Sproughton memories
Here are memories of Sproughton and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Sproughton or a Sproughton photo.
Sproughton Wild Man
Did the Wild Man have a celebrity landlord/owner in the late 1950s, early 1960s? We were discussing this today, and I can vaguely remember he had something to do with Billy Cotton?
Mother-In-Law's Mate June
My Mum-in-Law (Janet Halls nee Smith) came from Sproughton and her mate June lived in the cottages to the left of the mill.
Post Office And School
The first building on the left was the old Post Office (owned by Mees). Just to the front of this is a small footpath that leads to my Mum-in-Law's (Janet Halls nee Smith) old school. It was also the village hall. It still has the green tin roof..... noisy when it rains!!!!!
Children's Home.
1957, I am six years old. I am with my twin sisters who are ten and we are in the biggest house we have ever seen, a mansion with massive gardens, a children's home. The reason we are here is that my mother is in hospital and our father cannot look after us on his own with his work. My parents are now dead, my sisters cannot remember the name of the home we were in nor can I. I do remember the aeroplanes that flew over the home very low. I have good memories of this time. Going to school was a bit of a walk, I can remember trying to get there when it had snowed, it was so deep to me that my sisters took it in turn giving me a piggyback. The school was not very big and everyone there was friendly and kind but it did seem a long walk there and back to me. Alas my sisters and I cannot remember the name... Read more
My Younger Years
I was aged six when my family moved to Sproughton 1932 when some new houses and bungalows had been built in a cul-de-sac called Broomfield Common off Church Lane. All of my young years were spent in the village until I joined the army in 1944. I well remember Ned Ginger's very old blacksmith shop where he used to shoe all the farm horses - and there were many in those days - and he would also repair farming equipment. The old building was eventually demolished as it stood right on the crossroads at the top of Lower Street opposite the Wild Man public house. A new blacksmith's shop was built further back from the cross roads. The landlord of the Wild Man was a Mr Rippon. Further down the street Charlie Mee kept the post office and general stores. Across the road, opposite the post office, Ted Mee had a stonemasons business, he was also the gravedigger. Shortly before I was demobbed from the army I had met my future... Read more
Memories of Suffolk
My Early Years in Bramford
My family moved to Bramford in 1935 when I was 5 years old when my father became the Station Master there, and we lived in the station house which is still there. My mum and Dad had two boys and two girls, although after a year my brother Ernest was away in the army [7th HUSSARS]. I have many happy memeries there. Across the road was the Station Garage where my best friend Bertie lived, Mr Francisco Smith was the garage owner and a First World War army veteran. He was a great guy, and used to take us lads out on trips in his 1938 Hillman to Ipswich to the cinema, Felixstowe and all around. Sadly, and ironicaly, he was the only one to be killed in Bramford, I believe, and as the Air Raid Warden, when a German bomb fell close to the garage during an air raid in 1943. Bertie and I attended the junior school which was situated just beyond the village church on the left... Read more
Some Stories From 50's
Pop was at it agin with his mates. To the front of this picure the Tudor faced building...THE BEEHIVE PUB, there was a fella called Stumpy (well known older gentleman). He was a gentleman with one leg, who propped himself up against the downpipe of the pub, and who would challenge anyone to put the money down on the path and try and kick his remaining leg from beneath him to win the pot. As he then would give them a beating with his crutch ..... so in reality...you couldn't get near enough too kick his leg!!!!! Crafty heh?
A Hole in The Dingy
Perhaps someone will correct me on the year. It was the year when Billy Graham was doing the crusade within the Ipswich football stadium. Many times I'd pass my time away at the docks. I would fish for eels or any fish that would take a bite. One day, a man with his two sons and one daughter came to do some fishing - although they had fishing gear they had no idea on how to tackle up. I was to help them tackle up and bait their lines. Their ages would be possibly ten, eleven and twelve. It was by chance that they were to ask dad if he would bring the inflatable dingy down from home so that they could go out onto the water; it was suggested that it would be best to bring it the following day. It was then that their dad asked me if I would be down on the docks whereupon I said that I would: Good you... Read more
Ancient House
My Father in Law aka POP (Michael Halls) can remember the building on the right as Ancient House. This was a big book shop which is now Lakelands kitchen shop.
TSB Bank
The building on the left, the old Post Office, is now the TSB Bank. My Father-in-Law can remember the trams travelling in front of these buildings....no shelters, so the poor old Teddy Boy got wet!!!!!
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