Althorne, Essex

Jacqueline Oldman

While researching my family history I came across this article in the Eastern Counties Advertiser 18th October 1879. It is the coroner's report relating to my great great grandfather's brother Thomas Brassett 1815 - 1879 an agricultural labourer of Southminster Essex. He was born 2nd August 1871 and baptised 5th August the son of Thomas and Amelia.

Southminster
Found Drowned... [more]

Home memories.

I moved into these cottages with my family in 1935 and my parents were there until 1959. Originally it was a barn hence the name 'Barn Row' and was converted into cottages in 1836 as marked in the brickwork on the other side of the cottages. All the time my parents lived there, there was no sewerage and only... [more]

Childhood

I have many happy memories of my childhood in Stambridge. I lived there with my family for 17 years until I married. Along with my brothers and sister, we all went to Stambridge Primary school and in the summer we used to go to Stambridge Mills where there was a small beach and we could go swimming in the holidays. We... [more]

our wedding

My husband Reginald and I were married at St Andrews Minster Ashingdon at 2 pm on saturday 16 September 1972. The service was conducted by The Rector Rev. Norman Cotgrove. I had 7 bridesmaids in blue,green,lilic,& lemon. Our fathers D.Hayes & L Willis were witnesses .When we came out and started to pose for the photos... [more]

Home away from home

I was a young adult when I arrived in Rochford on a Sunday afternoon in June 1978, to take up my position as student nurse at Rochford Hospital. I was from Cape Town in South Africa and the feel of this village promised everything that I expected English country life to be. Although by that time, the housing estates extended in... [more]

Rochford sports festival

I did not live in Rochford, I lived in Hawkwell as a child/ teenager, but went to school there, first going to Rochford Primary then King Edmunds. One of my best friends who I often stayed over with at weekends lived at Malting Villas and her garden backed on to the Rec. For many years the Council would hold a sports... [more]

Mill Lane

We lived at number 11 Mill Lane and later moved to number 7. My late father, Joe Clarke was the chemist at the Mill. I remember my early childhood lived in Rochford so very fondly. We were very happy carefree children with a wonderful countryside to play in. My sister, Samantha, narrowly escaped drowning when (at the age... [more]

Rochford fair

I remember Rochford very dearly. As a young child I often stayed with my great-grandmother, Sara Ann Simpson. I'd walk around the churchyard, the empty farm, climb the stile, visit the newsagent's shop, see the men at lunch standing outside the pub. I recall there was a vicarage, too. And every time I walked with my grandmother down... [more]