Galleywood Contact & Notices

 

 

 

We have been receiving some emails regarding the web site.

We hope to organise these better in the near future, but for now some of the emails are shown below.

Joan's happy memories: Today I went on a memory lane trip to Galleywodd Common. In the years 1965-1971 i either visited regularly or lived in Rous Cottage. It was then known as Rous House. Firstly I knew it as owned by Ada and Albert Taylor, they were brother and sister. Miss Taylor was the owner, her father having left her the property. Albert had been a sailor and was at sea most of his life. He returned to live with his sister after retiring from the sea. Previously it was "The Admiral Rous" the racecourse pub.

My Step Father Vic Radley helped out there, cooking and generally looking after them. We were very lucky and Miss Taylor left us the property in about 1968. we converted the front room, which had formerly been the bar to a small tea rooms. We sold sweets, Lyons Maid Ice Cream, Sandwiches, Cakes Cigarettes and so on. We had tables in the front garden. In the spring we used to sell daffodils that grew in the orchard. It was very busy and I used to work in the cafe at weekends and after my normal job in Barclays Bank Billericay. Outside 500 chickens were kept in the Victorian Brick Barns - I note only a small part of these remain. In the autumn we used to sell the apples from the orchard.

I used to sleep in the bedroom with the side window and outside of this there was a Mulberry tree, The fruit was very tasty, this blew down in 1987.

When we owned the property it had wooden sash windows, Essex Shiplap Wooden boards (shocked to see plastic now) covered the whole property. We were always painting them. Inside the walls were all lath and plaster. We had an open coal fire in the lounge, a coal Rayburn in the kitchen and a French Pot Bellied stove in the scullery. The central stair case was in a tight spiral, we often fell down rather than walking down. I wonder how much the interior has changed?

I used to walk over the common, in all weathers and at all times on my own from the age of 14. When I went to work, even deep snow did not stop me. Once I had to walk from the Ship Inn to get home as the bus could not get through the snow. All the other staff from Barclays Bank, that lived in Chelmsford were stuck too, so they all came to mine. We had to dig out the road to get our car out, my Step Father (Vic) then took them home. It took hours.

Once the chicken shed was left open and lots of the chickens got out onto the common. I can remember chasing them for ages. Eventually they roosted in the trees and we used a fishing landing net to catch them.

Oh and when we sold it the agent had so many interested buyers it went to a sealed bids auction. Price £8,000 a fortune then as we bought a modern bungalow for £3,000. What did the property sell for recently?

Lots of happy memories of that old house. I was very sad to leave.

Kind regards Joan Glen-Martin ( I was Joan Hull back then)

Nick from Cornwall: Hi. like the website, having recently moved from Galleywood where I and my family lived for 16 years (willowbank, off Watchouse) its nice to be able to log on to the site and look at some of the familiar places that we know. Would be interested to hear from any other ex Galleywood residents or surrounding area,who have moved away to the westcountry or anywhere else for that matter. - (If you wish to contact Nick - please contact the webmaster and your details will be forwarded for Nick to respond directly to you.)

Sandy from Vermont, USA, asked us where Hill Rises Cottages were, and if number 15 still existed, as she was born there in 1944. We tracked the information down with the help of Ted Hawkins and established they were in the top part of Watchouse Road. The houses, previously known locally as 'The Council Houses' back in the '40's, still exist, but were re-numbered as Watchouse Road was developed and extended (probably late 40's). Not only that, but it would appear that Sandy's relatives still live in the house (Not now number 15, as re-numbered), where she was born. Hopefully through this site she has renewed contact with lost family.

Debbi asks: Is there anyone who can confirm the existence of a burial ground in the Kirkman Road area of Galleywood please?
Afraid I have no details someone in Yorkshire has spotted what appears to be a cemetery on an aerial map and would like
confirmation. Any help would be appreciated. Debbi - let us know

Cassie asks: Hi, fantastic website, hope it gets lot bigger. Don't suppose you know of any info or poss picture of what Temple Grove Caravan park looked like before it was a caravan park do you please? It's just out side Galleywood common, and has been said the knight Templer owned it. Am very interested to hear of anything about it when they owned it. Thank you. I lived in Galleywood for quite a while, mum still does.- let us know

As the site is now listed by 'Search Engines' we have also received some emails from people overseas who once lived in Galleywood.

If you recognise any of the names in Paul's from Sweden, please let me know.

From Australia 24/11/03

G'day!
I have just found the site.
There is a request about old pubs. Well, I was brought up at No.1 Brook Lane from 1938 to 1957 when I went into National Service and these are the ones I can tell of:-

The old "ale house" that became the Hurrells' home about the '40's. Bottom of Watch house Road by Pipers Tye.

The "White Bear" (the "Bear" it's in your photo).

The "Eagle" everyone knows that one - from Chelmsford to Billericay.

The "Running Mare" near the common behind the church.

There were tearooms on the common (near where the Whybrows lived, my step relations) but I don't recall the name although the image comes to mind perfectly.

Hope this helps,
M.J.Bright

 

From Sweden 30/11/03

Hi Webmaster!

I happened upon your site after searching the web for details of Chelmer Park and Galleywood FC. I grew up in Galleywood after moving there at the age of 7 in 1960 and left when I emigrated to Sweden in 1974. So you see I spent the greater part of my youth in the village and have therefore had my life most affected by it. I lived with my parents (and my elder brother and sister the first years) in Keene Way, went to the old primary school when it was on the corner of Watchouse Rd and Stock Rd. I played football for Galleywood Reserves for a few years (must have been around 68-69). My best friends at the time were Clive Cheeseman, Robert Snowman(?) and Stephen Bricknell(?) also of Keene Way, and Kevin Lilley down in Galleyend (just in case any of them are still around).

Anyway, it felt really good finding your site and seeing some of the photos. Please keep it up and develop it further. Sorry, but any photos my family had have probably been lost in the many moves since my time there.

Kind regards

Paul Bray

Some Previous Local emails

Mary 13/11/03

Hi!
Just been browsing the Galleywood village site.
First impression is that this is an excellent site, and with continued input should prove a great asset to our village.
So far as I can see there is no actual title. Do you intend for it just to be 'Welcome to Galleywood'?
Have you considered putting on a 'postcard' picture, which can be downloaded to email to friends/relations. Along the lines of the Tourist Board
site postcards of various places of interest?
We've lived in the village since 1974 (not very long I appreciate), but we may have some photographs, particularly of St. Michael's school events over the years, some of which may be slides. Are you interested?
Keep up the good work.
Mary