Great Oakley
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Great Oakley memories
Read and share memories of Great Oakley and Essex inspired by Frith photos
Houghbridge Hall-Gt.Oakley
In January 1949, my parents moved into Houghbridge Hall - on the winding country lane mid way between Stones Green and the church at Gt. Oakley.
I remained there until called up for National Service in November 1952, and last saw it on my Christmas leave that year during which we attended Christmas Day service in the church.
Houghbridge Hall was a huge dwelling on about an acre of land, part of which was apple orchard and many outbuildings where we had about a thousand chickens, geese, turkeys and pigs on open range. We had to turn nearly all of our production of eggs over to the Egg Marketing Board. We bred all our own poultry which included Rhode Island Reds, ...read more here
Contributed by Ian Dixon
Fondest Memories Of Gt. Oakley 1938 to 1961
That was when I was born along with a bunch of other kids who grew up with me and with whom I played during the WW2 years and eventually went to C of E school together. Mr Porter was a teacher there, he was still watching for enemy aircraft after it was all over and the boys would tell him "not one of ours sir" and off we would go to the air raid shelter yet again and wait and wait but of course nothing happened. Miss Freshwater was another teacher then off we went to High School
after that. Oh yes there was a Miss Brown also who later became Mrs Van Ryswyk.
During the war my Dad served ...read more here
Essex memories
Houghbridge Hall-Gt.Oakley
In January 1949, my parents moved into Houghbridge Hall - on the winding country lane mid way between Stones Green and the church at Gt. Oakley.
I remained there until called up for National Service in November 1952, and last saw it on my Christmas leave that year during which we attended Christmas Day service in the church.
Houghbridge Hall was a huge dwelling on about an acre of land, part of which was apple orchard and many outbuildings where we had about a thousand chickens, geese, turkeys and pigs on open range. We had to turn nearly all of our production of eggs over to the Egg Marketing Board. We bred all our own poultry which included Rhode Island Reds, ...read more here
A memory of Great Oakley contributed by Ian Dixon
Fondest Memories Of Gt. Oakley 1938 to 1961
That was when I was born along with a bunch of other kids who grew up with me and with whom I played during the WW2 years and eventually went to C of E school together. Mr Porter was a teacher there, he was still watching for enemy aircraft after it was all over and the boys would tell him "not one of ours sir" and off we would go to the air raid shelter yet again and wait and wait but of course nothing happened. Miss Freshwater was another teacher then off we went to High School
after that. Oh yes there was a Miss Brown also who later became Mrs Van Ryswyk.
During the war my Dad served ...read more here