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Great Dunmow
Great Dunmow photos
Displaying the first of 51 old photos of Great Dunmow. View all Great Dunmow photos
Great Dunmow maps
Historic maps of Great Dunmow and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Great Dunmow maps
Great Dunmow area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Great Dunmow and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Great Dunmow
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Great Dunmow.
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Longleat
My grandfather Cecil Welch, who was the local estate agent and auctioneer based at the Old Town Hall in the High Street, bought several old cottages next to the blacksmiths in Church End for his son John and wife Peggy, at the vast cost of £600. She came from Wiltshire and changed the name from Jackman's to Longleat. They had been living with their in-laws at Kasama on the Stortford Road and they needed their own home as they had just adopted a baby - that being me - Pene. They had married just before he left for the Second World War in 1942 but had never really lived together. My father kept a diary and wrote of the many hours he spent at his new house finding blocked off windows and hidden fireplaces, and what had been a near hovel with rats in the back garden and drunken brawling at night became a family home for myself and my parents. I remember picking at bits of plaster between the... Read more
Living at 5 New St Great Dunmow
I lived at this address from when I was about 11 years old, my mother (Charlotte (Lottie) married Charlie Childs around that time, he was the village baker and I have wonderful memories of him teaching me the business, and also eating his wonderful bread, especially the 'Huffers', a kind of roll, and of course the cottage loaves. After Charlie died the actual bakery was transformed into another house, my sister Madeline and her husband lived there for years until they both died. I have wonderful memories there, and I am sure everyone who knew Charlie's Bread was sad to see him go the way he did, he was in his 90's and one morning down in the kitchen he put the kettle on for a 'cup of tea' when his sleeve caught fire on the gas ring, it was an awful way for that wonderful old man to go. I live in Victoria Canada B C now with my family, but my daughter who is married to an American... Read more
Essex memories
Friends at The Green Man.
I worked at the Green Man, a lovely little thatched pub. The manager was Phillip Hanson Lester who used to play a grand piano in the bar. He was quite famous inthe are for his pub meals and eventually retired to Spain. We all had great fun after hours in the bar and I particularly remember Jeff Sewell who owned a BMW garage in Great Dunmow. Cliff Richard lived nearby. I have gret memories of lovely friendly people there, but eventually had to move bak to the north, having in those days probably caused many a disruption. I remember a lady called Desdra Cox, who was always very hellpful. She remarried and came to live near Liverpool, but I haven't heard of her for many years. Looking back, those days were some of the happiest in my life.
My Childhood Years in Stebbing
My Grandparents, Harry and Hannah Young lived in the first cottage on the left as you enter the village. I spent most of my school holidays there with them and my Mother and I were evacuated to live with them during W.W.2 for a period of time. I attended Stebbing school for about 3 weeks, then was moved from there to a small village or church hall in the road behind the now Bowls club (my great great Grandparents lived in one of the cottages there which was destroyed by a land mine).
My memories of Stebbing were all formulated as a child. Church was a great part of that as my Grandfather was the Verger for many years, grave digger, clock winder etc. on many occasions taking me up the tower with him to wind the clock!
Early mornings, lighting the fires under the floor gratings to "central heat" the building. I last visited the village about 2 years ago. There are many new buildings, but most of the... Read more
Childhood Memories of my Granny
My grandmother, Ellen Crow lived next to the Lindsell shop in the village. During the summer holidays Mum and I would go on the 12 o'clock bus from Chelmsford to visit her. I had many relatives in the village and surrounding area. Granny had 13 children. I was the youngest grandchild. I have such fond memories of the village. I visited there about 3 years ago. it has not changed at all. I now live in the suburbs of Chicago. Judy Pitt (nee Burr).
9.4 Years Living in Tilty
Me and my family moved into 1 Pumpkin Hall, Grange Green, Tilty in July 1993 and live there until November 2002 in a rented cottage owned by Mick Waring. We all had 9.4 years of happy and a peaceful life, living in a friendly hamlet with a lovely house and garden and lovely friendly neighbours. Thank you Marilon/Ken/Warren and Scott. We got married in Little Easton church by the late Jack Filby. We still drive through Tilty every now and then. Tilty will always be a special place in our hearts.
Ghosts at The Mill
I lived in the mill from 1978 to 1982 with my parents, brother and sister. I was only five when I left but I have memories of seeing a lady and man both dressed in very old fashioned clothes around the mill pond. and nobody ever saw them except me. I'm sure they were looking after me and making sure I didn't fall in the water.
It was a very creepy house and I remember our dog Polly would go mad in the hall at night. When we left the mill my mum went back one day and saw some builders inside doing the house up, my mum asked to look around but they told her to hurry as they don't stay in the dark, my mum asked why and they said because they heard children screaming and a huge bang as if someone had fallen down the stairs in the hall... They went outside thinking some children might be in the drive but there was nobody around. I'm... Read more
