Grantchester memories
Here are memories of Grantchester and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Grantchester or a Grantchester photo.
In The Footsteps of Dead Poets.
Just out of Trumpington, on the road to Grantchester, was the entrance to an area known as Byron’s Pool, named after Lord Byron who apparently frequented the area whilst at Cambridge University. Probably hoping to find somewhere discrete to make his next sexual conquest from what I’ve read about him since. Once through the clapper gate you made your way through an area of rough woodland that was criss-crossed with footpaths; some major and well trod; others less so with the occasional hazard of stinging nettle or bramble. If you made your way to the river, then walked upstream on the adjacent path, your ears would guide you to the weir, where between the ages of eleven and thirteen, I used to indulge in probably the most foolhardy stunt of my entire life.
The weir was basically a submerged concrete dam, in those days only about ten inches in section at the top, and which spanned most of the entire width of the river;... Read more
Grantchester School 1953-1955
Grantchester School 1953-1955: Mrs Alice Freeman was the Headmistress, in charge of the Juniors, whilst Miss Chatterton took the Infants class.
We had regular visits from a lady from the British Red Cross who taught us how to dress any wound, anywhere on the body, with nothing more than a triangular bandage. A kind of applied Origami - in linen!
We also used to visit an archaeologist in the village and admire his collection of flint artifacts.
I still have a photo of a 1954 school visit to Hatfield House (via the Roman Verulanium at St. Albans) which I hope to download to this site sometime.
I was actually a Trumpington lad, but was transferred to Grantchester School to avoid the bullying I was going through at Fawcett School, but it was a case of "Out of the frying pan - and into the fire!" because although Grantchester was an excellent school academically, I suffered two years of lunch-time torture there, as you had to eat up ALL your school... Read more
Florence Pansy Muggleton
Florence Pansy Muggleton born in Grantchester 1920 can trace her family back to her great, great grandparents Joseph Muggleton and Mary Ann Boutle who married at Grantchester church on 17th January 1822. Flo has many memories over the years of the village. She moved from the village in 1945 but still kept in contact via her family. If anyone has any queries about the village pre 1942 she will try and help you and can be contacted via her daughter Gill Casper at gillian.casper@ntlworld.com.
Memories of Cambridgeshire
I Lived in Those Cottages!1948 - 1957-Ish
In 1946 my late father, Ron Goodliffe, got a job as a tractor driver for the vast Pemberton estate, and we moved into one of their tied-cottages in Swans Yard, that used to be off the High Street. Then, in 1948, we moved into 18 Grantchester Road which is the white cottage that's set back in the photo. In those days it was known as Dated Cottage, as it had the year 1654 on the front in big metal numerals; plus a plaque depicting the rays of the sun with a smiley face in the middle. Many years later I found out that these plaques used to be affixed to properties covered by The Sun Fire Insurance Company. In around 1954 we moved next-door-but-one to number 22 Grantchester Road, still known as Park Cottage. This was the far end of the thatched building that is furthest away on the photo. In those days it contained two residences. In fact it may have originally been built as three residences as there... Read more
To Ron Goodliffe - A Trumpington Ploughman 1946 - 1958
My late father worked for the Pemberton Estate as a tractor driver from 1946 to around 1958.
I offer below, in his memory, an extract from the tribute I composed for his funeral in March 2005.
But, there was another love in your life,
by the name of Allis-Chalmers.
And you spent many hours alone in her company
as she ploughed each field with furrows.
As a child I’d sometimes join you on her ample bench type seat.
The constant roar of the engine and the screaming of the gulls
made conversation difficult
and I often fell asleep.
So you’d put your strong arm round me,
to stop me falling and getting crushed,
and we’d plough ‘till after sunset
then bike home through the dusk.
This is how we bonded...
a father and his son...
In silence...on a tractor...
the three of us as one.
Many hours I spent in your company
through all seasons on the farm.
The other... Read more
Trevor Hughes
1970-1971'ish, there was a homeless man named Trevor Hughes who used to wander the streets around the Guildhall and the market. He always wore a daffodil in his hat and was the local character. The probation officers made sure he got his medications. He used to smash a window every Christmas so he could go to Bedford jail and get Christmas dinner, then the inmates and the guards would have a collection and he would be released. I worked for the Magistrates office at the Guildhall at the time. Does anyone remember Trevor?
My Sister.
The lady on the left by the railings of King's College is my older sister then aged 22. We lived in Cambridge until 1922 and I was a pupil at Cambridge High School during the First World War. I am now 93.
Marshall's Airport
I lived at 14 The Homing, Meadowlands, Cambridge which was close to the airport. I was 8 years old in 1955. Often on sunny weekends, my Mum would takes us on a walk over to the airport.
It was a quiet relaxed place in those days. There was no kind of airport security, and you could stroll through the gate and sit down on benches to watch the odd Tiger Moth taxi over to the runway and take off. The pilots would fly over and wave.
I remember watching a Venom jet fighter being started up and all the sudden noise compared to the previous peace and quiet. Occasionally we would walk down by the taxi way, and watch the planes taxiing to the runway apron. Again I remember a jet fighter pilot taxiing down there in a Meteor and waving to us kids. It was so exciting.
I also remember a 3 engined biplane flying out of there. I can still remember what it looked like,... Read more
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,870 memories of 5,950 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Oban, Argyll
- Rochdale, Lancashire
- Godstone, Surrey
- Blaenavon, Gwent
- Smallthorne, Staffordshire
- Boxley, Kent
- Finchley, Greater London
- Ewell, Surrey
- Barking, Essex
- Great Holland, Essex
- Llansamlet, West Glamorgan
- Weaverham, Cheshire
- Thornton Heath, Surrey
- Netherbury, Dorset
- Irby, Merseyside
- Langley Park, County Durham
- Amble, Northumberland
- Birkenhead, Merseyside
- Horbury, West Yorkshire
- Fleetwood, Lancashire
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
