Castle Hedingham, Essex

Where I grew up.

I lived most of my life in Sible Hedingham, as a family we moved there from London in 1962.  I was just 2 years old at the time. My father Robert Farren, "Bob" as he was best known and my mother Ivy, took over the licence of The White Lion, Church Street.  Growing up I never imagined that I would ever... [more]

Great-great-grandfather William Clark, born Weathersfield 1804

Our great-great-grandfather was born in Weathersfield in 1804. He married Sussannah, born 1797, also from Wethersfield. They had five children, all born in Wethersfield, one being Walter Clark who was our mother's grandfather. They were living at 8 Ottleys Lane, Weathersfield in 1851. The children were Eliza Clark, born 1834, living at 6 Hudson Hills and working as a Straw Plaiter... [more]

Our wedding

I am originally from St. Helens, Lancashire, and met my husband, Roy, at Burtonwood AFB where I worked. He was stationed at Wethersfield but came on occasion to Burtonwood. When I moved south to be married, I had to live in the neighbourhood for three weeks for the bans to be called out, and my husband's NCOIC was friendly... [more]

Thorogoods in my family tree

This is not a memory as such, however I have been researching my husband's family tree. When speaking to elderly family members I have found that his grandmother's family, the Thorogoods, come from Shalford. I would like to know if there are any Thorogoods still in Shalford. We can't wait to find out more about your village and discover my husband's... [more]

Rotten End

My parents had a weekend cottage at Rotten End in the 1950s, and I remember walking a footpath to Shalford regularly.
Can anybody tell me if this footpath still exists, or anything about it at all?

many thanks
Ros Stayne

A search in progress

Finchingfield to me, in my younger days, was a place that Dad would take Mum and me to on a Sunday afternoon drive. Never to stop for very long but it is a place that leaves a snapshot in your memory.
Being an adopted child I did not realise at the time that Finchingfield would play a large part in a... [more]

In My Day

In my days in the village I recall the upstairs room of the Guildhall having a snooker table where the men used to gather, this would be shortly after the war. Of more interest to me was the Library that was situated downstairs.  As a very small child I was able to borrow and read books of all kinds which stimulated... [more]