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Little Heath

Little Heath maps

Historic maps of Little Heath and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Little Heath maps

Little Heath area books

Displaying 1 of 18 books about Little Heath and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Little Heath

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Essex memories

Grange Farm Restaurant.

The Swimming Pool, Grange Farm Centre c1955
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I worked in the restaurant at Grange Farm until 1957. The West Ham United football team used to come in for a meal after their training session.

Great Place Lost.

The Swimming Pool, Grange Farm Centre c1955
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Grange Farm was the place to go for all teens.   You could swim or just hang around with friends.  To get there we walked across the fields and over the bridge across the Roding.  Now of course this place is no more.  A great loss.

Grange Farm Swimming Pool by Carol Gook

The Swimming Pool Grange Farm Centre c1965
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I lived in nearby Abridge, and swam at Grange Farm pool around this time, with my school, Lambourne Primary in Abridge. I learnt to swim here, in the cold water. I loved this pool, it was a magical place for me, and I spent many summers splashing and swimming and then, later, posing and flirting teenage style. So sad that this lovely outdoor pool is no more. It was one of my favourite places and contributed to my love of swimming in cold water. I still swim now, outdoors every day - I am lucky to live near a big outdoor pool that has survived but I always think of those beautiful summer days at Grange Farm, gone but not forgotten.

Wonderful Memories

The Swimming Pool, Grange Farm Centre c1955
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I visited Grange Farm on a week's holiday with my school in 1960. It was my first real holiday, away from the streets of St Helens, Lancs. We slept in what looked like barrack rooms with about a dozen bunk beds which looked like they were leftovers from the war. We also had day trips to London, and the London Zoo. This was also the first time I had seen such a big swimming pool.  It was a wonderful time. I remember the trip including transport and accomodation cost 12 pounds, included was two pounds for our 'spending money. Happy days!

West Hatch School

West Hatch School c1960
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I lived my early years in the grounds of Great West Hatch Hospital (my father was the gardener there), next door to the school site. I can remember the school being substantially finished by the time I was 11 (1957), though my parents persuaded me (against my better judgement) not to go there for my secondary schooling. I have older memories of the land as part of Furze's farm, and helping stack sheaves of wheat at harvest time.

Camping in Chigwell

West Hatch School c1960
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I visited a camping site when I was a child, this was back in the early 1970s, I think this is the place with the outdoor pool, I think it was about 1973, I never forgot my 2 weeks there. I remember there was a hut with a juke box in and I used to play 'School's Out' by Alice Cooper which was a hit at the time. In the hut was a TV and table tennis table. I would like to know if it is still there for me to take my grandchildren to. Ian Lambert.

Morgan's Shop

Manor Road c1955
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The shop with the sunblind known as Morgan's sold confectionary and tobacco. It was established in about 1943 or '44 by -?- Morgan after he was invalided out of the forces. I believe he married Miss Freebody, the daughter of the butcher who had a shop at the village end of Gravel Lane, just below the Maypole.

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