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Mountnessing memories

Here are memories of Mountnessing and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Mountnessing or a Mountnessing photo.

Evacuated to Mountnessing

During the Blitz, my mother, Gladys Lane and her sister Rose were evacuated from Chadwell Heath to Mountnessing where they stayed at a house called St Leonards. This is the house next to the school, for they stayed with Mr Walter Reed, who was the Headmaster there for many years (he used to boast he had never been off for a single day!). His wife was called Myra and she appears to have been a lively member of village life. The Reeds were second cousins of my grandmother, nee Rose Reed, and other members of the family lived in Barking and Rayleigh. Neither Gladys nor Rose Lane attended Mountnessing School as at the outbreak of war my mother had passed her 11 plus to Romford County High. I believe she used to cycle from Mountnessing to Romford and once on the journey heard a V1 'doodlebug' rocket cutting out. Launching herself and her bicycle into a handy ditch to take cover, she was amazed to find it already occupied by... Read more

A memory of Mountnessing, shared by Christine Matthews.

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Mountnessing School

I was at school in the 1940s. I remember a teacher there, I believe he was a Mr Davis. I remember the annual sports, these were held on a field just a short walk from the school. The days of the great snow fall in 1947, living at Padhams Green it was a mile walk down to the village and the snow filled the road from bank to bank and we had to walk along in a field (I think I skipped school that day). I also was in the church choir, I think until I left school in 1953. We used to have some happy times in the summer going to see Mr Tom Morgan at his little shop, buying sweets and drinks (non alcoholic). I now live in Birmingham and have done for the past almost 50 years but take regular trips down to Mountnessing.

A memory of Mountnessing, shared by D Avid Emberson.

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Bariff's Farm

My Great Grandfather, George Collyer, farmed at Bariff's Farm, Mountnessing in the 1870's and early 1880's. He farmed 40 acres with his son Richard and a boy. Does anyone know the location of Bariff's Farm?

A memory of Mountnessing, shared by Heather Tomkns.

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Memories of Essex

Part of my Early Schooldays

I remember fragments about living at Hutton - I lived in Lilian Crescent, in a new bungalow, having moved from Hawskmoor Green. I learnt to ride a Fairy cycle - as little 2 wheelers were called then - by pushing myself along with the aid of a low brick wall.
I remember my first day at school, saying prayers, and how I ran away - all down Hanging Hill Lane, back home - maybe I didn't like it! Mum had to take me back again on the back of her bike. We had a chicken house (quite large), in the back garden with 3 pullets, Sally, Hoppy and Perky, and my sister, Pauline hid in it at the tender age of 2.

I had friends who were twins who lived just across the road by the surname of Grimm and their dad always reminded me of Bing Crosby (though I didn't know that at the time).

I can remember going to Brentwood on a Saturday morning with my... Read more

A memory of Hutton, shared by Christine Lay.

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The Boys Dining Hall Hutton

Hi, I was in the Hutton Residential School from 1930 to 1939. Mr Higden was the Headmaster. We had a big dining hall where all the boys had their meals - it was more like a scene from the film, Oliver, [food glorious food]. The Headmaster and his cronies would sit above us on a stage eating roast chicken & roast potatoes while we ate whatever they dished up to us. On Saturday we got a penny pocket money. We would rush down to Musgroves and buy four golliwog bars for a penny - they were one farthing each. The shop would be packed with us boys spending our pocket money. The big boys would pinch a big bar of chocolate, pass it to one of us small boys who would run out of the shop. The big boy would then leave the shop run up the hill and catch us before we had a chance to break a square off for... Read more

A memory of Shenfield, shared by James Chalkley.

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Children's Home in Shenfield - Around 1965 - 1969

I wish to communicate with anyone who may remember a children's home that used to be located on a large field in Shenfield.

The individual wood and brick 2 floored (Swiss styled I think) homes were dotted around the perimeter and of different names. One I know was called 'Thames.'

Children from the London Borough of Hackney were housed there.

I believe there was an Infant or Primary school nearby and the children's home was not far from a small garage with one or two petrol pumps in the dip of the main road!

I believe there was also a field and forested area not too far away.

Anyone who may have memories, photos or can help would be appreciated.

A memory of Shenfield, shared by James Collins.

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I Remeber Hutton Residential School.

I was a 'student' at the institution from about 1948 to 1953. I remember some of the staff. Head master was Mr Higdon, Teacher of wood work and house master was Mr McFadon. there was Gov Reily, Mr & MrsCreasy, I think a Mr Banister. I also have an aerial photo of the institution which does show houses around the perimeter of an oval. I left there in 1953 to take up an apprenticeship with the London Electricity Board as an electrical tradesman. I then emigrated to Austalia. One thing that always sticks out in my mind is, the end of 'sugar rationing'. We all rushed down the road to a shop called Mustgraves, after we received our weekly allowance.

A memory of Shenfield, shared by Peter Le,May.

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Charles Arthur Samphier Born12/5/1937 Wyatts Green

My parents bought Wyatts Stores in about 1936 and moved from West Ham, E.London., with my two sisters. Dad kept about 300 chickens in the back field. I was born on Coronation Day at Wyatts Stores . We lived there fore 3 years before my fathers work took him to St Albans where we moved in 1940. We often visited Doddinghurst and spent many happy holidays there, being only too glad to get away from the war problems in St Albans. The shop was rented out and Dad also had bought Upton and Portway which were so named after the Lane and house they used to live in at West Ham, and they were let to the Pyners and McDonalds families. We used to stay in the bungalow at the back of White ? Farm. Kate Stallwood owned the Bungalow up the field and Fred London owned the farm. At the shopw we had no mains water then but the standpipe was just opposite Wyatts Green Lane, although we had... Read more

A memory of Doddinghurst, shared by Charles Samphier.

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