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Combs
Combs maps
Historic maps of Combs and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Combs maps
Combs photos
We have no photos of Combs, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Stowmarket| Barking Tye| Needham Market| Stowupland| Hitcham| Nedging| Old Newton| Nedging Tye| Bildeston| Gipping| Woolpit| Elmswell| Chelsworth| Semer| Monks Eleigh| Claydon| Brent Eleigh
Combs area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Combs and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Combs
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Suffolk memories
Combs Fords Tragedy
In World War II I attended school in Stowmarket. My home was in the neighboring village of Needham down by the railway station, so I would catch the local bus at the Swan Public House and ride it to the Market Square in Stow. As the bus traveled north there were three other young children who joined the same bus, and on arrival we would walk to school together. (I was about eight years old at the time. One of the girls was about one year older as I remember)
After school we would stand in the Market Square to catch the bus back.
One day we stood waiting for our bus back home and it didn't come. No one seemed to know why. Eventually on our own initiative we decided to walk home to Needham. When we arrived at the edge of Combs Fords the road home was completely blocked. There had been a terrible... Read more
Shepherds Hut
My father Eric Welham is still living in Barking Tye and will be 90 this year. A 'Shepherd's Hut' which was originally from a farm on Barking Tye around the early 1900s was bought by my Grandad Welham and he moved it across the tye to 'Mill Cottage' along the top of Barking Tye. It was then moved again across the Tye in 1950 to where my father still lives in Fox Meadow and used as a work shop. I have great memories of this old shepherd's hut where many family photos were taken. The shepherd's hut is now at the 'The Museum of East Anglian Life' in Stowmarket. This time it was moved using a tractor and trailer with help from a local farmer, through the adjoining fields, having waited for the harvest to be gathered in. We are trying to trace any history of shepherds that may have used this hut! This picture could very well be that shepherd.
Happy Days
this is only one of many wonderful memories i went to school in needham market the junior school and lived at darmsden we were picked up and taken to school by a mini bus we lived in three places in darmsden the 2nd place was right next door to a strawberry field one of many owned by tarston farms further up our road .When it was time for picking strawberrys a lot of my friends were bought up in a lorry and i was put in charge to make sure they picked properly and didnt mess about i was the first one picking and the last one to finish i was as brown as a berry and loved it . one day my mum came over and and said shhs she then laid this very real looking grass snake amongst the strawberrys well you should have seen my mates run they screamed with laughter when they saw what it was. mum used to litTereally drag me of i loved it... Read more
Elm Tree Cottage, Hitcham
I used to go every summer school holiday to my great aunt & uncle's cottage [ Elm Tree Cottage]. I visited last month and it is still there in excellent condition. I remember harvest time, shire horses, haystacks, threshers and combine harvesters, cold tea in the hedge in a quart beer bottle for a refreshing drink. Chopping sticks for kindling in the shed. The milkman coming round with a small churn and a 1/2 pint and pint ladle, poured into jugs on the back windowsill. Outside 'dunny', potties under the bed, fetching water from the pump down the road. Molese's and Squirrell's coaches. Rabbitting with uncle, twelve bores behind the back door. Corona Coaches and the conductor who always looked after me, 'Percy'. Such happy days, now I wan't to move to Suffolk for my last years, such a beautiful place. Looks like my daughter is moving to Suffolk too, that will be an extra bonus.
My First Home After Marriage
I was so excited to see Friday Lane Cottage in the picture of Hitcham. We rented that cottage in 1961 & loved living there. I have fond memories of walking through the churchyard to the village shop & sometimes, on a Friday evening, going to the local pub whicch had a great atmosphere. I can't recall the name of the pub now but I do remember that there was a polyphon (I think that was what it was called) near to the entrance. I remember a reaper & binder working in a nearby field that year. It was old fashioned even then. This a real nostalgia trip after all these years.
Crowcroft Road Nedging
I remember the old buildings that were once part of Wattisham Airfield in Crowcroft Road. This area was occupied by the 4th Strategic Air Depot USAAF during the second world war. In the 60's Mrs Gant was the shopkeeper, and Mr Mowles from Whatfield would deliver groceries. My grandparents Leonard and Clara Pryke lived in Crowcroft Road from 1939- 1971.
Robert James
My great great great grandfather Robert James was born in Darmsden in 1816. He married Maria ? when. They had a daughter Emily b.1852. Is there anyone in the area with the surname James that may be able to help me with my geneology search? Others in my family were born in and around Bosmere, Needham Market. Looks like a lovely part of the country that I will have to visit soon.
