Parham House

A Memory of Saxmundham.

I was sent there at the age of 5 in 1951. It was run by Mrs Russel known as Auntie Barbara and her husband Uncle Max who kept pigs. I stayed there for holidays as well and when I went to boarding school at the age of 8 I returned for holidays. It was a very happy time. Granny Edwards her mother also lived there with her Pekingese, Ming who ate horsemeat bought in the town. We had lessons around the dining room table. All ages seemed to be together. The garden was perfect for children with a swing, seesaw and bars to climb on and the sand pit.
Uncle Max had an old rover car which he towed a traitor which we stood up in to go to the sea for an outing! I would love to know what happened to Jessie who helped out and was especially kind to me.
It was a wonderfully free childhood playing for hours in the park behind the house.
I was Louise Jackson then.

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Added 04 June 2015

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Parham House is in Fairfield Road. If you Google it you will find it on Flicks (estate agents) site, with a good photo and detailed description.

I went to the Primary school, then just across the road, but don't remember knowing there was another school so close.

My aunt went to a private school in that vicinity in the 1920s but it was known by the name of the sisters that ran it (which I cannot remember). I wonder if it was the same building.

By jaygeebse on Wed Jul 8th 2015, at 5:24 pm

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I was also sent to Parham house however just 10 years later in 1961 when I was 3 years old. I remember Auntie Barbara who was like a mum to all of us. I stayed for all the holidays until I was 6 years old and left a year or so later. Uncle Max used do drive for a wealthy gentleman and would spend long periods away. They had a wonderful daughter called Lindy. The garden had a wonderful swing in a walnut tree and looked out the back onto a farm where we used to climb over the fence to get the apples!
I don't remember the names of the staff unfortunately. But do remember excursions to Aldeburgh and the sea!

By garethyork on Thu Sep 6th 2018, at 2:37 pm

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I attended Parham House from 1958 until 1965 (age 4 to 11). In the beginning I was a day girl and for the last year or two I was a weekly boarder. I remember Auntie Barbara, Uncle Max (Who I remember going to South America. I though he was a travel guide), Mrs Crowder who lived in a bungalow up the road where we did lessons sometimes, and Auntie Judy who I think lived next door. The garden was huge and playtime never timed. There was a large field at the back where they grew hay. If we were naughty we got 'the brush'! There was a big attic where at least 8 could sleep. The bigger children helped bath the small ones at bedtime. I received one to one tuition from Auntie Barbara to help me with my 11+. It was a very happy place, with few rules but I think we were all very well behaved. I remember being taken to The Tower of London once to see the Crown Jewels.

By this14gail on Tue Oct 1st 2019, at 1:06 pm

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I remember Gareth York, one of the other posters here. I think he lived on Sark.

By this14gail on Tue Oct 1st 2019, at 1:09 pm

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