Surrounded by Great Blakenham, Baylham, Coddenham, Henley and Claydon, Barham is on the A14 road about six miles north of Ipswich.

It then became a residential re-training centre for unemployed ex-servicemen, some receiving 'handyman' training and the rest being prepared for work on farms overseas.

With the arrival of a policeman, the men remained quiet during the night but their rioting was resumed in the next morning and the governor was struck and injured.

Eventually a detachment of Lancers was sent from Ipswich but, by the time they arrived, the riot had been quelled by the police and six of the ringleaders put into prison.

The inmates finished their supper at a little before seven, and the governor having said grace, one of the men gave a signal, and instantly about forty of them commenced a furious attack on a wooden partition that divided them from the females' ward.

The governor, schoolmaster, and three police officers attempted to restore order but they were pelted with objects, one of the constables having his eye seriously damaged by a stone.

The porter was struck to the ground and brutally kicked, and the superintendent of labour made, after a vain resistance, an attempt to make his escape.

At this time, the inmates had been in complete control over the premises for five hours, and besides affecting the damage described, they had burnt the governor's account books.

The constables drew their cutlasses (a short heavy sword with a curved single-edged blade), supported by two or three others and rushed upon the rioters.

After discharging one or two sharp volleys of bricks, stones, and glass, the rioters retreated in all directions and a hot pursuit ensued for ten minutes, the scene was an exciting one.

Eight of the men identified by the governor as having begun the riot were committed for trial at the next Ipswich Quarter Sessions, on the charge of destroying the property of the guardians, and obstructing the police in the execution of their duty.

The picnic area has been designated by the suffolk county council as a public right of way location to safeguard the future use of the site.

The magnificent cedar tree depicted in the village sign stood close to the footpath on the Old Norwich Road, opposite Kirby Rise for hundreds of years.

However, in November 2002 further damage occurred during severe storms and on inspection again, the Preservation Officer considered the tree to be in a sorry state and of little amenity value.