Elmswell, Suffolk

Harry Elmer

I'm sure I remember a Harry Elmer......did he have a shop in Elmswell or did he rent out motor cars or even caravans from Woolpit?

I was born in Elmswell in 1947 and the name certainly rings a very loud bell and was constantly mentioned in our household at the time.

Elmers Mill - Family History

Hi there. Harry Elmer (who I understand was my GGrandad's brother) owned and ran this Mill into the 1940s. The Muggeridge Collection has some wonderful images of him replendent in the very gentlemanly working clothes of a miller of his ilk, and still working in his 80's.  Anecdotally Elmers Mill in Woolpit and Drinkstone Mill close by were dead ringers for... [more]

family connection to the Shoulder of Mutton

My great great grandfather was Richard Thurston and I believe that his family lived at the pub about 1845.
They had several children Deborah,John Palmer,Mary Jane,Richard and William Mumford (thurston) His wife was Susannah.
John Palmer Thurston was my great grandfather.
My grandfather William John Thurston emigrated to Australia in 1910 with his wife Agnes Alice Thurston(nee Stillwell) from Sussex.
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School in Walsham

I atended primary school in Walsham from 1953 to 1955, my father was stationed at Shepards Grove. We lived in West House about a mile out of town toward Bury St Edmonds. I enjoyed my time in school there. My wife and I made a trip back to places I lived at and we went through Walsham and I remembered most... [more]

New Beginnings

We visited Gipping in 2003 to try to get a sense of the place our ancestors left in 1859 to start a new life in New Zealand. The flatness of the area was a significant contrast to the rugged coastal lands they farmed on their arrival in Little Akaloa, Canterbury. William Henry Elliss and his wife Sophia Rebecca Davey were resident... [more]

So Many Happy Hours

I spent so many happy summer holidays in Great Barton, and in particular Conyers Green where my Aunt Norah Lovelace lived in a cottage next to the old chapel building.  I cycled often to the village store/post office, and to my friend's parent's farm up the lane at the side of the cottage, their name was Rolfe and we had many... [more]

greengrocers in gislingham

I also remember Southgates shop, I was born in Potash Cottage and my grandparents lived in Chapel Cottage until about 1959 when my grandmother died and my grandfather moved across the road to Peartree Cottage which was only a couple of doors up from Southgates shop and Mr Fisk. Mr Fisk used to take us to Finningham railway station in... [more]

Greengrocers in Gislingham

I remember Southgate's shop, although as a general store rather than as a greengrocer. My grandparents (and great-grandparents before them) lived next door (Fred and Carrie Bridges) in Mill Street, and we used to visit every school holiday from when I was about 5 years old. Harry was dead by then, but his widow (Ivy) and daughter (June) were still there.... [more]