A Year To Remember

A Memory of Wells-Next-The-Sea.

How well I remember arriving at Wells-next-the-Sea from Leicester as a new bride. My husband was a former high school pen-friend who was now in England serving in the U.S Air Force, having been in the country from his home in Wisconsin for a year. Now stationed at Sculthorpe. We spent our first week in Norfolk in the village of Sydestone until we could find rental accomodations in Wells. Our home there was shared with the owners of the property, a couple named Mr & Mrs Rtiches. The name of the house was St Heliers. It was a large brick house surrounded by a high brick wall, situated on Station Road across from the Library and The Post Office. There had been a section of the brick wall cut away by the gates and from there Mrs Riches sold flowers and vegetables from her garden. My husband and I occupied a bedroom upstairs and a bathroom with other family members. Downstairs we had our own living room and kitchen. How fortunate I felt to be actually living at the seaside. That was always my dream when, as a girl going on holiday at Skegness or Mablethorpe. To live at the seaside would be a dream come true. I loved to walk through Buttlands, sometimes sitting down to rest and wondering about who lived in all the houses around me, especially that little house which looked like a castle squeezed between two other houses. I know that I have pictures somewhere. That was always a favorite spot for me after my baby arrived and I would do my shopping for the day and sit in the park for a while before going home. I loved going to the quay and to wandering down Staithe Street looking in the shops. Holkham Hall was another favourite place to visit, to go through the gallery and admiring the Van Dycks and the Gainsboroughs. We would finish the day with a cream tea and a walk in the garden. The winter of 1950/51 was quite bleak but it never stopped us from wrapping up and walking on the beach. The glorious summer that followed made up for it. My husband has now passed away and my son is a man with grandchildren but I have always yearned to go back. In l995 I was at home visiting my family and almost on the spur of the moment I decided to rent a car and go back to Wells. It seemed to me that time had stood still. There was so much there to remember. I first wanted to find Station Road and my old house. I had made up my mind that I was going to ring the bell at the gate and speak to whoever answered. Imagine my suprise and joy when I read a sign on the gate that said Bed and Breakfast. I was warmly greeted by the people who owned the house, a young couple from London. We spent most of the evening hours talking about the year that this had been my home and they told me of how they came to purchase it. Yes indeed there was a room available. Wonder of wonders it was the same bedroom that I had shared with my husband and son so many years ago. I ate breakfast in the room that had been my living room. I always intended to go back again but I never did. I now live in Texas, but am furtunate enough to visit my family every year. I was told two or three years ago that St Heliers had been demolished and that there were now holiday condos on that site. I felt sad. I still have a hankering to return, to visit St Nicholas Church and to sit once again in Buttlands. Maybe one day I will. Thank you for allowing me to share with you.