Rochford

Mill Lane

We lived at number 11 Mill Lane and later moved to number 7. My late father, Joe Clarke was the chemist at the Mill. I remember my early childhood lived in Rochford so very fondly. We were very happy carefree children with a wonderful countryside to play in. My sister, Samantha, narrowly escaped drowning when (at the age of 3) she fell off the wharf into the creek at high tide. She was pulled out by her arm by one of the 'big boys'. I think his name was Peter. We were the 'Clarke Family', two boys and three girls. We left Rochford when I was 11 and when I returned approximately 10 years later (all grown ...read more here
Contributed by Nicola Scott

Rochford fair

I remember Rochford very dearly. As a young child I often stayed with my great-grandmother, Sara Ann Simpson. I'd walk around the churchyard, the empty farm, climb the stile, visit the newsagent's shop, see the men at lunch standing outside the pub. I recall there was a vicarage, too. And every time I walked with my grandmother down the main road to the bus stop my legs would be stung by stinging nettles. My great-grandmother's home was called Ash Lea. It was a mud road with a grassy median lined on both sides by ditches. There was a similar mud road a bit closer to the pub. And my friends and I would play ...read more here
Contributed by Ashlea Simpson

Applegate Oxford Road Rochford

My father was demobbed during 1945 and gave his address as Applegates. Does anyone know who resided at the address who might be still alive. Regards Lilly.
Contributed by Lilly stark

Market Day

I remember Rochford Market Square for the market days held there when I was a child, if my memory serves me correctly it was held every Thursday.  I used to love going to see the animals in their pens, calves and pigs mainly, the bigger beasts were auctioned in the afternoons. There was a place for smaller animals in the stables in Back Lane, which I used to love too.

Opposite the market square was a tearoom called Delph House, and they sold the best doughnuts I've ever tasted, mainly because my mother and I would share one of these during the school holidays while my Dad was at work, he didn't approve of his money being wasted on 'junk ...read more here
Contributed by Doreen Edwards

The Mill

When I was about 5 or 6 my dad worked at the mill, and we lived in one of the mill cottages in Mill Lane. I used to play around the mill and one day found strange washers in the old pond across from the blacksmith - later I discovered them to be Chinese coins - with square holes in them, they had been used as ballast for the grain barges.

I have many fond memories of this mill and the area - we moved later when I was about 7.
Contributed by Martin Bradley

when i was a girl

When I was about five years old my parents used to take us kids on a Sunday walk. Always remember it was to Stambridge mills. Back then the roads leading to the mill were not more then a country track. On the way to the mills dad would dig up horseradish to take home to mince up in mums mincer. I can smell the aroma of the place now. Corn fields wild flowers. When we got to the mills the smell of grinding corn hit you. Wonderful. We would walk through the mill and onto a place called Broom hills. After a good ramble around the place dad would take us to the Cherry Tree pub. Him and mum would go ...read more here
Contributed by MARY JONES

Visit

The early Rochford church next to Rochford Hall was our highlight.  Continue to guard your priceless community.
Contributed by John Rochford