The information below was obtained from the oldest of the parish registers. Many of the words in the manuscript are unfortunately illegible, but sufficient has been deciphered, in most instances, to show the meaning of the various entries.

In ye 18 injunction we are commanded to retaine ye perambulation of ye circuits of parishes; this was neglected, and verie few could shew ye Minister ye accustomed way ...... should walke, therefore I thought it good for posteritie to sett downe that way I heard of ye most ancient men and went myself with many parishioners.
In ye yeare 1601 we went through Sand-street directlie to ye forthermost windmill, we turned at ye tyth-acre-meare on ye right hand and so alonge by ye redd (seike ?) to Wiken hedge a little south from ye lane and soe home away by Mr. Thorntons, (Mr Thornton owned the Soham water mill known today as Clark & Butchers, now demolished), the day next after we turned at ye North-Church ...... on ye lefte hand and went into Berrie Croftes to Forromes ashen tree, then we turned on ye left hand to ye Mare sid (Mere Side) by Pitche's house, then we turned on ye right hand through long-meare lane to hearnes crofte, then about Birch...... field to ye great coat, so to Ma...... Close and to Darbies coat, into Bancroft to Randalls house, and then to ye ashen tree in Hall-street and soe home.
The yeare next after in 1602, we went the first day out at Sand-street, Townsend, and turned a little short of ye two windmills on ye left hand by William Johnsons house into Brook-street, then up a little lane to Greene-how to Clipsall hedge, and through ye hedges and so as our tyths goe ( ? ) to ye tythe acre ( fetchinge ? ) it in, then comming to ye tythe acre meare and on ye west sid of ye way downe the meare to Noeditch hedge, so home by Mr. Thorntons house to : we went ye peramb. for two daies in on . The day after to Forromes tree and to ye mare sid as before then to ye Coates (and to take away all controuersie we went round about Barway Chappell) then back agen to ye Coates, then straight over Clay meare to ye crosse in Rose field lane, then we came to ye Elme or Ashe tree in Hall-street, and so directlie home to ye Church : this day was ye greatest number yt was seene in any mans remembrance : it was supposed yt there was six or seven hundred people went and eighty men that could and did singe.
In ye year 1601 there was a new brigge made over ye dame by Mr. Thorntons,  by well disposed people, ye brigge cost ..... and all ye parishioners would but ( give ..... vi.... ? ) yet ther it is, and Mr. Thornton cannot claime it as his owne, but ( ? ) comon to ye towne.

I knowe this to be true, and testify it on myne own knowledge,
THOMAS WALKER, CURATE, SOHME.

This bridge was most likely to have stood where Horsecroft bridge stands today, over the Lode to Angle Common, we know the bridge was there in 1665 as the following entry refers to it.

"Horse-croft bridge was repaired in 1665 under the direction of the Churchwarden, the sum of 12s. having been recieved by him, from some source for that purpose. Various entries speak of the purchase of planks to lay on, or under, the bridge, and for iron, &c".