The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here:

Castle Hedingham memories

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

The Ransons Move to Castle Hedingham

Pye Corner c1965
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

We arrived in Castle Hedingham around the turn of the year 1964/5, Mum, Dad, my three little brothers and myself. Our newly built house was just out of shot to the left of this photo of Pye Corner. Mum & Dad's friend Tony owned the white Alvis car parked on the green. We were very excited be in our big house. It was a cold winter and Mum was trying to get us settled in. Like all new houses it had it's teething problems.
We all eventually went to De Vere primary school on the other side of the village and made lots of friends, some of whom we still see. Also on Pye Corner was a lovely old house called Astles. It belonged to a man called Mr. Kelk. His granddaughter, Charlotte showed me all the nooks and crannies of the house and garden which fascinated me and began my interest in old houses that continues to this day. Mr. Kelk's house has recently been beautifully restored... Read more

My Grandfather

My grandfather Harry William Letch lived, towards the end of his life, at "Near Rising Sun", Nunnery Street, Castle Hedingham. He died I believe in 1952. His wife Ellen Ruth (nee Teader) may also have lived at this address at some time. The Letch family seems to have been around for many generations in the same area. I wonder if anyone knows where exactly he lived or has any information about his family. I can remember as a child visiting the Castle for picnics with my parents but didn't realize until quite recently that my grandparnts had lived nearby.

Pye Corner Castle Hedingham

My grandfather used to live in Nunnery Street in the 1880s. His name was James Pilgrim born 10.6.1845, died 18.7.1900, he was married to Julia Reeve born 18.5.1849, died 24.3.1924, they had 9 children. I think my grandmother was born in Pye Corner, (6) Nunnery Street.

Memories of 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 live anywhere but there.  My parents retired after 28 years behind the bar.  
The White Lion can be seen in picture S276003 of Church Street, it is the second building on the right hand side of the photograph. The first building is, or I should say was a General Store.  You could buy just about anything there from linens, clothing and yarn to cheese and sugar.  It closed somewhere around 1972 and was turned into a private residence.  The Lion was originally a workhouse and had several cottages on the premises, two of which I can still remember - they were in what is now the car park.... Read more

Growing up in Wonderland

In the mid and late forties I attended Kingsmuir Boarding School in what is known today as Alderford Grange. It was owned and mastered by Ms Francis. We were told that the building had once been the Inn attached to the Bell PH next door. During my attendance the interior was extensively rebuilt, even the deep wooden sink in the kitchen was replaced, along with the ancient lath and plaster walls. While leveling the interior open patio, at the end of the "kitchen" garden, the workmen's tools literally fell through the floor. The hole turned out to be part of the cellar of the adjacent pub. One wall was lined with hundreds of pewter mugs, all had broken glass bottoms. Next day they had all disappeared and later the hole was filled as part of the remodeling. The nearby malt house was then a warehouse full of wooden doors and window frames. These were removed thus restoring the interior to its original state, including the... Read more

Richard Moss, Samuel Nott b. 1811?

Ancestors Richard Moss and his cousin Samuel Nott were from Sible Hedingham according to the 1841 and 1851 census. Richard was a brick maker and carter. Are there any traces of these family still in the village? They relocated to Rotherham before 1840 but I'd like to trace Richard's ancestors.

Church Street

My name is Jan Scott nee Boreham, my father's name was Peter and my mother's name was Elsie, my brother's name Andy. We too lived in Church Street in the Cottages opposite the White Lion and next door to Mr & Mrs Yeldham, and my mother used to work at the stores across the road then called Cloughleys. I remember the Farrant family very well, in fact Sue lived next door to us in Park Fields when we moved into our new home in the early 1970s. So many memories, I love this picture of Church Street...

GREAT YELDHAM 50+ YEARS AGO

Born in Chelmsford in 1946 I grew up in Gt. Yeldham but after a career in the Fleet Air Arm the flying side of the Royal Navy I settled in Somerset. The small town where I now reside though quite away from the coast is close to a Royal Naval Air Station at which I served. I married a Yeldham girl and as I mentioned we live in Somerset.
As a child I lived at the top of Oaker Hill on the Ridgewell road and opposite the entrance to the RAF station. Father was a porter at Yeldham station before becoming a platelayer for BR and ending up as a Signalman at Birdbrook station. We moved to the Croft when it was built I think in the 1950s and would go by bus to Hedingham Secondary Modern School. Mother was a Post Lady and also helped run the library as a volunteer.
I can remember Highfields being built as some of it was directly behind our house in The Croft... Read more

Memorybank total

We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.

You've shared 28,854 memories of 5,947 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!

Browse memories button

Find Memories

Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.

Start by searching for your favourite places

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:

How does it feature in your personal history?

What are your best memories of this place?

How has it changed over the years?

How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?

Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?

Start now!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.

Your memories

To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here

I Remember When...

I Remember When

This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.

A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.

Learn more button Save 25% on I Remember When when you order now!
Home > Explore your past > Castle Hedingham > Memories of Castle Hedingham

© Copyright 1998-2012 Frith Content Inc. All rights reserved.