Houghton memories
Here are memories of Houghton and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Houghton or a Houghton photo.
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
Memories of Norfolk
Evacuation From London to Harpley
I remember Harpley as a four-year-old, when it had no running water, electricity or gas. I was evacuated there when first born, in 1939 during the war years and stayed in a cottage opposite to the village pub. At that time we had to cross the road to draw drinking water from the well. Washing and bathing water was supplied by rainwater tanks kept at the back of the cottage. There was a large bungalow bath hung on the side of the cottage which was used by the adults for bath days. The couple who looked after us used to place every receptacle possible on top of the stove to heat the water for the bath. Washing clothes was a considerable chore, and always carried out on a Monday. I remember that once washed they were put through a mangle and then hung up to dry if the weather permitted. Ironing was carried out by using flat irons heated on top of the wood/coal-burning stove, and when hot, fitted with... Read more
Leaving Home
My memory of Syderstone is in October of 1951. I left my home in Leicester as the bride if a young man who was in the USAF. He had been my High School pen-friend and was stationed at RAF Sculthorpe. I left my home for Norfolk one week after my wedding but unfortunately my husband had been unable to find us a house to rent. In desperation we rented a room at the local pub in Syderstone. I can't recall the name of the pub, wish that I could. We were given a room upstairs and we were tucked up in bed when another couple walked through our room. We hadn't been told that the room adjoining had no entrance except through our bedroom and that it was rented out also. Two days later we found rented rooms in a house in Wells-next-the-Sea. It was a large house called St. Heliers and was situated across from the library. Mr & Mrs. Riches owned the house and lived there... Read more
The Swan
My late mother, Beryl Smith (nee Thompson) grew up in The Swan, as her parents, Edmund and Leah, were the publicans. (My mother was born in 1924 in Tittleshall, but the family moved to Great Massingham and The Swan while she was still very small). She and her sister, Lorna, lived at The Swan until they each married during the second world war. (My mother married a Canadian army Captain, David Smith, and moved to Canada in 1946). They had some animals and vegetable garden, as well as a landing strip in the back yard!!! My grandfather, Edmund, died in March of 1945 as I recall, and I imagine Leah sold The Swan not too long after. She bought Rose Cottage on Station Road, her sister, Doris, bought Eastgate. My mother went "home" to England on an annual basis. The last time I was in The Swan was in the late 1970's, and it was still being operated as a pub. ... Read more
Great Massingham Crown Brass Band
Hello,
My grandfather was George Frederick Fish, bandmaster to Great Massingham Crown Brass Band. I would dearly love to learn more about both him and the band. Does anyone have any information about them? I believe they once played at Sandringham at Christmas after the king heard them playing in Kings Lynn (I think). I am told that the king was also struck by their uniforms which my grandfather, a tailor, had made for all the bandsmen.
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 billeted on a retired couple, a Mr and Mrs Bush who lived in White Horse Drive, long before the council houses were built opposite.
The official procedure then was that anybody who had room to spare in their houses had to take in evacuees. No ifs or buts - if you had a spare room or two you ended up with evacuees. No doubt those and such as those who could drop a word in the right place never had to open their doors, but that's another story. This draconian ruling, as you can imagine, caused resentment amongst those people who had to take in these unwanted lodgers. I... Read more
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