Woodbridge memories
Here are memories of Woodbridge and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Woodbridge or a Woodbridge photo.
A Spy at RAF Bentwaters? No Just my Dad Aircraft Spotting!
My Dad who is now 80 years old, shared a lovely story with me the other day. My husband and I had just come back from a holiday in Suffolk, staying at a beautiful old "folly" cottage opposite the entrance to Bentwaters. Dad recalled that when the USAF were based there, probably around 1955, maybe earlier, he'd decided to take a drive up the road that skirted the base to see if he could spot the new "stealth" fighter, which he had heard about. So, having left my mum chatting with her sisters who live in Woodbridge, he donned his black leather riding gear and rode his motorcycle up to the gates, got out his binoculars and was promptly arrested by the US guards! He was "asked" to accompany them onto the base, a request he gladly accepted, as he wanted to get a good look at their aircraft. Totally oblivious to the fact that he looked like everyone's idea of the cunning spy! While being escorted to the... Read more
Charles Welton Coates Owner of The Old Bell And Steelyard
My grandfather owned the Old Bell and Steelyard through WWII until the mid 50's. His name was Charles Welton Coates. He also owned the Melton Grange Hotel, with a business partner or two. He also owned the Cross pub in the Thoroughfare, the Boot which is no longer a pub and the Cherry Tree at the top of the hill above Notcutts garden centre. Unfortunately he died before I was born, but I've been visiting Woodbridge to see relatives who still live there for my entire life. If you visit the Old Bell, which is, I believe one of the oldest pubs in Britain, look at the far left window ground floor. This used to be a shop with a second door next to it. Goods were sold from that window - I'm not sure when it was bricked in. I have a painting of the pub done in 1948 by someone called H.C. Green and it's bricked in there. My grandad had watched him painting all afternoon, and... Read more
Melton Grange in 1959
I was 7 years old in 1959 when I stayed in the Melton Grange Hotel for about 2 weeks with my mother, father, and 3 brothers. My father was in the US Air Force, stationed at RAF Woodbridge. As Americans, we were in awe of this large, ornate building and what seemed to us an enormous garden. We were introduced to the tradition of "Tea" at 4:00 p.m. each afternoon and soon realized that the dinner in the evening was probably intended for adults without their children. A gentleman who seemed to be the manager or owner showed us an upstairs room with a window still displaying a bullet hole from a wartime aircraft. About to return to the area to visit the place now, after more than 50 years, I was saddened to see on the internet that the old hotel was eventually abandoned, and later suffered a fire. I suppose it is no longer standing, but what a memorable place, and it... Read more
Boulge Was my Home
My family owned the Boulge Hall estate at the time of your photograph. I was christened in Boulge Church in 1940.
I am the 3rd Baronet of Boulge Hall and the last of the line.
The summer house on the right of the picture was built by my grandfather Sir Robert Eaton White.
I remember Boulge well throughout my childhood. How sad that it was demolished.
I have some faded photos of the interior and a couple of others of the outside.
Nothing else remains.
Growing up in Ufford
After reading all the nice memories of the area, I just want to add that my father was stationed at Bentwaters, and we lived in Ufford as well as Woodbridge. My mother was from Ufford, and I was born in Melton - best time of my life as a child living there. I went to Ufford school and Woodbridge. I went swimming at the 'big bridges' in Ufford and worked on a farm - I did it all there. I still have family living in Wickham Market. It's odd, how after bouncing from east coast USA, back to the UK (father-USAF), we also got stationed at Lakenheath, - years later I was stationed in the UK and my son graduated from Lakenheath HS. I for one, could not adjust to US way of life, as a military dependent, I could not wait to get back to the UK.
Memories of Suffolk
Does Anyone Know of The Weavers or Lambert S of Melton?
My son's grandparents are proving to be a little elusive for the family tree! Cecillia Edith Lambert, married Grenville Redmond Weaver in Suffolk about 1949. Cecillia I remember talked about living with her Aunt Connie in Melton. I have been told Grenville was born in India. I just wondered if any of the family were still there, and what happened to the past family, was Gren's family there? Where were there siblings? If anyone can help me discover anything to do with my son's family please email on: vickyharry@tiscali.co.uk Thankyou very much for taking the time to read this.
Joseph Rouse
This is not actually my memory, I am hoping someone will know of or remember the Rouse family who lived in Hemley. My ggg grandfather was born c1785 in Hemley and I am trying to trace any ancestors. Joseph joined the army in 1806, married an Irish girl, invalided out of the army in 1827 from Kilmainham Hospital.
In 1851 he is living in Winchester with Margaret and his children, he died in 1858
Lynda
Introduction to England And Suffolk
I was with the USAF and had just spent a year in Morocco. We were assigned to RAF Bentwaters but worked at RAF Woodbridge with the 79th. Coming into the country we first stayed at the White Hart Inn in Wickham Market and learned that we spoke American, the English speak English, similar for sure but different. Alhough we finally settled in Felixstowe for our tour, we really enjoyed our short stay in Wickham Market. I think our tour in England was the best of our 13 years of military service. I became an Anglophile and read English history more than just a lot. I studied and learned the game of cricket. I even figured how to subtract 1 pound, 7 shilling thrupence ate me from 5 pounds without using pencil and paper. It took about a year to learn the English language, accent and slang but I managed to do so. Even though I have been back some 50 years, the experience of living... Read more
Livin' Good
During the 1960s while stationed at RAF Bentwaters I, with my family, lived at #6 Broad Road, in Wickham Market. Our landlord was Richard Upson, who with his family lived on one side of the house and we occupied the other side. Our neighbour was Police Sergeant Alan Airey who has since passed away.
My time spent in England was without doubt the happiest time of my life.
If we could only turn back time!!
William Gildersleeve & Thomas Robert Gildersleeve
In the year 1492 William Gildersleeve and in 1544 Thomas Robert Gildersleeve were born in Witnesham, Suffolk, England.
Gildersleeves first found in Norfolk area where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor.
If anyone knows any Gildersleeves (Spelling variations of the family name includes Gildersleeve, Gildersleve, Gilderslieve, Gildensleeve, Gildensleve, Sildsleeve, Gildsleve, Guildersly).
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