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 was a great pleasure to see the photograph.
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RE: RE: Melton Grange in 1959
Melton Grange is now a new housing estate, the facade of the building has been preserved and incorporated with a block of flats. New Street School has a new building next to it, not without argument from the locals I must admit. However, since their houses had been built on ground formerly earmarked for school playing fields, they could not complain.
When I was married in 1999 our reception was held at the Grange and very good it was too. It also made a nice backdrop for our wedding photos. In 2001, on our first anniversary we went for a celebration dinner and the following year it was closed down.
This is just another piece of Woodbridge that has disappeared under development, sad but a sign of the times I am afraid.
Comment from Dorothy Woods on Saturday, 4th December 2010.