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Thaxted
Thaxted maps
Historic maps of Thaxted and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Thaxted maps
Thaxted area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Thaxted and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Thaxted
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Thaxted.
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Where my Mum Was Born
Thaxted is where my mum was born in 1907.
Morris Dancing
My memories of Thaxted are very dear to me. My parents, unfortunately now deceased, were Queenie and Denzil Roberts. Denzil was a Pharmacist and purchased the property known as the Chemist Shop and refurbished the property so we could all live above the shop. We lived in Thaxted for a few years and made many friends. I was able to participate in many of the May Day festivities and was an avid fan of the Morris Dancers and their dancing. Dorrie Field still lives in Thaxted, with her son Howard. Dorrie's sister, Pat Bayley, lives in Saffron Walden. When I am able to visit my family, I always make a trip to Thaxted where a visit to the Church is an absolute must. Another favourite is a visit and a meal at the Fox and Hounds, which I believe is now named Thaxted Hall. Dorrie and her husband Philip were married in the Church on July 18, 1956. Thank you for allowing me to contribute my childhood memories. Beryl Roberts... Read more
A Child's Memories of Thaxted
I was only six years old when I was taken to Thaxted by my father, in 1941. We moved from Start Hill near Bishop's Stortford, reasons were the war and the Yanks which we will not enter into. The first thing that struck me and still lingers in my memories was the church and its very pointed and high steeple. When we arrived by bus we turned right at the school up the hill to Bardfield End Green to my Nan's cottage, where I was to live untill 1947. During those years I built up some very fond memories. I was in the church choir and also did junior bell ringing when Father Putterell was then the vicar of Thaxted church.
I remember playing around the old windmill which back then was a lot more worse for wear than it is now. My dad bought me my first bike from the old garage halfway up the main street, this was shear pleasure to be able to ride into Thaxted... Read more
Time Gentlemen Please!
We came to live in Thaxted in about 1950, and though we lived in one of the Borough Cottages, Bolford Street, which then were in a bad state, for me, fresh out of an institution ( I was only eight), it was the most wonderful place - and I still feel that way about it. I had my own bedroom, and though all it held was a brass-knobbed bedstead and a wash bowl, it was MINE and I could see the beauty of the world from it. The cast for the film 'Time Gentlemen Please' came to Thaxted while I lived there, and was filming on location by the Alms Houses, and because I kept getting in the way, the film crew eventually got me to hang round a lamp post waving a flag as a posh car came by. I think it was to be seen while the credits rolled, but I think it probably did not survive the cutting room floor as it is not on the CD... Read more
Our Stay in Thaxted
In 1969, my father, a MSGT in the USAF, was stationed at RAF Wethersfield. While waiting for base housing, we rented a beautifully situated place named Barn Cottage, a 600-year-old converted stable. Our landlord, Mr. Ainsworth, lived above us with his charming family in Prior's Hall. The place commanded a magnificent view of the valley and town, and we watched the farmers bring in their crops and burn the fields afterwards. I sometimes took our small dachshund for walks up the hill behind us, to watch water rats swim about in a pond at the top. Those times I remember as singularly idyllic. Our landlord had a peacock named George, which we would call down from the trees to feed him cookies. Sometimes he came asking on his own, sitting on the brick wall outside our kitchen. George was in love with a bantam hen. He followed her around, fluffing his feathers for her benefit, and when she laid a clutch... Read more
Essex memories
9.4 Years Living in Tilty
Me and my family moved into 1 Pumpkin Hall, Grange Green, Tilty in July 1993 and live there until November 2002 in a rented cottage owned by Mick Waring. We all had 9.4 years of happy and a peaceful life, living in a friendly hamlet with a lovely house and garden and lovely friendly neighbours. Thank you Marilon/Ken/Warren and Scott. We got married in Little Easton church by the late Jack Filby. We still drive through Tilty every now and then. Tilty will always be a special place in our hearts.
Burnt House Cottage
This was of course taken long before Burnt House Cottage was built. This was where my grandmother Ruth Hare lived. The cottage is now to the right of the road. In the background are accommodation blocks at Carver Barracks (Debden Aerodrome). Burnt House Farm is to the left of the picture where the Boutwood family lived in the 70's.
