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Memories of Kelvedon Hatch by R.W. Porter and J.P.Fitch
Your feedback and information on the history of Kelvedon Hatch would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you would like to send any images you have of Kelvedon Hatch, or those who lived here, then please do so.
This photograph is of the Nevil's Garage, Blackmore Road, which was situated to the left of the Shepherd Inn where the DIY stores and the estate agents are now sited.
The owner was Fred Neville (right); on the left is Fred Porter aged 10. The date is c.1930.
I am grateful to Geoffrey who has sent me another photograph of the garage. The photograph appears to be slightly later than the one above. The name of Deakins appears on the sign as the owner of the garage. It is not known whether Deakins came before or after Neville.
From a letter to the Essex Countryside Magazine, dated September 1971, by R. W. Porter, a former resident of Kelvedon Hatch.
I wonder if any of your readers would be interested in my reminiscences of the village of Kelvedon Common, near Brentwood.
It used to boast a windmill, which was demolished soon after the first world war though still, I believe, in working order. The fantail was a cut-down from a larger mill at Bentley, nearby, which was demolished some years previously. The last working miller was a Mr Purkis.
The old church was in the grounds of Kelvedon Hall, a fine house which is still a residence, being occupied by Mr. Paul Channon, one of the M.P.s for Southend. I expect the ruins of the church are still there.
The new church was built in the village, near the post office and school, and my uncle William Enever, was verger for a number of years.
Mr grandfather, Jesse Porter, and his father before him, kept the wood-yard in the village, where all kinds of rustic wood were sold.
The villagers used to be able to buy a faggot (a bundle of kindling wood) for twopence to heat the boiler for the washing before machines were invented.
The 'mail cart' which traveled between Brentwood and Ongar was so punctual that people used to set their clocks by the 'clip-clop' of the pony's hooves.
Finally, my earliest memory is of the 'bean-feast' held in the meadow at the back of the school in August 1902 to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII.
A later issue of the magazine carried another letter from a Kelvedon Hatch resident, J.P.Fitch, who made some corrections to Mr Porter's memories. [Edited extract]
...He must have been a contemporary with me as a pupil at the village school, but I cannot remember him, I joined the school in 1893. It was a grim, forbidding looking structure then, consisting of one large classroom and leading out of this another small classroomn fifteen feet square which accommodated pupils between the ages of three and seven years...I remember William Enever as verger, also his father who was always known as 'Tiddley' and can recall on leaving the church at nione o'clock after choir practice on a winter night seeing him in the churchyard with an oil lantern digging a grave for a funeral on the Saturday - a grim sight. Mr Porter will forgive me ..[the beanfeast]..was to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897 and was held on June 20, 1897. The coronation of Edward VII was celebrated on August 9, 1902 in a meadow opposite the new church lent by Mr Hutchison of Dodds Farm.
I am indebted to Martin who has donated to History House a photograph album dated c.1906-8 which appears to have been compiled by a person who lived at Hatch Farm. The album was discovered in an antiques fair. Many have comments on the photograph's subject, and historical information on the building or the area. As well as photographs of the immediately area, there are photographs of Colchester Castle and Dedham.
During this period, the occupant was tenant farmer, George Randall. His father was the village blacksmith. They both appear on in the 1891 census.
I do not believe the photographer is Randall as the historical notes appear too academic for a tenant farmer to be the author. The album was sold at a pharmacists in Oxford. These are just some of the photographs.
"Kelvedon Hatch Farm. Back from the harvest field - observe the pocket well filled with wheat!"
This may well be a photograph of George Randall. Any information would be gratefully received.
"Farm Yard Scenes"
"Kelvedon Hatch Farm."
"The Church, Kelvedon Hatch. Christmas 1906"
Ongar Road facing North-West. The buildings to the left of the church is now the Post Office.
No description, but this is Mill Lane looking south towards the windmill. A similar view can be seen on the last set of photographs on the photographs pages