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Holywell

Holywell photos (6 available)

Old photo of Holywell

Holywell maps (2 available)

Old map of Holywell

Holywell books (10 available)

Holywell memories

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Cambridgeshire memories

The Rendevous Cafe

St Ives, Cromwell Memorial c1955

The year this picture was taken I lived in a flat above the Rendevous Cafe in the building directly behind the statue.  Owned by Pat and John Harvey, this was home to a newly arrived American family, and this town has lived in the hearts of my sister and me ever since. I love to return whenever I can and am happy to feel right at home again each time!
A memory of St Ives contributed by Linda Christie

The Lanes

Over, the Lanes c1967

This photo shows me, my mother and two of my sisters walking home, in either 1967 or 1968. I am the small boy looking back towards the camera. We lived in a bungalow not visible in the photo, on the left hand side almost opposite the large house on the right. This house was owned by Mrs Turner, from whom we would buy our eggs and whenever we went round there, she would always give us a Nuttalls Mintoe.
A memory of Over contributed by sean baker

My Parents Lived there

Hemingford Grey, the River c1960

My sister and her husband Mr. & Mrs. E. Parkinson built a bungalow and shop on the corner of the main street and Pound Road.  They kept it for many years and during that period my Mother and Father moved there and lived in Pound Road for a number of years before returning to Wales.  My wife and I visited a number of times and we sometimes went out on the river in the punts that were moored at the Boat House. There was a small restaraunt in the Boat House.  A very nice village on the side of the Ely river. We often walked to the adjacent village of Hemmingford Abbots, Houghton Mill and into Ely town. The Church is ...read more here
A memory of Hemingford Grey contributed by Roy Newton

I was a Barnardoe's boy

I have received a dud email from a Gavin Ashton, please get in contact again, I would like to hear from you.
Irwin Parker
Also I am looking for a reply from others.
A memory of Bluntisham contributed by irwin parker

Extracts From Holywell & Cambridgeshire books

Holywell, Churdh of St John the Baptist 1898

The parish church of St John the Baptist overlooks the water meadows of the Ouse; the sunsets from here on a winter’s evening are wonderful. The west tower was rebuilt in 1547 from the stone of Ramsey Abbey. In the churchyard is the well beside the spring that was said to cure ailments of the eyes. Sitting just outside the railings is a little girl wearing her best pinafore.
An extract from from"Cambridgeshire Villages Photographic Memories".

Holywell, the Great Ouse 1914

The village takes its name from the well on the south side of the churchyard. It gained importance from the ferry which it operated over the Ouse to Fen Drayton.
An extract from from"Cambridgeshire Photographic Memories".

Holywell, the Great Ouse 1914

Holywell developed by the Great Ouse as a traditional `ring` village: the main street runs around the perimeter of the community with only one access road. In the photograph, Tom Metcalfe oversees one of the men, who is about to use his punt to collect osiers and reeds. In the background on the left stands Brooklyn; then, with two thatched eyebrow gables, comes Anchor Cottage, previously the Anchor public house. On the right, with the three bay windows, is Reed Cottage, the winner of a recent `Best Cottage` award. This was the home of the Fraser family of artists, whose work was exhibited at the Royal Academy. Garden William Fraser (1856-1921), who worked under the name of W F Garden, and Arthur Anderson Fraser were members of the White Cockade Club and the Legitimist Jacobite League of Great Britain and Ireland, which hoped to depose Queen Victoria and reinstate the Stuart dynasty.
An extract from from"Huntingdon, St Neots and St Ives Photographic Memories".

Holywell, Village 1914

Seen here from the other side is the thatched Ferry Boat inn. Nearby is the grave of Juliet Tewsley, who hanged herself from a tree by the river because the woodcutter for whom she was waiting with a bunch of flowers stood her up! Reputedly her ghost walks on St Patrick’s Day, and undoubtedly if you drink enough, you may see her too!
An extract from from"Cambridgeshire Photographic Memories".

Holywell, the Ferry 1914

The ferry is pulled by a chain across the Ouse; at this time villagers used the ferry to go to work in Over or to cycle to Cambridge. The rushes on the bank of the river were harvested for rush matting by the Arnold family; they were dried hanging over lines beside the river. On the other side is the Ferryboat Inn.
An extract from from"Cambridgeshire Villages Photographic Memories".