Great Massingham, Norfolk

Evacuation from London to Harpley

I remember Harpley when it had no running water, electricity or gas. I was evacuated there during the war years and stayed in a cottage near to the village pub. At that time we had to cross the road to draw drinking water from the village well. Washing and bathing water was supplied by rainwater tanks kept at... [more]

Middleton Family

Hi - My family history research finds that my mother Isobella Stephenson was born in Houghton in 1917. Her family may have been in the pub buisness, but her father Harry John Middleton worked for the railways. They eventually ended up in Barnsley where I was born. Any information on this family would be of help to me,
Regards Allan Broadhead... [more]

My ancestors

My great grandfather John Robert Leaman was school master at Castle Acre school - his wife (my great grandmother) was Elizabeth Jane Leaman (nee Ellis). I have visited Castleacre recently and found the village such a beautiful, interesting idyllic place to be. If anyone knows or has any history of this time I would love to hear about them. The time... [more]

Hill Farm

In 1940 my dad James Smith and his brother William was evacuated in Great Dunham on Hill Farm with Mr and Mrs Everington and they wanted to adopt my dad and brother but my nan said no. My family were from Hackney in London. In 1941 my Aunt Joan was born in Hill Farm Cottages too while my nan was visiting.[more]

My grandfather the village postman

My grandfather, Bert Sampson, was the postman in the late 40s/ 50s. My grandmother, Ivy, and he lived at Woodview. My father said he used to sell produce from his smallholding as he did his rounds. Anyone remember?
Then his son Ron and his wife moved in and had all my cousins. Eight of them. They all lived in this small... [more]

Memories from My father Tom Ebert who was evacuated to Dersingham from Poplar during WW2

My first recollection of Dersingham was as a seven year old boy in 1941.
My mother, sister and I were evacuated from the East End of London during the blitz and arrived, after a long train journey, at the Station Hotel one late afternoon which was owned then by a Mr and Mrs Parminter. After some tea and sandwiches we were... [more]

dersingham 1954 c

We lived in the village shop Virginia Stores owned by Peatling & Cawdron.  My dad won the Vernons Football Pools in 1955  a great sum of  £505.6s,  my sister and I had new bikes, and mum and dad went for a holiday to Blackpool! with her new fur coat.  We moved to Brancaster after that when they bought the pub there.[more]