Little Baddow memories
Here are memories of Little Baddow and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Little Baddow or a Little Baddow photo.
Little Baddow, From 1948 to 1966
Hi there folks, Just a little bit of memory, when I was a very young lad of one year old, we moved to Little Baddow from London, to Tofts Farm, there we stayed until 1966, developing the business, to include Tofts Country Club, maybe you were a member. I also remember Mr & Mrs Bromley, Woodlands School, we sometimes all played tennis at our place, not too far to walk, I can remember quite a lot of people around there. Should you read this message, and feel like getting in touch tel / fax 01297 553264 E.mail: swordcrown@rocketmail.com. Look forward to hearing from you, Geoff Bloxcksidge
Woodlands School
From 1961 to 1967 I attended Woodlands School in Oaklands Way, off Postmans Lane, Little Baddow. It was a tiny girls school run single handedly by the late Dorothy Bromley, the classrooms being two white wooden sheds in the garden. There was no playground but there was a grass tennis court that we the pupils had to maintain.
There were times when our court was not up to the job, then we would go and play tennis at The Rodney which I seem to remember belonged to Dr Kerr in those days (not sure about the spelling there).
The tennis court was completely isolated in woodland and a small group of us girls would walk there unsupervised down Postmans Lane, turning left at the end into Spring Elms Lane, up the hill and into The Rodney on the right. Very often Mrs Bromley would send us there to occupy us because she would be away at some political function, her main passion!
Elijah Mecklenburgh of The Old Rodney Pleasure Grounds
Not a memory, but a mention of my ancestor great great great uncle Elijah Mecklenburgh, born 1837 at Bradfield and died 1913 in Maldon. All I know about him was that he lived at Ravens Farmhouse in Woodham Walter in 1871, and that he had connections to the Old Rodney Pleasure grounds. I have no idea what the pleasure grounds were, or even if they still exsist, so seeing this photo with reference to the Rodney was great, but if anyone can add any memories, it would be even better.
Another Ghostly Experience on Grace's Walk
The year is approximate as I was in my teens, so it was somewhere between 1972 and 1974. I had a horse called Shamrock, that I kept in Sandon and I used to ride him through Danbury and Little Baddow all the time. I went down Grace's Walk one day, from the Little Baddow end, alone with the horse, and when we were about level with the house, my horse suddenly froze and snorted. He was normally very calm so I was surprised, and looked down the bridle path, following the direction of his gaze. Down by the stream and the bridge I saw a figure of a woman dressed in black, with a long gown, standing very still looking straight up the track towards us. It certainly was not modern dress, so I knew that this was a strange happening. I stared too, for a minute or so, and then she vanished...not in the magic wand sense of the word, but it was almost as though she was still... Read more
Growing Up 1950s
During the late 1950s my parents moved to live on Bremner's Farm - an apple farm at that time, in Little Baddow.
On getting my first bicycle - a black, woman's bike, I use to cycle all over this area - Riffam's lane, Graces Walk and around Coleman's lane. My brother married a girl from Coleman's lane.
I spent many happy hours wandering through the dense woodland between Bremner's Farm and uptowards Great Baddow/Danbury.
Midnight Ghost Hunt
I was born in Little Baddow and was familiar with the story of Alice Mildmay and Jesse Berridge's book. One summer night three of us rode ponies down Riffhams Chase to Great Graces and down Grace's Walk, arriving at midnight. We crossed the bridge (the one in the photo) and all I can remember after that is that all three ponies turned and galloped back up towards the house. We returned home up Colam Lane, where there is supposed to be another haunting, in the pond at the bend in the road. I think the ponies picked up our midnight ghost hunt tension but it was exciting!
Memories of Essex
Happy Memories
I remember the Griffin Hotel as the Griffin PH, when as a student nurse I visited it with my elderly grandmother Minnie Grainge on days away from London. She was so proud to be escorted by her eldest granddaughter and as a local woman whose family had come from Woodham Walter was acknowleged by so many as she walked through the door. Our lunchtime treat was the most delicious prawn sandwiches. Is it as lovely now I wonder?
The Bell Inn
Does anyone know what became of the family named CASTON who ran the Bell Inn in the early 60's ? JANE CASTON was my friend back then and I remember the fun we had and sleeping over at the Bell Inn with a ghost or two. She had a sister SALLY CASTON. Jane and I lost touch when I came to Canada. Please email me if this rings a bell (no pun). lasreed@shaw.ca Lynda (nee Service)
Borham Airfeild
We used to live on Borham Airfield when I was four until eight. They were nissan huts made of corugated iron, they had no baths but they had electric. We had to have a tin bath hanging outside.
T think Robert Mitchum the actor's family lived there. They were called Miches.
There was an old man who used to invite us round to watch his black and white telly. He used to make pipe cleaner men. His name was Mr Keys. We lived in the big hut on site seven, then we moved to site four. There was a grocers, the Browns used to own it I think. My sister remembers more than I do. I went to Borham School, I remember walking home as I missed the bus, it was a long way. The person I remember from that school was Gillian Andrews. Does anyone else remember me, or the site?
From Pat Kings, nee Redman
Boreham Airfield
I lived on the airfield from 1950 to 1956 and I remember it well. We lived in nissen huts that had been used by the Americans during the war. I attended Boreham school and we had to get on a Boons bus to get there. Has anyone got any old photos of the former village school? The huts were draughty and damp but we had electricity. The whole site was surrounded with corn fields where we used to play and build dens out of the bales of straw. We moved to a cottage in 1956 and it was a luxury. After that I went to Great Leighs school.
Does Anyone Remember The 1950 Shooting in Post Office Road
Hi I would love to hear from anyone who knew of Ronald Buckley. He built a home on Post Office Road in Woodham Mortimer. My mum was just 2 years old when my grandad Ronald got shot dead by my uncle David in 1950 (David was 16 at the time). The bungalow my grandad built is no longer there. I would love to know if anyone remembers my grandad Ronald, my nan Gladys my aunt Brenda and uncle David. My mum has very sad memories of childhood and a lot she can't remember, my mum is Jackeline, she was the youngest of 3 children, she was in a lot of homes and foster care after her dad's death and Gladys committing suicide. A lot of her childhood is a dark sad haze.
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