Nostalgic memories of Rochford's local history
Share your own memories of Rochford and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 18 in total
I was born in Rochford in 1957 and grew up in Kings Hill and Kings Hill Cottage both which were owned by my grandparents Clem and Frieda Shillan. I remember doughnuts and milkshakes at Delph house in the square. It was then owned by two of my grandmother's friends, Stella and Betty. I can also remember on Poppy Day standing next to my grandmother handing out the red poppies in the square. I moved away ...see more
Two Clubs ran at The Kings Head - they were called Folkus & Folk Blues and Beyond. Later they moved to the Horse and Groom. Such guest singers were Sam Mitchell and John Martin. The room at the Kings Head was upstairs and nothing more than a large bedroom. There were no chairs, we stood or sat on the floor. It was sometimes hard to see the performers or anyone else come to that, due to the cigarette smoke. ...see more
My family moved to Assandune Villas in Ashingdon in 1955, I was four years old and lived there until I was eighteen. From the back of our house was nothing but fields, (sadly now a huge housing estate). I remember seeing horses plowing the field nearest to us in the late fifties, and used to
play for hours around Ashingdon churchyard and the Glebe, as well as the local recreation ground.
I was a cub and then scout at Ashingdon Church hall and often went camping at Belchamps in Hawkwell.
Although we lived in Ashingdon, my mum used to take me and my siblings swimming at Stambridge Mill. The Cherry Tree pub nearby was where I used to go under-age drinking before I left school. As a very young child I remember visiting Rochford Market and seeing the farm animals there. In 1972 I used to go to a folk club in the Kings Head, Rochford Square. One of my earliest jobs was in Clemments Bakery, Rochford.
When I was a kid about of about 10 we used to swim from the sluice at the mill. It was great for swimming as the current was strong at the gates. Also the beach was more popular, we used these sites till we had left school - also the sandpit at Doggetts was a frequent site for swimming. Great times.
I remember Stambridge Mill very well. My Father, Frank Sutton, used to moor his barge, called The Anglia, here. He used to load his barge with Corn and Wheat. I was around 7 or 8 at the time and we used to travel with him to deliver the corn. I remember a sweet shop being there and we used to buy candy bars, and if the bar had a stripe through it we got a free one. We lived in Sutton Court Drive, Rochford. My name then was Rita Sutton.
This looks very much like the rectory in Stambridge, but I know it's not. Does anyone have any memories of it or photos? My family lived there in the 1960s for a couple of years.
Does anyone have any info or know any history surrounding 'Rose Cottage' on Stambridge Road, next to the Cherry Tree pub? I am unsure how long it has been called Rose Cottage and am having difficulty finding out any history. All I know is that it was built in the 16th century and is grade 2 listed. Can anyone help?
It was me, David Gale, that saved Samantha Clarke from drowning in 1967. I remember your father gave me 10, which to me was an absolute fortune back in those days.
I was a young adult when I arrived in Rochford on a Sunday afternoon in June 1978, to take up my position as student nurse at Rochford Hospital. I was from Cape Town in South Africa and the feel of this village promised everything that I expected English country life to be. Although by that time, the housing estates extended in most directions, there was always the solitude that the Rochford Church provided. As ...see more