Rochford, Stambridge Mill c.1955

Photo ref: R226011

I was born in Rochford in 1957 and grew up in Kings Hill and Kings Hill Cottage both which were owned by my grandparents Clem and Frieda Shillan. I remember doughnuts and milkshakes at Delph house in the square. It was then owned by two of my grandmother's friends, Stella and Betty. I can also remember on Poppy Day standing next to my grandmother handing out the red poppies in the square. I moved away ...see more

Two Clubs ran at The Kings Head - they were called Folkus & Folk Blues and Beyond. Later they moved to the Horse and Groom. Such guest singers were Sam Mitchell and John Martin. The room at the Kings Head was upstairs and nothing more than a large bedroom. There were no chairs, we stood or sat on the floor. It was sometimes hard to see the performers or anyone else come to that, due to the cigarette smoke. ...see more

My family moved to Assandune Villas in Ashingdon in 1955, I was four years old and lived there until I was eighteen. From the back of our house was nothing but fields, (sadly now a huge housing estate). I remember seeing horses plowing the field nearest to us in the late fifties, and used to play for hours around Ashingdon churchyard and the Glebe, as well as the local recreation ground. I was a cub and then scout at Ashingdon Church hall and often went camping at Belchamps in Hawkwell.

Although we lived in Ashingdon, my mum used to take me and my siblings swimming at Stambridge Mill. The Cherry Tree pub nearby was where I used to go under-age drinking before I left school. As a very young child I remember visiting Rochford Market and seeing the farm animals there. In 1972 I used to go to a folk club in the Kings Head, Rochford Square. One of my earliest jobs was in Clemments Bakery, Rochford.