Wells-Next-The-Sea memories
Here are memories of Wells-Next-The-Sea and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Wells-Next-The-Sea or a Wells-Next-The-Sea photo.
A Year to Remember
How well I remember arriving at Wells-next-the-Sea from Leicester as a new bride. My husband was a former high school pen-friend who was now in England serving in the U.S Air Force, having been in the country from his home in Wisconsin for a year. Now stationed at Sculthorpe. We spent our first week in Norfolk in the village of Sydestone until we could find rental accomodations in Wells. Our home there was shared with the owners of the property, a couple named Mr & Mrs Rtiches. The name of the house was St Heliers. It was a large brick house surrounded by a high brick wall, situated on Station Road across from the Library and The Post Office. There had been a section of the brick wall cut away by the gates and from there Mrs Riches sold flowers and vegetables from her garden. My husband and I occupied a bedroom upstairs and a bathroom with other family members. Downstairs we had our own living room and kitchen.... Read more
Childhood Memories...
I remember most of these places shown in the photographs and as I look at them memories flood back! I remember learning to swim by the steps on the quay and drinking cider whilst hiding amongst the sprat boxes piled high on the quayside.
Taking empty pop bottles stored behind Plattens milk bar and returning them to the counter to receive money back on the empties! Walking the 'greasy pole' at Regatta time and working on the funfair for free rides. Riding my 'trolley' (soap box on wheels) down Staithe street and around the Butlands while visiting my friends to swap comic books. Paying sixpence at the Regal Cinema on a Saturday afternoon to watch the Lone Ranger! Hanging around the whelk houses down the East End for freebies! Walking over the mussel beds (ouch, cut feet!) at low tide to the marshes to collect seagulls' eggs and helping the older lads dig for sandworms before they were loaded onto the steam train at the station. Attending school with trunks... Read more
Family Connections.
This is my grandfather standing in his whelk house looking at the boats as they unload. He died after a motor car accident on Beach Road in 1934.
Family Connection.
This is my great grandfather.
My Second Home
Right from a small child i have grown up loving Wells-next-the-Sea, my dad used to take us on holidays there and we stayed in a little cottage which was a short walk to the quay where my brother and I would wander down to the amusement arcade to play on the 2p machines. We would sit along the edge of the quay and try our luck at crab fishing and then take a stroll down to the beach, which seemed a long way when you are just a child. The excitement was too much when running down the slope which took us straight on to the beach where we paddled for hours, and when the tide was out we walked across the channel where we dug for cockles and then dried off in the beach hut. Then it was time to head back to the cottage where my brother and I carried a bucket with our finds and catches from our day out and cooked them up for supper. When... Read more
Beach, Bingo, Family Memories
I have many fond memories of holidaying at Pinewoods Caravan Park where my now late grandparents (Lil and Bill Potter) used to own a caravan. They would take me up there for 2-3 weeks in the summertime and my mum and late dad (David Potter) would then also join us for a week. I used to sit with Nan in Plattens Bingo on a nightly basis and sometimes pop along to Grays for a game or two there as well. I used to take long walks with my grandad through the pine woods and on the beach, and went on the trampolines about 4-5 times a day. This was when we used to have a proper summer, in fact, my dad would come back browner than if he'd gone abroad! The caravans we had didn't have electricity or running water or even a toilet. I used to go with my grandad to cold water taps that were all over the site to collect water in a barrel which was then... Read more
Memories of Norfolk
Memories of Holkham And The Victoria Hotel
Whilst I lived at Mattishall near Dereham in the early 1960's I became a regular visitor to the area in Summer and Winter, having use of a small boat at Burnham Overy Staithe.
Fishing and full days out at Scolt Head became a regular feature for me, my mates and our girlfriends. We looked for a local pub to drink at and the Victoria at Holkham (Public Bar!) became just that. There were some wonderful local characters drinking there in those days.
You will have to excuse me on names as it is some forty years plus but I will do my best. I recall a "Bob" Everitt who was a retired gamekeeper from the Estate. There was Reuben, Maurice a retired chauffeur from the Hall and another local called Albert. Bob, Maurice and Reuben loved a game of dominos and one of the Dereham gang would be the forth player to make up the game especially at weekends. I remember Ernie Ruffles whose wife Betty ran the Public Bar... Read more
Wonderful Times Spent With my Grandparents
My mother and her family are from Stiffkey. I was christened in the Stiffkey church in September of 1965. My grandparents lived at Camping Hill and I was always visiting them. I have lovely memories of their beautiful garden and allotment, and the many walks down to the marsh to swim in the tide pools and collect the heather. My beloved grandparents passed away in 1987, but I still visit from time to time (it's not that easy as I now live in California). Stiffkey is a beautiful village and I treasure all my lovely memories.
Wells-Next-The.sea
I was born in Wisbech and lived in the White House, Burnt Street throughout my childhood. My mother Mary Kitson founded the drama group and was the first lady mayoress of Wells. My father George Kitson died when I was 11. He and his brother Frank once owned the Crown Hotel. He also owned the Edinburgh pub. I have two brothers, Michael and John. I attended the Primary School and was particularly friendly with three girls, Gwen Freezer, Tessa Hazelton and Patricia Webb. We would often cycle to Holkham Park. At the age of 11 I was sent to a convent boarding school in Swaffham which I absolutely hated. I live abroad now but visited Wells last month and had a walk on Holkham beach where I spent a lot of my childhood and also walked up Market Lane. So nostalgic! I also visited Rodney Crafer. I went to school with his sister Diana. I am in... Read more
Evacuation
I was evacuated to Walsingham and stayed with Mr & Mrs Nelson in Mount Pleasant. I attended the local school and then moved on to the school in Wells. Our neighbours were the son and his wife and a son called Charlie. The son worked on a farm and had an allotment. He had a pony and trap and kept a large pig which I remember taking to Market. Mr Nelson, known locally as Hobo, died while I was there, I remember him being taken on a cart to be be burried. I went to local church Sunday School. There was one Salvation Army family living in the village called Bobbins, they went to the Army in Fakenham. I think I was in Walsingham for about a year. I tried to find Mount Pleasant on a trip last year, next time I will consult the map before I go. I suppose my memories are mixed. My sister stayed with a family in Little Walsingham the year maybe approx. One day... Read more
Up to Date
The up to date story is that I joined the Salvation Army in London and my mother met one of the Bobbins family at the trade HQ. I am retired now and live in Shirley, Croydon and attend the Lewisham Salvation Army. I knew Leslie Condon who came from Fakenham nearby to Walsingham. When I visited Walsingham this year I saw how peaceful it was but despite driving around for a while I could not find anything I remember except the stream which we drove through, I remembered that very well. I would be interested in hearing from the people who were around in the War.
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