Saxmundham

International Stores

A previous shared memory recalling International Stores reminds me that my father worked there, as a roundsman. He would cycle every day from Leiston,  then do the equivalent all over again in Saxmundham, several times a day as he delivered groceries.

He had his own band - he played piano - and met my mother, Joan Spatchet, at a dance in the Market Hall.  They married in 1937, my sister Ann was born a year later and I arrived on February 23rd 1944 - just a few weeks after my father was killed on a bombing raid over Germany on January 1/2nd, when his plane was attacked by a night fighter. Two years ago we travelled to Germany from our ...read more here
Contributed by John Fisher

THE WOOD AND CHURCH HILL

LIKE JOHN FISHER SAID WE PLAYED IN THE WOODS AND EXPLORED ALL THE SURROUNDING FARMLAND, SCARED OF BEING CAUGHT BY SQUIRE LONG AND LATER MISS ALDOUS.  AS FOR THE OLD WELL UP CHURCH HILL, I CAN REMEMBER DROPPING ROCKS DOWN IT WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND A FLASH WHICH MADE US DISAPPEAR QUICKLY FROM THE SCENE.  I ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT IT HAD BEEN.  CERTAINLY TAKES YOU BACK READING THESE MEMORIES.
Contributed by CHRIS CHILVERS

We played in the woods

The woods behind South Entrance were our playground. I lived at 5 South Entrance and knew every nook and cranny, and in the spring I knew where every nest was.
Names that come to mind are our neighbours Julian and Christopher Chilvers,
Doreen, Christine Mattinson (or Matteson) then David Nettleingham, Cookie, Richard Green, Colin Thomas.  Our biggest secret was the old well, through the far end of the woods, and up Church HIll. It had been covered with a concrete cap, but we chipped away and made a hole, lighting paper and throwing it down to get a good look.  It contained dumped wartime explosives, probably incendiaries, which we threw bricks at. I got my eyebrows badly singed when something went ...read more here
Contributed by John Fisher

street farm road

We used to live in both houses as my father was the caretaker to the buildings which would have been built to the rear of the photos.
Contributed by sarah hutchinson

blacksmiths

Apparently my Gr Grandfather John Freeman owned a blacksmith shop that was situated just on the left hand side of the road here at the beginning of the 20th century. He also made the 'fences' that protected the bases of many of the trees on the Hurts Hall estate. I've never been able to find any written infromation about him or the 'smithy' though.
Contributed by carol allen