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Ashingdon memories

Here are memories of Ashingdon and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Ashingdon or a Ashingdon photo.

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 someone noticed that there was smoke coming from the back of the minster .I dont know if it was a fire in the church or a bonfire behind the church. From the back of the church there is a view for many miles across the country side

Memories of Essex

Visit

Church From The Hall c1955
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The early Rochford church next to Rochford Hall was our highlight.  Continue to guard your priceless community.

When I Was A Girl

Stambridge Mill c1955
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When I was about five years old my parents used to take us kids on a Sunday walk. Always remember it was to Stambridge mills. Back then the roads leading to the mill were not more then a country track. On the way to the mills dad would dig up horseradish to take home to mince up in mums mincer. I can smell the aroma of the place now. Corn fields wild flowers. When we got to the mills the smell of grinding corn hit you. Wonderful. We would walk through the mill and onto a place called Broom hills. After a good ramble around the place dad would take us to the Cherry Tree pub. Him and mum would go inside us kids were outside with our lemonade and crisps. Wonderful memories.

The Mill

Stambridge Mill c1955
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When I was about 5 or 6 my dad worked at the mill, and we lived in one of the mill cottages in Mill Lane. I used to play around the mill and one day found strange washers in the old pond across from the blacksmith - later I discovered them to be Chinese coins - with square holes in them, they had been used as ballast for the grain barges.

I have many fond memories of this mill and the area - we moved later when I was about 7.

Market Day

Market Square c1955
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I remember Rochford Market Square for the market days held there when I was a child, if my memory serves me correctly it was held every Thursday.  I used to love going to see the animals in their pens, calves and pigs mainly, the bigger beasts were auctioned in the afternoons. There was a place for smaller animals in the stables in Back Lane, which I used to love too.

Opposite the market square was a tearoom called Delph House, and they sold the best doughnuts I've ever tasted, mainly because my mother and I would share one of these during the school holidays while my Dad was at work, he didn't approve of his money being wasted on 'junk food'...

Ragstone Lodge, Stambridge Rectory

This looks very much like the rectory in Stambridge, but I know it's not. Does anyone have any memories of it or photos? My family lived there in the 1960s for a couple of years.

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