Essex

Margaret BLAKE & Briarholm Nursery, London Road, Hadleigh, Essex

In July 2022 I helped the owner of a newly acquired black and white photograph to pinpoint exactly where it was taken on London Road, Hadleigh, Essex. The photo captured Miss Margaret Blake standing outside her gardening business “Briarholm Nursery” in the late 1920s or 1930s. Always eager to learn more, I went on to research Margaret’s family tree and discovered her mother’s side had a fascinating history including quack doctors, printers, artists and house builders.

Compulsory Purchase Order 1931, London Road, Hadleigh, Essex

On the 6th Jan 1931 Essex County Council made a Compulsory Purchase Order for the strips of land on either side of London Road, Hadleigh, Essex in order to widen and improve the old road heading into Leigh-On-Sea. A full list of all affected properties was published in the Chelmsford Chronicle on 6th Feb, complete with the names of the owners and occupiers, how much land was to be purchased and its current use.

Castle Hadleigh & The Wrong Post | Hadleigh, Essex

In Jan 1913, outspoken local Councillor Edgar Arthur Mundy and current Chairman of the Hadleigh Ratepayers’ Association, began a debate regarding the post being wrongly delivered to Hadleigh, Suffolk rather than Hadleigh, Essex. Mundy’s solution was to change the name of the village to “Castle Hadleigh”, to reflect both its castle ruins and historical past and to clearly define it from Hadleigh in Suffolk. The debate lasted for nearly nine months (ending in rejection), but was never completely dropped by Mundy until WWI began.

LINCE – Charles William John Lince (1887-1917)

Charles William John LINCE was born 1887 in Ramsden Bellhouse, Essex. He enlisted c.1916 in the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own), and became missing in action and presumed dead on 22 Sep 1917 age 30.

GINN – Alfred Ginn (1872-1915)

Alfred GINN was born Jan 1872 in St. Neots, Huntingdonshire. He enlisted on 5th Sep 1889 into the 3rd Hussars and fought in the Boer War with the 6th and 2nd Dragoons. He was discharged after 21 years service in 1910 and re-enlisted 25th May 1915 as a 2nd Warrant Officer for the Military Mounted Police Corps. Alfred was killed in action just under 4 months later on 1st Oct 1915 age 43, leaving a wife and three young children.

The Medal In The Garden | George William BRERETON (1874-1940)

An interesting bit of detective work presented itself to me at the end of August on a local Facebook page for Hadleigh, Essex. A local chap named Ron had been digging a large hole in his garden in order to insert a sunken trampoline for his grandchildren, when two feet down he unearthed a silver medal. Closer inspection revealed it to be a King George V naval Long Service and Good Conduct medal for a G W BRERETON. Ron wondered if any members of the Brererton family were still living in the area in the hopes of being able to pass it on back to them, and I decided to help.

GILBERT – Alfred Gilbert (1879-1915)

Alfred GILBERT was born 9th Apr 1879 in Barningham, Suffolk. He enlisted 2nd Dec 1914 as a Private in the Essex Regiment (1st Battalion), and became MIA then confirmed killed on 6th Aug 1915 aged 36. He left behind a wife and four children.

FEAKINS – Robert James Feakins (1897-1916)

Robert James FEAKINS was born 1897 in Hadleigh, Essex. He enlisted underage into the 2/6th Essex Regiment in Nov 1914, later transferred to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (7th Battalion). He was killed in action on 7th Oct 1916 age 19.

FARLEY – Thomas Henry Farley (1897-1917)

Thomas Henry FARLEY was born 1897 in Southend-On-Sea, Essex. He was fostered into the BARNES family in 1902, and lived in Hadleigh, Essex until 1914 when he was send to Canada. He enlisted in the 1st Canadian Labour Corps on 20th Apr 1916 and died from wounds on 19th Aug 1917 age 19.

Beal Bros. Millers of Rayleigh, Essex

Rayleigh Town Museum recently acquired this large 1m wide wooden sign for Beal Bros. Millers, Rayleigh and wondered if anyone could offer any more information on them.

The History of 185 Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, Essex

After a conversation with a friend about his parents new house situated on the Rayleigh Road in Eastwood, Essex I decided to look into its history. It is oddly positioned next to a pair of semi-detached houses, an old well was found in the garden and there are hints of it being part of a bigger piece of land at one time. What could I find out?

EADE – Charles Eade (1895-1915)

Charles EADE was born 5th May 1895 at Weeley Heath, Essex. He enlisted into the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment on 24th Aug 1914 and died of wounds on 16th Jun 1915 (only eight days after arriving in France). He was 20 years old.

COWELL – Richard Cowell (1893-1918) & William Cowell (1897-1915)

Richard COWELL was born in 1893 at Little Barford, Essex and died from Pneumonia whilst serving in the Labour Corps on 9th Nov 1918 age 25. His younger brother William was born in 1897 at Hadleigh, Essex and died 17th Dec 1915 whilst serving in the 9th Essex Regiment aged 18.

The Wittering Court Scandal of 1919 | Daws Heath, Essex

Wittering Court in Daws Heath was used as a private asylum between 1914-1919, until it became the site of a scandal after one of the patients was found dead in her bed.

Southend Waterworks Company Houses in Thundersley, Essex

There were three residential properties built in the early 1900’s by Southend Waterworks Company in Thundersley, Essex, which were associated with the reservoir and two pumping stations: Reservoir Cottage, Pumping Station House and Pumping Station Cottage.