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Wattisham
Wattisham maps
Historic maps of Wattisham and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Wattisham maps
Wattisham photos
We have no photos of Wattisham, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Nedging| Hitcham| Nedging Tye| Bildeston| Chelsworth| Semer| Barking Tye| Monks Eleigh| Brent Eleigh| Stowmarket| Kersey| Needham Market| Hadleigh| Lavenham| Stowupland| Little Waldingfield
Wattisham area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Wattisham and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Wattisham
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Suffolk memories
Crowcroft Road Nedging
I remember the old buildings that were once part of Wattisham Airfield in Crowcroft Road. This area was occupied by the 4th Strategic Air Depot USAAF during the second world war. In the 60's Mrs Gant was the shopkeeper, and Mr Mowles from Whatfield would deliver groceries. My grandparents Leonard and Clara Pryke lived in Crowcroft Road from 1939- 1971.
Elm Tree Cottage, Hitcham
I used to go every summer school holiday to my great aunt & uncle's cottage [ Elm Tree Cottage]. I visited last month and it is still there in excellent condition. I remember harvest time, shire horses, haystacks, threshers and combine harvesters, cold tea in the hedge in a quart beer bottle for a refreshing drink. Chopping sticks for kindling in the shed. The milkman coming round with a small churn and a 1/2 pint and pint ladle, poured into jugs on the back windowsill. Outside 'dunny', potties under the bed, fetching water from the pump down the road. Molese's and Squirrell's coaches. Rabbitting with uncle, twelve bores behind the back door. Corona Coaches and the conductor who always looked after me, 'Percy'. Such happy days, now I wan't to move to Suffolk for my last years, such a beautiful place. Looks like my daughter is moving to Suffolk too, that will be an extra bonus.
My First Home After Marriage
I was so excited to see Friday Lane Cottage in the picture of Hitcham. We rented that cottage in 1961 & loved living there. I have fond memories of walking through the churchyard to the village shop & sometimes, on a Friday evening, going to the local pub whicch had a great atmosphere. I can't recall the name of the pub now but I do remember that there was a polyphon (I think that was what it was called) near to the entrance. I remember a reaper & binder working in a nearby field that year. It was old fashioned even then. This a real nostalgia trip after all these years.
Nedging Tye
I well remember having to make my first telephone call from the telephone box here at the age of eight. I was staying with my grandparents Leonard and Clara Pryke at No 3 Crowcroft Road, when my grandmother fell and sustained a bad cut to her head. The box has recently been removed, such a shame and I am sure will one day be regreted. I often stayed with my grandparents and remember playing in the deserted wartime buildings which stood to the left of this photograph. The USAAF hospital, mess huts and Red Cross Club, all demolished, I believe, around 1958 along with the Air Depot and surrounding accommodation sites.
My Early Years
Hi, I guess it's one of those things you do as you get older, to take a walk down memory lane and to do a little bit of reminiscing. I was doing such a thing when I came across this photo of the village in Bildeston and saw the old house in the High Street that as a child and also in my early teens I lived in with my parents. When we lived there it was the local fish and chip shop. We also had a mobile shop that my dad used to take around to the outlying areas, to Watisham and Lavenham, I believe. Those were good days. There are many memories of my years in the primary school but none more than when my teacher (I can't remember his name) attempted to get me to go to an assembly. I had no idea what that was then and wasn't going to go so when he picked me up to take me in to the hall I kicked... Read more
1955 to 57
I spent approx 2 years in Bildeston attending the junior school, headmaster I think his name was Mr Kelk (not sure of spelling). I was fostered from the age of 8 to Bildeston for 2 years. Just before I was 10, I then went back home. I sang in the Church choir and pumped the organ on some Sunday mornings for sixpence. I think the junior school was on the market square somewhere but I am unable to find it, I assume it has been knocked down like many junior schools.
Historical Information
Hi I am from New Zealand and from information I have my ancestors came from Semer the male name is johnson and the Female maiden name was Cuthbert, the only info I have indicates that they lived there in the mid 1700's i would be plesed to know any information about the town etc or if any Johnsons or Cuthberts still live there thank you Don Johnson
