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West Tofts
West Tofts maps
Historic maps of West Tofts and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all West Tofts maps
West Tofts photos
We have no photos of West Tofts, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Lynford| Ickburgh| Mundford| Cranwich| Brandon| Methwold| Watton
West Tofts area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about West Tofts and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of West Tofts
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Norfolk memories
The Early Years...
I was born in Mundford in 1955 - when I was 18 months old my family moved to the nearby hamlet of West Tofts. We had a small wooden bungalow, one of a pair, that was directly opposite an army camp. My father worked for his father as a farm labourer at Lynford Home Farm, but following some sort of bust-up, my dad started working for the MOD on night shifts and during the day he gradually built up a smallholding, ending up with about 40 acres - we farmed barley and sugar beet, and kept pigs. Now I look back, I realise how hard Dad must have laboured to hold down a job a night and work the land during the day. He did have me as a (sometimes unwilling) labourer. Usually I would get up and feed the pigs before going to school at Mundford Primary. At that time, 1960 when I started, the 3 or 4 kids in West Tofts were picked up by a local taxi and taken... Read more
Boyhood
I was born in 1922 in Mundford where my Father was the village policeman. We had no motor car, indeed in those days there were not many people who could afford this luxury. The village was small, however it was self-contained and provided all the necessities of life, including a village doctor, blacksmith, carpenter and general store. When other needs arose we hired a taxi or cycled to Brandon where there was a train station that would enable us to get to Norwich or Kings Lynn. My Father policed the area for which he was responsible on foot or on his bicycle.
The social life was superior to that found in the suburbs today and in many respects I believe we were much happier. There was no TV and the radio was still in its infancy; it was not easy to get into town and we all had to make our own entertainment. Whist drives, various clubs and weekly meetings for tea, talk, knitting and sewing. Of course... Read more
An Old Man's Memories
I was born in 1922 in the village of Mundford. My Father was the village policeman. The village was then a self-contained society and provided all the necessities of life, including a doctor, blacksmith, carpenter and general store. When other needs arose we hired a taxi or cycled the ten miles or so to Brandon, where there was then a train station that enabled us to get to Norwich or Kings Lynn. My Father policed the area for which he was responsible on foot or on his bicycle.
The social life was so much superior to that today and in many respects I believe we were much happier. There was no TV and radio was still in its infancy; citizens had to make their own entertainment. A cricket club, soccer, and bowls in the summer provided sports at a very low cost. Pubs provided beer, conversation and the occasional game of darts. The village was surrounded by miles of open fields or woods. Generally we could walk where ever... Read more
Crashed Liberator
My husband, Edward Hoggett, remembers a Liberator crashing on the school road close to Claremont Hall, there were no survivors. He was a very young boy at that time but we don't seem to be able to find any information on this, just wondered if anyone out there could help, Mrs B Hoggett.
Outdoor Swimming Pool c1965
My dad was in the RAF and this was my first secondary school after leaving Feltwell junior school. It was the best school I ever attended. But for injury I narrowly missed getting the Victor Ludorum (sorry if spelling incorrect) the highest prize for sports. I was in the school band and played the cornet. The outdoor swimming pool was a great memory and in summer there were lots of competitions. I was good at swimming having been living in Singapore for two years. We swam nearly every day! I regret that I can't remember any names partly as a consequence of us always moving on with being in the RAF. My next school was Ixworth where things went down hill and I was very unhappy.
The Fullers of Methwold Hythe
Our Fuller family has its origins in Methwold and Methwold Hythe, back as far as records go and up until the 1930s. Many other good old Methwold names like Wortley, Dusgate, Riches, Rolfe, Royal and Simons cross into the line through marriage. Please take a look at our website,if you have a connection or are just interested. https://sites.google.com/site/methwoldhythe/ You are welcome to leave any comments, ask questions or to add any further information on the site or via email, or here.
Evacuee
I was evacuated from Hackney with my brother and sister in 1939 until 1942. My brother and I stayed at the gardens with Mr and Mrs Rawlinson my sister across a field stayed with Mr Blakeney. We were chosen at the village hall. The church warden's pub was our school. The army were billeted in all the woods surrounding the gardens, I was supplied with badges and sweets by them and on Sunday I would try to march back to their camp from church, which was very hard for a six-year-old.
Lady Roberts used to knit me socks and scarves and even gave me saving stamps. A great time was had when Lord and Lady Roberts's son got married and all the village pushed his car.
I still visit Cockley Cley once a year, there is still a lot unchanged and it brings back three very happy years of my life. I could not have wished to have been looked after better.
Len Wastell
