Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.Heart of Blackmore
The summer months has certainly seen a drop in visitors to the village because The Bull, the ancient public house in Church Street, has been closed. Local people have wondered about its fate. When pubs close there is always the concern that it will be forever. The good news is that the place has been sold from the pub chain, is now a Free House, and is undergoing refurbishment with a view of opening again as a pub restaurant before Christmas. For more see the press release: http://www.christie.com/news/latest/14/14015
Refurbishment and renewal is also happening elsewhere in the village. The French Golf Holiday Shop / Office has closed and has been converted to ‘Blackmore Tea Rooms’. Occupying an ancient property – formerly Dadds Village Stores – on Horsefayre Green next to the Leather Bottle pub, this has just opened to the public. (The photograph was taken in 1974).
Next, in the spring our hairdresser moved out of the small shop adjacent to the Nisa store – now a Coop – on the corner of Fingrith Hall Road and The Green. But now that site has been refurbished with ‘Ovel’s Hair Design’ now open (tel 01277 822117). The Ovel family, as mentioned elsewhere (http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/search?q=ovel ), have been in this village for a number of generations.
Finally, in the same week, a new bus service began operating: No 339 is an hourly service Monday to Friday between Blackmore and Warley via Ongar, Brentwood High Street and Railway Station.
It’s all happening in the heart of Blackmore! A warm welcome awaits you all!
Visitors
Hardly a week goes by without someone contacting me with a comment or to contribute something to this ongoing on-line project. I had the pleasure of corresponding with two members of the Norris family (originally of High Ongar) who share a common ancestor and putting them in touch with one another. (See http://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/2010/03/high-ongar-norris-family.html ).
War Memorial Rededication
The newly cleaned and re-carved War Memorial at Blackmore will be rededicated on Remembrance Sunday, 14 November. The service will commence at 10.50am.
William Byrd Festival
The ‘William Byrd Festival’ will be held at St Peter & St Paul Church, Stondon Massey, in May 2011. For the latest information visit http://www.williambyrdfestival.blogspot.com/.
Aerial Photographs
A new project has just been announced by English Heritage to place online historic aerial photographs of Britain. For more go to: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/lottery-funding-for-important-aerial-photo-collection/
A Folk Song A Day
Don’t forget the marvellous site http://www.afolksongaday.com/
Links
For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html
2 comments:
Dear Andrew,
Hello my name is Sarah Greenin, I am currently researching my house (The Old Manor House) & was wondering if you could help me or point me in the right direction. I am researching it for a university history assignment.
Any help would be grately appreciated!
Thankyou,
Sarah Greenin
Dear Andrew,
My name is Sarah Greenin, I am currently researching my house (The Old Manor House, Church Street) and was wondering if you could help me at all or point me in the right direction. I am researching it for a university history assignment. Any help would be grately appreciated!
Many Thanks,
Sarah Greenin
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