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Woodham Walter memories

Here are memories of Woodham Walter and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Woodham Walter or a Woodham Walter photo.

The Bell Inn

Does anyone know what became of the family named CASTON who ran the Bell Inn in the early 60's ? JANE CASTON was my friend back then and I remember the fun we had and sleeping over at the Bell Inn with a ghost or two. She had a sister SALLY CASTON. Jane and I lost touch when I came to Canada. Please email me if this rings a bell (no pun). lasreed@shaw.ca Lynda (nee Service)

Memories of Essex

Does Anyone Remember The 1950 Shooting in Post Office Road

Hi I would love to hear from anyone who knew of Ronald Buckley. He built a home on Post Office Road in Woodham Mortimer. My mum was just 2 years old when my grandad Ronald got shot dead by my uncle David in 1950 (David was 16 at the time). The bungalow my grandad built is no longer there. I would love to know if anyone remembers my grandad Ronald, my nan Gladys my aunt Brenda and uncle David. My mum has very sad memories of childhood and a lot she can't remember, my mum is Jackeline, she was the youngest of 3 children, she was in a lot of homes and foster care after her dad's death and Gladys committing suicide. A lot of her childhood is a dark sad  haze.

Midnight Ghost Hunt

Grace's Walk 1906
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I was born in Little Baddow and was familiar with the story of Alice Mildmay and Jesse Berridge's book. One summer night three of us rode ponies down Riffhams Chase to Great Graces and down Grace's Walk, arriving at midnight. We crossed the bridge (the one in the photo) and all I can remember after that is that all three ponies turned and galloped back up towards the house. We returned home up Colam Lane, where there is supposed to be another haunting, in the pond at the bend in the road. I think the ponies picked up our midnight ghost hunt tension but it was exciting!

Growing Up 1950s

Grace's Walk 1906
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During the late 1950s my parents moved to live on Bremner's Farm - an apple farm at that time, in Little Baddow.

On getting my first bicycle - a black, woman's bike, I use to cycle all over this area - Riffam's lane, Graces Walk and around Coleman's lane. My brother married a girl from Coleman's lane.

I spent many happy hours wandering through the dense woodland between Bremner's Farm and uptowards Great Baddow/Danbury.

Another Ghostly Experience on Grace's Walk

Grace's Walk 1906
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The year is approximate as I was in my teens, so it was somewhere between 1972 and 1974. I had a horse called Shamrock, that I kept in Sandon and I used to ride him through Danbury and Little Baddow all the time. I went down Grace's Walk one day, from the Little Baddow end, alone with the horse, and when we were about level with the house, my horse suddenly froze and snorted. He was normally very calm so I was surprised, and looked down the bridle path, following the direction of his gaze. Down by the stream and the bridge I saw a figure of a woman dressed in black, with a long gown, standing very still looking straight up the track towards us. It certainly was not modern dress, so I knew that this was a strange happening. I stared too, for a minute or so, and then she vanished...not in the magic wand sense of the word, but it was almost as though she was still... Read more

Elijah Mecklenburgh of The Old Rodney Pleasure Grounds

Not a memory, but a mention of my ancestor great great great uncle Elijah Mecklenburgh, born 1837 at Bradfield and died 1913 in Maldon. All I know about him was that he lived at Ravens Farmhouse in Woodham Walter in 1871, and that he had connections to the Old Rodney Pleasure grounds. I have no idea what the pleasure grounds were, or even if they still exsist, so seeing this photo with reference to the Rodney was great, but if anyone can add any memories, it would be even better.

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