Norton Mandeville

A Memory of Fyfield.

I moved with my parents to a cottage on the Ongar Chelmsford road. The cottage, subsequently named Wythams was located between High Ongar and Norton Heath and between Chevers Hall farm and Cousens Farm. I often walked across the fields to a beautiful church at Norton Mandeville (where years later I got married). A few hundred metres to the West of the church (and the so-called model farm opposite) was the ruin of a large manor house. I used to explore this obviously once-grand manor and remember finding a circular panelled room which I regarded as magical. I recall imagining what life had been like when the house had been in its heyday. The house was subsequently demolished and I can find no trace of it in satellite images. Also, I cannot find the name or history of that house. Does anyone know about the house, its last owners and its history? Another brilliant place for a young kid was the disused Willingale WWII airbase. This was situated to the NE of and within walking distance of the church. Does anyone know the history of this US airbase? I remember playing with my Jetex model jet car in one of the hangars. I also remember the runways being dug up and crushed for aggregate. I can't find any trace of where the runways were by looking at satellite images. Having stumbled across this website, I am now motivated to research this area in more depth. I'd love to share memories with anyone who lived in this area in the 50s.