Ford End memories
Here are memories of Ford End and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Ford End or a Ford End photo.
1966-1982
Ford End is now a shell of its former self, almost like the UK. When I was a child in the village, growing up, there was no better place to be. There was a shop, two pubs, the Spread Eagle at the top of the village and the Swan at the bottom of the hill, a dairy, post office, village hall, cricket pavilion and not forgetting the C of E primary school that I attended from 1970 to 1977 before going on to my secondary school in Great Dunmow. As children we used to race home-made go-karts down the hill in Back Lane, sometimes even down Brook Hill (the main road) without any injury or major incident. We had fields, streams, ponds, trees to climb and the River Chelmer was only a short walk for a bit of fishing or, in the summer, swimming. Happy days that I will never forget.
Memories of Essex
Village Policeman
In the late 1950's I was the village policeman at Great Waltham. The police house was the last two-storied house at the Barrack Land end of Cherry Garden Road with my 'office'being in the kitchen and the tsble there was my desk. Next door to us was a lovely old lady - Mrs Woods and on the other side the Hornsby family, daughter's name Jenny. My duties in those days were not very onerous consisting mainly of attending motor accidents, moving on camping gypsies and paying occasional visits to the local pubs in Great and Little Walthams, Howe Street and Mashbury. My means of getting around was on a bicycle although about one a month a police car from Chelmsford would come to Great Waltham and I would act as observer for a couple of hours. My immediate superior officer was Sergeant Leslie Pye from Broomfield who was always very keen for us village policemen (including the one at Ford End (Const.Tom Mitchell) and Great Leighs (Const. Les.... Read more
Born In Gt Waltham 1953
My father Eric Grubb was one of three sons and two daughters of George Grubb. (who lived until he was 100 years old). We lived in Six Bells Cottages until we were rehoused in Cherry Garden Road. My mum Gertrude worked in Snows the butchers, pictured above, making sausages! I remember Mr Butcher the policeman - Mr Moore the poacher was a family friend! I attended the village school and Broomfield Secondary. My father died aged 43 in 1966 and my mother remarried Eric Rickman whose family lived in Barrack Road. My husband and I married in Gt Waltham in 1973 - the Rev. Duke was still there.
THE HAWKES AND BRADLEY FAMILIES
Researching family history led me to Charlotte Bradley and Josiah Hawkes from Great Waltham.
They married in 1871. Charlotte was a servant to the Oddie family and Josiah was an agricultural labourer from a large family.
Addresses are hard to read on the census. Was there a house simply known as 28 Village ? and Chatham Green or Chatham View?
I hope to visit the area sometime soon. For some reason I feel I have to see where Charlotte and Josiah grew up!
Its probably unlikely but I wonder if any of their families still live in the area?
My Roots
Hi i've just found out that my family originate from Great Waltham...the name is 'Hornsby'...I found this out through the ancestry website and looking at old census records...i'm hoping to come along and visit Great Waltham with my father who is a 'Hornsby' and discover where they used to live on..'Broads Green'
Living in Great Waltham as A Apprentice Carpenter And Joiner
I moved to Great Waltham with my mum and dad, he was head gardener for the squire at Langleys. We lived in Cherry Trees Cottage opposite the Rose & Crown and up a set of concrete steps, for a few years but later moved to Water Falls Cottage, I think it's called North Lodge now. I have been back to view the gardens a few years ago, now it's a shame how these great gardens have gone over the years. I did an apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner for Henry Potter in Chelmsford, I rode my cycle there summer and winter for 5 years like a lot of other people in those days. At the end of my apprenticeship I went into the R.A.F. for 5 years. I did enjoy my life in Great Waltham. It is nice to go back on odd occations, I only wish I could meet someone there that I remember.
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