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Great Yeldham
Great Yeldham photos
Displaying the first of 3 old photos of Great Yeldham. View all Great Yeldham photos
Great Yeldham maps
Historic maps of Great Yeldham and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Great Yeldham maps
Great Yeldham area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Great Yeldham and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Great Yeldham
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GREAT YELDHAM 50+ YEARS AGO
Born in Chelmsford in 1946 I grew up in Gt. Yeldham but after a career in the Fleet Air Arm the flying side of the Royal Navy I settled in Somerset. The small town where I now reside though quite away from the coast is close to a Royal Naval Air Station at which I served. I married a Yeldham girl and as I mentioned we live in Somerset.
As a child I lived at the top of Oaker Hill on the Ridgewell road and opposite the entrance to the RAF station. Father was a porter at Yeldham station before becoming a platelayer for BR and ending up as a Signalman at Birdbrook station. We moved to the Croft when it was built I think in the 1950s and would go by bus to Hedingham Secondary Modern School. Mother was a Post Lady and also helped run the library as a volunteer.
I can remember Highfields being built as some of it was directly behind our house in The Croft... Read more
Essex memories
Birthplace of my Grandfather
On 5 August 1885 my grandfather, Edward Bentall Collis, was born at Hall Farm, Toppesfield. Edward was the fourth child of David Taylor and Julia Anna Collis.
I have visited Toppesfield twice and have been unable to locate Hall Farm. On my last visit, some three years ago, it was suggested to me that Berwick Hall was Hall Farm back in 1885.
Can anyone confirm for me that this is correct.
My Father
My father Ollie Frank Letch was born at Gainsford End, Toppesfield in 1907. His parents were Harry William Letch and Ellen Ruth (nee Teader). In later life my father was also known as Cyril. I believe the family also lived at Morris Green and Hawks Hall, Sible Hedingham. They were horse keepers on farms and labourers I believe. I wonder if anyone has memories of his family and where they lived at Gainsford End. My father also had a sister Irene and an older brother Cecil William who was born in 1903.
The Ransons Move to Castle Hedingham
We arrived in Castle Hedingham around the turn of the year 1964/5, Mum, Dad, my three little brothers and myself. Our newly built house was just out of shot to the left of this photo of Pye Corner. Mum & Dad's friend Tony owned the white Alvis car parked on the green. We were very excited be in our big house. It was a cold winter and Mum was trying to get us settled in. Like all new houses it had it's teething problems.
We all eventually went to De Vere primary school on the other side of the village and made lots of friends, some of whom we still see. Also on Pye Corner was a lovely old house called Astles. It belonged to a man called Mr. Kelk. His granddaughter, Charlotte showed me all the nooks and crannies of the house and garden which fascinated me and began my interest in old houses that continues to this day. Mr. Kelk's house has recently been beautifully restored... Read more
Pye Corner Castle Hedingham
My grandfather used to live in Nunnery Street in the 1880s. His name was James Pilgrim born 10.6.1845, died 18.7.1900, he was married to Julia Reeve born 18.5.1849, died 24.3.1924, they had 9 children. I think my grandmother was born in Pye Corner, (6) Nunnery Street.
My Grandfather
My grandfather Harry William Letch lived, towards the end of his life, at "Near Rising Sun", Nunnery Street, Castle Hedingham. He died I believe in 1952. His wife Ellen Ruth (nee Teader) may also have lived at this address at some time. The Letch family seems to have been around for many generations in the same area. I wonder if anyone knows where exactly he lived or has any information about his family. I can remember as a child visiting the Castle for picnics with my parents but didn't realize until quite recently that my grandparnts had lived nearby.
Where I Grew Up.
I lived most of my life in Sible Hedingham, as a family we moved there from London in 1962. I was just 2 years old at the time. My father Robert Farren, "Bob" as he was best known and my mother Ivy, took over the licence of The White Lion, Church Street. Growing up I never imagined that I would ever live anywhere but there. My parents retired after 28 years behind the bar.
The White Lion can be seen in picture S276003 of Church Street, it is the second building on the right hand side of the photograph. The first building is, or I should say was a General Store. You could buy just about anything there from linens, clothing and yarn to cheese and sugar. It closed somewhere around 1972 and was turned into a private residence. The Lion was originally a workhouse and had several cottages on the premises, two of which I can still remember - they were in what is now the car park.... Read more
