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Southminster
Southminster photos
Displaying the first of 3 old photos of Southminster. View all Southminster photos
Southminster maps
Historic maps of Southminster and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Southminster maps
Southminster area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Southminster and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Southminster
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Southminster.
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Jacqueline Oldman
While researching my family history I came across this article in the Eastern Counties Advertiser 18th October 1879. It is the coroner's report relating to my great great grandfather's brother Thomas Brassett 1815 - 1879 an agricultural labourer of Southminster Essex. He was born 2nd August 1871 and baptised 5th August the son of Thomas and Amelia.
Southminster
Found Drowned - On Saturday afternoon an inquest was held at the White Hart Inn, by Mr W Codd, touching the death of Thomas Brassett aged 64 years of age, whose body was found in a ditch early on Thursday morning last, near Plumbro House, on the Southminster marshes. The witnesss examined were Benjamin Boosey and George Sams; but there was no evidence how the man came into the ditch., although the previous evening he was seen reclining on the grass by the side of it. The Jury returned a verdict of 'Found drowned, but under what circumstances there is no evidence to show'. How times have changed!!
Essex memories
My Grandmother
Mrs Minnie Vale (nee Miller-Houson) lived in Steeple. I visited her as a 6 year old (from New Zealand) in 1958/59. I remember a wee store where she would allow me to choose sweets. I thought these were 'free' - until I realised in much later years that of course she had an account at the store! My mother Elizabeth (Betty) grew up in Steeple. She was one of nine children but I think they did not all live there. They were there during the Second World War. If anyone remembers or knows of my grandmother, I would love to communicate!
Church Choir
This is were I sung in the church choir,I started in the choir then progressed to what was then known as a server helping the vicar with holy communion.After church on sunday mornings it was over to the sweet shop for our free milky way chocolate bar.
School Bus And Pub
The old school bus in the photoo was used to take me and other children of the village to school it was affectionately known as "kemps cronk"as it was owned by Tony Kemp and his brother who owned the local garage. The fox and hounds was where I first started drinking at "18" !!!!!!!?????? I played in the dart and domino club at the pub.
Tillingham When I Was A Lad
I remember helping my father Alan to herd the sheep from Marsh House Farm to West Hyde Farm. When we got to Tillingham Square we rested them and the villagers used to come out to see us. I used to sing in the church choir and I used to attend the primary school, I was in Miss Rodda's class. When the Bradwell power station was being built, after school I used to cycle to Bradwell to see the large heat exchanges being lifted on to low loaders to be transported to the station.
Wonderful Tillingham
My memories are a little vague but my family come from Tillingham. The family name is Hammond and my great-great-grandfather had a blacksmith's shop there in the High Street, it was there untill fifteen years ago but has now been redeveloped. I have many personal photos of my family but would be interested in anybody who had more photos or memories to share of this wonderful Essex village.
Home Memories.
I moved into these cottages with my family in 1935 and my parents were there until 1959. Originally it was a barn hence the name 'Barn Row' and was converted into cottages in 1836 as marked in the brickwork on the other side of the cottages. All the time my parents lived there, there was no sewerage and only a stand tap in the middle yard to serve all four cottages. But times have changed and the village has been renovated and one or two new houses have been built.
