Emneth Hungate

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.

Ancestors From Upwell

Upwell Norfolf was the home of my husband's ancestor Charles Overland (1817-1908). We recently visited Upwell and saw the church and a tombstone of a George Overland but could find no more. Memories were passed down over the years and Charles Overland (1935-) named his very successful bus company Upwells Ltd here in Ontario, Canada. The George may have been a son.

Harvest Festival

I remember the Harvest Festivals of my childhood in the 1950s, which were held in the Methodist Chapel. Women of the village spring cleaned the chapel before decorating it with produce, flowers and greenery. The displays were splendid, and central was the produce around the pulpit - this was added to with the children's baskets given during the festival. The chapel would be full and voices and organ belted out the traditional hymns - 'Come ye thankful people, come' and 'We plough the fields and scatter'. We were a farming community so this really meant something. On Monday night this was followed by a sale of the produce and baskets. The items were auctioned off, and half way through the proceedings we would stop for a break - it was then that the sausage rolls and cream horns were brought out. Maud Pollyn had originally made these, and then her daughter Phyllis took over - tray loads were made - and they were very good! The first ones were auctioned... Read more

Smedley's by P.A.

These memories actually date back to the summer of 1967 as well as that of 1968. Sometimes, there was no work in the fields, or I needed money because I was such a lazy fruit picker. So I left Leverington and applied to be hired at Smedley's in the evening after tea. It was marvellously quick and simple to get work, there were no formalities, no red tape at all. We seasonal workers just got a clocking card, and I am not even sure they knew our names. Two to three hours later, at about 8 or 8.30 pm, we gave back our card at a small cabin, and the accountant gave us the cash through the window. Most of that cash was spent without delay at the pub, either in Wisbech, or at the Rising Sun in Leverington. Very often my job was to sit next to a line of small rails on which freshly sealed tins of food rolled along flat stretches or long bends, or up and... Read more

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.

The Park c1950
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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.