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Elm

Elm photos

Displaying the first of 3 old photos of Elm.   View all Elm photos

3
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Elm maps

Historic maps of Elm and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Elm maps

Elm area books

Displaying 1 of 10 books about Elm and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Elm

Elm memories
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Displaying a selection of personal memories of Elm.
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Changes

I grew up in Elm, as did my dad, in his days he had the tram, and canal, lots of fields and very few houses. In my days of growing up, we had plenty of apple orchards to play in and only 2 estates, within the past 10 years or so we now have an extra 2 estates. The village is becoming a popular place to live.

Cambridgeshire memories

Market Place c1965
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My family and I are convinced I am the man walking next to the man in the jacket and tie who appears to have his arm around a child. The Austin A40 pick up truck in the foreground behind the telephone box could be the one I owned at about that time.

English Brothers.

The Docks And Timber Yards c1955
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The opened sided storage sheds were owned by English Brothers.

The Harbour Line.

Look carefully between the first two trees on the left of the photograph. In the gap with the house in the background you will see a horizontal dark line which follows to the right. This is the railway line called the Harbour Line which operated until about 1967. The engine was driven by Mr Charlie Rands, who lived in Elm Road. In the main I remember it carrying timber from English Brothers, although it would have carried perhaps produce to and from Smedleys. It was only separated from the park by a post and wire fence.

The Hope Inn

The Hope Inn c1955
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I think it was 1949/50, I remember living along the canal side, Trafalgar Row it was called, over the other side from the Hope Inn.  Somehow I think it was further up than Somerfield almost opposite the Empire.  Most of my family used this pub as their social outlet for weekends, remember no TV, bingo or much else then.  I remember the landlord and landlady a Mr. and Mrs. Firth and they had a son I think he was called Trevor.  I never did see inside the pub, I used to have to play in their yard or sometimes I would be able to sit in the kitchen when it was colder. I can't quite see my house from this photograph but the next photograph I can see it exactly only because my father painted the passageway opening to the other terraced houses a brilliant white!  Oh happy days!

The Castle Inn Wisbech

The Castle c1955
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Great great great grandfather lived here, he was the publican. Goulder Gray.

Childhood

The Docks And Timber Yards c1955
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l was born in Wisbech in May 1957, me and my mates were always down by the docks. We were always playing there and we used to do alot of fishing there as well. l can remember the building the round one, l think it was the gas works. I have lovely child hood memories of being young and running wild. Alan, the Netherlands.

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