband Prasutagus. She is described as being tall with long red hair, wearing a great, gold necklace and multicoloured cloak. She led an army against the Roman occupation sacking Colchester, London and St Albans before her forces were finally defeated at a location historians believe, was near to the Roman Watling Street in the midlands.
The Thetford Treasure, a hoard of Iceni coins and jewellery, discovered in the Thetford area, the important ceremonial site at Gallow’s Hill and the earthworks at the Castle Hill site indicate the Thetford area was a likely home for Boudicca and her people.

Thomas Paine (1737 - 1809)

Thomas Paine was one of democracy’s greatest champions whose work was hugely influential in both the American and French Revolutions. He was one of the greatest political figures of his day and was the author of the 18th century’s three best selling books. Paine’s father was a Quaker and the family home was in White Hart Street. He attended the Grammar School in the town and his formative years in Thetford no doubt shaped his views in later life especially in respect to the undemocratic voting system of the time and the harsh system of justice. On leaving school Paine became an apprentice in his father’s stay making business in the town. Seeking adventure he left Thetford and tried his hand at a succession of occupations, including privateer, Methodist preacher and excise man, before Benjamin Franklin persuaded him to emigrate to America in 1774. There he played a leading role in the American Revolution and his pamphlet Common Sense is said to have swung popular opinion in favour of independence. During the War of Independence in his American Crisis papers Paine coined the term ‘The United States of America’. He returned to Britain in 1787 to promote his designs for a cast iron bridge. After observing events during the French Revolution he wrote his most famous work, the Rights of Man. This alarmed the British establishment and he left for France in 1792. Paine became a deputy in the French National Convention and helped draft the French constitution. After pleading for the life of the deposed French king he narrowly escaped the guillotine during the ‘Terror’. His third bestseller the Age of Reason criticised the way organised religion operated and its publication lost him further popularity. Paine returned to America in 1802 and died in New York some seven years later. His remains were brought back to England in 1819 by his one time adversary, William Cobbett, but were subsequently lost. Thus this ‘Citizen of the World’ as he saw himself, has no known resting place.

Cornell Fison (1793 - 1880)

James Fison moved to Thetford in 1808 and developed a business dealing in wool, corn, malt and fertilisers. During the 19th and early 20th centuries Fisons was one of the principal businesses in the town and grew into the well known fertiliser company. Cornell Fison became head of the firm and was twice made Mayor in the 1850’s.

Charles Burrell (1817 - 1906)

Charles Burrell developed and produced steam engines for agriculture, road transport and other uses besides a range of agricultural equipment such as threshing machines. He built his first portable engine in 1848 and by the end of the century Charles Burrell and Sons Limited was the town’s main employer with a workforce of over 300, exporting products around the world. Today many of these engines can still be seen proudly displaying the Thetford name at traction engine rallies across the country.

Maharajah Duleep Singh (1838 - 1893)

He succeeded as ruler of the Punjab whilst still a boy in 1843 and was its last independent Sikh ruler. Wars with Britain eventually led to the annexation of the Punjab and surrender of his sovereign rights and property (including the Koh-i-Noor diamond) to the British Crown in exchange for a pension. Duleep Singh came to Britain and became a favourite of Queen Victoria and in 1863 bought the Elveden Estate near Thetford. He led the life of a country gentleman and Elveden became one of the greatest shooting estates in the country. After his pension became insufficient to support his lifestyle his relationship with the British Government became strained and he tried unsuccessfully to return to India. He died in Paris in 1893 and is buried in Elveden churchyard. His second son Prince Frederick was a great benefactor to Thetford purchasing the Ancient House in White Hart Street for use as a museum and bequeathing the town his book and portrait collections.

Harry Bensley (1876 - 1953)

Thetford man Harry Bensley became famous as ‘the man in the iron mask’. On 1 January 1908 in order to satisfy a $100,000 bet he took up the challenge to walk round the world. The conditions were that he had to push a pram, wear an iron helmet and find a wife on the journey without removing the helmet. He was to take only £1 in cash and pay his way by selling postcards. Bensley purportedly covered the 30,000 miles through America, Asia and Europe and 200 women are alleged to have proposed along the way. Unfortunately, after arriving in Genoa in August 1914, the bet was called off owing to the declaration of war. He was given £4,000 consolation money which was donated to charity.