Billericay memories
Here are memories of Billericay and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Billericay or a Billericay photo.
The Races
HENRY I REMEMBER. Billericay to Galleywood was a nice pony & trap ride, from where we lived in Goosberry Green - it took a bout an hour. No rush a long days, even a stop because good clean grass grew on the verges, & the tubs, or trap as it was called, had a bucket hooked under it for drinking water for the pony - also the nose bag, oats were cheap in those days. Well, it meant a sort out of blankets to sit on the grass - & one as a table cloth. The hamper would be well filled up; we seemed to have a lot of cold cooked meat, with salt on it was a taste that disappeared - I am sure it's that old taste that makes my mouth water now, not what is called bread today, butter, well was also much nicer. We mannered along round back roads, crossing Buttsbury Wash. Up a hill, the church stood on the left, as... Read more
1936
I remember Living with my dad, at Little Bursteadand at sixteen or seveteen years old learning to be a plasterer. A family I used to go round to, for a chat and a cup of tea, was the Spencers -Ted was one. Now in my 90th year, just met up with Ted for first time, he don't quite remember me yet. We both live in Burnham on Crouch now, some seventy odd years have passed and we both have grown up familys. Other stories I have printed, explain my leaving Billericay in the early 1920's. Fourteen years living in different places, mainly in Hertfordshire. Then, as from the start, back to my learnt plastering trade.
Parents Split up
I would be about 6 or 7 when mum run off with a cowman. We ended up at Stampford Rivers near Abridge, in one of two cottages by the river. Next door was an horse man and one of four sisters, Doris, 4 years older than me. We both entered into Nettswell School. The pub nearby was the Greyhound, we all walked to there of an evening.
Ismalayaha Egypt
I remember as a soldier, El-Tel-Er-Kibeir, the camp I was in. The Sunday trips to Ismalayha, the Nile used for to swim in - but get out if a ship was passing through. The Bitter Lakes area, the Suez Canal was something to see. It looked a short distance across but it went down deep from the edges quickly. We used to swim in it, till a ship was passing through, as it dragged the water as a wave with it, so not too safe.
Plaster Old Style
We plastered Lodge Gate cottages, Fielix Hall . Knobles of Ongar was the builder, a large arch spaned the road running between the cottages. My dad ran it with another plasterer, Wally Gennings from Mountnessing. We also did alot of work on Drill Halls, Brentwood and others. A new extention to the Hospital on Ongar Road. Joe Tredget, was the master plasterer, we worked for, he lived in the Meads, Ongar Road, opposite the Vic pub - he used that pub.
School
I went to Perry Street School when it first opened, and Town Old School, down School Road. From The Sun pub end you went down steep steps to enter the classrooms. Quilterbank was a lady teacher, she had a house on the opposite road to The Sun pub. The field next to it was Quiltersfield, for fairs circuses etc...
Parents
I Remember the early Twenties. My mothers family, had a woodturning business, pianos, violins, and such good quality instruments, in Bethnal Green, London, She had two brothers, George and Albert, and a sister Sara. Sara was a cripple, a bent leg from the knee,she used a chair to walk. Uncle Albert, had been in the Air Force, he’d come down in that type of uniform, on a motorbike and side car. His wife was blind, she tuned the pianos when they were made. Uncle George, was twenty two and a half stone, a large man. He liked to carry me on his shoulders and did, from Billericay to Laindon to the Fortune Of War pub. Dad and George got on well, both drank in long drafts, only breaking away when a quick gasp of breath was needed. I knew Uncle George had plenty of room to fill, but my Dad being small, I wondered if he would fill up and overflow. Uncle George‘s journey to our bungalow just outside Billericay. In... Read more
Trades - Early Twenties
Early Twenties. I can remember, because most tradesmen used a pony & trap to vendor their wares. The pony needed to have space to relax, eat and so forth. Billericay had a brick field pug dug out and made into bricks. It used a pony to pull the rail track tub carts of the pug. The owner had a few fields, where his, and other tradesmen tendered their ponies - or they had freedom to wander around other fields. All small fields would be kept for making hay and fodder for the animals. I lived in a bungalow next to a hay field, and early in the year, grass became plentiful and long. 1924-25 summers were very hot ,turning grass into straw. Through a hole in the hedge, I would watch two men with scythes cut it, a bulk a few feet wide in a strip, end to end of the field. Staggered apart, the pair would kind of dance along, one several feet in front of the other for... Read more
Chantry Cottage.
I was only 6 or seven when we lived in Chancery Cottaqe. It was behind the Church & behind the Cequers Pub. Wade had a toy /sweet shop on the corner of The Chase. Old fire engines just up back street, one hand pushed, this was around about 1928 - steam lorries & trailor, solid tyred, used for roadmaking.
Just me
HENRY I would like to introduce my self, now 89 as I was born 2nd November 1922. From 1922 to 1924 is what I was told. Two years old I can remember & I have typed out many sheets of such. All relate to my days in Billericay, a town 21 miles to London or 21 miles to Southend & 4 miles to Gallwood the race course From 2 to 20 years old I went to many different schools. I had been an apprentice plasterer & gained recognition as a plasterer. Now 1942, in the second world war time, I was called up and joined the Ordnance Core, going to Darby for basic training. When the REME was formed, I was transferred into it. 10578865 was my number - I was at Ballykindler, Northern Ireland a while, then largest convoy to South Africa. Three weeks on the water, boat the RHYS - a Dutch motto boat, quite large. Six months in South Africa - Cape Town, a... Read more
1922 me in Billericay.
I was born in Goosberry Green. At three months old, Shackdon and Lovell doctors gave me only weeks to live. Mum worked in the isolation hospital, Matron Siblie, Mr Munt - amblance driver. Dad was a builder, we had animals for part wages he earnt, as we lived in a field. I have done plays and wrote several pages of my life. I worked until I was 83, cleaning Tesco Express store in Burnham- on-Crouch, Essex. I am now a volunteer for Dengie 100 trust, have gained several certificates for computers and pottery. John Whittingale our MP pressented me with one. Hope this is interesting, as all could be checked out as geniuine.
Henry's Notes 1922
Loads of write up, e-mail me acchenpern@aol.com. Memories of Gallwood Races, Butchers, Milkmen etc.. of the early twenties.
Chantry Cafe
I remember going with my mother to the cafe after visiting Outpatients at St Andrew's Hospital, after a stay there for an operation on a 'trigger thumb' - I was only 6, but I recall that the cafe did a lovely ham sandwich & glass of milk. Many years later, I visited the same building, which by then had become the Polash Indian Restaurant - the food was different, but just as enjoyable !
St Andrew's Hospital
I was born in St Andrew's Hospital which was once a workhouse, I wasn't sure of the year it became St Andrew's Hospital. I was born there in May 1967 and my sister was born July 1968. I am not sure of year the hospital became Billericay Burns Unit before it moved to Broomfield, Chelmsford, where it is to the present day.
Chantry Cafe & Billericay Secondary School
I had a weekend job at the Chantry with my friend Pat Barker. I visited Billericay many years ago and the cafe had long since gone. I also have fond memories of my secondary school - Norsey House (blue) Stockwell (green) Chantry (Red) and my memory escapes me regarding Yellow House. I believe the houses have changed now. I have tried to find my friend Brenda Rogers (nee Theobald) to no avail. All my memories of Billericay are up until I was 15 as my family moved away to Berks/Hampshire I was about halfway through a shorthand typing course at school.
Billericay
I used to work for Lord Rayleighs Dairies and my area of delivery was Billericay I used to deliver milk to the Chantry Cafe and most of the Town then out to Norsey Road and surrounding areas, happy days long gone.
Catholic Church, Laindon Road, Billericay
This old church was modernised, including an extension at the front, sometime in the 1980s (I believe). My cousin Marion got married here, early 1980s, and the modernisation work took place sometime later - need to find dates. Personally, I did not think the modernisation work was in keeping with the original architecture.
Chantry Cafe
I remember this old cafe very well - not too well lit inside, but friendly atmosphere - my Mum, her friend Joan Slaney and son Michael (who was the same age as me) used to have tea and cakes etc. in the cafe on some occasions after our Mum's had picked us up from school. The last time I went to Billericay (many years ago now) this cafe had become an Indian Restaurant.
Memory Lane 1950 - 1957
I have wonderfull memories of Billericay, Church. As a child my Mother would take my Brothers Paul, Barry & Sisters Margaret & Angela & I to the Sunday Service. Father Alawyshes Roch was the priest at that time. He was a good family friend to the Gurnett's. I believe Father Roch wrote a couple of books. While listening to the Choir we would always sit & try to pick out my Grandmother Alice Gurnett & Aunt Agnes Lyons voices. If we heard them we knew we would get to visit with them after the service. We would also look around to see if Auntie Jo & Auntie Eileen were there. I recall the Processions & the Benediction Mass along with all the incense. I distincly remember the wrought iron staircase leading up to where the choir was. The Baptism font seemed so big. The people always seemed so sad clutching their Rosaries & many would have tears in their... Read more
Visit
Ted came to my house on his Mobile Scooter, stayed for a cup of tea, went back when it threatened to rain. We were both in Little Burstead in the 1930ties.
RELATIVES IN BILLERICAY
1929-1939
I didnt live there mydad's family lived there .they came down from tottenham.
they were in the building trade. an address for my uncle is st helens slicers gate mill
road. I wonder if any one remembers the family.
My uncle left to build his own house over the river fenn creek woodham ferrers.
My dad Gordon helped to build broomfield hospital.I would love someone to give me some memories of my dad. manningvc@aol.com
Memories of Essex
The Wheatsheaf Pub at Little Burstead
It seems this is the first memory to be posted. My grandparents (Florence and Max Vetterlein) had the Wheatsheaf pub for about six years to 1957. They were tenants of the brewers Charringtons. There was the saloon bar and the public (known as the spit & sawdust bar). An extra penny was charged on a pint in the saloon. There was a very large garden at the back and so overun with nettles that a goat was borrowed to devour them. My brother and me were given our first Levis and we were thrilled that we could kneel in stinging nettles and not be stung. The customers' loo flushed but the living quarters was a bucket type with Jeyes fluid poured in, then emptied into a hole in the garden. Mrs Scroggins in the next door cottage called it the bumbee hole. Once we heard a dog whining all night. Next day we found it had been standing in the sewage and died when its strength gave out, unable to... Read more
Wheatsheaf Cottages.
Lovely to see the mention of Wheatsheaf Cottages. My grandparents lived in the opposite end cottage to Mrs Scroggins. Their surname was Pond. I remember the name of Mrs Scroggin very well as I believe she helped look after my Nana Pond who suffered with diabetes and was blind. My Nana died in 1953 and Granddad died in 1954 both died in St Andrews Hospital Billericay. I remember as a small child visiting every other Sunday. We caught the bus from outside the Wheatsheaf Pub back into Billericay and then another into Brentwood. Quite a journey for a couple of hours visit. Do you remember the Dell? Bluebells galore! My dad was brought up in the Wheatsheaf Cottage. Sadly he died before his parents. I remember the hole in the ground only too well. I have just written an article about Wheatsheaf Cottage for a couse I'm doing and was telling my husband only this morning about the stench from the hole in the ground. The cottages had no... Read more
The Bear Inn
My name used to be Marilyn Jesse and my memories of stock back in the late 60's early 70's are delightful. Since my boyfriend of the time lived next door to the Bear Inn, the pub became a bit like home from home. Many weekends were spent in the lounge bar with the roaring, wood, fire warming all who entered from the cold british winters. The aroma of the true sunday, english, lunch wafted from the kitchen to the delight of the local patrons, followed by an extremely full, satisfied stomach and a half pint of real guiness to wash it all down. Many evenings were spent with the guys from 'DEAR MR TIME' Barry Everitt the lead singer lived next door, which is why I was able to enjoy the village stock experience for a few years. Village cricket on the green, walks through the churchyard and over the fields after lunch, chats with locals along the way........
The village hall with its variety of entertainment. one of them... Read more
Buses in The Snow
I remember the green double decker buses revving up Crays Hill in the snow and jamming their tyres against the curb to try and get up. We lived in Elm Bank on the hill and sometimes witnessed the buses sliding side-ways back down again. Time to retire to The Shepherd and Harold and Elsie for a beer.
Part of my Early Schooldays
I remember fragments about living at Hutton - I lived in Lilian Crescent, in a new bungalow, having moved from Hawskmoor Green. I learnt to ride a Fairy cycle - as little 2 wheelers were called then - by pushing myself along with the aid of a low brick wall.
I remember my first day at school, saying prayers, and how I ran away - all down Hanging Hill Lane, back home - maybe I didn't like it! Mum had to take me back again on the back of her bike. We had a chicken house (quite large), in the back garden with 3 pullets, Sally, Hoppy and Perky, and my sister, Pauline hid in it at the tender age of 2.
I had friends who were twins who lived just across the road by the surname of Grimm and their dad always reminded me of Bing Crosby (though I didn't know that at the time).
I can remember going to Brentwood on a Saturday morning with my... Read more
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