Grantham, Wyndham Park Paddling Pool c1955

Gatehouse.

As a child I spent many happy holidays in Denton. My Grandparents lived in the right-hand side of the gatehouse; their names were James and Jane Howell. He was a gardener at the Hall. I remember at the age of about five years old, rushing out to open the big gates for horses or vehicles to come through on their way to the Hall. When my Grandfather retired, they went to live in one of the houses that were set back from the road, halfway down the village street. Later Gran and one of her daughters lived in the almshouses in the park. At that time I had to stay with them for some weeks, owing to illness at home. I went to the village school, I think the headmaster's name was Mr Geeson. Mostly I remember the wonderful walk back home to Gran's, up the lane through a spinney of trees and into the park. There were wild strawberries in the grass, and violets, sweet chestnuts and conkers of course; and the constant cooing of the wood pigeons. Some days I went with my Aunt 'sticking' or collecting firewood in a truck. We would go right across the park, some times going down to the Ponds and to the Well, other times we went up some steps and over the park wall, across the road and into the eight acre field, where we were allowed to collect mushrooms if we were lucky enough to find any. What an idyllic way of life, though my Gran and my Aunt were very poor we were very happy. There was one snag, not that I was worried by it then, it was just how things were; the 'privy' (or toilets today) were about 100 yards from the houses, underground near some trees. Just two wooden seats for all the six almshouses. I never had to queue!  It was a wonderful, gentle way of life, the memories stay with me through all these years.

John and Elizabeth Footit

I visited Carlton Scroop with my grandmother, Elizaberth Footit. Her sister was Rose Helena West, they were all born in Hough on the Hill. Harrold Footit whose memorial is in the church was my great cousin. Elizabeth was born in 1875, John in 1873. The West and Footit families all came from Hough. I have photos of Elizabeth and John in 1900.

Evacuee During World War 2

I was privately evacuated to Croxton Kerrial with my sister in 1940, we were billeted in a cottage named Woodbine Cottage, this was next to the Bakery. We attended the village school, I still remember some of the children's names that attended the school, my sister and I had quite a happy time in Croxton Kerrial. I have been told by my sister who revisited some years ago that Woodbine Cottage is no more. I was in the choir at the church. When I became aged 11 I atttended the school at Bottisford. If there is anyone who was at the village school during 1940 I would be only to pleased to hear from them. I use to go down to the sheep dip in the village to collect tadpoles. There was a photo taken in 1940 of the pupils at the Village school, during various moves it has got lost, if anyone has a copy of it I would be only to pleased to purchase a copy. My sister and I returned to Surrey just after being in Croxton Kerrial for just under 18 months. Some of the surnames of the pupils were: Thornton, Baggley, Copley, Hayward, Jarvis, Burrows, Charity. The name of the Head Teacher was Mrs /Miss Gilbert. The name of the people I was billeted on were Mr & Mrs Lane and sons, Sidney, and Kenneth. I remember the Army Convoys coming through the village, stopping, some of the soldiers buying jam tarts from the bakery. I enjoyed the country life, went gleaning during the harvesting, drinking cold tea from a bottle during a break from harvesting, collecting mushrooms, riding in the cart through the village after collecting swedes from the clamp, collecting the milk in a cannister from the farm at the bottom of the village, helping of perhaps hindering to bring in the BE AST. When I first arrived I collected water in a bucket from the pump a few yards from the cottage, within a short time I was carrying 2 buckets with little effort. At the back of Woodbine Cottage were 3 large huts, each must have held 30 / 50 laying chickens, I collected Maize, corn and broken shell from a large shed in the garden to feed the chickens, I then collected the eggs, then there were more chickens at the other end of the village to feed, I enjoyed this work. We collected rain water from big containers for washing, this was put on the stove to warm, this was so different from just turning on a tap.  When I returned to Surrey, friends told me I talked different, I can remember saying do it your sen, bairns, for children, be ast for cattle. All in all, I was pleased with the time I spent in Croxton Kerrial.