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Bittering
Bittering maps
Historic maps of Bittering and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Bittering maps
Bittering photos
We have no photos of Bittering, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Scarning| North Elmham| East Dereham
Bittering area books
Displaying 1 of 12 books about Bittering and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Bittering
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Norfolk memories
SCARNING SCHOOL
At the age of 5yrs I started my education at Scarning School, I lived at Woodhill [see memory of Dereham] which meant about a 2 mile walk to school with my 10 yr old sister usually stopping to play in the stream at Podmore on the way. School dinners! There was no such thing, it was sandwiches which, regardless of weather, had to be eaten in the playground. I can still remember that the head mistress was Mrs Grand who lived in the house attached to the school. I was only at this school for about a year then moved to Dereham. Scarning is situated on the A47. On the approach from Dereham there used to be a steel railway bridge accross the road but has since gone.It was always known as Scarning Arch. I can still remember a silly little song we used to sing as kids: Young folk old folk everybody come Come and join our company and have a bit of fun Bring a bit of chewing gum and stick it on the... Read more
The Wrong Bank.
I can remember an amusing incident when I was about 4 years old. We lived in the heart of the country, there was no such thing as TV, radio or telephone, not much at all in the way of communication with the outside world, so unlike children of today, I was pretty naive. But I had heard someone mention something about putting money in the bank. Why such a subject had been raised in our house I have no idea, as we were very poor, perhaps it was just wishful thinking Anyway, having heard about this banking I decided it seemed like a good thing to do, so I emptied Mother's purse, though I am certain there would have been very little in it, toddled off along the lane to what I probably thought was the ideal spot, dug a little hole and buried all Mum's wealth in the BANK. How was I to nnow there was more than one type of bank? I cannot actually remember the outcome but I... Read more
Sunday School
I can remember when I was 10 years old, walking down this road with another boy of the same age, his name was Arthur Bean and we were from the children's home on the Norwich road, the home was called Garfield House. I believe it is still there. We were both very happy on this particular Sunday afternoon, as we were allowed to be out by ourselves for the first time. After leaving Sunday School it took us what seemed like for ever to get home, but we had a wonderful time. Oh and by the way, we were punished for being late home. David Leeder.
My Hometown
I was born in 1928 at Woodhill, Gressenhall and moved to Dereham at the age of 6yrs and left when I married some 20 years later. It was a happy childhood in spite of the war years, in fact it added to the excitement of those years, dashing out to crashed planes, collecting shrapnel, army badges etc and of course the generous handouts from the American troops of chocolate, gum, cigs plus the grub when we went on to the bases at Shipdham and Wendling, bearing in mind that our food was rationed.
Then the Evacuees came to Dereham. I was one of the helpers that walked the children to their new homes.
This influx of children meant that the schools couldn't cope with all of us at once so we only did half days, one week of mornings and afternoons the next, we kids thought that was great as gave us more time to pursue our "war exploits".
We had two cinemas in town, I should say two in... Read more
School Days
First school London Road Infants, a short time in Scotland and then the Church Infants, each school day walking from Theatre Street (two doors up from 'The Cherry Tree') through the market place and down Church Street. I moved on to the primary at the top of Theatre Street and eventually Crown Road. While at Theatre Street I would occasionally return to the bottom of Church Street to the 'rag and bone' yard with rabbit skins to supplement my pocket money.
I remember some 10 years later when I rode my motorbike from Theatre Street to the chemists at the top end of Church Street, made my purchase then walked out thinking of other things. It was when I got back to Bell Yard I realised my bike was still parked outside the chemist's. So much for being lazy.
My Grandfather The Village Postman
My grandfather, Bert Sampson, was the postman in the late 40s/ 50s. My grandmother, Ivy, and he lived at Woodview. My father said he used to sell produce from his smallholding as he did his rounds. Anyone remember?
Then his son Ron and his wife moved in and had all my cousins. Eight of them. They all lived in this small house and my family would come up from London on a visit and I hated it. I was used to street lamps and the loo down the hall, not up the field! There were wellies, lined up by the back door and you picked a pair that fitted you and off to the loo. I was scared. My cousins and I are all grown up and mostly married with children. Anyone remember them? I will try and get them to add their memories.
Hill Farm
In 1940 my dad James Smith and his brother William was evacuated in Great Dunham on Hill Farm with Mr and Mrs Everington and they wanted to adopt my dad and brother but my nan said no. My family were from Hackney in London. In 1941 my Aunt Joan was born in Hill Farm Cottages too while my nan was visiting.
Sadly my dad died in 2005. His brother died in 1970. I would love to hear of anybody who had memories or pictures of the history of Great Dunham.
Thank you, from Lesley on lesleydean777@hotmail.com
Cheers.
