Moat Tea Room
My parents Angela and Leslie Jecks-Wright bought the house in the picture on the right and made a successful business called the Moat Tea Room of it! Our house was at 64 Fore Street. We used to get coaches visiting the castle, and we were kept very busy when that happened. We used to let the college boys use the upstairs room as a sort of "clubhouse". A lot of GIs used to visit and eat there. I currently live in California. Whilst in a line in the bank we all started talking to each other. One man on hearing my accent told me he remembered the Tea Room and my Mother's wonderful cakes. He said to me, "If you can cook like your Mother, will you marry me?" What a compliment from a stranger so many miles from Fram!!
Dad had a small vegetable patch in the back garden. I remember each year he would dig up something of historical interest. Once it was an arrow barb and point, and another time a stone cannonball. The fireplace in the main area was originally made of stones from the castle (long before we obtained it!)
Miss Rivers, a wonderful elderly lady in her 90's lived in the house at the very end of our building. She was a blind lady, but kept her house spotless! She used a board to wash her floor (the old fashioned way, on her knees!) She would wash up to the board, then moved the board and do the same. She was very sweet and I have lovely memories of her.
One day whilst visiting Miss Rivers, Mother heard a racket going on upstairs in the tearoom. She thought Dad was moving furniture up there. On going back, Dad was surprised to see her. He thought she was upstairs moving the furniture! On inspection of the student's "Club house" nothing was moved or out of place!
Up against the wall of the pond across the street, my motorcycle (650cc BSA and sidecar) caught fire. A fireman was in the Castle Pub and saw it, so he got on his bicycle and was peddling frantically past me, he yelled "do you want the firetruck?" I yelled back "Yes!!" He went up and sounded the alarm. The firetruck was a very welcome sight!
The building is all now a private home but it is still full of memories for me...
Memories Links
Other memories of Castle Street c1955
See more memories of Framlingham
Add a Memory for another place
Tips & Ideas
How has this scene changed?
Do you know who lived or worked here?
Why is this photo significant to you?
Particular points of interest - transport, architecture, fashions etc.
Comments
3 comments have been shared so far in response to the memory "Moat Tea Room".
Why not get involved and post your comments using the comment form below.
Comments
RE: RE: Moat Tea Room
We moved to Framlingham in 1971. I worked at the Radar station at Orfordness, and we visited the tea rooms many times with visitors, we were always very pleased with the tea and cakes. We lived in the Knoll, a new estate in the 1970s.
Comment from George Allen on Friday, 13th November 2009.
RE: RE: Moat Tea Room
Sorry to Jim Hayler, I'm afraid that it is indeed Castle Street and not Church Street as you state, the picture is taken looking down Castle Street towards the tea rooms or the Castle pub or the top of Church Street, looking at the photo, just on the left before Double Street is where the old pub the Hare and the Hound was (which has been closed now for quite some time). My mum is Virginia Jecks-Wright, the daughter of the tea room owners, and I am their grandson. The tea room was sadly turned into a book shop for a long time and now it is just a house. I have currently lived in Framlingham for the past 15 years and work in Framlingham as a Community Police Officer and I walk the beat almost every day, rain or shine, and even snow, so I guess you could say that I know the area very well. The place where Potters showroom was on the Market Hill is now a Co-operative food store called Solar, and Potters Garage has now moved to a new site across from the old Bibbys grain mill on Station Road which is now closed down and has planning permission for over 100 houses, what a shame. The new Potters Garage which has now been sold/taken over by the John Gross Ford franchise but the dealership is still run by the founder's son Mr Alan Potter. Hope this gives anyone reading a very brief history into some of Framlingham. If you would like any more information on Framlingham email me at: californiadreaming@hotmail.com with the heading of Framlingham and I will reply with your answer. Regards to all Mr Christian Hassler
Comment from Christian Hassler on Friday, 17th September 2010.
RE: RE: Moat Tea Room
this is not castle street , it is church street . i worked in the garage to the right of the photo back in the 50s when it was a.g. potters .
jim hayler ( new zealand)
Comment from Jim Hayler on Wednesday, 15th July 2009.