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East Raynham
East Raynham maps
Historic maps of East Raynham and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all East Raynham maps
East Raynham photos
We have no photos of East Raynham, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Fakenham| Sculthorpe| East Barsham| Great Massingham| Houghton| Castle Acre
East Raynham area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about East Raynham and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of East Raynham
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Norfolk memories
East Barsham Manor
The manor house was occupied by the army during the Second World War and not released until about 1946. My friends and I often cycled from Walsingham and we found the manor deserted. The entrance hall is well remembered with a large minstrels' gallery at the east end. The most exciting room was, probably still is, the most western first floor room which has a hidden spiral stairway within a turret leading to the floor below. Years later I purchased a 19th-century print of the manor to remind me of this memory.
East Barsham Manor
I moved to East Barsham when I was 5 years old in 1988. I grew up in the village and got the opportunity to spend time with the children that lived in the manor at the time. I have many memories of running around the manor playing games and getting to swim in the outside pool. I moved away from East Barsham wen I was 12. My time there and my memories are very happy!
East Barsham Manor - 1929 Photograh
The 1929 photograph was taken when my stepfather's father, Douglas J Coleman owned it. His father, Edward J. Coleman, bought it in 1915, the year my stepfather was born. This is where he (Peter Hales-Coleman) and his brother grew up. The family moved from there in the early 1930s. Back then, there were more than a 1000 acres of land with it. In 1959, I had the opportunity to visit the manor and met Peter's nanny who was still employed there. Because the then owners were not in residence at the time, the nanny could only show me the entrance hall. About 15 years ago, my stepfather had the opportunity to stay there for a night as the guests of Lady Guiness, who owned it at that time. It was one of the highlights of his life. He died when he was in his 80s.
CHILDHOOD
I moved with my parents from Great Dunham in 1935 when I was 2 years old to no 12 which was demolished long since. We had no electricity or running water, just a well in the back garden. I went to the local school when I was 5, Miss Pogson was the head teacher, she was ruthless, today she would be kicked out. She persevered with me and got me through the 11 + to go to Swaffham Grammar School. I lived in the same house until I was conscripted into the RAF at 18.
Leaving Home
My memory of Syderstone is in October of 1951. I left my home in Leicester as the bride if a young man who was in the USAF. He had been my High School pen-friend and was stationed at RAF Sculthorpe. I left my home for Norfolk one week after my wedding but unfortunately my husband had been unable to find us a house to rent. In desperation we rented a room at the local pub in Syderstone. I can't recall the name of the pub, wish that I could. We were given a room upstairs and we were tucked up in bed when another couple walked through our room. We hadn't been told that the room adjoining had no entrance except through our bedroom and that it was rented out also. Two days later we found rented rooms in a house in Wells-next-the-Sea. It was a large house called St. Heliers and was situated across from the library. Mr & Mrs. Riches owned the house and lived there... Read more
The Swan
My late mother, Beryl Smith (nee Thompson) grew up in The Swan, as her parents, Edmund and Leah, were the publicans. (My mother was born in 1924 in Tittleshall, but the family moved to Great Massingham and The Swan while she was still very small). She and her sister, Lorna, lived at The Swan until they each married during the second world war. (My mother married a Canadian army Captain, David Smith, and moved to Canada in 1946). They had some animals and vegetable garden, as well as a landing strip in the back yard!!! My grandfather, Edmund, died in March of 1945 as I recall, and I imagine Leah sold The Swan not too long after. She bought Rose Cottage on Station Road, her sister, Doris, bought Eastgate. My mother went "home" to England on an annual basis. The last time I was in The Swan was in the late 1970's, and it was still being operated as a pub. ... Read more
Great Massingham Crown Brass Band
Hello,
My grandfather was George Frederick Fish, bandmaster to Great Massingham Crown Brass Band. I would dearly love to learn more about both him and the band. Does anyone have any information about them? I believe they once played at Sandringham at Christmas after the king heard them playing in Kings Lynn (I think). I am told that the king was also struck by their uniforms which my grandfather, a tailor, had made for all the bandsmen.
