There are still farmers working the Fenland whose families have been firmly-rooted there for hundreds of years: Ivan Gotts and John Wordley for instance. However, in common with other areas of Essex, many other farming families are incomers: mainly immigrants from Scotland, especially from Ayrshire and the surrounding counties. I
1867 – 91: the licensee had the glorious name of Hezekiah Hollow bread. The Harrow was the venue for Public Auctions, meetings of the hunt, pigeon shoots, coroner’s inquests: in fact, the only organisation which didn’t seem to meet there was the Bulphan Temperance Society. At one time, those who
A popular rural sport called quoits was often practised at the Harrow. It was very popular with farmers and agricultural workers and the ring of the quoits was a familiar sound on summer evenings a century ago. The pitch was generally in or near the grounds of the village inn
Garlestors Farmhouse is a rambling semi-detached property in Old Brentwood Rd, Bulphan with parts dating back to the 15th Century. My family lived there for about fifty years, including myself as a child. Obviously with a property of such age, there are many stories, events and mysteries relating to it.
The Bulphan Hermit: Mrs. Clarinda Clementina Richards nee Reynolds My name is Clarinda: Clarinda Clementina Richards. I was born Clarinda Clementina Reynolds and I am the great-grand-niece of Sir Joshua Reynolds. You will know that he was one of the major European painters of the 18th century and he specialised
The Life and times of Captain John Harle It was a cold frosty morning when I attended the Rainham Christmas village fair and came across a stand being run by the National Trust, they were raising the profile and outlining plans for the refurbishment of Rainham Hall. A place that
One cold December afternoon, we headed into the classroom to make wreaths. We started with red dogwood and wove it in with the ivy leaves. We decorated it with the flowers and poppy seed heads. We then tied them up with silver ribbon, and left them for the flower ladies
On a windy afternoon, we picked a small round orange pumpkin to make an animal house for some birds, bugs and the furry squirrels. After we cut the head, we used our hands to get out the seeds. It felt gooey and slimy. We got hold of a pen to
It is a fine English sunny day in the year of our Lord 1700 and two well-dressed figures in mourning clothes are walking through the sweet smelling herb garden at High House. The elderly figure of Elizabeth Grantham is crumpled by the ravages of old age and time as she
One of the prominent owners of High House was the Grantham family. It started with Caleb Grantham buying High House in 1697 from Benjamin Desborough. At the time the government declared that anyone who owned property along the Thames had to pay for the upkeep of the sea wall. Benjamin
Thames Chase Trust, Pike Lane
Upminster, Essex RM14 3NS
01708 642970
landofthefanns@thameschase.org.uk
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