My Holidays In The 50's At Court Hall

A Memory of North Molton.

I spent most of my school holidays, together with my brother Ronny, at Court Hall from July 1952 to approximately May 1955 - if my memory still serves.

From those days. I have retained or rediscovered contact with just two persons: Peter Harris and Claude Camhy. I remember an Irene Condon and a lad called Paul hailing from Mauritius, I seem to remember. Also an Elisabeth and a Berenice. 😀

Does anyone remember me or any of my contacts.

Mr. Riedel was schoolmaster almost from the beginning of my stays at Court Hall.

• I have fond memories, in no special order, of:
• The Moors and damming rivers in their depths
• Gathering hazelnuts from the hedgerows in the vicinity of North Molton
• The hunt stables next to the church and CourtHall and the ghostly baying of hounds at night
• Riding with the North Molton Hunt
• Using post-war ration cards to buy swêets at the North Molton Post Office/Confectionery
• Infrequent trips by bus into Barnstaple to go to the cinema
• My brother accidentally sending his riding hat tumbling and bouncing down the stairs of the double decker bus on our way to Barnstaple
• Absolute liberty to ride our bicycles almost anywhere without any controls that I can remember
• The back entrance next to the kitchen, where we kept our Wellies
• Mixing the ingredients for Christmas pudding in the pantry
• A somewhat vast and stately staircase lined with portraits of the Bampfylde family, original owners of Court Hall

I probably have more memories that may be triggered if you share yours. I hope my memories will trigger happy moments for you.

Cedric Carton

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