St Osyth, Essex

My Mum

Martins Gate, a quaint cottage on the old Colchester road, is where my mum was born. There was no water, electricity, no inside toilet. I spent many happy hours there with my grandparents, playing in the fields at the back of the house. I was bathed in a tin bath in front of a roaring fire, the water was from a... [more]

The village bakery shop

I was born in the village in 1965 and lived in St. Osyth Bakery, Spring Road for 20 years with my family.  I can remember going to Bretts hardware and sweet shop with my 5p to get some sweets.  I can remember Mr and Mrs Ayers who ran the vegetable and toy shop in Spring Road.  We used to take part... [more]

Happy Days at St Osyth

I lived with my family in Kingsbury NW9 and we used to holiday at St Osyth from 1960 -1965. Mum, Dad six children, plus Nan, Grandad and Auntie! The first year we had a caravan on the then magnificent beach, then a caravan per family on the only site at the time. Nan particularly enjoyed our evenings up at The Monks... [more]

Wonderful holidays in St Osyth

I remember St Osyth with great fondness, holidayed there with Mum and Dad for quite a few years, always the first 2 weeks of September for some reason. We stayed in a bungalow called The Retreat in Oakmead Road. I believe it was demolished some years ago and a new 'Retreat' was built ? I remember the Elsan loo and the... [more]

Essex - A Second Selection Photographic Memories

Clacton’s Christchurch was only four years old at the time of this photograph. Closer to us stands the lifeboat house, built in 1878 with an endowment from the Freemasons. The fencing had been added ‘to protect it from damage from cattle’. In 1934 it was acquired by Fitch Motors, engineers and bus-operators. Later it became a pub.

Essex Pocket Album

This isolated village between Clacton-on-Sea and Brightlingsea is famous for its old priory. Little has changed since this photograph was taken save an endless stream of traffic.The Red Lion Inn on the right still exists.

Essex Living Memories

Here we see a sailor about to launch his rowing boat. The town is built close to St Osyth's creek, and takes its name from the wife of a 7th-century Essex king. The remains of a superb abbey are to be found close by.