My Mums Home

I remember the fish and chip shop and Betty and Hans Claus (and Ann, although vaguely). I knew those cottages well.

My parents Peter & Pat Martin also owned the Fish & Chip shop, I think this was also combined with a wet fish & insurance round. This was up to 1956 ish. when we moved to Braintree, Essex. I spent time at the Sansby's they had two sons Harold & Horace, happy days, learning how to "cuss for money" & hand paint my tricycle & other less deserving items including myself. Harold used to compete in Grasstrack events & Horace always had a great collection of comics. This was just before the Great North Road ( A1 ) opened, Stilton was a busy route for transport.

My farther Terry Sturman lived in the ally in old farm house which ran between the tin fence and wall right of picture now between 5 fen street and 11 Fen street it was called Gentry,s Lane changed to Fen Alley When Joeseph Vise a surgeon rich Italian local squire died in 1840 gave it to parish council he was also my dads 5th great uncle he built the cottages for his estate workers and lived big house at right of picture on corner this was doctors Scmierters up to 1980 it was also know as the jetty because Stilton had small port upto 1800s disbanded when a tunnel put in there was white cottage pulled down 1940 my uncle built a electricalal shop on it moveing it to were i live now i also lived in Braintree for15years my wife s from Braintree my Grand parents also had ice cream shop in alley before 2nd world war my great granparents owned the Cheese pub 1920s Hodsons the council went on wecking spree in1960s forcing people out of homes detroying most the village fen alley became right of way my grand parents died not long after my family bill Sturman Evelyn Scott Sturman there children ken killed 2nd world paratrooper glider commando operation market garden Bet she moved to Fleetwood Colin Icey Terry only Horace Sansby alive from Alley my dad said these people of Stilton had harts of gold and will never be a community like it again