Memories of Gusted Hall by Andrew Kyd
Gravestone mentioning Gusted Hall
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We moved to Hawkwell in 1944 when my father took a job with A.M.& H Rankin of Stambridge Mills (later to become part of Imperial Foods, I think). As part of his deal, we had the opportunity to live at Gusted Hall and we did so until the mid/late sixties when this photo was taken. The car is an Austin A40.
While we lived there, I did a lot of research into the history of this fine old house and I traced it back to 1199, when it was then known as Gratsted Hall. Later it was known as Grethstud, Grestestede, Gristed, Gusterds and finally Gusted Hall. The name is supposed to mean 'gravel place' athough we never could understand why. I am told that it was also known as Cristed and Cristell. Early in the 15th century it was owned by the Earl of Ormond, of the Manor of Rochford. I believe the house was also once owned by Thomas Bullen, father of Ann Boleyn.
The house changed hands many times in the next 3/400 years and in 1881 was bought by an ironmonger of Lewisham. Then Gusted Hall, with 135 acres of farmland, was described as "An agricultural and sporting property with gardens, orchard and choice shrubs, plants and park like undulating pastures".
I actually lived there for 20 years until I got married in St Mary's Church, Hawkwell. Along with my 2 brothers, Tim and David, and also Mary our sister, we had great fun, especially in the summer when we would help the farmer get in the hay or the corn. The farm boasted prize bulls at that time as well as herds of cattle. The main barn housed numerous barn owls and in the woods next door was a huge badgers sett, which drew photographers from various magazines and local newspapers on a regular basis.
In the winter, Gusted Hall was a very cold place to be and in 1947 the house was completely cut off by 30ft snowdrifts pressed up right against the house....thank goodness for the local tractor driver, 'Honk', who eventually dug us out. In 1953, we finally got the Electricity Board to install electricity after living many years with just a generator.