Somersham memories
Here are memories of Somersham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Somersham or a Somersham photo.
Kirton/Graham Ancestry
This is a message for Ian Graham:
Dear Ian, Hope all is well with you? We are fine, having just become grandparents, we are being kept pretty busy!
I have lost your email address but found you here.
I have been contacted by an American lady who descends from one of your grandmother’s brothers.
Do you want her contact details?
Best wishes, Lin
Growing up in Somersham
I was born in Somersham in 1940, in my grandmother's house, which was 1 West End.
My own house was known then as 6 Trinity Terrace, since changed to 90 High Street. Until the mid 1950s a lot of the houses were quite primitive, no indoor sanitation, the Terrace had a pump for the 6 houses. The only heating was a fire in the living room, the bedrooms were always freezing. My memories are of a friendly village although as youngsters, our only plan was to get out. I started infant school in what is now the library, and the junior school was closer to 'The Cross'. Life, in retrospect, was simple and fun, we, as children, could be absent from home all day and no one would worry, knowing that we would turn up when hungry. I do not get back to the village much now, having no immediate family left there.
My Childhood
I lived in Somersham until I was 14 years old. We lived in Park Hall Road, and played in the fields opposite where we could climb the trees and see into the garden of the Manor House. The owner of the house at that time had 2 or 3 English Bull Terriers and they barked a lot at us safe in the chestnut trees. Sometimes in the evenings we would go to Manley's fish and chip shop for 2 pennyworth of chips and go and sit on the wall of the bowls club which was nearly opposite to eat our chips and watch the people playing bowls. What a treat that was, best chips in the world. In the summer my 2 friends and I would go to pick soft fruits from the smallholding owned by the father of one of them, and we would play "adventure"games in the old gravel pit, My uncles who were in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War used to... Read more
Holidays With Grandad
Thank you for showing the photo of Bank Houses, the house on the right was where my grandad lived and I spent a lot of very happy holidays there. His garden was aways full of lovely things to eat and as I lived in an industrial part of North Yorkshire with only a small back yard this was like heaven. Grandad would take me to the pub over the road for his lunchtime pint and everyone would make a fuss of me. Mr Chriswell down the road made sure I didn't go short on strawberries and Mr Cox (in the big house) would give me rides in his wheelbarrow and call me his little Yorkshire Pudding. I used to go to Sunday School in the parish church and still have the stamps I collected and if I really timed it right there would be the Sunday School trip, usually to Huntstanton.
My evenings in Somersham were also memorable. Mum, Dad and myself would walk up to my uncle's (he had... Read more
Holiday Visits
In the early to mid 1950s I spent holiday time in Somersham - it was fascinating for a child from London, especially the little ditches and the wildflowers. I stayed with "auntie" (Emma Goodchild), a relative of some kind through my maternal grandmother's family (surnames Duller and Dellow). Auntie lived in the last house in Somersham High Street, it was amazing - no electricity and a pump for water in the kitchen (I especially liked taking a candle to bed). Not so pleasant were the sanitary arrangements. The name of the butcher also interested me and of course as a small child the sweet shop was a favourite. In my memories the sun always shone and visiting auntie Gwen and auntie Joan was also special as they had children around my own age. I think there was a playground somewhere. I remember too listening to older relatives talking about the Drove House, a pub run by my grandfather's sister (Emma) and earlier by her father. These were good times and... Read more
Memories of Cambridgeshire
Evacuees
I was evacuated to Bluntisham from south London and stayed with the Reverend Kirby (Minister of the Chapel) and his wife and daughter Patricia.
I used to attend the Chapel regularly. I remember it well and they were very kind to me.
I Was A Dr Banardo's Boy
I was a Dr Banardo's boy. I was with Mrs F Ashton for about 3 yrs, at the homestead, which I think has since gone, it was an old pub. I had very happy memories of Bluntisham, if there is anyone who remembers me, I would like to hear from you.
Our head teacher was Mrs Xmas.
Just if I may mention a few names I remember, Richard Tebbitt, Richard Leader, Ales Boulter, Leonard Marsh, Grace Barker, Joy Tebbitt, Sybil Merryweather, Allen Abbott.
I did enjoy living in Bluntisham, so if anyone remembers let me hear from you.
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.
From The Barnardo Boy in Bluntisham
I would love to hear from Sybil Merryweather's daughter, I don't know what happened, I did answer you, and any others who remember that time.
Irwin Parker.
Family
I was in a home called Hill View in Andover/Winchester. I first met my brothers Richard and Nigel at this home when I was six years old. I remember a girl called Laura who received a birthday card from her mother when she was 15 years old. My brothers were and are so very important as they told me I belonged to other people. I always ended uo going to bed after school as I was at times in trouble for being naughty. I attended Brownie's and the school fence was next door to the home. We had a great big black rocking horse that was attached to the ground and swings in the garden. We had people comeevery Sunday to take my brothers and I to church. Chrstmas trees always seemed so big then as I was then so little. I am now a social worker and believe children are oh so special as auntie Gwen looked after us all so well and told us we were all so... Read more
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