Aeroplane Crash In Blackmore, 24 September 1944

Four American airmen who were killed when their aeroplane crashed in a field in Blackmore on 24 September 1944 are to be commemorated on a Memorial to be placed in St Laurence Church.  It will be a visible and permanent reminder of the brave contribution made by 30,000 American Army Air Force personnel stationed in Essex between 1943-45. 

Neil McCarthy wrote in the September 2019 edition of ‘Church Matters’, the parish church magazine, “It was on the evening of 24 September 1944 that a Martin Marauder B26, attempting to reach its base at Matching Green while returning from France in appalling weather, disintegrated on impact in a field adjacent to Fingrith Hall Lane.  Two other planes in the same homeward-bound squadron also crashed elsewhere in Essex that night in almost identical circumstances as the Blackmore crash”.  See also: https://blackmorehistory.blogspot.com/2008/12/blackmore-notes-and-queries-3-americans.html

“For the first time, in 2016, the names of those onboard B26 aircraft, no 42-95823, “Baby Doll III”, were able to be known and honoured in the place where they died”.

The unveiling date of the Memorial has yet to be announced as Faculty (the permission to make changes to the church structure) has only recently been granted.  The wording, as commissioned, on the wall mounted plaque reads:

To the glory of God and in commemoration of

The United States Army Air Force Stationed at Essex Airfields

During World War II who died so we would remain free

This plaque is dedicated to the memory of

FIRST LIEUTENANT RICHARD E. BAEHR

FIRST LIEUTENANT FRANK I. YAWITZ

STAFF SERGEANT EDWARD G. DEMYANOVICH

CORPORAL JOHN M. MYERS

Of the 391st Bombardment Group who were killed

When their aircraft crashed in a Blackmore field

On 24th September 1944

Blackmore. The Woollard Family Remembered: Joy, and father James. On This Day In History 8 November 1943

Joy Kathleen Woollard served during the Second World War and died. She has a Commonwealth War Grave in the family plot in the churchyard of St Laurence, Blackmore.

Joy Kathleen Woollard

War Memorial: Place and inscription -

Rank: Aircraftwoman

Regiment: 1st Class Women's Auxiliary Air Force.  Service No: 449799.  [CWGC]

Service Details: -

Personal and family information: Daughter of James Robert and Ethel Louisa Woollard, of Blackmore. [CWGC] Joy Kathleen Woollard was baptised on 8th September 1922 at Blackmore. Her father’s occupation was given as “Flight Sergeant”.  James Woollard served in the Royal Air Force following the First World War.  [ERO D/P 266/1/11] Family: James R Woollard. Born 4.4.1894.  Occupation: News Paper. Garage Dealer. Ethel L Woollard. Born 31.8.1896. Occupation: Shop Assistant. News General. Mabel L Woollard. Born 13.1.1921.  Occupation: Shop Assistant Kathleen Joy Woollard. Born 27.7.1922.  Occupation: Shop Assistant [1939 census] Joy Kathleen Woolard (one 'l' in burial register) was buried in Blackmore churchyard on 14 November 1943, age 21. She was buried in the grave of her sister Ethel Lillian Woollard, of Blackmore, who died 21st September 1923 (buried 27th September 1923), age 4.   Her father, James Robert Woollard (known also as Jim) - a survivor of the Great War - age 67, of Blackmore Cottage, was buried in the same grave on 26th July 1962 (having died on 19th July 1962).  Her mother, Ethel Louisa Woollard, died on 30th August 1972.  Although commemorated on the family grave there is no entry in the Burial Register [Burial Register held in church safe]. The Death Certificate – sent by Pauline Weaver - gives Joy Kathleen Woolard’s (one 'l' in burial register) occupation as “of The Traveller Blackmore Ingatestone U.D. Spinster A.C.W.1  W.A.A.F. 449799, Daughter of James Robert Woolard, a Newsagent”.  She died of leukaemia.

Date of Death: 8th November 1943

Age: 21

Where died: Southend-on-Sea General Hospital, Essex

Place of Burial or Commemoration: St Laurence Churchyard, Blackmore

List of Sources: Church Safe with grateful acknowledgment to the Vicar and churchwardens, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Essex Record Office, Pauline Weaver, a descendant of the Woollard family.

Her father, James Robert Woollard, served and survived the First World War.

James Robert Woollard
War Memorial: Place and inscription Blackmore War Memorial. Listed as survivor: Ft Sgt  J Woollard DSM
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Regiment: Ft. Sgt. J [James Robert] Woollard DSM is listed with those who served in the RAF, though the memorial does not give his regiment, due to loss of space.
Service Details: -
Personal and family information: James Robert Wollard [Woollard] was born on 4th April 1894 [1939 Census] and baptised at St Laurence Church, Blackmore, on 23rd September 1894.  His parents were William Walter and Lavinia Hetzebiah Woollard.  [ERO 266/1/11] He is named in the Sunday School Admissions Register as “Age 23.9.1894" with surname written Wollard  The 1901 census records that James was born in Blackmore, along with 2 brothers and a sister.  Brothers George and William, both also on the Memorial, served too, though not in the RAF. 1920 & 1922 Electoral Roll: Recorded residence is in Brentwood Road but is an “Absent voter” [ERO C/E 2/1/3 & ERO C/E 2/1/5]. A daughter, Mabel Constance Woollard, was baptised at Blackmore on 13th March 1921 (born 13th January 1921).  James’ profession is described as ‘Airman’. When Joy Kathleen Woollard (born 27th July 1922) was baptised on 8th September 1922 his profession is given as ‘Flight Sergeant’. “When he came out of the RAF he and his wife had a bungalow built not far from the pump [in Brentwood Road, now Blackmore Road]. Next to it he opened a shop and garage”.  [Coller] Kelly’s Directory 1937: Newsagent, Petrol filling station & motor engineer.   In 1939 James’ profession is recorded as ‘News Paper Garage Dealer’. He is assisted by his wife, Ethel, as ‘Shop Assistant News General’ and his daughters Mabel L and Kathleen Joy as ‘Shop Assistant’ [1939 census]. Pauline Weaver, whose great uncle was James wrote (28.2.2010), “Jim Woollard went on to be a local councillor hence the naming of Woollard Way”. James Robert Woollard (known also as Jim) of Blackmore Cottage, died aged 67 and was buried in the family grave in Blackmore churchyard on 26th July 1962 (having died on 19th July 1962).  His daughters, Joy Kathleen Woollard who died in the Second World War was buried on 14th November 1943. She was 21 years old.  Ethel Lillian Woollard died, age 4, on 21st September 1923 (buried 27th September 1923).  James’ widow, Ethel Louisa Woollard, died on 30th August 1972.  Although commemorated on the family grave there is no entry in the Burial Register. [Burial Register held in church safe]. Newpaper report. Councillor J. Woollard. – A tribute to Councillor J. Woollard was paid at Tuesday’s meeting of the Rural Council by chairman Councillor E. G. Cooke.  He said Councillor Woollard had been a member for 16 years. “Our Council are very much the poorer by the passing of this sincere and conscientious gentleman. The Council will be the poorer by his passing, but I feel sure that we as individuals are richer for having had association with him.” Everyone in the council chamber stood in silence for a few moments.
Date of Death: 19th July 1962
Age: 67
Where died: Blackmore
Place of Burial or Commemoration: St Laurence Churchyard, Blackmore.
List of Sources: Church Safe with grateful acknowledgment to the Vicar and churchwardens, Essex Record Office, Pauline Weaver: great-niece of James Woollard.

Some further research has established that James Robert Woollard was a highly decorated Royal Air Force serviceman, who rose to the top rank of airman, Warrant Officer (Engineer), before demobilisation in 1935.  His medals were sold in auction in 2011. See https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/lot-archive/lot.php?department=Medals&lot_id=198490

Doddinghurst: New Book to Mark Dedication of New War Memorial

A new book has just been published to mark the dedication of a new War Memorial outside All Saints Church in the village. The unveiling ceremony was held on Saturday 6 September 2014.  Both the book and the fund raising for the new memorial have been the work of local people forming the 'Doddinghurst War Memorial Committee'.  

The fallen of the First World War - ten soldiers - have already been commemorated, but those who died during the Second World War have not. They include five soldiers and five civilians.

Essex Land Girls at Thoby Priory, Mountnessing?

A query from a correspondent: 

... during course of my research for Essex Land Girls, my next book (www.deegordon-writer.com), I came across a ref to Thoby Priory being used as a hostel towards the end of WW2.  Just wondered if you – or someone you could put me in contact with – would know any more about this i.e. any info re dates, numbers, any details of the girls or where they worked etc.  Not come across it elsewhere (i.e. ERO or the IWM etc.).  If you can help, much appreciated and of course acknowledged.  (An image might also help?  jpeg min 1mb – or anything else re land girls in the area, either war ... just a thought.)

thanks, Dee

Doddinghurst: Plans for War Memorial are on Target

Doddinghurst residents are raising money to build a new War Memorial outside All Saints Church. It is expected to be completed and unveiled this year, marking the centenary of the start of the First World War. It will bear 20 names of the fallen: ten from the First World War, ten from the Second World War. Doddinghurst already has a commemorative plaque inside the church bearing the names of those who died in the Great War.  For more read http://www.brentwoodgazette.co.uk/Memorial-group-hoping-make-target-pound-15k/story-20444652-detail/story.html

Blackmore Area Local History website has dedicated pages to those named on the Doddinghurst War Memorial.

Mountnessing: V2 Rocket

Received via Blogger enquiry: 10 October 2013

I lived in Mountnessing from 1939 until I married in 1962. I was sitting cleaning the mud off my shoes very close to where the V2 rocket came down, as were several children.  It was nice to read your account which brought back many memories.Brenda

Regards,

Littlejohns. nee Dawson

Replied: 11 October 2013

Thank you for your e mail.  As a child in the 1970s I remember going to Lodge Wood and being shown a crater caused by one of those unmanned weapons of war.

Regards

Andrew

Blackmore: Wayside Tea Rooms (4)

Received 15 July 2012

Hi Andrew,

My name was Valerie Brown and I was being fostered by a Pat O'Farrell when we lived in Blackmore. She had me from my birth until she died when I was 17 so she was my 'mum'. I do not remember any names of neighbours though I did have neighbours children who I played with. A 'cousin' worked on the telephone switchboard which I think was located at the village post office and I was mesmerised by it all when I went to watch her at work. We come back often just for the nostalgia, and we were back last year.

We intend making another visit to Blackmore and I would love it if I could go to see the memorial plaque in the field where the American bomber came down. Please can you tell me where that might be, a grid ref would be wonderful.

I look forward to your reply, I hope my information has helped a bit.

Regards Val

Replied 16 July 2012

Dear Val

Brentwood Road, showing old cottages, and Wayside Tea Room (left)

Please find enclosed another postcard.  This one looks up the road towards the School (not in view).  If your bedroom window was the four-light one above the door then you would have had an uninterrupted view of the school.

The American bomber came down in the field opposite Fingrith Hall Cottages near to OS ref 604033. There is no memorial plaque in the field.

Regards

Andrew

Received 17 July 2012

Hi Andrew,

I still feel in my heart, that I always stood and looked into the playground from a landing where the dormer window is, and not the one you have suggested, and I still got a good view of children in playground. I don’t want to get swayed from my gut feeling just to make things 'fit'. Maybe the man from NZ (whose grandparents lived in the tearooms) may remember the layout of the building. It’s certainly stirred my curiosity to see if my memory is right. I can recognise the front door which we always used, and I can see the small garden to the west of the house where I played, it’s all very familiar.

I had already guessed at the crash location and was almost spot on!

Do you know if there are school records anywhere?

Another vague memory is of a big black heater in the classroom! 

So Andrew, have I helped you prove once and for all, the true location of the wayside tearooms? I shall be chuffed to bits if I have.

Sincerely

Val.

Replied 18 July 2012

Hello Val

If you had looked to the left out of the dormer window you would have certainly seen the School.  The playground may have been where the former Library annexe was built in the 1960s.  Hypothesis.

I would be interested to know more of your memories of Blackmore.

Regards

Andrew

Received 18 July 2012

Hi Andrew,

Yes, definitely the dormer window, I only had to look very slightly to the left to see the playground, there is absolutely no doubt about that, its imprinted in indelible ink on my memory!. Your suggestion that the playground may have been bigger makes so much sense because it could be that the tearooms were just a few feet further to the west as well. (I wasn’t aware the library was a later building and not in my time there, I hadn’t given its presence any thought at all, but as I said in an earlier email, I don’t remember seeing any buildings opposite just an empty space and then cottages slightly to right). Your hypothesis that the playground was once a lot bigger is very real to me, it 'fits' better. To put it another way - if, on my landing, I'm standing due north, then the playground was SSE and the cottages opposite were WSW and no other buildings in between. Oh dear this has got a bit technical!!

This has given me such excitement to finally see those photos. I have been through the 1911 census for Blackmore but can’t find the tearooms on it.  I did find 10 Blackmore Road but haven’t got a clue where that was in relation to the tearooms. The family name Wray rang a bell but really can’t be sure about that.

I have tried to locate the 'Ruth' who contacted you in 2008, and who remembers the tearooms as her mother was born in the village.

My husband and I wandered round the village last year and I was so pleased to see the school still there. As always I stood on the site where I used to live, thinking back to my time there. All I would like to do now is to find someone who might have been inside the tearooms and may remember the inside layout. Maybe someone occupied them when we left in 1946. I will try to think of memories but I left and moved to Ongar when I was 6.

Many thanks for your real interest in my humble beginnings. 

Val 

Blackmore: Wayside Tea Rooms (3)

Received 14 July 2012

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for all the information on Blackmore, very interesting!! 

You have now opened real confusion within me, I will explain.  From baby days until I was about 6 (1942-1947) I lived in a white painted dwelling which was of the same wooden design structure as the Wayside tea rooms in your photo, and it was definitely opposite the school. The room used as the 'tearoom' was derelict and I had a swing slung from the ceiling in there, I remember birds would often fly into that room which was situated on the eastern aspect of the building. I can remember that the walls in the living room were painted with blue distemper and sponge dabbed with pink, whether we did that or it was already there I have no idea. I think the door we used as a front door was straight out onto the road, simply because I cannot remember any other door. What I also remember very vividly, was that I could stand on a landing, and from a window I could see the children in the playground. In your photo there are trees opposite 'Wayside' hence my confusion. Could 'Wayside' have stood near the corner of the road so that the southern aspect faced the school and the eastern aspect faced trees? If only I had a photo!!  We had neighbours to the west of us (same side of road) but none to the right, and a row of cottages to the south-west on the opposite side of the road. I can remember the layout quite well. If I was clever enough I could draw a plan as I remember it, to make it more clear to you, and I may try after I have sent this off.

I was not quite 3 and a half when I heard that awful aeroplane crash, still shudder at the memory! Is it possible for you give me a grid reference of the exact spot where it came down please?  I feel it was just to the north of us.

I really appreciate your response to my initial enquiry.  It’s a mystery that has bugged me for many years.  I just wish that there were old archives on the school. So now the real mystery, were the tearooms opposite the school or was I living in an ordinary house and not the tearooms???

We also had evacuees with the names Ivy and Maisy.

Again, many thanks.

Val Stevens

Replied 15 July 2012

Hello Val

This is very interesting and something which I think can be answered, if I collect together what is known about the immediate vicinity. 

A couple of questions: what was your surname at the time; and, do you remember of names of your neighbours (eg Blackwells)?

Regards

Andrew

Blackmore: Wayside Tea Rooms (1)

Wayside Tea Room

Received  7 July 2012

Hi there, I was living in Blackmore during the 2nd world war, in the Wayside tearooms (which were opposite the school). I can remember a plane crashing nearby and wondered if anyone could tell me more about this happening?  I was a toddler at the time, but the memory is so vivid that even now I hate to hear planes at night!  Also does anyone have a photo or a memory of the Wayside Tea rooms, I would be very interested to hear. Thank you.

Replied  14 July 2012

Hello Val

Thank you for writing to me about the American bomber crash at Blackmore, which happened on 24 September 1944. Some correspondence on this is on the blog (follow link to www.blackmorehistory.blogspot.co.uk/blackmore-notes-and-queries-3-americans.html ) but I would be very interested to hear of your memories of this event as well as any other stories relating to the Americans who came over to Essex during the Second World War. I was told that many of them used to come into the (old) Leather Bottle pub, reputedly putting their money on the bar and buying drinks for everyone. Of course the missions they flew were very dangerous and some did not make it back to the base at Willingale.

Regarding the Wayside Tea Rooms, back in 2004 I had the privilege of talking to Malcolm Baird who had come to visit from New Zealand.  He sent over some photographs but I had difficulty locating the site of the premises until, by chance, I came across an old postcard which located the building opposite numbers 3 & 4 Blackmore Road (then Brentwood Road).  I attach the photographs and an item I wrote for the Parish Council's magazine 'The Herald' (see part 2).

I will publish this information on the blog very soon, but if you have memories of Blackmore during the Second World War I would be interested to receive them. You might be interested in viewing www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmore-families.html which includes some notes of two brothers Johnson who were evacuated to Blackmore to the Jopson family during the early part of the Second World War.

With kind regards

Andrew

Wayside Tea Room, Blackmore, when the Bairds lived ran the business.

Blackmore: Joseph Polley RAF

Received 19 December 2011

I was looking on your website = people who served in World War 2. 

I noticed you had a man named John James Polley, R.A.F.

I’m afraid that John was wrong: should have been Joseph James Polley R.A.F.

I thought the website would like to know this.

His son, Colin P Polley = one of four sons

Replied 7 January 2012

Thank you, Colin, for contacting me.  This has now been amended.

Andrew

Blackmore: War Memorial Project (10)

Thirty seven new pages have been added to the main website which will, in due course, contain details of individual men who gave their lives in the First World War. 31 pages are those who have clear Blackmore connections. A further three each are associated with High Ongar and Highwood. The Blackmore World War One page (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmorewwone.html) is being changed to create an index to accommodate the new pages. The list of those recorded on Blackmore’s War Memorial who returned from War has been updated (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmorewwonesurvivors.html). In addition the Highwood War Memorial has been transcribed (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/writtle.html) and a photograph of the High Ongar War Memorial with those names commemorated added (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/high_ongar.html).

Although the War Memorial does not record any names of those from the Second World War, a webpage has been created and updated relating to this conflict (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmore_ww2.html). Sixty five years after the close of WW2 we remember those who died and those who served too.

Finally a new webpage has been created with photographs relating to Blackmore and the First World War. Go to the ‘Great War Gallery’ page (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/great_war_gallery.html). We are on the lookout for more photographs. Do send them in with your stories.

Mountnessing: Enemy Action 1945

Extract from “Battle over Essex”*
At Teatime in a Village.
Taken from St Giles’ Mountnessing News
September 1997


Shortly after 5p.m. on Wednesday, the 11th of February 1945, a rocket fell in a field at Mountnessing, ten yards from the (then) main London Chelmsford road.

Half the houses in the village were damaged from the blast; the little Congregational Chapel directly opposite the explosion, collapsed; the day school 80 yards away had most of its windows blow in; and two Chelmsford ‘buses missed a tragedy by three minutes. Within a radius of 200 yards not a ceiling remained intact. But there was not a single serious casualty.

The villagers were sitting down to tea. The rocket made a crater close to New Cottage, a modern detached house, and the residence of Mrs Florence Breedon. Mrs Breedon and her daughter were having tea, when the back and one side of the house collapsed beside them. They were blown from their chairs up against the dining-room wall, the room upstairs just disintegrated, and every bit of glass was blown out. Not a plate, dish, or glass in the house remained unbroken.

A rescue squad, hastily mustered, rushed into the ruined house, expecting the worst, but the two occupants had no more than a few bruises, although they suffered a good deal from shock.

Across the road, Mountnessing’s “shopping centre” presented a sorry sight. From the Post-office down to the Congregational Chapel, every window had gone, every ceiling was down, and furniture inside was all at sixes and sevens. The front of the Chapel had completely caved in, and what was left of the wind organ had been carried outside the building. What remains standing of the walls will have to be re-built. Services have been held there every Sunday for 70 years.

Next door to the Chapel live Mr and Mrs John Sawyer, whose semi-detached house “Bethany” suffered badly. Mr Sawyer, local representative of an insurance society, said: “Everything seemed to turn upside down. We were covered with plaster from the ceiling, wall-paper was ripped off in large streamers, the walls appeared to bellow out and then back again, our piano in the front room slithered all round the floor, and in the process lost all the works inside! Dishes in the sideboard kept their shape, but on being touched, fell to pieces. I got a superficial cut on the head. My wife and I were taken to hospital, but we soon recovered.”

It was the same story up to the Post-office, where despite the damage, it was “business as usual” within a very short time.

The explosion was close to the stopping place for the Brentwood to Chelmsford ‘buses, while the ‘buses going the other way stop outside the Post-office opposite. Only three minutes before the rocket came a loaded Chelmsford-bound ‘bus had passed the spot, while the ‘bus going to Brentwood was almost due.

In fact, there were a few people standing outside the Post-office waiting for it at the time. One of them was Miss Harris (Editor – My Aunt) the Head Teacher. They were almost blown off their feet by the force of the explosion. Miss Harris had a few minutes before locked the school, the damage to which necessitated its being closed for five weeks.

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - February 2010

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.


Winter in Blackmore

Fortunately the weather is warmer now than it was about a month ago. On Thursday 7 January I took the opportunity for a walk in the snowy cold weather to take some photographs. They can be found on the Church website on the Gallery page: http://www.stlaurenceblackmore.co.uk/gallery.htm. The picture here is of the icy moat which surrounds Jericho House, the site of the former Blackmore Priory.


Parish Registers Online
Blackmore
‘Essex Ancestors’ is a project under way by the Essex Record Office to digitise Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers across the county. Early copies for Blackmore are now available.
SEAX http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/
ERO D/P 266/1/1. Baptisms : 1602-1712; Marriages : 1602-1749; Burials : 1602-1678: http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/result_details.asp?intOffSet=100&intThisRecordsOffSet=109
ERO D/P 266/1/2. Burials 1678 – 1749: http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/result_details.asp?intOffSet=100&intThisRecordsOffSet=110

Not covered on http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/parishregisters.html is the reference to Baptisms at Blackmore Baptist Church between 1841 (the date of inauguration) and 1908. It can be found at the Essex Record Office on microfilm under reference ERO T/B 324/1.


Essex Ancestors: Parishes beginning with S

The Essex Record Office ‘Essex Ancestors’ project continues. I spy with my little eye something (or parishes) beginning with S: http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/displayParishContents.asp?selAlphabet=S&selParish=0&selChurch=0
Follow this link to choose whatever parish letter you need.
At present none of the Stondon Massey registers have been digitised for viewing on line.


Electoral Registers Online

The 1918 and 1929 Electoral Registers were used to help identify the names of those recorded on the Blackmore War Memorial. Online copies are available through SEAX http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/
ERO C/E 2/1/1. 1918 Electoral Register: http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/result_details.asp?GDH=1&DocID=302555&Reference=C/E%202/1/1
ERO C/E 2/1/12. 1929 Electoral Register: http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/result_details.asp?GDH=1&DocID=442966&Reference=C/E%202/1/12
The ones referred to here cover the Chelmsford Division, i.e. the parishes of Abbess Roding, Beauchamp Roding, Berners Roding, Blackmore, Bobbingworth, Boreham, Brentwood, Broomfield, Buttsbury, Chelmsford, Chignall [Chignall St James and Chignall Smealey], Chipping Ongar (duplicated), Danbury, Doddinghurst, East Hanningfield, Fryerning, Fyfield, Good Easter, Great Baddow, Great Leighs, Great Waltham, Greensted-juxta-Ongar, High Laver, High Ongar, Hutton, Ingatestone, Ingrave, Kelvedon Hatch, Lambourne (duplicated), Little Baddow, Little Laver, Little Leighs, Little Waltham, Margaretting, Mashbury, Moreton, Mountnessing, Navestock, Norton Mandeville, Pleshey, Rettendon, Roxwell, Runwell, Sandon, Shelley, Shellow Bowells, Shenfield, South Hanningfield, South Weald, Springfield, Stanford Rivers, Stapleford Abbots, Stapleford Tawney, Stock, Stondon Massey, Theydon Mount, West Hanningfield, Widford, Willingale Doe, Willingale Spain, Woodham Ferrers and Writtle. Registers for Chelmsford are arranged by street, otherwise the names are in alphabetical order.
Other Registers for elsewhere in Essex are available.


Western Association Front “enlisted”

The Blackmore War Memorial Research Project Group has enlisted enthusiasts who form the Essex Branch of the Western Front Association to share research on the names of those commemorated who died or who served from the village during the First World War. I met representatives who had a stand at the grand reopening of the Essex Regiment Museum on 24 January. The Association meets (typically) twice a month at Hornchurch and Hatfield Peverel for talks. Our research will be shared with the WFA and online in due course but in the meantime if interested in WFA go to http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/


Family History Research

Does anyone out there agree with the theory of Praeto’s Principle: in this case that 80% of family history research is achieved in 20% of the time?


Chelmsford Museums

One cannot fail to be impressed with the new museum extension which has allowed more space for the display of artefacts plus new galleries devoted to the history of electronics in Chelmsford plus a brand new area devoted to the Essex Regiment Museum. For more information go to: http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=6779


Kings Brasserie, High Ongar

During the week commencing 11 January a brown tourism style sign appeared at the junction of King Street, High Ongar with the Chelmsford / Harlow A414 pointing to Kings Brasserie as a restaurant stop. The sign on the former public house changed from The Wheatsheaf on the Thursday evening. The property ceased to be a traditional public house in 2002 when it became a Brasserie and has now had a name change.
For a list of former publicans go to : http://deadpubs.co.uk/EssexPubs/HighOngar/wheatsheaf.shtml


Black Horse, Paslow Common, High Ongar

The year 2002 was an annus horribilis for closing pubs. Just down the road from The Wheatsheaf the Black Horse closed its doors forever. For a list of former publicans go to: http://deadpubs.co.uk/EssexPubs/HighOngar/bhorse.shtml


White Horse, Norton Heath

Another closed public house is the White Horse at Norton Heath, formerly on the main A414 Harlow to Chelmsford road. William J Scudder, later landlord at The Leather Bottle in Blackmore, was publican there in 1898 and 1899. His son, William, who died during the First World War and commemorated on Blackmore’s War Memorial was baptised at Norton Mandeville Church on 13th August 1899. The place of residence given was High Ongar [ERO D/P 267/1/7]. For a list of former publicans go to: http://deadpubs.co.uk/EssexPubs/NortonHeath/whorse.shtml


Margaretting Fire Damaged Pub to be Demolished

The Spread Eagle at Margaretting, a Shepherd Neame public house on the main road (B1002), was badly damaged in a fire last summer. Heritage organisations have surveyed the 400 year old property and agree that it is totally beyond repair. It is to be demolished and the site rebuilt with houses. For a list of former publicans go to: http://deadpubs.co.uk/EssexPubs/Margaretting/seagmarg.shtml


Other Pubs Gone

Charles Napier, Brentwood – demolished 2009: http://deadpubs.co.uk/EssexPubs/Brentwood/napier.shtml
Queens Head, North Weald – fire damaged and demolished: http://deadpubs.co.uk/EssexPubs/NorthWeald/qhead.shtml


A Civilian in The Second World War: The Diaries of E J Rudsdale

Catherine Pearson wrote a note of appreciation for including Eric Rudsdale's WW2 Colchester diary blog in our News item in December 2009. “I believe I have gained several new readers as a result and I have now added a link to your website from Eric's blog and hope it will bring visitors to your site too. Congratulations on your … blog - it is a wonderful resource for the history of Blackmore and the surrounding area and I look forward to using it in the future.” Such kind words are worth another plug for this interesting site. Eric Rudsdale (1910 – 1951) was a curator at Colchester Castle Museum in Essex who during the Second World War decided to maintain regular entries about Colchester and its area. January 1940 was a jolly cold month with much snow. Eric Rudsdale wrote on 26th January: “I am told that at places only a couple of miles out of the town people have been snowbound for more than a week”. Follow this link for more: http://www.wwar2homefront.blogspot.com/


Morris Nichols, cricketer, born Stondon Massey

For more information go to: http://england.cricketworld4u.com/profile/morris-nichols.php


Family History Links

Adams. Ongar. http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=428913.msg2937426;topicseen
Taylor. Buttsbury, Fryerning, Ingatestone, Stock. http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=0u82sl5o6q0ngj20okqj0afhs6&topic=21352.0


BBC A History of the World

A major TV, radio and online project for 2010. For the page on Essex go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/essex/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8352000/8352992.stm


New Flicker Pictures

The Bell Tower interior at “St Lawrence”, Blackmore (Eric Hardy): http://www.flickr.com/photos/erichardyuk/4297301848/


Links

For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - January 2010

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.


Two thousand and Ten, or Twenty Ten?

Received wisdom – from the BBC, listening to the radio on Boxing Day – is that this year should be called ‘Twenty Ten’ not ‘two thousand and ten’. It made me wonder whether, with reference to twenty-twenty vision, the year so expressed implies a dodgy eye and a visit to the optician. The changing of another decade, and the end of the first ten years of the new millennium, gives a moment’s reflection as to where those years have gone. “Who knows where the time goes”. As a local historian I recognise that the efflux of time can be quite an enemy. Capturing memories is important, especially of the sometimes more trivial items which disproportionately say more about the way we lived in the past than sometimes the set piece events. How many people have a photo of the former village shop at Pleshey for example?

A local historian from Ingatestone wrote to the Brentwood Gazette recently saying that nothing had been mentioned of the opening of the Ingatestone Bypass and Secondary School, both in 1959. As an Ingatestone resident I remember a conversation in the late 1980s with an elderly man who I talked to over dinner at a conference in Derbyshire. He asked from where I came from. When I said Ingatestone he immediately knew of its narrow main street and how the traffic got held up there on the main London road before the bypass was built. He was a lorry driver before he retired. The Ingatestone bypass was one of the first dual carriageways to be built on the London to Ipswich road, apart from ‘three mile hill’ which passes Hylands Park beyond Margaretting, now no longer (since 1987) the main A12 route. The retired lorry driver had nothing positive to say about Ingatestone but it was a marvellous insight to years gone by.

If you have story to tell I would be pleased to hear from you. Get those glasses on and start scrawling. Happy twenty ten!


Traditional New Years Day Morris Dancing at lunchtime, Leather Bottle, Blackmore.

Not to be missed. Blackmore Morris Men. A photo here is from 2006: http://gallery.future-i.com/England/1181-1200/pic:newyearsday-2006/full-size


Blackmore War Memorial

A minute from the ‘Meeting of the Blackmore, Hook End & Wyatts Green Parish Council’ held on 15th October 2009 (courtesy of the Blackmore Village website: http://www.blackmorevillage.co.uk/):
War Memorial
Mr Ted Hall is applying for the relevant grant, with the help of Cllr Giordan. It was noted that there were some discrepancies between the Parish records regarding the names displayed on the memorial and Cllr Giordan is attempting to produce an accurate text. The meeting agreed that this should not delay the grant application.
Action: Cllrs Town/Giordan
There are in the village a few people who are interested in the names of those inscribed on the Blackmore (Essex) War Memorial and, like me, have done some research. We will be meeting in the Leather Bottle next week to compare notes and establish an accurate transcription.


Second World War

Linked to the above project is the recent creation of a new web page on the website dedicated to the men and women who served during the Second World War: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmore_ww2.html


Sir Stephen Powle of court and country: memorabilia of a government agent ...

Google Books has recently published a book by this intriguing title, written by Virginia F. Stern, published in 1992. “This biographical study is based on copious sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century materials previously unexplored: letters, diaries, and legal records kept by Stephen Powle. His legal education, struggles to achieve independence from an autocratic and parsimonious father, and his attachment to Lord Burgley as a surrogate parent are documented.”

Sir Stephen Powle’s connection with Blackmore (Essex) is that he became lord of the manor of Blackmore when he married Margaret Smyth, the widow of Thomas Smyth of Smyths Hall, in 1593. Thomas and Margaret are commemorated with a tomb in the Priory Church of St Laurence, being erected by Sir Stephen Powle himself (see picture). The website displays the text relevant to Blackmore but on my computer it is difficult to read. However a link to Amazon enabled me to purchase the book from America for an extremely small amount of money. Having read the book over the Christmas season it has yielded more information on the Smyth family, which I will share this month.


New Tiles for Old: Appeal to Re-roof Ancient Church

News from Stondon Massey Church:

The present tiles on both faces of the Nave Roof at St Peter and St Paul Church, Stondon Massey (Essex) have, over a very long time, become fragile and subject to wind damage and failure. Regular replacements are becoming more frequent and therefore more expensive.

A generous legacy from a much loved church member has given the Church PCC a God sent opportunity to change this situation. Our Diocesan architect has recommended that as the existing condition of the roof is poor and the fixings are deteriorating, we should re tile and in so doing protect the church and in particular, the ceiling beneath.

Having approached a number of grant making bodies who were unable to offer funding, we have had the good fortune to be offered a grant of £8,000 by “Friends of Essex Churches”. Friends of Essex Churches have helped us before and in turn welcome support from individuals in their charitable work.

We are much encouraged and with a current shortfall of £2,000 the PCC are looking for ways to bridge the gap between the money available and the estimated total of £28,000, so that a contract may be placed. The Diocesan Advisory Committee endorses our proposal.

Donations to “St Peter & St Paul PCC” may be sent to our Hon Treasurer, c/o The Vicarage, Church Street, Blackmore, Ingatestone, Essex. CM4 0RN.


Wheal family of Stondon Massey

The family history community has been corresponding on a Woolnough family but thrown up the following entry: “Cornelius [Wheal] in [the] 1871 [census] in Mile End Old Town: Corneal Wheal, 23, boarder, pork butcher assist., born Essex, Stondon Massey”. He was christened “Cornel Wheal, 02 JAN 1848 [at] Stondon-Massey, Essex. Parents: James Wheal and Mary Wheal“. Later “Found 1901 [census], in Forest Gate, West Ham: Corneal Wheal 53, widower, butcher's assist., b. Stondon Massey, Essex; Mary Page 81, mother, b. High Ongar, Essex; Sarah Chambers 42, sister, b. Stondon Massey, Essex”. The full sequence of correspondence can be found on http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=peqt2bakma8k847l5opq4t5do7&topic=422599.msg2871390


Dennis family, Blackmore

Anne Dennis, born 1874, Blackmore, is mentioned on the following Australian site as living in East Ham in 1901. This is another example of someone who moved away from the village depopulating the parish at the end of the nineteenth century: http://www.genesreunited.com.au/family-history-records/1901-Census/dennis/Anne/results.aspx


Family Histories

Knight. Blackmore. http://www.gillandtony.com/genealogy/names12.htm
Rolph. Blackmore, Writtle and neighbouring parishes. http://www.gillandtony.com/genealogy/names18.htm
Shuttleworth. Blackmore. http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/SHUTTLEWORTH/2008-02/1201872037
Farrow. Norton Mandeville. http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=q6ravpvepiob83cs09q4aclmv6&topic=393573.0
Elizabeth Betts. High Ongar. http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=364390.msg2830940;topicseen
The following pages are an excellent example of putting ancestors within the context of the area in which they lived. This family historian has an interesting story to relate.
James Bettis (1825 -1872), Stanford Rivers. http://www.pjbettis.co.uk/?p=1603
William Bettis (1861 – 1927), Stanford Rivers. http://www.pjbettis.co.uk/?p=1575


Pictures

Rectory Cottage, Willingale. A new entry on Geograph: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1612851
The Baroness’ House, The Green, Writtle. A new entry on Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcurmudgeon/4038316146/


Buttsbury Ford

It’s part of our local heritage that the ford – Buttsbury Wash – on the back road from Buttsbury Church to Billericay is often deeper than you think. The road dips and turns slightly to the left as it crosses the River Wid, a meandering stream in the summer but a raging torrent after heavy rainfall in the winter. It’s deceptive too. As a local I was once nearly caught out: my car nearly stalled as it negotiated the depths. So cross, if you dare, with extreme care. Beware lest the river engulfs your car. A story of the crossing is given here: “Fire Brigade statistics show it to be the worst location of its kind in the country” http://cheaper-cars.co.uk/511145-First-Aid-for-Flooded-Cars.html



Edith’s Streets

A blog is dedicated to the history of square kilometres in the London area. A recent post refers to a Mr H. S. Ashton of Ingatestone who gave land for a playing field at Woodford Bridge: http://edithsstreets.blogspot.com/2009/12/londonessex-border-woodford-bridge.html. Does anyone know who Mr Ashton was?


Prince Albert public house, Blackmore

A list of publicans and residents down the years may be found by following this link. http://londonpublichouse.com/EssexPubs/Blackmore/palbert.shtml


Parish Registers

The following webpage contains a list of surnames appearing in ancient parish registers of Bobbingworth, Fyfield, Greensted, Lambourne, Moreton, Ongar, and Stapleford Tawney in our local area: http://www.archive.org/stream/listparishregis03crisgoog/listparishregis03crisgoog_djvu.txt


Stanford Rivers’ Sermons

The National Library of Australia has in its collection ‘XXXI [31] sermons preached to the parishioners of Stanford-Rivers in Essex [microform] : upon serveral subjects and occasions / by Charles Gibbes’. This is a collection of preaching in the Church of England dated during the 17th century (1604 -1681). (http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1752554?lookfor=preached&offset=158&max=33736)


Blackmore Area Local History: Stondon Worthies

Three new web pages have just been published on the main website devoted to local celebrities of Stondon Massey. They are:
William Byrd: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/stondon_william_byrd.html
John Carre: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/stondon_john_carre.html
Nathaniel Ward: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/stondon_nathaniel_ward.html


Turning Pages

Fans of the composer William Byrd will learn that Lady Nevells Books can be viewed at the British Library. http://media-newswire.com/release_1108127.html


Byrd Edition Volume 12

A review of the ongoing cycle of William Byrd’s work presented by The Cardinall’s Musick under director Andrew Carwood is given on http://www.classical.net/~music/recs/reviews/h/hyp67675a.php


Links

For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html

BLACKMORE HISTORY NEWS - December 2009

Welcome to this month’s round-up of local history and heritage in and around Blackmore, Essex.

Christmas Greetings

Blackmore Post Office, on a snowy day in February 2009.

The Making of Modern Britain

Andrew Marr’s prequel to the ‘History of Modern Britain’ is completing its six programme run on BBC television. ‘The Making of Modern Britain’ covers the period from the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 to the end of the Second World War in 1945. Programme 4, which covered the 1920s, is of local interest. Part of the programme is devoted to the development of radio. There is a scene outside the Marconi works at Chelmsford, and the recollection of Dame Nellie Melba’s visit to the town in 1920 to broadcast songs across the wireless. The film then moves to the green at Writtle and village sign to tell how regular weekly broadcasts began in February 1922 in an ex-army hut with the call sign 2MT. The broadcasts were planned in the former Cock and Bell pub, now the Blue Bridge restaurant. Viewers see a shot of this building. E P Eckersley was the first presenter from whom Marr says “Terry Wogan. Late Night Talk Shows and Radio One all began”. An item on 2 Emma Tock (2MT) Writtle appears on the blog this month. Mention was also made that Winston Churchill was returned in the 1920s as a Conservative MP for Epping. This great man appears in every programme, such was his stature in Britain and British politics. The accompanying book is highly recommended to me by a friend.


Gardeners World

Also on TV, Carol Klein charted the role of women in horticulture in a special edition of Gardeners World. She visited Warley Place telling the story of Ellen Wilmott, one of the greatest plants-women of the early twentieth century. The grounds are now in the hands of the Essex Wildlife Trust.


Dudness. Essex. Where is it?

Braisher T (aka Tamsin) wrote recently on http://www.forum.familyhistory.uk.com/showthread.php?t=12269:

“Hi. One of my ancestors is repeatedly listed on censuses as having been born in Dudness, Essex. Web searches only show up other census entries for Dudness - I can't find any reference to a past or present place with this name! Anyone have any ideas?”

… later adding …

“I've found another return for the same ancestor with what looks to be Dodenhurst. So maybe Dudness could be a contraction of Doddinghurst in Brentwood? Or maybe that's just wishful thinking!”

I can actually say with some confidence that the parish in question is Doddinghurst. When my grandfather signed up for a second tour of duty in the Army following the First World War his papers say he was born in “Doddnerst”. (He wasn’t born there but that is not the point.) Put on an Essex accent and you end up with various spellings. Durrant’s Handbook of Essex 1887 – produced in Chelmsford - (p91) refers to “Doddinghurst (often pronounced Dod’n’st)”. Good luck in finding your Duddinghurst ancestors!


High Ongar War Memorial

Thanks to Paul HP, a record of the names on the War Memorial at High Ongar is recorded on ‘Flicker’. Follow this link to Private George William Wright (mistakenly transcribed as C. W. Wright) and others. http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/2650362307/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/2650355825/in/set-72157606060437269/
The whole set for St Mary’s Church, High Ongar and the War Memorial can be viewed on http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606060437269/.


‘Harlow Irish’ Essex Sets

Paul HP is a prolific photographer and contributor to ‘Flicker’. He covers the following parishes:
Abbess Roding (St Edmund’s Church): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606186424388/
Beauchamp Roding (St Botolph’s Church): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606166867196/
Berners Roding (redundant church of All Saints): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606167114963/
Fryerning (St Mary the Virgin): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157605988835733/
Greensted-juxta-Ongar (St Andrew’s Church): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606056093562/
High Laver (St Andrew’s Church): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606094038559/
Little Laver (St Mary The Virgin): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606201886616/
Magdalen Laver (St Mary’s Church): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157605980880193/
Matching (St Mary The Virgin): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606202687060/
Norton Mandeville (All Saints’ Church): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606226657703/
Willingale (St Christopher’s Church, Willingale Doe & St Andrew’s Church, Willingale Spain): http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/sets/72157606073345672/

Finally for the whole Essex collection go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/harlowirish/collections/72157607893278437/


Porter Family in Writtle

Andrea63 on Genes Reunited gives some information about the Porter family of Writtle, who emigrated to Australia, but asks questions about “joining the dots”. See link: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=418197.msg2837844;topicseen


Blackmore Families Index

Some Blackmore families on the web:
Arthy: http://www.earthy.net/Essex2_census.html
Sutton: http://www.sevenoaksart.co.uk/sutton.htm
Wakelin: http://www.researchmyfamily.com/McGg80.htm
Woolley: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/d.tappin/DataWOOLLEY.htm


William Byrd Biography

Another biography of the local Elizabethan composer of Stondon Massey has appeared on the internet. Go to: http://arts.jrank.org/pages/1058/William-Byrd.html


A Civilian in The Second World War: The Diaries of E J Rudsdale

Eric Rudsdale (1910 – 1951) was a curator at Colchester Castle Museum in Essex. Since the age of 10 he had kept a diary but, feeling that the outbreak of the Second World War was a tumultuous moment decided to maintain regular entries about the north Essex town and its area. “The aim of this blog is to show, through Eric’s observations, how the town and the people he knew were directly affected by war. The diary extracts, therefore, have been edited to reflect this aim and, as Eric did not always write an entry in his diary every day, there are days when no entry appears in this account. Where necessary, short commentaries will be provided to give the historical context for the events he describes in his journal.” Although not in our area this is a ‘Blog of Note’ for all historians and recorders. http://www.wwar2homefront.blogspot.com/


1939 Census

The BBC has reported calls for a census taken on the outbreak of the Second World War to be released. The emergency headcount was taken for the purpose of issuing Identity Cards. After the 1921 census, which is due for release in 2022, genealogists will have to wait a whole generation for more data to be made available. A census was not taken in 1941, and the 1931 census was destroyed by fire. For more on 1939 see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8363341.stm


Essex Police

Martyn Lockwood has written a new book entitled ‘The Essex Police Force’ covering 170 of policing in the county. For more follow: http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/4762543.POLICE_FORCE_THROUGH_THE_AGES/


Blackmore Area Local History

This project is now two years old so it is appropriate to take stock and announce plans for 2010.

The database continues to grow with at least 50 pages now on the main website and 350 entries on this blog. Without having a hit counter on this blog it is difficult to know the number of people who visit but in the first year of its operation (to 31 October 2009), the main site http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ received 514 visitors.

Between 2005 and 2008 I was involved in producing scripts for two productions of ‘Through Changing Scenes’ at the churches of Blackmore and Stondon Massey. The event led to the creation of two books: ‘Blackmore. A Short History’ and ‘Stondon Massey. A Short History’ both of which are currently available. These are extended versions of the text used in the performances. These events will not be repeated – because it is right to move on to other projects – but it seems a shame to leave them unpublished. I have decided to add the original scripts to the site. The Blackmore script may be found on http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmore_through_changing-scenes.html and the Stondon Massey script on http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/stondon_through_changing-scenes.html

Also new to the website is ‘Blackmore. Then and Now’ (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/blackmore_then-and-now.html). This includes copies of postcards I have from the early twentieth century with comparative photographs taken recently.

Until recent years I lived in Ingatestone so I have known of the large houses in Station Lane for a lifetime. These were built by architect George Sherrin who died in 1909. We remember his work on the blog this month with additional pictures now on the Ingatestone page (http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ingatestone.html).

Plans for the website for the next year include:
- uploading photographs taken in Ingatestone High Street in 1985
- creating a series of pages called ‘Blackmore. The Library Collection’ which will feature photographs I received from a collector who had a display in the former Blackmore local library back in the 1980s.

The blog will continue with local history news and feedback from readers. I am not planning new online projects for publication next year because I want to spend some time “off line” pursuing an historical topic.

Over the years (since 2004) I have written a number of booklets for sale in aid of church funds at Blackmore and Stondon Massey. Some sell well whilst others languish on the bookstall for months. I have decided to confine publications to a shortlist of best sellers. The final shortlist will appear on this blog soon. I am considering the publication some of the more obscure, but nonetheless interesting, material online.

The purpose of ‘Blackmore Area Local History’ is to share knowledge of local heritage. It is always a pleasure to receive contributions, comments and questions from readers. The worldwide web is a fabulous resource and means of sharing and encouraging further research. The Internet has opened opportunities for contact to be made from people all over this planet – from people in America and Australia, to other places in Essex as well as literally around the corner to where I live.

Thanks for visiting the sites. Enjoy!


Links

For an extensive list of links to other sites go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/externallinks.html