Great Wigborough

Read and share memories of Great Wigborough and Essex inspired by Frith photos

October Gale

High winds and loud crashing in the middle of the night.
Not long after my divorce, moving back to live with my mother and father.
We were woken by crashing of bricks from the gable end of the house. Both mine and my father's cars had been crushed by the bricks. Looking across to Bradwell from the bedroom window, I could see flashes of blue light from the high voltage power cables, as the wind made them clash together.
A very unforgettable night.
Contributed by Alan Theobald

Grange Farm Restaurant.

I worked in the restaurant at Grange Farm until 1957. The West Ham United football team used to come in for a meal after their training session.
A memory of Chigwell contributed by Mrs E Lewis

Home memories.

I moved into these cottages with my family in 1935 and my parents were there until 1959. Originally it was a barn hence the name 'Barn Row' and was converted into cottages in 1836 as marked in the brickwork on the other side of the cottages. All the time my parents lived there, there was no sewerage and only a stand tap in the middle yard to serve all four cottages. But times have changed and the village has been renovated and one or two new houses have been built.
A memory of Paglesham contributed by Mrs A Turner

My 3rd Great Grandfather

The 1841 Census says that my 3rd great grandfather, William Little, with wife Ann and family, lived at this Windmill. His occupation is stated as 'Miller' so I guess he worked on the premises. One of his sons, George, grew to marry Mary Ann and run the Barley Mow Beer House on Chapel Hill. His daughter Mary Ann was a barmaid there at age 19 and at George's death his wife took over the running of the premises. It passed into the hands of other family members later.
A memory of Stansted Mountfitchet contributed by Lynne McCarrick