SEECAN - TEST FORUM PAGE
This link might be a way of extending this page to be a new message board - all old forum messages would be concentrated at the top and new ones could be added to the page at the bottom in the comments section.
Other options would be to have an old forum message page and a new forum message page. There might be other options like using pdf files.
The main purpose of this page is, however, to show how we could move old forum messages so they would still be available somewhere on a new WordPress site.
*******end of supplement one**********
DEVELOPMENT NOTES: This work has been done on behalf of SEECAN to aid those archives moving to WordPress based software in late 2017. A number of methods of moving messages from the forum pages on this site to a new page on this site are examined. The general principle is that one of these methods may be used on other SEECAN sites before conversion to WordPress - the forum messages would then be preserved on a page on the new WordPress site. How the forum dialogue might then be continued is another issue - by adding comment to the new forum page, by the use of Facebook, etc etc?
The transfer of forum messages is not a trivial task, especially for Laindon who have 739 forum posts (Billericay has 73 and Rochford 79). This work is done to try to find some acceptable way of moving messages in a labour saving way:
Note: The links below go directly to the examples. All examples are from Rochford but there are no technical differences between archives in the way the forums work or are laid out.
We first deal with a copy/paste method, then the direct use of the csv export file, csv as table and csv as text and finally a hybrid method using the csv file as a starting point ending in a modified csv file as table and a modified csv file as text. Finally there is a later addition of modified csv file as table-v2 (v2 is experimental and cannot be guaranteed to work until the WordPress software is available for inspection). The first method is labour intensive but creates a faithful copy of the original. The other two methods are much quicker but suffer a little in terms of fidelity. Manpower estimates are given immediately below for the copy/paste method. The other methods are much less labour intensive following this investigative work - maybe an hour altogether for all affected archives, except that METHOD5 might take 2 hours.
Conclusions: In edit mode the table versions look quite good but when published they lose their tabular look. I tried to edit both of them to include black border but failed (but then managed something a bit tentative which might work on the new software). I also had problems with the alignment of columns 1 to 5 that I couldn't fix (details elsewhere on page). My inclination is to go for Method5 which looks clean and simple and fits the screen nicely.
METHOD1: COPY/PASTE
Two computer windows are opened, this one in edit mode and another showing the forum page in view mode. Entries are copied from the forum page and then pasted to this page. This is a slow business, but it is a straightforward matter - simply a question of going methodically down the list of posts and any responses to them. The 10 entries below took 10 minutes. Everything was already setup to go - so the Laindon conversion done this way would take about 12 hours for its 739 entries. Add to this an opening up and close down for each data entry "shift", say 2 hour shifts with a 20 minute overhead, so something like 14 hours in total for Laindon).
One advantage of the copy/paste method is that all information will be copied, including all formatting and any special text such as hyperlinks. This is not the case with the csv file exported from the site software. It has had all formatting stripped from it apart from some control characters.
I imagine that if the forum messages have merely a sprinkling of formatting and hyperlinks then these could be dealt with as a supplementary manual task. However if there is a lot of formatting then it might be best to "bite-the-bullet".
METHODS 2 & 3: CSV file
The CSV export file was used - in System Settings under Export select Forum Messages. The order seems to be earliest first. This can be probably be adjusted by sorting the CSV before dumping it in this page. It might be that the earliest first is OK but I haven't yet gone through an entire export logic and checked it out. The CSV file was adjusted in a spreadsheet to have each message on one line and without any column breaks. I used Open Office and had to select the correct setting to make this happen - initially the spreadsheet had about 50 columns with the text spread between them. It came in as a table and this is presented first. Then immediately after this table is the full csv text (obtained by disabling the table header from another identical import made visible using HTML view).
The table seems acceptable. Of note are some character substitutions which need reversal and extra quotation marks and asterisks throughout which need to be removed. METHOD4 deals with these faults.
The text version is poor. It is OK in some areas but practically unreadable in others. METHOD5 deals with these faults.
METHOD1: copy/paste
Method1 / Method2 / Method3 / Method4 / Method5 / Method6
The river Crouch at Hullbridge
By Sue Horncastle on 04/04/2011 at 12:17
The Romans built a causeway across the river at Hullbridge and you can still see the remain of the piles which would have had bundles of sticks piled between them to create a solid crossing. "Bridge" in this context means a crossing rather than a physical bridge. In the late 1960s it was still possible to cross the river on foot at low tide and my children did so on more than one occasion. My brother, as a young man, even drove his van across once. In the summer the river was often so low that my son was able to catch a flounder in his hands!
The ferry at that time was a dingy rowed over to the north bank by a man who lived in a houseboat moored just east of the Anchor pub. There was a footpath that ran all the way along the riverbank to Battlesbridge which we used to collect flour for bread making from the mill which existed then on the Rawreth side where the garden centre is now.
Hullbridge ferry, 1960's.
By Richard Dobson on 30/07/2011 at 10:17
I believe the ferry-man mentioned in the story about the river crouch, was Jock, who I remember fairly well from that time.....myself and friends also ran the ferry,at wekends, for a while.
High House Hawkwell
By Pam Gooch on 04/09/2011 at 11:14
Has anyone got a photo I could take a copy from, of High House that stood on the corner of Rectory Road and Ironwell Lane? It was demolished in 1960 and once belonged to my husbands Grandfather Jennings who used to run a Nursery on the site.
METHOD2: unmodified csv table
Method1 / Method2 / Method3 / Method4 / Method5 / Method6
| id | id_forum | forum_title | id_thread | id_parent | author | author_email | subject | message | date_added | id_author | author1 | is_published_yesno | ip_address |
| 8 | 1 | General board | 7 | 0 | Sue Horncastle | s.horncastle@free.fr | The river Crouch at Hullbridge | The Romans built a causeway across the river at Hullbridge and you can still see the remain of the piles which would have had bundles of sticks piled between them to create a solid crossing. "Bridge" in this context means a crossing rather than a physical bridge. In the late 1960s it was still possible to cross the river on foot at low tide and my children did so on more than one occasion. My brother, as a young man, even drove his van across once. In the summer the river was often so low that my son was able to catch a flounder in his hands! ***
***The ferry at that time was a dingy rowed over to the north bank by a man who lived in a houseboat moored just east of the Anchor pub. There was a footpath that ran all the way along the riverbank to Battlesbridge which we used to collect flour for bread making from the mill which existed then on the Rawreth side where the garden centre is now. | 04/04/2011 | 0 | Sue Horncastle | no | $ipaddress |
| 9 | 1 | General board | 8 | 0 | Richard Dobson | a.ingle@btinternet.com | Hullbridge ferry, 1960's. | I believe the ferry-man mentioned in the story about the river crouch, was Jock, who I remember fairly well from that time.....myself and friends also ran the ferry,at wekends, for a while. | 30/07/2011 | 16 | Richard Dobson | no | $ipaddress |
| 10 | 1 | General board | 9 | 0 | Pam Gooch | pameladenise.gooch@mypostoffice.co.uk | High House Hawkwell | Has anyone got a photo I could take a copy from, of High House that stood on the corner of Rectory Road and Ironwell Lane? It was demolished in 1960 and once belonged to my husbands Grandfather Jennings who used to run a Nursery on the site. | 04/09/2011 | 18 | Pam Gooch | no | $ipaddress |
| 20 | 1 | General board | 9 | 10 | Helen Barnard | barnardH@aol.com | Re: High House Hawkwell | Dear Pam,***
******
***I shall have a look amongst our photo collection and get back to you.***
******
***Best wishes,***
******
***Helen | 26/09/2011 | 4 | Helen Barnard | no | $ipaddress |
| 21 | 1 | General board | 9 | 10 | Len Bickford | oldsxman@aol.com | Re: High House Hawkwell | Hi Pam,***
***I don't have any photographs i'm afraid, but i did work for who must have been your husbands grandfather - Mr Jennings at the nursery when i was a teenager back in the early 1960's.I worked for him for nearly 2yrs.***
***Good luck in finding a photo though.***
***regards***
***Len | 12/10/2011 | 0 | Len Bickford | no | $ipaddress |
| 22 | 1 | General board | 9 | 10 | Len Bickford | oldsxman@aol.com | Re: High House Hawkwell | Hi Pam,***
***I did write a reply a few days ago but it looks like its not got through.***
***Just to let you know that i worked for Mr Jennings at his nursery back in the mid 1960's. I was there for almost 2yrs. He did offer me a job there when i left school but he couldn't take me on full time so i had to go elsewhere.As i remember, he was a bit on the gruff side but once you showed him you wasn't scared of a bit of hard work, he was ok with you from then on.***
***Sorry i don't have any pictures, just a few distant memories. Hope you manage to find some pics.***
***good luck.***
***Len b | 17/10/2011 | 12 | Len Bickford | no | $ipaddress |
METHOD3: unmodified CSV file
Method1 / Method2 / Method3 / Method4 / Method5 / Method6
idid_forumforum_titleid_threadid_parentauthorauthor_emailsubjectmessagedate_addedid_authorauthor1is_published_yesnoip_address81General board70Sue Horncastles.horncastle@free.frThe river Crouch at HullbridgeThe Romans built a causeway across the river at Hullbridge and you can still see the remain of the piles which would have had bundles of sticks piled between them to create a solid crossing. "Bridge" in this context means a crossing rather than a physical bridge. In the late 1960s it was still possible to cross the river on foot at low tide and my children did so on more than one occasion. My brother, as a young man, even drove his van across once. In the summer the river was often so low that my son was able to catch a flounder in his hands! ***
***The ferry at that time was a dingy rowed over to the north bank by a man who lived in a houseboat moored just east of the Anchor pub. There was a footpath that ran all the way along the riverbank to Battlesbridge which we used to collect flour for bread making from the mill which existed then on the Rawreth side where the garden centre is now.04/04/20110Sue Horncastleno$ipaddress91General board80Richard Dobsona.ingle@btinternet.comHullbridge ferry, 1960's.I believe the ferry-man mentioned in the story about the river crouch, was Jock, who I remember fairly well from that time.....myself and friends also ran the ferry,at wekends, for a while.30/07/201116Richard Dobsonno$ipaddress101General board90Pam Goochpameladenise.gooch@mypostoffice.co.ukHigh House HawkwellHas anyone got a photo I could take a copy from, of High House that stood on the corner of Rectory Road and Ironwell Lane? It was demolished in 1960 and once belonged to my husbands Grandfather Jennings who used to run a Nursery on the site.04/09/201118Pam Goochno$ipaddress201General board910Helen BarnardbarnardH@aol.comRe: High House HawkwellDear Pam,***
******
***I shall have a look amongst our photo collection and get back to you.***
******
***Best wishes,***
******
***Helen26/09/20114Helen Barnardno$ipaddress211General board910Len Bickfordoldsxman@aol.comRe: High House HawkwellHi Pam,***
***I don't have any photographs i'm afraid, but i did work for who must have been your husbands grandfather - Mr Jennings at the nursery when i was a teenager back in the early 1960's.I worked for him for nearly 2yrs.***
***Good luck in finding a photo though.***
***regards***
***Len12/10/20110Len Bickfordno$ipaddress221General board910Len Bickfordoldsxman@aol.comRe: High House HawkwellHi Pam,***
***I did write a reply a few days ago but it looks like its not got through.***
***Just to let you know that i worked for Mr Jennings at his nursery back in the mid 1960's. I was there for almost 2yrs. He did offer me a job there when i left school but he couldn't take me on full time so i had to go elsewhere.As i remember, he was a bit on the gruff side but once you showed him you wasn't scared of a bit of hard work, he was ok with you from then on.***
***Sorry i don't have any pictures, just a few distant memories. Hope you manage to find some pics.***
***good luck.***
***Len b17/10/201112Len Bickfordno$ipaddress291General board920Helenpameladenise.gooch@mypostoffice.co.ukRe: High House HawkwellSorry for being so long in answering. Have you had any luck in finding a photo Helen? I am still trying to locate one.27/03/20120Helenno$ipaddress301General board922Lenpameladenise.gooch@mypostoffice.co.ukRe: High House HawkwellSorry it's taken so long in answering. I haven't had any luck with any photos, but it was great to hear that you knew Eric's grandfather.27/03/20120Lenno$ipaddress311General board929Helen BarnardbarnardH@aol.comRe: High House HawkwellSorry, Pam, nothing has come up yet. Helen28/03/20124Helen Barnardno$ipaddress431General board930Patriciapuppyalert@btinternet.comRe: High House HawkwellThe Jennings, Sonny and Florrie ran Vega Nurseries in the 60's Sonny Jennings father ran the nursery before him and lived in the house opposite the entrance to the nursery in Rectory Road, if that is the house that you are referring to it still stands there. However, it is numbered now although it may have had a name before numbering of properties in Rectory Road. if this is the house you mean I can photograph it for you.02/04/20140Patriciano$ipaddress441General board943Pampameladenise.gooch@mypostoffice.co.ukRe: High House HawkwellThank you for offering to take a photo of the cottage which was owned by my Husbands Grandfather (Abraham Jenninings ) and inherited by his son. High House was a wooden building next to the cottage and was demolished in the 60's to make way for the present building. My husband did do a painting from memory so many thanks for everyones help.01/05/20140Pamno$ipaddress111General board100Keith Nocknockers01@hotmail.co.uknock familyhi i wonder if anyone remembers the nock family from rawreth they lived in goose cottages09/09/201120Keith Nockno$ipaddress331General board110Peter Brownspitsortiesites@yahoo.co.ukThe BroomstickDoes the village 'magazine' The Broomstick still exist? I have heard that it was a journal created by local people for local people, but can't find out much about it.***
METHODS 4 & 5:
The csv file was first loaded into Open Office. Then all extraneous characters were corrected by Search/Replace. Column rationalisation was carried out: by moving columns around and also by adding a couple of new columns and deleting others. Note that the author email information was deleted. I thought this was best - but it could be made available and in any case it is in the csv file. In METHOD4 the file was then exported here using copy/paste. In METHOD5 the file was first exported to Notepad++ where extraneous tabs and multiple spaces were corrected and linefeeds added to separate entries as appropriate (done using year information at end of each post, which requires about 6 search/replace operations for any file size). After this work in Notepad++ the results were exported here as METHOD5.
Note: Time stamp can be added if necessary (at xx:xxhr) but this would need to be done before the date stamp to facilitate search/replace.
METHOD4 probably preferred by me if a tabular presentation is liked best and METHOD5 would be my preference if a text layout is liked best. But METHOD4 cells 1to5 are centre/centre aligned and should be centre/high. I tried to fix this. Problem with METHOD4 is that the site table editor strips out cell formatting so that I cannot get the final table cells to align properly even if they look OK in a reformatted Open Office sheet. I thought this could probably be done with a entry but tried and it doesn't work, all table formatting is stripped out. So METHOD4 is as it is - take it or leave it. It really doesn't look good enough with the misaligned early columns.
***************
METHOD4: modified csv file as table
Method1 / Method2 / Method3 / Method4 / Method5 / Method6
| The river Crouch at Hullbridge | by | Sue Horncastle | added | 04/04/2011 | The Romans built a causeway across the river at Hullbridge and you can still see the remain of the piles which would have had bundles of sticks piled between them to create a solid crossing. "Bridge" in this context means a crossing rather than a physical bridge. In the late 1960s it was still possible to cross the river on foot at low tide and my children did so on more than one occasion. My brother, as a young man, even drove his van across once. In the summer the river was often so low that my son was able to catch a flounder in his hands! The ferry at that time was a dingy rowed over to the north bank by a man who lived in a houseboat moored just east of the Anchor pub. There was a footpath that ran all the way along the riverbank to Battlesbridge which we used to collect flour for bread making from the mill which existed then on the Rawreth side where the garden centre is now. |
| Hullbridge ferry, 1960's. | by | Richard Dobson | added | 30/07/2011 | I believe the ferry-man mentioned in the story about the river crouch, was Jock, who I remember fairly well from that time.....myself and friends also ran the ferry,at wekends, for a while. |
| High House Hawkwell | by | Pam Gooch | added | 04/09/2011 | Has anyone got a photo I could take a copy from, of High House that stood on the corner of Rectory Road and Ironwell Lane? It was demolished in 1960 and once belonged to my husbands Grandfather Jennings who used to run a Nursery on the site. |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Helen Barnard | added | 26/09/2011 | Dear Pam, I shall have a look amongst our photo collection and get back to you. Best wishes, Helen |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Len Bickford | added | 12/10/2011 | Hi Pam, I don't have any photographs i'm afraid, but i did work for who must have been your husbands grandfather - Mr Jennings at the nursery when i was a teenager back in the early 1960's.I worked for him for nearly 2yrs. Good luck in finding a photo though. regards Len |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Len Bickford | added | 17/10/2011 | Hi Pam, I did write a reply a few days ago but it looks like its not got through. Just to let you know that i worked for Mr Jennings at his nursery back in the mid 1960's. I was there for almost 2yrs. He did offer me a job there when i left school but he couldn't take me on full time so i had to go elsewhere.As i remember, he was a bit on the gruff side but once you showed him you wasn't scared of a bit of hard work, he was ok with you from then on. Sorry i don't have any pictures, just a few distant memories. Hope you manage to find some pics. good luck. Len b |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Helen | added | 27/03/2012 | Sorry for being so long in answering. Have you had any luck in finding a photo Helen? I am still trying to locate one. |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Len | added | 27/03/2012 | Sorry it's taken so long in answering. I haven't had any luck with any photos, but it was great to hear that you knew Eric's grandfather. |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Helen Barnard | added | 28/03/2012 | Sorry, Pam, nothing has come up yet. Helen |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Patricia | added | 02/04/2014 | The Jennings, Sonny and Florrie ran Vega Nurseries in the 60's Sonny Jennings father ran the nursery before him and lived in the house opposite the entrance to the nursery in Rectory Road, if that is the house that you are referring to it still stands there. However, it is numbered now although it may have had a name before numbering of properties in Rectory Road. if this is the house you mean I can photograph it for you. |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Pam | added | 01/05/2014 | Thank you for offering to take a photo of the cottage which was owned by my Husbands Grandfather (Abraham Jenninings ) and inherited by his son. High House was a wooden building next to the cottage and was demolished in the 60's to make way for the present building. My husband did do a painting from memory so many thanks for everyones help. |
| nock family | by | Keith Nock | added | 09/09/2011 | hi i wonder if anyone remembers the nock family from rawreth they lived in goose cottages |
| The Broomstick | by | Peter Brown | added | 22/10/2012 | Does the village 'magazine' The Broomstick still exist? I have heard that it was a journal created by local people for local people, but can't find out much about it. Thanking you Peter |
| Re: The Broomstick | by | Sue Horncastle | added | 28/10/2012 | Yes, the Broomstick does exist still. I do not have contact details but if you wanted to get in touch I expect you could do so via the Parish Council address which is posted on the page about Canewdon which is to be found by clicking on parishes or Canewdon on the Home page. SH |
| Gusted Hall | by | Sheryl Sutherland | added | 28/04/2013 | Hello, Can anyone tell me when the Peck family moved out of Gusted Hall? I have census records up to 1911, with Charles still living there. I live in Australia, so any help would be appreciated with history on this beautiful home. My Great uncle John Peck died in 1900 & I am also trying to located his burial site. Many thanks. |
| Old Priory Eastwoodbury Lane | by | Bob Stephen (RDCA-admin) | added | 25/05/2013 | Charles Sutton gave us this comment a while ago in the hope an article could be generated. Can anyone supply more information, more text and/or photos etc. Bob "I am very interested in The Old Priory, Eastwoodbury Lane. This property was demolished to enable Rochford Airport to extend the runway. I have many fond memories of this property prior to it being demolished. I am sure that my childhood memories will make very good reading when supported by some photographs, plans or drawings. Can anyone help?. Thank you, Charles Sutton, now residing in Spain on the Costa Blanca." |
| Canewdon-View Road Ashingdon | by | Pat Rudorfer (nee Horner) | added | 15/11/2013 | I'd be interested if anyone has any information about the properties named "The Beehive" "Shiloh" "Mowbray" found in Canewdon-View Road in Ashingdon. My parents and grandparents lived in these properties from 1919 to 1950's and I was interested to know the history of the names and or links to any other information. Many thanks. Pat |
| Stevens Furniture Shop ? | by | Mick Vanner | added | 19/11/2013 | Yesterday I met a lady who with her husband had a furniture shop in Rochford square, perhaps near to Delph house which is now a dentist. I wonder if any of your members would be able to throw some light on it for me. I remember the lady when I used to work at Horners, some 50 years ago. |
| Re: Stevens Furniture Shop ? | by | Pat Rudorfer nee Horner | added | 24/11/2013 | Hi Mick Sorry know nothing of the furniture shop but was interested to know more about "working for Horners".. what was the name etc of the Horners you knew??? as I had a lot of relatives in that area ... Thanks Pat |
| Re: Stevens Furniture Shop ? | by | Bob Stephen | added | 07/03/2014 | Sorry Pat ... just found your post yesterday on this message board. Its now only 3 months since you put it up! In future I'll obviously have to look in here on a routine basis as part of the site maintenance. In future it would be better to post an article or add a comment to an existing article. But failing that to send me an email to the site at mail@rdca.org.uk and that way I will see its made more visible. It looks like the message boards are, in principle, a good idea for things that don't fit it anywhere but they are obviously rather too far from the site "shop windows" at the moment. |
| Canewdon Tower Tours Sunday 29th June | by | B Meldon | added | 27/06/2014 | I will be running tower tours and bellringing demonstrations at St. Nicholas Church Canewdon this coming Sunday afternoon 29th June from 12 to 5 pm. This is the only day this year that the tower will be open for tours and spaces will be limited so early booking in the church on the day from 11am is recommended. The tour lasts about ½ hour and includes many historical aspects of the church and surrounding area. It is also one of the best views in Essex from the top. This is run in conjunction with Canewdon open gardens. |
| "Frinton" Canewdon Road | by | Pat Ainger | added | 10/03/2015 | Hello I am trying to find out where this house either was or is still on Canewdon Road. It might have had its name changed. My grandparents (William and Mary Ann Hoar) lived there from the 1940's to late 1960's. The house (bungalow) was then taken over by my aunt Mary Parsell. If any one knows which house it was or what it's number now is I'd be really grateful. |
| Hymn "Rochford" | by | Otis Read | added | 28/03/2015 | Greetings - I am writing to you from Warren, Rhode Island, USA where I am doing research on my ancestor, the hymn composer Daniel Read (1737-1836). Of special interest to you might be that he wrote a hymn to which he gave the title "Rochford". Very often there were towns in America named after English towns, but so far, I have not discovered any Rochford on this side of the ocean. I am hopeful that you can point me in the direction as to why DR named this hymn. The lyric was written by Englishman Isaac Watts and there are perhaps clues in the lyric as to why he might have named the hymn Rochford. But nothing obvious I suspect. Please pass on to me the name of a person(s) who might have an interest in receiving a copy of "Rochford" and who might have some clues as to Read relatives that might have been from the Rochford area. I hope that this is not an inconvenience for you and I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Otis Read |
| Rochford Aerodrome | by | Vince Greene | added | 21/05/2015 | Dear Archive, My mother and I are looking for anything you have on Rochford Aerodrome during WW2. Her dad was stationed there as general maintenance / painter / window-cleaner at the time. No doubt he had to fill in a few craters along the runway too! His name was William George Daniels and his wife's family tree has been extensively researched online. We're trying to trace his side of the family (that I believe had many links) and also the large Emmons family in the region. Any memories / facts are welcome. We have a few photographs of these families we'd like to share with anyone interested / related. Many thanks, Vince Greene. |
| Connaught House | by | Kimberly Baker | added | 22/06/2015 | Hello, We have recently taken a lease of the premises at 34 West Street in Market Square, Rochford - formerly known as Connaught House. I am particularly interested in the history of the building and wondered what information you held in relation to the same? I understand the building was constructed around 1770 (possibly by a gentleman of Irish decent and rumoured to be built with lottery winnings!) and that later uses may have included a workhouse. I think in recent years it was a children's home before being leased to Ice Blue Legal and then ourselves. I would be hugely grateful for any light you can shed on the history of the building and also any recommendations for Rochford pictures and paintings from the past from local artists. Thank you for your help! |
| Re: Connaught House | by | B Meldon | added | 24/06/2015 | You have to be very careful when researching Connaught House in relation to its association with the workhouse as I do not think that the building in market square was the actual workhouse at all, I will try and explain as best I can with the info I have. (Any corrections would be most welcome!) The Rochford Union Workhouse used the name 'Rochford House' on birth certificates from about 1904 and the address was officially changed to Rochford House in 1930. I think that Rochford House was actually a building in West Street used as an administrative building. Connaught House in Market Square was purchased as staff quarters in about 1945 although it had been in use by what was then known as The Southend-on-Sea Public Assistance Committee who ran the workhouse from about 1930. There is an agreement between them and the owners Essex county Council dated 1930. On 11 February 1946 the official address of what had been the Rochford Workhouse was changed to Connaught House, again probably because it was used as the administrative address. The end result is all of the later records of the workhouse, or to give it its proper name the Public Assistance Institution in Rochford are titled 'Connaught House' although the actual location of the buildings for the inmates was where the hospital was later sited not actualy in Connaught House. I also think that Connaught House was later used as a foster home from the 1950's. I hope that this helps with your research. |
| Re: Connaught House | by | Patricia James | added | 28/09/2016 | In the 1970's Connaught House was used by I believe Essex County Council for young boys aged 16 to 18 years that had had been in care and Connaught House was the transition for them from being in care as a child and leaving and becomming independet at 18 years of age. I believe but not certain that at sometime prior to this it may have been an elderly persons home. |
| St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Angela | added | 24/12/2015 | I am trying to learn more about the death and burial of my 4th great grandmother, Mary (Ann) James nee Sutton. She was born about 1792-93 and married John James b. 26 May 1793 in Great Wakering, Essex. I believe Mary died in 1852 and have found a burial index for the burial and a death record but I'm not completely sure its my Mary James. I tried to contact the church but could not get through. I am wondering is it possible to get a copy of the gravestone or the information on the gravestone please? The reason I am querying this is that I have a copy of a death record for a Mary Ann Sutton who died in St. Pancreas, Middlesex in 1852 - and I think that my Mary was living with or near her son and maybe she died there but was buried back in her old town of Little Stambridge where she lived and is shown living in the 1841 and 1842 census records. Angela Reed Frankfort, Illinois USA |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Brian | added | 30/12/2015 | Hi Angela - I live in Great Stambridge and will try and contact the church as it is only a mile and a half down the road. There was also a church in Little Stambridge called St Mary's as well I think. This was pulled down a number of years ago but there are still some gravestones in a garden of Little Stambridge Hall. I know the owner so it shouldn't be a problem to take a look if need be. The Great Stambridge church and cemetary is well cared for so if your relative's grave is there it should not be too difficult to find. Regards Brian (Chair of the RDCA) |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Angela Reed | added | 01/01/2016 | Brian, thank you so much for your kind offer and I look forward to hearing from you. I am away for a few days and don't have my laptop with me but I have a feeling that the burial was in Little Stambridge. How blessed you are to live there and be able to see original records etc. I look forward to hearing from you. Happy New Year Angela Reed |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | B. Meldon | added | 05/01/2016 | St Mary's Church Little Stambridge was demolished in 1891 but the grave yard still exists. All Saints Church in Great Stambridge was re-dedicated as St. Mary and All Saints when the two parishes were combined. Little Stambridge parish registers including burials from 1813 to 1887 and the list of Monumental inscriptions are held at the Essex Records Office. They do have a scanned versions that can be viewed on-line but you need to subscribe to 'Essex Ancestors' to view it. I doubt that any of the inscriptions are visible on the stones anymore. Here is a link. http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/EssexAncestors.aspx?selAlphabet=L&selParish=6669&selChurch=9184 |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Angela Reed | added | 07/01/2016 | Thank you for the information and your assistance. I will contact the Essex Ancestors as you suggest. Again thank you and Happy New Yeat. Angela |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Angela Reed | added | 08/01/2016 | Thank you so much for your kindness. I think I will request the death certificate first. If the inscriptions aren't good then that is definitely a second chioce. Again thank you. Angela |
| Alec Morton Steele | by | Jonathan Betts | added | 24/03/2016 | I am dropping you a line to see if you can help me with some research I am doing. I am interested in finding out more about Alec Morton Steele, who I believe was the son of the farmer Alec Steele of Shopland Hall, something of a significant figure in the Rochford area I think? I own the Bentley motor car (1951) once owned by Alec Morton Steele and I'd very much like to see an obituary of him, and hopefully a photograph if one can be found. Perhaps the Steele family descendants, if there are any, could help? Any help you could give me in my quest would be very gratefully received, Kind Regards, Jonathan Betts Curator Emeritus Royal Observatory (RMG) Greenwich |
| Clements House | by | Mrs Mower | added | 19/04/2016 | I am wondering if you can help me. In my younger years i was in a childrens home called Clements House. I believe this house is now a grade II listed building & still stands today. I can remember the St Mary the virgin church being close by along a lane, as children we went from the home along the lane to Sunday school. The old house had a large garden that backed onto the lane with an old tram in the garden, the tram has now been removed so i am told. I can remember the house having three windows in the eaves of the property to the front of the house & a large conservatory to the side of the building. In the days of when it was a childrens home, I believe run by the council, it had geese in the back yard, the geese sheds were still visible when I located the house on Google maps a couple of years ago. I would love to locate this house once more & wondered if you have any insight as to its location. I thought it was off the Rectory Rd but I can no longer find it. Kind regards, Mrs Mower |
| Re: Clements House | by | B Meldon | added | 22/04/2016 | I think this is the building known as Clements Hall, 87 Victor Gardens, Hawkwell, Essex SS5 4DY? If so you can use this NLS overlay map web page to see where the building is today. Use the slider on the left lower corner to fade from the old map to the modern one: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=51.5988&lon=0.6740&layers=168 |
| Re: Clements House | by | Jill | added | 24/04/2016 | Thank you so much for contacting me. It was several years ago I started to look back at the days of when I was in the childrens home called Clements Hall. I have found the 17th century building on Google maps together with the little church along the lane were we went to Sunday school called St Mary the Virgin. I was surprised to see the old geese sheds still in the grounds of Clement Hall. In the garden there was a tram that we played on as youngsters but this has now gone. I have managed to correspond with others that were also in the home & have very much enjoyed reading their stories. |
| Re: Clements House | by | Patricia James | added | 28/09/2016 | You are correct the premises is called Clements Hall and was once a childrens home for Dr Banardos. Unfortunately the premises is lived in but it appears to be in a poor condition and not the pretty property that you remember as a child. You describe it perfectly as I remember it as a childrens home too as I was born in Hawkwell. The property lies at the N E corner of Clements Hall Playing fields and can be reached by car via Victor Gardens driving to the very end and the property is on your right. The last part of the road is unmade but suitable for cars. You maybe interested in a book that is in print and written by a former child of the home by the name of Ruth Jones. The title is An Improper Daughter published by Cape Catley Ltd. It is available online but not on Amazon. I also have photos of the home as you remember it and in its present condition. I will find them and post on here at a later date. |
| Sutton Hall | by | Meg Andrews | added | 10/08/2016 | Good afternoon. I wondered if you have any information about the inhabitants of the above around the turn of the century. I understand a family called Addison lived there. He was a QC. The wife was probably Kate McLeod (maiden name?) or it might have been a daughter who married. My reason for asking is I bought some embroideries a while back worked by Kate McLeod, the great grandmother of the vendor, married to Addison QC. The embroideries are a William Morris kit form of embroidery. Any information would be most welcome. Many thanks. Meg |
| South Fambridge | by | Janice Menzies | added | 27/09/2016 | Hello, I wonder if you can help me, please? I've been helping a friend research her family history, and we found that some of her ancestors came from South Fambridge. During a recent trip to Essex, I was able to make a quick visit to the village and take some photographs of this very attractive location. I also visited North Fambridge, and the manager of the pub there showed me a booklet on the history of that village, which I've been able to source on Amazon - however, Matti's ancestors came from South Fambridge and, with her 70th birthday coming up, I was hoping to find a similar book or booklet for there and give her both together. Are you aware of any such book, please? Also, her great-great grandfather, William Bartam/Bartrum was brought up in the Rochford Union Workhouse, following the deaths of his mother and grandfather - are there any booklets relating to it? I'd be very grateful for any help you can give me! Best wishes, Janice Menzies |
| Re: South Fambridge | by | Bob Stephen | added | 27/09/2016 | Hello Janice, I have put a query on the front page of this website about your request for information about books or booklets on South Fambridge and also the Rochford Union Workhouse. We do have material on the site about both topics: South Fambridge here: http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/category_id__157.aspx?path= and the Workhouse here: http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page_id__172.aspx Unfortunately these links are not clickable here on the forum pages. To see articles about South Fambridge go to "Places" in the site index and to find Workhouse articles look in "Parishes" and then "Rochford", or you can type something like "workhouse" into the site search box at the top right of the Home page (but leave off the quotation marks). Regards, Bob Stephen |
| Re: South Fambridge | by | Janice Menzies | added | 27/09/2016 | Thanks for that, Bob. I love local websites, and will enjoy browsing around this one, especially as I visited the area so recently. Will keep my fingers crossed that someone knows of a relevant booklet. |
| Re: South Fambridge | by | B Meldon | added | 29/11/2016 | A good place to start is Philip Benton's history of Rochford Hundred published in 1867. There is a section all about South Fambridge, but please note that there are other references to individuals that lived or owned land in South Fambridge throughout the book. Thankfully this book is available on line for free as a PDF. The South Fambridge section starts on page 166 (PDF page 168) Here is a link: https://ia902606.us.archive.org/25/items/historyrochford00bentgoog/historyrochford00bentgoog.pdf |
| Re: Hawkwell Hall Farm | by | Brian Pettitt | added | 22/12/2016 | Have you contacted present owner Mick Purkiss. His dad who passed away a couple of years ago would likely have been involved and his Uncle Eric would also have been involved. Eric is now 92 and living in Paglesham but has a pretty good memory so may well be able to provide some background. I am away at present so cannot intermediate but if you visit the farm I am sure they will try to help. |
| Re: Hawkwell Hall Farm | by | Richard Hall | added | 18/10/2016 | I do remember the horse show and fair which was an extremely well attended meeting. I do not have any photos and all I can remember is winning the five shilling prize for selling most programmes. I was a Boy Scout at the time. All the best with your research. Richard |
| Hawkwell Hall Farm | by | Patricia James | added | 28/09/2016 | Does anyone recall or have any memories or photographs please of the Horse show and Fair that was held every year in the 50's in the fields belonging Hawkwell Hall Farm opposite St Marys Church in Rectory Road, Hawkwell. I know the event was hosted by Essex Young Farmers as I found a poster advertising the event using SEAX at the Essex Record Office but unfortunately no photos. |
| Canewdon Myths and Legends | by | Jason Rose | added | 17/10/2016 | As I find myself as a stay-at-home dad I've started writing a blog about various subjects to pass the time and keep myself busy. One of the topics I've always been interested in that I would like to write about is the local tales of witchcraft, particularly surrounding the village of Canewdon. I've been down to the Southend library archives and found quite a considerable number of newspaper and Essex Countryside Magazine articles, but I'm wondering if perhaps any more of the locals still about today may have any other articles, photos or information with regards to this? If you knew any information or had any archives on this at all it would be great to know. Otherwise, once I've finished uploading all the articles you're welcome to have the link or Word files so that you have these treasures stored your end too. |
| Re: Canewdon Myths and Legends | by | Bob Stephen | added | 17/10/2016 | Thanks very much Jason ... please keep in touch via this Bulletin board. Note that you can drop stuff onto the site yourself, or as you suggest, give us Word docs or links when you have something to show or share. Regards, Bob Stephen |
| Re: Canewdon Myths and Legends | by | B Meldon | added | 19/10/2016 | Having done extensive historical research about Canewdon I would strongly advise you to check all the sources for any published tales of witchcraft and the like about the village to see exactly who they were and what they or their close family were employed as in the village. It is my opinion that all these tales were just made up by those with a vested interest in attracting people to spend money in the village or purchase their publications and have no basis in fact whatsoever. The earliest reference to this in Canewdon dates from 1923 in a small book that contains various tales from around Essex and is full of many factual errors. One well know and often quoted author has had material published under at least two names. You will find that his detailed accounts of witchcraft in Canewdon change with each new publication and yet some later published texts then change back again to include the content, and in most cases exact text, of his earlier articles! To be honest this subject is a complete pain. Canewdon has a fascinating and very interesting factual history and yet many visitors just ask me about the witches! Then there is the problems we have had with vandalism and antisocial behaviour around the church and church yard especially on 31st October when there has to be a strong police presence in the village each year to prevent it. (The church yard is private land and is locked every night.) |
| Rochford Heritage Trail | by | Jo Mcpherson | added | 13/02/2017 | This website is brilliant - full of interesting local history! You maybe aware that the Rochford Town Team are developing a 'Rochford Town Heritage Trail' and as such are organising a few focus groups - one is this Thursday at 6.30pm - please email me if you are interested in taking part: rochfordtownteam@gmail.com information can be found here: http://www.rochfordtown.com/news/ |
| Hall in South Lane | by | Janice Gooch | added | 23/02/2017 | Hi, Looking at my Dad's old photos and found a picture that has a hall at the end of South Street - where 57 South Street is. Does anyone have any information about the hall and what is was used for? Thank you. |
| Re: Hall in South Lane | by | B Meldon | added | 28/02/2017 | As far as I know there is no No57 South Street Rochford, the house numbers only go up to 27 by the fire station. |
| Nurseries in Hawkwell | by | Elaine Tribley | added | 18/04/2017 | Am looking for histories and information about all the numerous nurseries that existed in Hawkwell, specifically what they grew. If anyone can help I'd be most grateful :) thank you. Please click "Post a reply" link below if you have any information ... RDCA (Admin) |
| Lesney comments contact | by | Anthony Hart | added | 18/03/2017 | How do I get in touch with any of the Lesney's comment contributors? |
| Re: Lesney comments contact | by | Bob Stephen | added | 18/03/2017 | Hello Anthony, If the contributors leave their email address with their comments (as you have done) then you can contact them directly through that. If they haven't allowed their email address to be used then I'll have to send your request to them. This I will now do for those on the page you have recently left comment on. Regards, Bob Stephen |
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Note on METHOD5: The conversion is a bit bland but fits the screen well. There is very little formatting as this facilitates the conversion. It means that nothing needs to be done after conversion but more could be done manually like this boldening - however there are over 700 entries for Laindon and over 70 for Billericay. METHOD4 can hold more formatting and would be my second choice particularly if first group of columns are aligned with message text (for this set of tests they are centered in the cells which doesn't work well and as explained elsewhere I cannot get them top aligned).
METHOD5: modified csv file as text
Method1 / Method2 / Method3 / Method4 / Method5 / Method6
The river Crouch at Hullbridge by Sue Horncastle added 04/04/2011
The Romans built a causeway across the river at Hullbridge and you can still see the remain of the piles which would have had bundles of sticks piled between them to create a solid crossing. "Bridge" in this context means a crossing rather than a physical bridge. In the late 1960s it was still possible to cross the river on foot at low tide and my children did so on more than one occasion. My brother, as a young man, even drove his van across once. In the summer the river was often so low that my son was able to catch a flounder in his hands! The ferry at that time was a dingy rowed over to the north bank by a man who lived in a houseboat moored just east of the Anchor pub. There was a footpath that ran all the way along the riverbank to Battlesbridge which we used to collect flour for bread making from the mill which existed then on the Rawreth side where the garden centre is now.
Hullbridge ferry, 1960's. by Richard Dobson added 30/07/2011
I believe the ferry-man mentioned in the story about the river crouch, was Jock, who I remember fairly well from that time.....myself and friends also ran the ferry,at wekends, for a while.
High House Hawkwell by Pam Gooch added 04/09/2011
Has anyone got a photo I could take a copy from, of High House that stood on the corner of Rectory Road and Ironwell Lane? It was demolished in 1960 and once belonged to my husbands Grandfather Jennings who used to run a Nursery on the site.
Re: High House Hawkwell by Helen Barnard added 26/09/2011
Dear Pam, I shall have a look amongst our photo collection and get back to you. Best wishes, Helen
Re: High House Hawkwell by Len Bickford added 12/10/2011
Hi Pam, I don't have any photographs i'm afraid, but i did work for who must have been your husbands grandfather - Mr Jennings at the nursery when i was a teenager back in the early 1960's.I worked for him for nearly 2yrs. Good luck in finding a photo though. regards Len
Re: High House Hawkwell by Len Bickford added 17/10/2011
Hi Pam, I did write a reply a few days ago but it looks like its not got through. Just to let you know that i worked for Mr Jennings at his nursery back in the mid 1960's. I was there for almost 2yrs. He did offer me a job there when i left school but he couldn't take me on full time so i had to go elsewhere.As i remember, he was a bit on the gruff side but once you showed him you wasn't scared of a bit of hard work, he was ok with you from then on. Sorry i don't have any pictures, just a few distant memories. Hope you manage to find some pics. good luck. Len b
Re: High House Hawkwell by Helen added 27/03/2012
Sorry for being so long in answering. Have you had any luck in finding a photo Helen? I am still trying to locate one.
Re: High House Hawkwell by Len added 27/03/2012
Sorry it's taken so long in answering. I haven't had any luck with any photos, but it was great to hear that you knew Eric's grandfather.
Re: High House Hawkwell by Helen Barnard added 28/03/2012
Sorry, Pam, nothing has come up yet. Helen
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A RETEST OF METHOD4 WAS CARRIED OUT TO TRY TO CORRECT CELL ALIGNMENTS - THIS CANNOT BE MADE TO WORK
HOWEVER THE TABLE BORDER CAN BE MADE TO APPEAR BY EDITING THE TABLE HEADER IN HTML VIEW - SETTING BORDER WIDTH HERE FROM 0 TO 2.
THIS CLARIFIES THE SITUATION FOR THE READER COMPARED TO THE MUDDLE OF METHOD4 WHERE THE MESSAGE CONTENT CAN EASILY SEEM DETACHED FROM THE AUTHOR
THIS METHOD CANNOT BE GUARANTEED TO WORK UNTIL THE NEW WORDPRESS SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION
METHOD6 - modified csv file as table-v2
Method1 / Method2 / Method3 / Method4 / Method5 / Method6
| The river Crouch at Hullbridge | by | Sue Horncastle | added | 04/04/2011 | The Romans built a causeway across the river at Hullbridge and you can still see the remain of the piles which would have had bundles of sticks piled between them to create a solid crossing. "Bridge" in this context means a crossing rather than a physical bridge. In the late 1960s it was still possible to cross the river on foot at low tide and my children did so on more than one occasion. My brother, as a young man, even drove his van across once. In the summer the river was often so low that my son was able to catch a flounder in his hands! The ferry at that time was a dingy rowed over to the north bank by a man who lived in a houseboat moored just east of the Anchor pub. There was a footpath that ran all the way along the riverbank to Battlesbridge which we used to collect flour for bread making from the mill which existed then on the Rawreth side where the garden centre is now. |
| Hullbridge ferry, 1960's. | by | Richard Dobson | added | 30/07/2011 | I believe the ferry-man mentioned in the story about the river crouch, was Jock, who I remember fairly well from that time.....myself and friends also ran the ferry,at wekends, for a while. |
| High House Hawkwell | by | Pam Gooch | added | 04/09/2011 | Has anyone got a photo I could take a copy from, of High House that stood on the corner of Rectory Road and Ironwell Lane? It was demolished in 1960 and once belonged to my husbands Grandfather Jennings who used to run a Nursery on the site. |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Helen Barnard | added | 26/09/2011 | Dear Pam, I shall have a look amongst our photo collection and get back to you. Best wishes, Helen |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Len Bickford | added | 12/10/2011 | Hi Pam, I don't have any photographs i'm afraid, but i did work for who must have been your husbands grandfather - Mr Jennings at the nursery when i was a teenager back in the early 1960's.I worked for him for nearly 2yrs. Good luck in finding a photo though. regards Len |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Len Bickford | added | 17/10/2011 | Hi Pam, I did write a reply a few days ago but it looks like its not got through. Just to let you know that i worked for Mr Jennings at his nursery back in the mid 1960's. I was there for almost 2yrs. He did offer me a job there when i left school but he couldn't take me on full time so i had to go elsewhere.As i remember, he was a bit on the gruff side but once you showed him you wasn't scared of a bit of hard work, he was ok with you from then on. Sorry i don't have any pictures, just a few distant memories. Hope you manage to find some pics. good luck. Len b |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Helen | added | 27/03/2012 | Sorry for being so long in answering. Have you had any luck in finding a photo Helen? I am still trying to locate one. |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Len | added | 27/03/2012 | Sorry it's taken so long in answering. I haven't had any luck with any photos, but it was great to hear that you knew Eric's grandfather. |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Helen Barnard | added | 28/03/2012 | Sorry, Pam, nothing has come up yet. Helen |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Patricia | added | 02/04/2014 | The Jennings, Sonny and Florrie ran Vega Nurseries in the 60's Sonny Jennings father ran the nursery before him and lived in the house opposite the entrance to the nursery in Rectory Road, if that is the house that you are referring to it still stands there. However, it is numbered now although it may have had a name before numbering of properties in Rectory Road. if this is the house you mean I can photograph it for you. |
| Re: High House Hawkwell | by | Pam | added | 01/05/2014 | Thank you for offering to take a photo of the cottage which was owned by my Husbands Grandfather (Abraham Jenninings ) and inherited by his son. High House was a wooden building next to the cottage and was demolished in the 60's to make way for the present building. My husband did do a painting from memory so many thanks for everyones help. |
| nock family | by | Keith Nock | added | 09/09/2011 | hi i wonder if anyone remembers the nock family from rawreth they lived in goose cottages |
| The Broomstick | by | Peter Brown | added | 22/10/2012 | Does the village 'magazine' The Broomstick still exist? I have heard that it was a journal created by local people for local people, but can't find out much about it. Thanking you Peter |
| Re: The Broomstick | by | Sue Horncastle | added | 28/10/2012 | Yes, the Broomstick does exist still. I do not have contact details but if you wanted to get in touch I expect you could do so via the Parish Council address which is posted on the page about Canewdon which is to be found by clicking on parishes or Canewdon on the Home page. SH |
| Gusted Hall | by | Sheryl Sutherland | added | 28/04/2013 | Hello, Can anyone tell me when the Peck family moved out of Gusted Hall? I have census records up to 1911, with Charles still living there. I live in Australia, so any help would be appreciated with history on this beautiful home. My Great uncle John Peck died in 1900 & I am also trying to located his burial site. Many thanks. |
| Old Priory Eastwoodbury Lane | by | Bob Stephen (RDCA-admin) | added | 25/05/2013 | Charles Sutton gave us this comment a while ago in the hope an article could be generated. Can anyone supply more information, more text and/or photos etc. Bob "I am very interested in The Old Priory, Eastwoodbury Lane. This property was demolished to enable Rochford Airport to extend the runway. I have many fond memories of this property prior to it being demolished. I am sure that my childhood memories will make very good reading when supported by some photographs, plans or drawings. Can anyone help?. Thank you, Charles Sutton, now residing in Spain on the Costa Blanca." |
| Canewdon-View Road Ashingdon | by | Pat Rudorfer (nee Horner) | added | 15/11/2013 | I'd be interested if anyone has any information about the properties named "The Beehive" "Shiloh" "Mowbray" found in Canewdon-View Road in Ashingdon. My parents and grandparents lived in these properties from 1919 to 1950's and I was interested to know the history of the names and or links to any other information. Many thanks. Pat |
| Stevens Furniture Shop ? | by | Mick Vanner | added | 19/11/2013 | Yesterday I met a lady who with her husband had a furniture shop in Rochford square, perhaps near to Delph house which is now a dentist. I wonder if any of your members would be able to throw some light on it for me. I remember the lady when I used to work at Horners, some 50 years ago. |
| Re: Stevens Furniture Shop ? | by | Pat Rudorfer nee Horner | added | 24/11/2013 | Hi Mick Sorry know nothing of the furniture shop but was interested to know more about "working for Horners".. what was the name etc of the Horners you knew??? as I had a lot of relatives in that area ... Thanks Pat |
| Re: Stevens Furniture Shop ? | by | Bob Stephen | added | 07/03/2014 | Sorry Pat ... just found your post yesterday on this message board. Its now only 3 months since you put it up! In future I'll obviously have to look in here on a routine basis as part of the site maintenance. In future it would be better to post an article or add a comment to an existing article. But failing that to send me an email to the site at mail@rdca.org.uk and that way I will see its made more visible. It looks like the message boards are, in principle, a good idea for things that don't fit it anywhere but they are obviously rather too far from the site "shop windows" at the moment. |
| Canewdon Tower Tours Sunday 29th June | by | B Meldon | added | 27/06/2014 | I will be running tower tours and bellringing demonstrations at St. Nicholas Church Canewdon this coming Sunday afternoon 29th June from 12 to 5 pm. This is the only day this year that the tower will be open for tours and spaces will be limited so early booking in the church on the day from 11am is recommended. The tour lasts about ½ hour and includes many historical aspects of the church and surrounding area. It is also one of the best views in Essex from the top. This is run in conjunction with Canewdon open gardens. |
| "Frinton" Canewdon Road | by | Pat Ainger | added | 10/03/2015 | Hello I am trying to find out where this house either was or is still on Canewdon Road. It might have had its name changed. My grandparents (William and Mary Ann Hoar) lived there from the 1940's to late 1960's. The house (bungalow) was then taken over by my aunt Mary Parsell. If any one knows which house it was or what it's number now is I'd be really grateful. |
| Hymn "Rochford" | by | Otis Read | added | 28/03/2015 | Greetings - I am writing to you from Warren, Rhode Island, USA where I am doing research on my ancestor, the hymn composer Daniel Read (1737-1836). Of special interest to you might be that he wrote a hymn to which he gave the title "Rochford". Very often there were towns in America named after English towns, but so far, I have not discovered any Rochford on this side of the ocean. I am hopeful that you can point me in the direction as to why DR named this hymn. The lyric was written by Englishman Isaac Watts and there are perhaps clues in the lyric as to why he might have named the hymn Rochford. But nothing obvious I suspect. Please pass on to me the name of a person(s) who might have an interest in receiving a copy of "Rochford" and who might have some clues as to Read relatives that might have been from the Rochford area. I hope that this is not an inconvenience for you and I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Otis Read |
| Rochford Aerodrome | by | Vince Greene | added | 21/05/2015 | Dear Archive, My mother and I are looking for anything you have on Rochford Aerodrome during WW2. Her dad was stationed there as general maintenance / painter / window-cleaner at the time. No doubt he had to fill in a few craters along the runway too! His name was William George Daniels and his wife's family tree has been extensively researched online. We're trying to trace his side of the family (that I believe had many links) and also the large Emmons family in the region. Any memories / facts are welcome. We have a few photographs of these families we'd like to share with anyone interested / related. Many thanks, Vince Greene. |
| Connaught House | by | Kimberly Baker | added | 22/06/2015 | Hello, We have recently taken a lease of the premises at 34 West Street in Market Square, Rochford - formerly known as Connaught House. I am particularly interested in the history of the building and wondered what information you held in relation to the same? I understand the building was constructed around 1770 (possibly by a gentleman of Irish decent and rumoured to be built with lottery winnings!) and that later uses may have included a workhouse. I think in recent years it was a children's home before being leased to Ice Blue Legal and then ourselves. I would be hugely grateful for any light you can shed on the history of the building and also any recommendations for Rochford pictures and paintings from the past from local artists. Thank you for your help! |
| Re: Connaught House | by | B Meldon | added | 24/06/2015 | You have to be very careful when researching Connaught House in relation to its association with the workhouse as I do not think that the building in market square was the actual workhouse at all, I will try and explain as best I can with the info I have. (Any corrections would be most welcome!) The Rochford Union Workhouse used the name 'Rochford House' on birth certificates from about 1904 and the address was officially changed to Rochford House in 1930. I think that Rochford House was actually a building in West Street used as an administrative building. Connaught House in Market Square was purchased as staff quarters in about 1945 although it had been in use by what was then known as The Southend-on-Sea Public Assistance Committee who ran the workhouse from about 1930. There is an agreement between them and the owners Essex county Council dated 1930. On 11 February 1946 the official address of what had been the Rochford Workhouse was changed to Connaught House, again probably because it was used as the administrative address. The end result is all of the later records of the workhouse, or to give it its proper name the Public Assistance Institution in Rochford are titled 'Connaught House' although the actual location of the buildings for the inmates was where the hospital was later sited not actualy in Connaught House. I also think that Connaught House was later used as a foster home from the 1950's. I hope that this helps with your research. |
| Re: Connaught House | by | Patricia James | added | 28/09/2016 | In the 1970's Connaught House was used by I believe Essex County Council for young boys aged 16 to 18 years that had had been in care and Connaught House was the transition for them from being in care as a child and leaving and becomming independet at 18 years of age. I believe but not certain that at sometime prior to this it may have been an elderly persons home. |
| St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Angela | added | 24/12/2015 | I am trying to learn more about the death and burial of my 4th great grandmother, Mary (Ann) James nee Sutton. She was born about 1792-93 and married John James b. 26 May 1793 in Great Wakering, Essex. I believe Mary died in 1852 and have found a burial index for the burial and a death record but I'm not completely sure its my Mary James. I tried to contact the church but could not get through. I am wondering is it possible to get a copy of the gravestone or the information on the gravestone please? The reason I am querying this is that I have a copy of a death record for a Mary Ann Sutton who died in St. Pancreas, Middlesex in 1852 - and I think that my Mary was living with or near her son and maybe she died there but was buried back in her old town of Little Stambridge where she lived and is shown living in the 1841 and 1842 census records. Angela Reed Frankfort, Illinois USA |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Brian | added | 30/12/2015 | Hi Angela - I live in Great Stambridge and will try and contact the church as it is only a mile and a half down the road. There was also a church in Little Stambridge called St Mary's as well I think. This was pulled down a number of years ago but there are still some gravestones in a garden of Little Stambridge Hall. I know the owner so it shouldn't be a problem to take a look if need be. The Great Stambridge church and cemetary is well cared for so if your relative's grave is there it should not be too difficult to find. Regards Brian (Chair of the RDCA) |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Angela Reed | added | 01/01/2016 | Brian, thank you so much for your kind offer and I look forward to hearing from you. I am away for a few days and don't have my laptop with me but I have a feeling that the burial was in Little Stambridge. How blessed you are to live there and be able to see original records etc. I look forward to hearing from you. Happy New Year Angela Reed |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | B. Meldon | added | 05/01/2016 | St Mary's Church Little Stambridge was demolished in 1891 but the grave yard still exists. All Saints Church in Great Stambridge was re-dedicated as St. Mary and All Saints when the two parishes were combined. Little Stambridge parish registers including burials from 1813 to 1887 and the list of Monumental inscriptions are held at the Essex Records Office. They do have a scanned versions that can be viewed on-line but you need to subscribe to 'Essex Ancestors' to view it. I doubt that any of the inscriptions are visible on the stones anymore. Here is a link. http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/EssexAncestors.aspx?selAlphabet=L&selParish=6669&selChurch=9184 |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Angela Reed | added | 07/01/2016 | Thank you for the information and your assistance. I will contact the Essex Ancestors as you suggest. Again thank you and Happy New Yeat. Angela |
| Re: St. Mary and All Saints Church | by | Angela Reed | added | 08/01/2016 | Thank you so much for your kindness. I think I will request the death certificate first. If the inscriptions aren't good then that is definitely a second chioce. Again thank you. Angela |
| Alec Morton Steele | by | Jonathan Betts | added | 24/03/2016 | I am dropping you a line to see if you can help me with some research I am doing. I am interested in finding out more about Alec Morton Steele, who I believe was the son of the farmer Alec Steele of Shopland Hall, something of a significant figure in the Rochford area I think? I own the Bentley motor car (1951) once owned by Alec Morton Steele and I'd very much like to see an obituary of him, and hopefully a photograph if one can be found. Perhaps the Steele family descendants, if there are any, could help? Any help you could give me in my quest would be very gratefully received, Kind Regards, Jonathan Betts Curator Emeritus Royal Observatory (RMG) Greenwich |
| Clements House | by | Mrs Mower | added | 19/04/2016 | I am wondering if you can help me. In my younger years i was in a childrens home called Clements House. I believe this house is now a grade II listed building & still stands today. I can remember the St Mary the virgin church being close by along a lane, as children we went from the home along the lane to Sunday school. The old house had a large garden that backed onto the lane with an old tram in the garden, the tram has now been removed so i am told. I can remember the house having three windows in the eaves of the property to the front of the house & a large conservatory to the side of the building. In the days of when it was a childrens home, I believe run by the council, it had geese in the back yard, the geese sheds were still visible when I located the house on Google maps a couple of years ago. I would love to locate this house once more & wondered if you have any insight as to its location. I thought it was off the Rectory Rd but I can no longer find it. Kind regards, Mrs Mower |
| Re: Clements House | by | B Meldon | added | 22/04/2016 | I think this is the building known as Clements Hall, 87 Victor Gardens, Hawkwell, Essex SS5 4DY? If so you can use this NLS overlay map web page to see where the building is today. Use the slider on the left lower corner to fade from the old map to the modern one: http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=51.5988&lon=0.6740&layers=168 |
| Re: Clements House | by | Jill | added | 24/04/2016 | Thank you so much for contacting me. It was several years ago I started to look back at the days of when I was in the childrens home called Clements Hall. I have found the 17th century building on Google maps together with the little church along the lane were we went to Sunday school called St Mary the Virgin. I was surprised to see the old geese sheds still in the grounds of Clement Hall. In the garden there was a tram that we played on as youngsters but this has now gone. I have managed to correspond with others that were also in the home & have very much enjoyed reading their stories. |
| Re: Clements House | by | Patricia James | added | 28/09/2016 | You are correct the premises is called Clements Hall and was once a childrens home for Dr Banardos. Unfortunately the premises is lived in but it appears to be in a poor condition and not the pretty property that you remember as a child. You describe it perfectly as I remember it as a childrens home too as I was born in Hawkwell. The property lies at the N E corner of Clements Hall Playing fields and can be reached by car via Victor Gardens driving to the very end and the property is on your right. The last part of the road is unmade but suitable for cars. You maybe interested in a book that is in print and written by a former child of the home by the name of Ruth Jones. The title is An Improper Daughter published by Cape Catley Ltd. It is available online but not on Amazon. I also have photos of the home as you remember it and in its present condition. I will find them and post on here at a later date. |
| Sutton Hall | by | Meg Andrews | added | 10/08/2016 | Good afternoon. I wondered if you have any information about the inhabitants of the above around the turn of the century. I understand a family called Addison lived there. He was a QC. The wife was probably Kate McLeod (maiden name?) or it might have been a daughter who married. My reason for asking is I bought some embroideries a while back worked by Kate McLeod, the great grandmother of the vendor, married to Addison QC. The embroideries are a William Morris kit form of embroidery. Any information would be most welcome. Many thanks. Meg |
| South Fambridge | by | Janice Menzies | added | 27/09/2016 | Hello, I wonder if you can help me, please? I've been helping a friend research her family history, and we found that some of her ancestors came from South Fambridge. During a recent trip to Essex, I was able to make a quick visit to the village and take some photographs of this very attractive location. I also visited North Fambridge, and the manager of the pub there showed me a booklet on the history of that village, which I've been able to source on Amazon - however, Matti's ancestors came from South Fambridge and, with her 70th birthday coming up, I was hoping to find a similar book or booklet for there and give her both together. Are you aware of any such book, please? Also, her great-great grandfather, William Bartam/Bartrum was brought up in the Rochford Union Workhouse, following the deaths of his mother and grandfather - are there any booklets relating to it? I'd be very grateful for any help you can give me! Best wishes, Janice Menzies |
| Re: South Fambridge | by | Bob Stephen | added | 27/09/2016 | Hello Janice, I have put a query on the front page of this website about your request for information about books or booklets on South Fambridge and also the Rochford Union Workhouse. We do have material on the site about both topics: South Fambridge here: http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/category_id__157.aspx?path= and the Workhouse here: http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page_id__172.aspx Unfortunately these links are not clickable here on the forum pages. To see articles about South Fambridge go to "Places" in the site index and to find Workhouse articles look in "Parishes" and then "Rochford", or you can type something like "workhouse" into the site search box at the top right of the Home page (but leave off the quotation marks). Regards, Bob Stephen |
| Re: South Fambridge | by | Janice Menzies | added | 27/09/2016 | Thanks for that, Bob. I love local websites, and will enjoy browsing around this one, especially as I visited the area so recently. Will keep my fingers crossed that someone knows of a relevant booklet. |
| Re: South Fambridge | by | B Meldon | added | 29/11/2016 | A good place to start is Philip Benton's history of Rochford Hundred published in 1867. There is a section all about South Fambridge, but please note that there are other references to individuals that lived or owned land in South Fambridge throughout the book. Thankfully this book is available on line for free as a PDF. The South Fambridge section starts on page 166 (PDF page 168) Here is a link: https://ia902606.us.archive.org/25/items/historyrochford00bentgoog/historyrochford00bentgoog.pdf |
| Re: Hawkwell Hall Farm | by | Brian Pettitt | added | 22/12/2016 | Have you contacted present owner Mick Purkiss. His dad who passed away a couple of years ago would likely have been involved and his Uncle Eric would also have been involved. Eric is now 92 and living in Paglesham but has a pretty good memory so may well be able to provide some background. I am away at present so cannot intermediate but if you visit the farm I am sure they will try to help. |
| Re: Hawkwell Hall Farm | by | Richard Hall | added | 18/10/2016 | I do remember the horse show and fair which was an extremely well attended meeting. I do not have any photos and all I can remember is winning the five shilling prize for selling most programmes. I was a Boy Scout at the time. All the best with your research. Richard |
| Hawkwell Hall Farm | by | Patricia James | added | 28/09/2016 | Does anyone recall or have any memories or photographs please of the Horse show and Fair that was held every year in the 50's in the fields belonging Hawkwell Hall Farm opposite St Marys Church in Rectory Road, Hawkwell. I know the event was hosted by Essex Young Farmers as I found a poster advertising the event using SEAX at the Essex Record Office but unfortunately no photos. |
| Canewdon Myths and Legends | by | Jason Rose | added | 17/10/2016 | As I find myself as a stay-at-home dad I've started writing a blog about various subjects to pass the time and keep myself busy. One of the topics I've always been interested in that I would like to write about is the local tales of witchcraft, particularly surrounding the village of Canewdon. I've been down to the Southend library archives and found quite a considerable number of newspaper and Essex Countryside Magazine articles, but I'm wondering if perhaps any more of the locals still about today may have any other articles, photos or information with regards to this? If you knew any information or had any archives on this at all it would be great to know. Otherwise, once I've finished uploading all the articles you're welcome to have the link or Word files so that you have these treasures stored your end too. |
| Re: Canewdon Myths and Legends | by | Bob Stephen | added | 17/10/2016 | Thanks very much Jason ... please keep in touch via this Bulletin board. Note that you can drop stuff onto the site yourself, or as you suggest, give us Word docs or links when you have something to show or share. Regards, Bob Stephen |
| Re: Canewdon Myths and Legends | by | B Meldon | added | 19/10/2016 | Having done extensive historical research about Canewdon I would strongly advise you to check all the sources for any published tales of witchcraft and the like about the village to see exactly who they were and what they or their close family were employed as in the village. It is my opinion that all these tales were just made up by those with a vested interest in attracting people to spend money in the village or purchase their publications and have no basis in fact whatsoever. The earliest reference to this in Canewdon dates from 1923 in a small book that contains various tales from around Essex and is full of many factual errors. One well know and often quoted author has had material published under at least two names. You will find that his detailed accounts of witchcraft in Canewdon change with each new publication and yet some later published texts then change back again to include the content, and in most cases exact text, of his earlier articles! To be honest this subject is a complete pain. Canewdon has a fascinating and very interesting factual history and yet many visitors just ask me about the witches! Then there is the problems we have had with vandalism and antisocial behaviour around the church and church yard especially on 31st October when there has to be a strong police presence in the village each year to prevent it. (The church yard is private land and is locked every night.) |
| Rochford Heritage Trail | by | Jo Mcpherson | added | 13/02/2017 | This website is brilliant - full of interesting local history! You maybe aware that the Rochford Town Team are developing a 'Rochford Town Heritage Trail' and as such are organising a few focus groups - one is this Thursday at 6.30pm - please email me if you are interested in taking part: rochfordtownteam@gmail.com information can be found here: http://www.rochfordtown.com/news/ |
| Hall in South Lane | by | Janice Gooch | added | 23/02/2017 | Hi, Looking at my Dad's old photos and found a picture that has a hall at the end of South Street - where 57 South Street is. Does anyone have any information about the hall and what is was used for? Thank you. |
| Re: Hall in South Lane | by | B Meldon | added | 28/02/2017 | As far as I know there is no No57 South Street Rochford, the house numbers only go up to 27 by the fire station. |
| Nurseries in Hawkwell | by | Elaine Tribley | added | 18/04/2017 | Am looking for histories and information about all the numerous nurseries that existed in Hawkwell, specifically what they grew. If anyone can help I'd be most grateful :) thank you. Please click "Post a reply" link below if you have any information ... RDCA (Admin) |
| Lesney comments contact | by | Anthony Hart | added | 18/03/2017 | How do I get in touch with any of the Lesney's comment contributors? |
| Re: Lesney comments contact | by | Bob Stephen | added | 18/03/2017 | Hello Anthony, If the contributors leave their email address with their comments (as you have done) then you can contact them directly through that. If they haven't allowed their email address to be used then I'll have to send your request to them. This I will now do for those on the page you have recently left comment on. Regards, Bob Stephen |