1 20 1011 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/a8cd939b3cfec71cbc9942d934e26302.jpg 40fe7ea6a08bcb269d76313b72b73462 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/c5db85dc4f78af8aea97c45551ae8b7e.jpg 17a8cb22f3dc053064554f865f57ddc3 Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Gibbs Family Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2604201700 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families & Businesses [File 6] Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1900s Description An account of the resource Edward & Emma Gibbs with their three children Evelyn, Edward (Ned) and Marjorie. The second image, taken at a later date, is of Marjorie Gibbs with her pet rabbits, probably taken in the garden at The Laurels, the Gibbs family home on Dereham Road, previously called Verandah House. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Gibbs https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/aca62f3c7214d40cbbb424ff1a7ff850.pdf 34fd5f730c9a479c2224556128ac655c PDF Text Text Sale of Properties, 1919 GB/REE/2602181500 ���� Text-digital Any text item for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The text can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a text owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Sale of Properties 1919 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2602181500 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1919 Description An account of the resource Irelands sale at the Kings Arms in May 1919, advertising a number of freehold properties in the three parishes. <br />The top lots were Ivy House in Whitwell, and The Bungalow in Hackford. Other lots included more cottages and land at Bilhams Hill, and a double cottage in Reepham. <br />William Overton, the baker, purchased Ivy House for £250 paying a £50 deposit.&nbsp;<br />Ivy House is described as being <em>'at Bilhams Hill, next the road leading from Whitwell Street to Eade's Mill.</em>' The Bungalow faced <em>'the road to Hackford Vale, near Reepham Market Place.'</em> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource S.Bird 1919 Overton Whitwell Street https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/08ba1b477a4aae0b590e53ac27024fd7.jpg 8a2dbdf6d9397d6e7d3bde5983a55d6a Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Hettie Sexton Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2602151530 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families & Businesses [File 6] Description An account of the resource Harriet Sexton (1899-1934) Baptised Harriet, Hettie Sexton was born in Briston in 1899. In 1911 she was boarding with Charles Timbers and his housekeeper in 5 Newland Villas. She was still lodging with Charles in 1921 in one of the cottages on The Hill and working as a dressmaker. In 1925 she married Cecil Reeve, a tailor.. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Reeve Sexton https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/09bff45e3598d16c9f8dfa4853ee8eb1.jpg e862bfb3532b0886e374000f4d7d3873 Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource George Mason Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2602151500 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families & Businesses [File 6] Description An account of the resource Studio photograph of George Mason (1890-1959), probably taken when he enlisted during WWI. In the 1920s George worked as a horseman at Eades Mill Farm for R. B. Howes. George married Lucy Piercy in 1923. In 1939 they were living in the Birchams Yard cottages on Norwich Road. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Mason Piercy https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/42d6b80ca82e897095d718c84f2b62a5.pdf 00c2fad212cc305c9b5d2f564a36e256 PDF Text Text Bell Ringers in St. Michael's GB/REE/2602151400 � Photograph-printed Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bell Ringers in St. Michael's Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2602151400 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 2 B&W photographs 210mm x 160mm Poor condition Families & Businesses [File 6, Archive Box 106] Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant St. Michaels Church Description An account of the resource Walter Ford was a member of the Norwich Diocesan Association of Bellringers for 60 years and Reepham's tower captain from 1944. Walter began ringing when he was 15. He lived long enough to see the re-hanging & addition of two more bells (1977-1979) but was prevented by ill-health from ringing on them. He rang 59 peals for the Association of which 11 were on hand-bells. The first image shows the ringers in St. Michael's. L to R :- Herbert Laskey, Roy Smith, ?, Eric Durrant, Christopher Hurst, John Smith from Aylsham, Rev. Hurst, ?, & Walter Ford The second image shows a handbell group outside St. Michael's. L to R :- Roy Smith, ?, Eric Durrant, Walter Ford, & Herbert Laskey Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Eastern Daily Press Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Eastern Daily Press bells Ford Laskey https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/ea2b6e961be7701220957236cc0a3437.jpg 833738c2e6689b995141a106279bf7a2 Artefact-physical Physical objects other than texts, photographs, maps etc. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Herbert Temple Christian Owen Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2602110930 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource A4 cream card Families & Businesses [File 6, Archive Box 106] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1957 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1957 Reepham Parish Church Description An account of the resource Illuminated address presented to Herbert Temple Owen in 1957 to mark his services as church warden for more than fifty years. Herbert came from North Walsham where his father was a clergyman. In 1901, at the age of 25, Herbert was already a bank manager and by his early 30s he had become bank manager for Barclays Bank in Reepham. He lived at Moor Lodge, Reepham with his wife Annie who was the youngest daughter of Rev. Michael M. U. Wilkinson, vicar of St. Mary's, Reepham. He died in 1959 and after his wife's death in 1964 their daughter Barbara continued to live at Moor Lodge until her death in 2006. Owen Wilkinson https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/822859272cdbb7bad9a5841dd280cf79.jpg a0a9dfc0dfd28384e980826ee0b4cfd8 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/ade1562f3cb319f81247357ce125b021.jpg 4399f4ef4ec7e396a95c5afc2185bce8 Photograph-printed Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Henry Piercy Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2508041730 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 1 B&W photograph 1 digital image Families & Businesses [File 6,Archive Box 106] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1916 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1916 Description An account of the resource Henry John Piercy (1860-1933) was a great uncle of Wesley Piercy (cousin to Wesley's grandfather Thomas Piercy). Henry was married to Emma Bowes in 1884 and worked as a gardener. In 1901 he was working in Euston, Suffolk, for the Duke of Grafton at Euston Hall. In 1911 Henry and Emma were back in Reepham and in 1921 Henry was working for the Kendrews on the Ollands estate and, as his address is Norwich Road he may have occupied one of the two cottages that belonged to the estate. Emma died in 1915 and the following year Henry married Fanny Hilda Archer. Henry died in 1933 and both he and Fanny are buried in the Whitwell Road Cemetery. The photographs of Henry and Fanny suggest they were taken at their wedding in 1916. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Piercy https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/fa770bf338145eebe529acf9b05ba89f.jpg f2c594ad3189c8cb219b834e78084c54 Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Eva Mabel Leonard Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2602031920 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families & Businesses [File 6} Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1918 Description An account of the resource Eva Mabel Leonard (1896-1977) Studio portrait taken about 1918 Eva's husband was Reginald Fisher, youngest son of George Ephraim Fisher. George ran the grocery an drapery business from the premises that was once Motts Pharmacy, now the Deli/Farm Shop. Reginald & Eva were running a shop in Barnham Broom in 1939, living next door to Eva's parents Herbert and Hannah Leonard. Herbert was a retired farmer who had once run Ollands Farm in Heydon. In 1921 Reginald was a boarder as a farm pupil with the Leonards in Heydon. Reginald and Eva were married in 1924. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Fisher https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/10e323082f7a458bdfad9531f44cdb3d.jpg e19b2d5da7bf8b65d3ec298b826b3cd9 Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Alice Maud Gayford Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2602031900 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families & Businesses [File 6] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1920s Description An account of the resource Alice Maud Gayford (1894-1939) Alice was the daughter of Frederick Gayford, a carpenter. She was a domestic servant The photograph was probably taken in about 1921 when Alice was working for William and Mercy Pitcher in London. William had been a schoolmaster in Reepham, living in the school house next to the school on School Road (also called Whitwell Road). William and Mercy had lived in Reepham for more than 20 years but in 1921, after retirement, they are registered in south west London where Alice was their servant. Alice died in Reepham in January 1939. By the late 1920s the Pitchers were back in Reepham where Mercy died in 1928. In 1939 William was living on Norwich Road with his brother-in-law Archie Chaffey, also a retired teacher. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Gayford https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/055f20182ba2deacede9305b19082224.pdf 801e2f92834f85475cc976e61325dc2e PDF Text Text Early Days These images have been cropped from a set of original stereographs. Two images were mounted side by side and viewed through a stereoscope with two eye pieces and a holder placed in front of the lenses creating an illusion of 3D. They gained popularity after the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition. These examples may date from the 1870s but may be earlier as Johnson Cripps the chemist was already in residence by 1861 in what is commonly known as the Bank Building. Example of an original card, ready to be viewed RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Henry Edward Hawes (1863-1957) In this photograph published in a local newspaper in 1955 Harry Hawes is pictured on the right pointing at the sun dial with his stick. With him are Mr. R. Harmer and Mr. W. Freeston on the left, and Mr. Joe Piercy, Mr. and Mrs. J. Higton and Mr. E. Barrett on the right. Harry was then 92 and a few years earlier he had written down copious memories of Reepham in exercise books. Harry Hawes died in 1957 age 94. His widow allowed the Rev. Paul Kelly to transcribe Harry's handwritten notes and they were published in the parish magazine in instalments between Sept 1978 & Jan 1980. The title was "A True Story" and describes the houses, their occupiers and businesses in Reepham Market Place. A further version is entitled "Past News" which begins with details of Reepham Moor and continues into the Market Place. For each building he first gives the name of the current tenant, i.e. in the 1950s, before going on to his own childhood recollections of previous residents in the 1870s and sometimes later. Short extracts from Harry's writings were used as the basis for the Reepham Society publication "Harry Hawes' Walk". Harry's descriptions and reminiscences from the 1870s help us to place people and families in particular buildings and, together with other sources, e.g. censuses, commercial directories, electoral rolls, parish registers assist in putting lives and events into chronological order, making the timeline of Reepham more comprehensible. An example of Harry's longhand script :- RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Marjorie Gibbs 1899-1992 Marjorie was the youngest child of Edward and Emma Gibbs. Her memories of her childhood have provided us with valuable information about the people of Reepham, the shops and trades carried on in the Market Place in the years immediately before, during and after the First World War. Edward & Emma Gibbs with their three children, Edward , known as Ned, Marjorie in the centre and Evelyn on the right. Marjorie's father Edward ran an Ironmonger and seed business from the premises now occupied by Reepham Antiques and Parson's Estate Agents. The Gibbs business in Reepham began in 1888 and closed on December 31st 1967. In 1920 Edward Gibbs took his son Edward into the business and Marjorie herself became a partner in 1955. Edward and Emma Gibbs with daughters Evelyn and Marjorie late 1920s By 1939 Edward and Emma with the two daughters Evelyn an Marjorie were living at The Laurels on Dereham Road. This house was sometimes called Veranda House and had been built by Thomas Lincoln, a relation of Harry Hawes. Marjorie was still living in The Laurels at the time of her death in 1992. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Wesley Piercy (1917-2014) The Piercy family can be traced back in Reepham to the first part of the eighteenth century and Wesley was related to several other Reepham families, e.g. Timbers, Kiddell.. Wesley had no wish to live anywhere else and apart from his war service lived in Reepham all his life. During the 1970’s a group of historians and archaeologists interested in Reepham’s history, ran a number of Workers’ Educational Association courses in the town, led by lecturers David Yaxley, Chris Barringer and Richard Joby. Subsequently Wesley passed on his researches into the town’s history to local organisations, including the Reepham Society. Some of those talks are included in "My Town", published by the Reepham Society in 2007. Wesley was a lifelong Methodist and also wrote "The Story of Reepham Methodist Chapel", a comprehensive history of the Methodist Chapel which stands on Station Road at the Kerdiston Road turning. An account of Wesley's war experiences is included in the BBC2 People’s War Website under parts 1-4, A Baker at War. Wesley started work at the Old Bakery in 1934; the proprietor then being Mr. Albert Reeder and his son Walter. Neither father nor son had been long in the baking trade. Mr. Reeder senior had been manager of a shoe shop in Cromer and Walter had been a grocery assistant. The most experienced person working there was Mr. Alfred Burrage, a pensioner who worked part time to supplement his pension. He was the son of a master baker and knew the baking trade thoroughly. In the eighteenth century the bakery was run by the Scurll family who figure in Woodforde’s "Diary of a Country Parson" The servant whom the parson calls Briton – Brettingham Scurll - was the son of the baker. Photograph taken when Wesley was stationed in Alexandria during World War II Wesley's mother Lucy with her younger sister Elsie RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Changes on the West Side of the Market Place Before 1903 Hall the Saddlers & George Fisher's Grocery & Drapery The flat front on the saddler's building became unsafe and was replaced by the stepped roof we see today. Above :Hall the Saddlers with its altered roof, railings & the cottage next door with a white picket fence. Left :The cottage in the 1870s with its fence & gate. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Late 1920s - Early 1930s John Ebenezer Hall outside his shop. The saddlers shop now has a central entrance. The railings have been replaced with guard rails. Although it is still named as a saddlers a notice board on the left advertises resources for motorised transport - Rigid Screens, Motor Hoods, Celluloid Panels. When John Hall retired he moved into the cottage next door until he died in 1955. Late 1920s - Early 1930s View showing the projection on the right hand side of the 'Bank Building' Harry Hawes writes about building this new door & window to house a bank. It was a branch of Gurney's until the merger in 1896. Barclay's eventually set up in the shop on the corner. Gurneys Bank in the early 1920s Barclays Bank in the 1930s RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Left :Barclays Bank in 1957. By 1991/2 the branch had moved into the cottage but finally closed in 2000 and was replaced by a branch of HSBC. Below :Two aerial views from the 1990s. The first shows Barclays still in the corner premises but the old 'bank projection' has been removed. The lower colour image shows that Barclays has moved into the cottage premises. The dormer on the cottage was removed sometime in the 1980s. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �L. L. Skipper Advertising carpets & floor coverings 1980s D. B. Attfield Family Butcher offering bulk buying of meat for your 'deep freeze' The branch of HSBC opened in 2000 Left :- Scene after the ram-raid and theft of the ATM in 2012. It resulted in the branch closing for several months. The HSBC in Reepham finally closed in October 2015. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Some Reepham Shops in the 1920s 1 Harry Hawes says that In the 1870s a James Kirby ran the shop in these premises. After a few months closure for re-fitting the new tenant was Alfred Roy, father to the Roy brothers who set up Roys of Wroxham. HIs tenancy was brief - Samuel Barnes was made bankrupt in July 1871 and Alfred Roy moved across the Market Place to the shop where Kings the optician is now. James Kirby continued in the re-fitted shop and was still there in 1881. n the 1950s a Mr. Carman had the shop. It later became "The Chimes" which dealt in antiques and had a tea shop as well. In the 1920s Harry Swoish had a barber shop in the end part of Fisher's building. A haircut cost 6d for a man and 4d for a boy. Harry had had a colourful life in the army, joining when he was 18. He served in Mesopotamia and India and later in the First World War. Marjorie Gibbs recalls :- "The last house facing east was the barber’s, complete with gay striped pole. This was kept by Mr. Arthur Fowle, a prominent member of the local branch of the Plymouth Brethren. This business was later taken by Mr. Harry Swoish who remained there for many years." Arthur Fowle came from West Barsham. In 1901 he was living in Bawdeswell with his parents and brother and working as a farm labourer. By 1921 he had moved away from Reepham to Harpenden, Herts, still with a hairdressing business. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �2 William Utting took over the premises from Richard Watts Austin in the early 1920s, shown by these receipts from 1921/2 Wesley Piercy :"Next a butchers shop which Mr. W. Utting took over from Mr. Watts Austin about 1923. Mr. Utting bought his bullocks and pigs at Reepham cattle market and with other local butchers slaughtered them himself in the slaughter house on Station Road, opposite the Methodist Chapel. His slaughter man was Mr. Albert Fowle." Marjorie Gibbs :"Next came the butcher’s shop, kept by Mr. R. W. Austin. He had a tenor voice and sang in the choir and he was another tradesman who was a member of the parish council." Harry Hawes :"In the 1870s this shop was occupied by William Hannant who carried on business as a corn chandler & also sold coal by the hundred weights (at 1/- per hundred weight)." In modern times it was a fish shop run by Mr. Wright & is now Diane's Pantry. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �John Symonds (1734?-1815) John Symonds, clock and watchmaker is the earliest resident found of the cottage that is now Motts Pharmacy. He was the clockmaker to the diarist Parson Woodforde who lived at Weston Longville from 1776 until his death in 1803 and who made numerous interesting entries regarding Symonds over a period of time including, on the 31st August 1776: "Mr Symonds at Reepham brought home my new clock today and put the same up, for which I paid him £6.6.0. It is a very neat clock and I like it very much." (See Norfolk and Norwich Clocks & Clockmakers, edited by Clifford & Yvonne Bird for further information). Parson Woodforde's Reepham Connections Parson James Woodforde was resident in Weston Longville from 1774 until his death in 1803. He had several connections to Reepham, notably his long case clock made by John Symonds. Visits to Reepham were made for the 'Generals' which were regular ecclesiastical meetings, consisting of a church service followed by meals at the Kings Arms (host Mr. Bell). Woodforde's servant Briton was a Brettingham Scurll from Reepham. Brettingham had relatives who were bakers, notably his younger sister Lydia, recorded as a baker & flour seller in the premises on Church Street once known as Echo Antiques and a Thomas Scurll on Back Street. Parson Woodforde also records family dinners with the Priest family in Reepham. Richard Priest was rector of Reepham from 1757 until his death in 1799. Richard and his brother Robert often exchanged hospitality with Parson Woodforde. www.parsonwoodforde.org.uk Right :A Symonds oak long case clock offered in a Fine Art Sale in July 2015 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood salerooms in Exeter, Devon. The face of a Symonds long case clock showing the maker's name. Found on a Spanish website. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �James Shreeve Woolmer (1789-1879) The second clockmaker in the Market Place cottage is James Shreeve Woolmer who was also an auctioneer and spent most of his life in Reepham, Norfolk. He was born in Yarmouth in 1789, married Marianne Hunt, fathered 9 children, and passed away on 17th November 1879. In 1814 John Symonds retired from business & handed over his trade to James Woolmer. Courtesy of Holt Antique Furniture Norfolk Chronicle 8 January 1814 James Woolmer was well regarded in the town and in 1869 a special party was given to celebrate his 80th birthday. Norfolk News 20 March 1869 In November 1879 when James died, a muffled peal of bells was a reminder that he had been a bell ringer for many years Norwich Mercury 22 November 1879 A memory from Harry Hawes:"Mr. Woolmer wore a tall hat and black frock coat. Every night at about four o'clock you could see him on his way to the church to wind up the clock. One of the weights was made of iron the other was made of lead. Each was suspended on 15 or 16 feet of rope. They each worked up and down a long box. One day the ratchet of one of the weights got out of repair. The crank knocked the poor old man and hurt him. My mother with my help did the clock winding for a few months. I remember seeing one of the brass weights the date 1760." RA/JDA/Nov2025 �We have been provided with images of James Woolmer and his wife Marianne by Nick Gribble of Norfolk, a direct descendant of the clock maker himself . The first image shows the couple in about 1875 and may have been taken to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. The second at the gate of their Market Place property in Reepham, Norfolk in about 1878. Beautiful example of a Woolmer long case clock Courtesy of Rose Barnes RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Robert Barber (1824-1913) Downham Market Gazette 3 May 1913 Marjorie Gibbs recalls :"Next to the bank was Mr. Robert Barber, a watchmaker, a Crimean veteran, and a man to be revered since he had been in “furrin’ parts”. He was a gentle, quiet man having a white beard almost to his waist. My first recollection in connection with him is of a string of watches hung across the centre of the sash window and of being taken to the house to see his war medals and old shako." "Advice to Young Men" from Robert Barber's interview for the Diss Express in 1913 RA/JDA/Nov2025 �The Old Bakery This image shows the Old Bakery in the early 1900s before the Brewery House's frontage was extended. William J Ford's name can be seen as well as an advert for Hovis. In the 1840s and 1850s James Davidson was the baker & confectioner occupying the bakery house with his wife and daughter and employing two more bakers. By 1871, and continuing into the 1890s, Alexander Ormiston, baker, confectioner and Wesleyan preacher, was resident in the bakery house and James Davidson had retired to the adjoining house. Harry Hawes remembers the Ormiston family in the 1870s :Now came the premises of Messrs. Ford this was tenanted by Mr. Ormiston, Baker and Confectioner. .........On Sunday mornings at 10.45 all the family could be seen going to church, Mr. Ormiston with tall silk hat and kid gloves, Mrs. Ormiston with her claret coloured silk dress. (She had some lovely curls.) Before 1894 William John Ford and his first wife Ellen with three children moved from Hampshire into Reepham. A fourth child, Gladys, was baptised in Hackford Parish in November 1894. Sadly Ellen died two years later but William was married again in 1897 to Eliza Holt and they had five more children. The youngest child was Walter Ford (19051980) who eventually took over the bakery business. Marjorie Gibbs 1900-1920 Wesley Piercy 1920s-30s Mrs. Clitheroe, an elderly lady with a lace cap worn at an angle, lived in the next house. Her granddaughter lived there also and was a friend of my sister. Miss Shingles followed Mrs. Clitheroe, a lady very fond of children, often entertaining some of them for tea. Miss Kezia Scotton followed on. She was a popular Red Cross nurse at the local war hospital during the War. The next house was occupied by Mrs. Knights and her son Jack and later by Mr. and Mrs. Dick Ford. Adjoining was the bakery owned by Mr. Ford. He was twice married and had a large family. His bread was renowned far and wide as the best bread in the district, with a real home‐made texture. Ford’s bakery was next. Mrs. Ford senior was a native but Mr. Ford, I believe, came from Somerset. On Wednesdays (Market day) they did teas. The Fords were often delivering late at night after people were in bed. The bread was sometimes left in peculiar places. Dick and Walter Ford were both bell ringers at St. Michael’s. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �The Old Bakery Walter Ford with his brother Richard and sister Elsie outside the bakery (1940s?) from Walter's obituary in the parish magazine in 1980 Walter was a bell ringer for sixty years and tower captain from 1944 after William Wasey's death. In the Snow 1947 RA/JDA/Nov2025 �The Old Bakery In 1969 Winnie Rogers and her husband John arrived in The Old Bakery and embarked on serious alterations. Below : The flour store before alterations began. Above : One of the huge ovens in the yard. The much smaller muffin oven was inside the working part of the house. Shop entrance Stabling for two horses Shed on right demolished - replaced by garden RA/JDA/Nov2025 �The Post Office Left :- The Blue House Above :- Bevan House The Blue House, Market Place Harry Hawes :- This was occupied by Miss Sands, a middle aged lady, she kept the Post Office and she kept two clerks, Miss Eliza Rudd (D. Chapman's Aunt), and John Hill. There was no entering the Post Office. There was a small door in the wall between the door and the window. Customers gave a tap on the small door and waited outside to be waited on. Amelia Sands lived in this house with her father Alexander Sands, relieving officer and registrar for the town. By 1881 Amelia Sands had retired. Her clerk Eliza Rudd moved into Bevan House on Dereham Road with her parents and family and set up the post office there. The house had previously been occupied by a cabinet maker Father Frederick Rudd died in 1883 and the daughter Eliza Rudd died in 1884. At some date before 1901 Eliza's sister Lydia took over the postmistress role. By 1891 Lydia had become the postmistress with siblings Herbert and Emma assisting in the 'Iona House' premises. In 1893 Emma married Frederick Kendall Chapman, uncle to Donald Kendall Chapman. Lydia died in 1909 and this image from 1912 shows the new postmaster Herbert Rudd, in the boater, with his postmen and messenger boy Donald Kendall Chapman. In 1915 Donald later became the postmaster assisted by his sisters Olive and Hilary. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �The Post Office 2 This advert from a 1920s guide shows how Donald has expanded the business from simply being a post office. In 1921 he is named as a sub-postmaster with his sisters as assistants. His parents are also living there. He is advertising Stark's Seeds, a library, printing, typewriting, developing and processing rolls of film. ( Amateur Photographers' D & P work) By this time the frontage has been painted white. The signs are still the same : Reepham Post Office, Telegraph Office, Savings Bank And Money Order Office. After Donald retired as sub-postmaster in 1946 he and his sister continued to run the shop for many more years. They both died in 1959. Images below show changes in the shop front Meloncaulie Rose the greengrocer, with a very smart roof. © pam fray RA/JDA/Nov2025 �The Post Office 3 Above :The post office in 1954, run by Miss Bushell and her mother. A close-up of the George VI letter box. The box to the right was a stamp dispenser. Below :The post office in 1969. The cottage next door was once home to a watchmaker, William Bishop. Harry Hawes remembers it as a barber shop. The door to the cottage is now a window. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �The Post Office 4 The current post office is contained on the very corner of Johnson's shop. It used to be a lock-up shop used for many years by tailors. Harry Hawes :"The tailor's shop was run by Thomas Bircham with several workman W. A. Pask was one of them." (Thomas lived with Hannah, his wife, in the pharmacy on Norwich Road). Marjorie Gibbs :"The corner shop was a tailors and outfitters kept by George Alfred Juby, who did a fair business. Mr. Juby was a violinist and assisted in the local string band. He emigrated and the business was taken over by Mr. A. V. King." Wesley Piercy :"The corner shop, now the Post Office, was occupied by A V King, tailor. Mr. King was a son of a former landlord of the King’s Arms, his wife a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cornall, the last master and mistress of St. Mary’s school. Mr. King died quite young and Mrs. King carried on the business as an outfitters." When Albert Valentine KIng was a tailor in these premises the family lived in Church Hill House. Albert was a son of William King, licensee of the King's Arms from 1900 to 1913, and previously of The Greyhound on Back Street. In 1911 Albert was learning his trade as a tailor's cutter in Huddersfield. In 1912 he married Katherine, daughter of Richard Cornall, schoolmaster at St. Mary's school on Norwich Road. In 1939 his widow Katherine King was still running the draper's and outfitters shop with her son William. The business was later taken over by Henry Pratt. Two examples of letter/post boxes Left-: George VIth box outside Reepham Post Officestill in place Right :- Victorian letter box in the wall at Pettywell RA/JDA/Nov2025 �The Post Office 5 Henry Maurice Pratt carried on his tailoring business in what is now Reepham's Post Office. Like Albert King Henry Pratt lived in Church Hill House. It had been a tailor's for some years and was advertised as "The Little Shop with the Big Stock". The lady in the photograph is Amy Hall who worked in the shop for many years. And finally! Johnson's shop 'dressed' for an episode of Poirot in the 1990s. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Roys of Wroxham Alfred Roy (1838-1915) was trading in Reepham at least by 1868 and came from Burnham Westgate where his father William was at various times a joiner, builder, grocer and broker. In the 1871 census he is occupying the premises that we currently know, in 2021, as the deli and farm shop. By the next census Alfred has moved across the Market Place to Hewkes House, trading as a grocer and draper. Alfred was a joiner for his father and eventually retired to Aylsham. The now famous store known as Roys of Wroxham was established in 1899 by his sons Alfred and Arnold who were both born in Reepham in the 1870s. Alfred Roy 1838-1915 Alfred Edward Roy 1873-1951 Arnold William Roy 1875-1953 An interview with Arnold Roy appeared in September 1935 in the weekly magazine Tit-bits and describes his activities as a boy in Reepham. “My father was the village carpenter in the small market town of Reepham. The only education I ever had was at a National school – twopence a week. At 14 I went round the villages hawking oranges with a donkey and a barrow. I got that donkey for nothing. A farmer challenged me to catch it. It was difficult to capture as it would only come to him. He said that if I did so it was mine. In 20 minutes, after much enticement with corn, considerable exertion, and many cuts and abrasions, it was! I named it William and within a week William was harnessed to my improvised barrow and doing good business. “Ever on the alert for extra coppers, I found work for William in winter. By converting an orange box into a sleigh I was able to give the children of the village a ride round the marketplace for a halfpenny a time. “Then I went to a Norwich drapery firm at £15 a year, ran errands and swept the floor. But at the age of 16 I felt the call of the gold-paved streets of the metropolis, went to London, worked for a shilling a day as a warehouse boy and supplemented my meagre income with coppers earned by holding horses’ heads and opening cab doors for customers. Many times I tramped the streets without a penny in my pocket. “I remember standing outside a big Oxford Street store. And telling myself: ‘Some day I’m going to have a shop like that!’ So I started keeping account of everything I spent, entering such items in a pocket book as ‘Bun, 1 penny’. I knew I had to start by being thrifty if I wanted to succeed.” At 18 he returned to Norfolk and with his brother opened a small general shop in Coltishall. One thing Arnold had resolved in London was that he would practise entirely new methods. He took the shop to the customers, first with his donkey cart then with a swagger horse and van. Success in the business led to a second shop in Dereham and a further shop in Wroxham in 1899 which became the business we now know as Roys of Wroxham, the world's largest village JDA/Aug2021 edited from items prepared for the RS Exhibition in 2003 RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Thomas Grounds Hart, Samuel King Barnes & Alfred Roy This image, taken before 1871, is the earliest copy we have of this view of Reepham Market Place. The sign says "Hart" and refers to Thomas Grounds Hart, grocer & draper. After Thomas's death in 1868 Elizabeth, his wife, moved away leaving her son Samuel King Barnes to run the business. Harry Hawes :- "The shop now occupied by Hardiments was occupied by Mr. Hart. I slightly remember him. Then come Charles (Samuel) Barnes. He had two apprentices. They lodged with my grandmother Hawes. Charles (Samuel) Barnes had high ideas. He soon got himself into the Bankruptcy Court. A large Marquee was erected in the market place and all his goods and shackles were sold by auction. This gave Mr. A. Roy a chance to move out of Carmans shop into the one recently occupied by Charles (Samuel) Barnes. The oldest Miss Roy opened up a school for girls. The entrance to the same was by the side door facing the post office. " Alfred Roy, father to the Roy brothers who set up Roys of Wroxham. Samuel Barnes was made bankrupt in July 1871 and Alfred Roy moved across the Market Place to the shop where Kings the optician is now. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Harry Charles Peck By 1891 Harry Charles Peck was running a grocery & drapery business on the premises, with the help of his brother and sister. Ten years later he was making a success, judging by the number of assistants :- two milliners, two draper's assistants and one grocer's assistant. This image was taken in 1914. Newsboards report the disappearance of Gustav Hamel in May 1914. Hamel was a famous pioneering aviator and was flying from Paris to Hendon when his plane disappeared over the Channel after leaving Boulogne. Shop windows display drapery on the left and groceries on the right. Marjorie Gibbs :Round the corner on the square and facing west was another grocery and drapery store, kept by Mr. and Mrs. Peck. He was a cheery but rather pompous, round little man with pale sandy, curly hair but very good in helping with parochial affairs. It was his boast that he had the first pianola in the district, and I remember him remarking to my father on the occasion of his birthday that he was “half a century old today”. Mrs. Peck managed the drapery side and would go to the warehouse (London, I think) to buy for her customers. A note would come for my mother that the hats for “best” wear for her daughters were now in for selection. Mrs. Peck also catered for the teas for the cricket team on Saturday afternoons The crowd have gathered to listen to the army band during WWI. The name Peck's is painted on every space between the upstairs windows RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Percy Hilton Wesley Piercy :This shop had earlier been occupied by Mr. H. Peck who was followed by Reeve and then Sidney Stangroom. About 1923 Mr. Percy Hilton took it. This was another good business, employing two or three assistants besides Mr. and Mrs. Hilton. Mr. Arthur Sydney Hardiment was an assistant with Mr. Hilton and took over the business when the Hiltons moved away. Percy and his brother Bertie were both grocers. The family came from Swanton Morley where they had a bakery and a milling business. The brothers bought the Reepham property in 1923 and Percy managed the Reepham business, while Bertie ran a grocery in Fakenham from at least 1911. In 1921 Arthur Sydney Hardiment was already working in the shop as a grocer's assistant to Sidney Stangroom and remained working for Percy Hilton. Percy sold his share of the business to Bertie in 1933. Arthur continued to run the shop and in 1948 finally bought the property. Percival John Hilton with his wife & son RA/JDA/Nov2025 �A. S. Hardiment Arthur Hardiment (nephew of Arthur Sidney Hardiment) recalls :- Arthur worked there for 30 years, staying to help the Booths for a time until they bought the shop from his uncle. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Booth's Part of a grocery bill from Booth's with the Mace trademark. In 1966 Arthur Hardiment sold the shop and fittings to the Booths who ran the shop until 1973 when It was sold to the Jones. In 1976 the shop was bought by George Johnson. RA/JDA/Nov2025 �Johnson's & the Police Station Left :- Johnson's shop after closure Below :- The property as Reepham's Police Station Johnson's shop dressed for The Tragedy of Marsdon Manor ; a Poirot episode filmed in 1991. RA/JDA/Nov2025 � https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/5ed716c2593aec3b7390c6387c8afaaf.pdf aacd247fb4a492aadb067ab4bbb15549 PDF Text Text A Tour of the Market Place Through Time The butcher, the baker and the candle maker… �Market Town Since 1277 • Originally markets were held in the Churchyard • Bishop wanted them out! • Charter granted to Sir John De Vaux, the Lord of the Manor of Hackford, by Edward I • Annual Fair • Weekly Market �Annual Fair • Held on the eve, day and morrow of Saint Peter and Paul Day • 29th June • Originally was stock fair – cattle, sheep, horses, etc • Later became a funfair �Funfair Recollections • Roundabouts, Coconut Shies, Shooting Galleries and Rock Sales • All the vans drawn up side by side on the King’s Arms Plain facing the road • Came to a close at 11pm when “God Save the King” was played �Weekly Market Day • Originally on a Saturday • Wednesdays from at least the 1880s • Animals and produce until Irelands Sale Yard established in 1877 • Sainsbury’s van bought eggs from locals • Busy day for our Market Place pubs… �The Sun • Originally thatched • Occupied the whole of the range down to Townsend Corner • Stables across the road later converted to function room • Also had large maltings on the corner of Back Street and School Road �The Sun • During the 1920s the Landlord was Fred Watson • In WW1, Fred’s wife, Ellen, was known to the troops stationed here as “Ma” • Fred’s son Clifford and his wife Violet took over from him in 1922. • Ran the pub until Violet’s death in 1964 �1950: Reepham Shopping Week �Reepham Shopping Week June 1950… Organised by the Chamber of Trade & Commerce • Tuesday: Grand Eve of Opening Dance • Reepham Band Hall • Gerald Amies & His Orchestra • Miss Reepham crowned in the interval (winner was Daphne Barrow) • Thursday: mammoth whist drive • Wednesday: market day • Morning: Market • Afternoon: Grand Parade of horses and vehicles plus gathering of the North Norfolk Harriers • Evening: Massed Bands of Fakenham, Cawston and Reepham, then Open Air Dance in the market place • Friday: knock out bowls competition and darts contest �Who owns the Market Place? • Lord of the Manor of Hackford from 1277 until 1930 • Mrs Kate Eglington was the last Lord • Sold the manorial rights to the Rural District Council, to be managed by the Parish Council • Now owned by Reepham Town Council �Surface of the Market Place • Originally just rough gravel • County Council added a tarmac surface in 1900s • Signalled the end of funfairs • Much resistance from Samuel Bircham and others �The Great Fire of Reepham • 18 April 1543 • Destroyed most of the Market Place Buildings • Also destroyed All Saints Church (but the tower didn’t fall down until the 1790s) �17th Century Map • 100 or so years after the Great Fire • Few buildings in the market place • Back Street was the original thoroughfare through town • Chimneys shown in red – possible liability for “Hearth Tax”? • Church roofs shown in green • Market Cross building? Just an indication that it’s a market place or was there actually a building? �Today’s buildings mostly date from the Georgian and Victorian eras (1700s and 1800s) �Swing Riots 1830/31 • Harsh Winter 1830 then poor harvest 1831 led to reduced wages • Widespread rioting protesting about low agricultural wages, loss of common land and use of threshing machines • Threatening letters sent by “Captain Swing” to rich farmers, magistrates and clergymen �Even in Reepham… • Meeting in the King’s Arms of magistrates, clergy and landowners to swear in special constables • Crowd of labourers gathered outside • Rev Collyer spoke to them from a window • Apparently they dispersed peacefully… �The King’s Arms • 16th/17th Century Beginnings, perhaps partially demolished and rebuilt in 18th Century as Posting Inn • Wall in Pudding Pie Alley may be a remnant of earlier building �The King’s Arms • Had a veranda out the front in late 19th Century • Small bar from corner door until 1980s • Eynsford Petty Sessions held there �King’s Arms Hotel • Hotel for Travelling Salesmen/Visitors • Club Room above adjoining shop • Weekly Dancing Classes and Annual Dance • Still in use in the 1970s for Parties and Discos �Tithe Map 1844 • Red buildings indicate residential use • Layout is pretty similar to today… Kings Arms Sun Inn Bircham Centre Bank House Reepham Brewery �Changing Vistas • Curious frontage to what is now Robertsons Butchers �But by early 1900s, the roofline had changed… • Halls Saddlers occupied the building from 1890s • Plans for change drawn up in early 1900s • John Hall passed the business to his son, Bertie Hall • Later became Attfield Butchers, before Mr Attfield passed the business to his former assistant, Brian Robertson. �Changing Vistas/2 • In 1905, smooth rendered front to what is now Diane’s Pantry • Austin Family Butcher Shop… • At least 2 generations of Austins • Also no dormer windows at this stage �Another view… �Changing Vistas/2 • By 1920s, the “out-shut” is tiled… • Still a butcher’s shop with Uttings Butchers in 1921. • Later became a fish shop; Diane’s Pantry first run by Diane Turner in 1980s �The range of buildings now… �Great Houses: Hackford House • • • • Hackford Parish Vicarage Oldest part is Jacobean (1600s) Became private house Samuel Bircham bought it in 1910 from Misses Spencer • It was occupied by the Bruce family – Agnes Bruce married Samuel’s only son, Francis Richard Samuel Bircham • The wedding was held in marquees in the Market Place �The Bircham Centre • In 1919 Samuel Bircham donated part of it to Reepham as memorial to the fallen from WW1 • Left the remaining building to the town in his will when he died in 1923 in exchange for an annuity for Agnes • We could do a whole presentation about this… �Great Houses: Brewery House • The Brewery Owner’s house • Originally a Conservatory on the right of the house • Brewery site sold in 1878/9 �The Brewery House/Dial House • By WW1, conservatory replaced with extension • Samuel Bircham spent his time between here and London • Stayed in the Bircham family until 1899 • Converted into a hotel in 1970s • Norman and Mary Raynes were the first to run it • Many changes over the years… �The Big 3… • People who have chronicled their time in Reepham • They’ve provided a priceless record • Reepham Society formed early 1980s • Precursor to Reepham Archive… �The Big 3: Harry Hawes • • • • Henry Edward Hawes… Born in a cottage on Church Hill in 1863 Carpenter and Builder Lived in Veranda House (Dereham Road) and ran business in Sun Maltings • “Harry Hawes Walk” – handwritten in notebooks • Transcribed and annotated in 1949 by Tony Ivins and extracts used in a booklet by Kate Nightingale in 2003 • Died in 1957 aged 94 1886 aged 23 1955 aged 92 �The Big 3: Marjorie Gibbs • Born 1899 • Member of the Gibbs Family who ran an Ironmongers Shop • Founder member of Reepham Society • Shared many stories about her years in Reepham • Died in 1992 �Gibbs Shop • Ironmongers since 1767 • Owned by William George around 1850 then S W & W Leeds in 1875 • Edward Gibbs bought it in 1888 • In 1890s, neighbouring shop was added �Gibbs Shop • Open from 7.30 am to 7 pm and 9 pm on Saturdays • Covered large space – lots of different sections • Business passed to son, Edward Jnr, and daughter, Marjorie (who never married) • Closed in 1967 �The Big 3: Wesley Piercy • Born 1917 in Reepham and lived here most of his life • Served in WW2 including with Desert Rats • Joined Eastern Electricity Board after the War • On retirement, pursued interest in history through OU degree • Wrote “My Town” �Let’s take a break… Part 2 in 30 minutes after your canapés and wine! See our displays at the back and in the chancel… �The Market Place late 1800s and early 1900s • Information mostly from our Big 3 • No time to look at every building in detail! �Grocers (and Drapers) • Apparently 7 Grocers in Reepham • 3 in the Market Place • Most Grocers seemed to be Drapers as well • Let’s start where Kings Opticians are now… • In 1830s, Charles Gallant Hewke ran “Pigots” • Barnes and Hart family from 1840s to the 1870s • Sold then as two separate shops/houses �The Start of a Norfolk Story • Shop taken over by Alfred Roy in 1880s • Moved from the other side of the Market Place • Alfred is the father of Alfred and Arnold who started Roys of Wroxham • Alfred had moved away from Reepham by 1891 �H C Peck in 1890s Hiltons in 1920s Later it was Hardiments, then Booths, when it became a Mace shop, then Jones… In 1976 the shop only was sold to the Johnsons and became a clothes/woolshop run by Mrs Johnson �Fishers • Where Norfolk Farm Shop is now • Nathanial Isaacs in 1851 • James Flint in 1861 • James Kirby in 1881 • Was where Alfred Roy started • Mr Fisher had taken over by 1900 • He gave his name to Fisher’s Alley • Later The Chimes: antiques, tea room, B&B, pharmacy… �Riches House • Grocery store – early records show John Grey as the shopkeeper • Run by Mary Woods, a widow, from around 1893 �Riches Stores • Leonard Riches took over in 1906, and was succeeded by his son, Ben • Described as a HighClass Grocer • Mr & Mrs Harrison took over in 1971 �Riches Stores • Became the first self-service shop in Reepham (probably) • Stephen Fry mentions it in his books • Is the biscuit room haunted? �The Mystery Box • Much speculation over the years… • Suggestion is could be a blanket box for emergency use • Perhaps more likely to be a box for shutters… �Boot and Shoemakers • George Cocking, Shoe & Boot Maker • In Melton House (Bay Tree Interiors) • Previously William Allen (1876) who called it “The Golden Boot” • Others in town at different times: • John Boon for a while in the row of cottages that is now the Post Office • Tom Coe in the shop under the King’s Arms clubroom �The Candle Maker • George St John • Melton and Carlton House before the shoemakers • Gave his name to St John’s Alley • Front room and the room above used for drying the candles �Tailors • Albert Valentine King, Tailor – by 1921 • Corner of current Post Office • Still run by his widow Katherine and son William in 1939 • Followed by Henry M Pratt • “The Little Shop with the Big Stock” • Other Reepham tailors through the years included William Pask on Townsend Corner, Mr Hill beside Diane’s Pantry, and James Hawes in Church Plain �Reepham Post Office: a 4-part story… • Important for Reepham’s status • Has been in 4 different sites over the years �The Post Office: Part 1… • In 1850s could be found in The Blue House • Amelia Sands was the Postmistress • Customers didn’t go inside • Knocked on wooden hatch and waited… • Evidence inside and out today �The Blue House • Not always blue! Painted after 1950 • In around 1820, was called Levuka House • Named after a city in Fiji • Seafarer who travelled there was left money by an aunt and bought it • One previous occupant, Mrs Hatley(?) lived there around 1949 but ground floor occupied by a dentist • Basement floor has access into Back Street �The Blue House • Occupied by long term Reepham residents June and Russell Betts from around 1955 to 1985 • They hid a time capsule in a corner at the base of a wall • Included 3-page letter telling what they knew about the house and life in Reepham at that time • The current owner has put it back to be found by future generations • Covenant: can’t sell sweets! �The Post Office: Part 2 and 3… • Rudd family ran it in early 1900s • Moved to Bevan House on Dereham Road for a while • Then back to the Market Place into Iona House • This is the building that is currently the Barber on the Square… �The Post Office: Part 3… • D Kendall Chapman became Postmaster – he was related to the Rudds • Also sold sweets, cards and gifts • Involved in lots of things • • • • • Scouts Parish Council Pierrot Group Sunday School Publishing postcards • He later gave up the post office side but kept the shop �The Telephone Came to Reepham • First telephone exchange was in Ivy House • Mrs Hester Wilton was in charge • Later moved over the road to the house now known as “The Old Telephone Exchange” • 8 Subscribers in 1915 • Rose to more than 50 in 1936 �The Post Office: Part 4 • Moved to its current location in the years to follow • E Bushell in the 1950s • Mr Brinded after that • C D Jones in 1969 • Harry Hawes was born in one of the cottages in this row in 1863 �Bank House • Built 1840s • Originally a shop between 2 houses – door on each side • Corner shop door – a Reepham thing! • Cripps Chemists in the 1870s • Followed by Benjamin Priest and Stoners �Bank House • Jewells Druggist and stationery in 1920s • Edward and Sarah Jewell • That’s Sarah going into the shop… • Also sold photographic goods • Created series of postcards “Jewell’s Series” • Later moved to Ivy House �Bank House – the houses • Gurneys Bank’s opened a Reepham Branch in the house on the Market Place side. Gurney’s merged into Barclays in 1896 • Also a solicitor’s office, and a reading room • Caretaker lived in the basement and slept on the top floor • The other house, on the road to Townsend Corner, was mostly residential �Bank House • Barclays Bank had moved into the corner property by the 1930s • 1st and 2nd Floor was Bank Flat • Barclays moved next door in 1991 • Major changes by The Original Cottage Company in 2014 �The Bakery • The Old Bakery next door to the Dial House • Previously two properties • Bakery at the rear • 1830s: run by James Davidson • 1870s: run by Alexander Ormiston �Fords Bakery • Fords from at least 1900s to 1960s • William Ford moved here from Devon • Married twice – in total 6 children • Business carried on by Walter and Richard • Children would get mini loaf with the family’s bread delivery • Meat Pies were legendary! • Teas on Market Day �Ford Family • This Primary School photo apparently includes the younger Ford children • But there’s some confusion about who’s who… • Elsie married and moved to Hampshire. She called her home “Reepham House” • Walter apparently became an excellent bellringer! �Clockmaking • Did you know that clocks and watches were made in Reepham? • John Symonds 1734-1815 • “Lived at the sign of the Dial”… • Clockmaker to Parson Woodforde • Succeeded by James Shreeve Woolmer in 1814 • Mr Woolmer wound the church clock every evening �The Cottage • Messrs Symonds and Woolmer were in the cottage next to Bank House • Also Robert Barber, Watchmaker • Later became Skippers Carpets • Was Barclays Bank in 1991, then HSBC in 2000 • Site of the famous Reepham Ramraid in 2012 • Now Motts Pharmacy �Time has swept on… “I do not count the hours except for the serene ones” Or: I only count the happy hours �We’re all part of Reepham’s story How far back can you go? �Reepham Archive • Valuable source of local records and images • Can you add to the story of Reepham? • Pop in on the first Wednesday or Saturday mornings of the month… � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Reepham Archive Exhibitions Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Market Place Presentation 2025 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2601261500 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2025 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Reepham Market Place Description An account of the resource Reepham Market Place Through Time Presentation given in November 2025 & January 2026 focussing on a selection of shops & buildings in Reepham Market Place. The first item shows the display sheets, the second is the slide show which was shown with commentary by Brenda Gostling. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Archive Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Brenda Gostling & Janet Archer https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/7159605bf14910e52a7855647de5b069.jpg 4fa80e64ee7a6ec7f78e92db9721dd1c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource WWI Description An account of the resource Information relating to the use of Hackford House & Reepham Town Hall as a Red Cross/VAD Hospital during WWI plus photographs of troops assembling/parading in Reepham Market Place. Many of these images were used in the Reepham Archive Exhibition in 2014. The display boards are shown in the RA Exhibition Collection. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/WWI Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource [File 21, Box 121] Text-digital Any text item for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The text can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a text owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource November 1914 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB-REE-2601291100 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital WWI [File 21] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 1914 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant November 1914 Reepham VAD Hospital Description An account of the resource Newspaper cutting describing the facilities provided for wounded soldiers who began arriving in Reepham to recuperate in November 1914. 1914 Town Hall https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/d4bdc991017a912963be6b056698b58f.pdf b7add45e53acd0c7ebd5d2313cd2962b PDF Text Text Soldiers in the Town In the Market Pace On Church Plain RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Cavalry arriving in Reepham Passing Gibbs shop .....then on through the Market Place RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Army Cyclists on parade in the Market Place RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Entertainment in the Market Place RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Reepham Town Hall transformed into a hospital ward This item appeared in the Thetford & Watton Times on 5 December 1914 transcribed on following page RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �REEPHAM WOUNDED SOLDIERS - The Parish Hall is now occupied by wounded soldiers. Under Dr. E. V. Perry's supervision, it has been transformed into an excellent hospital. The large room of the hall has been comfortably fitted up as a hospital ward, containing at present twelve beds. The small room at the back of the ward has been furnished as a sitting-room for convalescent soldiers, while the ante-room has been comfortably fitted up as a nurses' sitting-room, and the whole is warmed by means of a hot water installation. The Boy Scouts' Club-room, placed at the convenience of the local hospital authorities by the Scoutmaster, Mr. Sam Bircham, affords an excellent kitchen, being close to the hospital. This has been fitted up with cooking stoves and all culinary requisites. Thus equipped, the institution is complete with lavatories and bathroom. Two trained nurses have been engaged, who will be assisted by nurses attached to the Eynsford Red Cross Society. Miss S. Kendrew, who has been appointed matron, will be assisted by Miss Daisy Bruce. Lady Grace Barry, as president of the Eynsford detachment of the Red Cross Society, and the Rev. W. A. Partridge, who has undertaken the hon. secretary-ship, have rendered valuable assistance. Dr. E. V. Perry has been appointed the resident medical attendant. The patients are conveyed from Norwich in motor cars lent by local gentlemen. The first batch of wounded arrived on Thursday, 26th inst. [Sarah Kendrew was the daughter of John Kendrew who had purchased The Ollands in the 1880s. Daisy Bruce was the sister of Agnes (Nan) Bruce. Agnes had married Samuel Bircham's son Francis in 1903.] This second image of the parish hall was published in the British Farmers Red Cross Fund booklet published about 1917. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Veteran car with local connection still on the road The Reepham Life 2018 Calendar for February showed recovering wounded soldiers from the First World War outside Reepham Town Hall, then known as Hackford Parish Hall. Although we could not identify any of the soldiers, we found out some interesting information about the car in the foreground, AH222. Due to the persistence of Reepham Archive volunteer Ann Middlemas we found that this car was still in existence and was well looked after. It has competed in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run in more than 50 occasions since 1936. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run was first organised in 1896 to celebrate the Red Flag Repeal. In that year the speed limit was increased from 4 mph on open roads and from 2 mph in towns to 14 mph. To qualify for entry in the modern run, cars need to be have been built no later than 1905. In the top photograph you can see the pannier baskets, still in evidence in the modern picture. AH222 is a Peugeot Type 49 which left the Peugeot works in 1902. The current owner tells us that it still has its original engine, wooden chassis and body – amazing for a car of its age and it was capable of speeds up to 25 mph. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Outside Harrods in 2018 2019 At the start of the Veteran Car Run 2024 RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Nurses Evelyn Gibbs Mabel Dewing Evelyn Gibbs Mabel Dewing RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Mabel Neale Dewing 1890-1974 Mabel was the younger daughter of Martin Luther Dewing and his wife Annie. A framed photograph in Reepham Archive is annotated “Blanche Dewing” and has always been believed to be accurately named. British Red Cross records from WWI reveal that it was Mabel Dewing, not her older sister Blanche, who worked at Reepham VAD Hospital from January 1915, soon after the first patients arrived to recuperate, until April 1919. An article in the Downham Market Gazette in October 1917 listed all the hospital staff who had 'rendered valuable service'. This explains the 'Mentioned' entry at the bottom of Mabel's Red Cross record. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Mabel Neale Dewing 1890-1974 3 By the time of the census in 1921 Mabel was a assistant matron at Homerton Training College, Cambridgeshire. Five years later, on New Year's Eve Mabel was on board the Mantua, a P & O ship sailing for Hong Kong. Her home address is given as Brighton, Sussex. In Hong Kong she worked at the Diocesan Girls' School in Kowloon. In 1928 the following notice appeared in the London & China Express. Mabel had married the Rev. Charles Brodie Shann. Charles had already spent time working for the Church Missionary Society, travelling extensively, and also, in the 1930s, taking posts in Yorkshire. They returned to Hong Kong in 1945 where Charles was Archdeacon of Victoria. In 1947 Charles and Mabel returned to England again, first living in Yorkshire then finally taking up residence in Salisbury when Charles was appointed as Vicar of Farley with Pitton. This news appeared in the Western Gazette in September 1947. Charles died in Salisbury in 1960. Mabel's life ended in a nursing home in Sheringham in 1974. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Mabel Neale Dewing 1890-1974 2 Below is Mabel's admission record when she started at St. Mary's School on Norwich Road in 1895. Her older sister, Blanche is entered a few rows above. Entry from the National School Admission Registers & Log-Books1890 In 1911 Mabel was living with her parents in Reepham Moor and helping her father in his grocery shop. England & Wales Census 1911 Her father Martin Dewing ran a grocery shop in Reepham Moor. The photograph shows the row of cottages in Reepham Moor with adverts for Robin Starch and Zebra Grate Polish. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Blanche Dewing 1886 - 1950 In 1911 Blanche was registered as a school teacher boarding in the household of postman Robert Leeds in St. Nicholas Street, Dereham. Ten years later she was living in Shalford, near Guildford in Surrey, teaching at Gosden House School, Bramley. The building had been bought in 1919 with money bequested by Lord Wandsworth to provide education for orphans “with an agricultural background” and opened as Gosden House School in November 1920 with a roll of 17 children. Blanche was still a teacher at Gosden House in 1939, living in Kerry Cottage. Blanche's last recorded address from about 1947 was in Brighton, where she may have retired. Later, presumably needing care she became a resident at a nursing home in Salisbury, near where her sister Mabel was living. from The Surrey Advertiser from Probate Records RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Love in the air at WWI hospital Frank and Ethel Leiper, pictured probably in 1918 to celebrate their marriage Previously, the Reepham Archive had no records of any of the soldiers who came to Reepham to recover from their wounds during the First World War. There are several photographs that record 30 or more faces, but no names. In 2022 we were intrigued and pleased to receive an enquiry: “Did we have any records about Frank Leiper and Ethel Keeley who met in Reepham during World War I?” This was soon followed with further details and photographs. We learnt that Ethel died young, only 36, but her daughter, now 98, wanted to learn more about her parents. This set the Archive volunteers on a flurry of research to find out more. Their grandson, who sent the initial enquiry, visited Reepham the summer of 2023 and spent time walking around the town, visiting Hackford House, the gardens, the Market Place, the town hall and the churches that his grandparents would have known more than 100 years ago. We found that Ethel Keeley was listed in the information given with a photograph of all the VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) hospital staff taken in the gardens of Hackford House (the present-day Bircham Centre, Market Place, Reepham). Sadly, she is named as the night sister and must have been off-duty when the photograph was taken as none of the nurses look like her. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 Red Cross records confirm that Ethel was indeed engaged as a night sister from October 1916 until June 1918 in Reepham VAD Hospital. On her record she is named as Mrs. Ethel Leiper. The stamped date of 31 May 1919 tells us when these record cards were finalised ready for filing away and by that date Frank and Ethel were married. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Frank Leiper 1888-1960 Frank’s army records show he was enlisted with the Glasgow Pals Battalion in January 1915 and sent overseas. He was wounded twice, in 1916 and 1917, and it is not known after which incident he came to Reepham. Serving in the 17th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, with the rank of sergeant, Frank was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1917, and demobilised and transferred to the Army Reserve in 1919. We could not find a face to match Frank in any of our photographs but we did discover that they married in Edinburgh in 1918 and that Ethel gave her occupation as certificated nurse at the Red Cross Hospital, Reepham, Norfolk. Frank’s occupation is shown as a farmer but he is still recorded as a company sergeant major of the Highland Light Infantry. Information above compiled by Ann Middlemas RA/WW1/JDA/2024 RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Ethel's first 'pink card' giving June 1915 as the starting date, probably as a temporary nurse. A Sheffield address is given with a later address in Warrington. Ethel grew up in Sheffield. After their marriage Frank and Ethel lived in Warrington where Ethel died in 1926 after having had three children. Frank married a second time to Ethel's younger sister Minnie. Frank was a credit draper - Items of drapery would have been bought on credit from the drapery shop and he was responsible for collecting the weekly payments. Frank and Ethel's Marriage Record in January 1918 Medal Citation & Card for the Distinguished Conduct Medal 1914-15 Star was awarded for service in France or Flanders between 23 November 1914 and 31 December 1915 Victory Medal was awarded for service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was issued to individuals who received the 1914 and 1914-15 Stars and to most individuals who were issued the British War Medal. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Extract from the Sparham Deanery & District Magazine November 1915 �Residents of Hackford House In 1891 Hackford House was occupied by John Redman Spencer, his wife Harriet and his two daughters Fanny and Florence. John was a farmer who had farmed at Hall Farm, Guestwick for 22 years and also at Mill Farm, Great Witchingham for 5 years. All the stock and related implements from Great Witchingham were put up for auction in the autumn of 1889. Harriet died in 1908 and was buried in Hackford Cemetery and John died the following year. By 1911 Fanny and Florence were living together in Norwich. In 1910 the Eastern Daily Press published details of the sale of a house in Hackford, described as in the occupation of the Misses Spencer. HACKFORD-BY-REEPHAM Within 10 minutes' walk of Great Eastern Railway station and 11/2 miles from Whitwell Station, and 12 miles from Norwich. A substantially built FAMILY RESIDENCE facing the Market Place of Reepham, with small and secluded Garden, Lawn, Shrubbery, and Vinery, Stabling for 6 horses, Motor and Carriage Houses, Barn, Fowls' House. The house is very conveniently situated, commodious, with large lofty bedrooms, and in good, tenantable repair. In the occupation of the Misses' Spencer. Early possession can be arranged. Auction on Saturday, September 10th Royal Hotel Norwich In the Norfolk News of November 1910 Samuel Bircham chaired a meeting proposing the the formation of a Boy Scout Troop in Reepham. He had recently bought Hackford House and intended to make part of it into a Boy Scouts' club room. Samuel had already engaged an Assistant Scoutmaster ready to begin at the end of the month, and he asked for the town of Reepham to find 15 shillings a week for a Scout Master. In response to this article in the Norfolk News Samuel wrote a letter which appeared in the Eastern Daily Press a few days later, emphasising that it was the offer of the use of a room for the scouts rather than a 'home'. "I do not propose a 'Home', but a kind of clubroom, where the boys may meet, play games, and receive instruction, which may lead them to pass tests in various qualifications, handicrafts, etc., such as are likely to be of value to them in their future careers." He adds that a portion of the house will provide a residence for the Assistant Scoutmaster. Finally he gives his address as the Old Brewery House. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �This photograph shows the Hackford Troop of scouts posed outside Hackford House in 1911 and includes Samuel Bircham himself. The notice states that the club room is open daily from 4 p.m. to 8 p.pm. The 1911 census of England and Wales took place on 2nd April. The residents occupying eight rooms are Jemima Bruce and her daughter Margaret. She is 58 years old and Margaret is 35. They have very different birth places. Jemima gives her birthplace as Port Glasgow, Renfrew, Scotland, and Margaret was born in Ramsey on the Isle of Man. They have one living-in female servant, Mary Douglas from Cawston, and Jemima states that she has Private Means. The crossed out numbers also reveal that Jemima has been, or would have been married for 36 years and that she has had 4 children, with three still living. How have this mother and daughter ended up in Reepham, living in an imposing house, with garden and stabling? Where were they in 1901? RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �The Bruce Family Both Alexander Bruce and his wife Jemima (nee King) originally came from Scotland, Alexander's family from Banff and Jemima's from Port Glasgow. By 1871 Jemima's family was resident on the Isle of Man. Alexander and Jemima were married in Douglas in 1874 and had three daughters, Margaret (known as Daisy), Agnes(known as Nan), and Dorothy. In the 1901 England & Wales Census we find Jemima Bruce, widow, as a visitor at 20 Campbell Road in Boscombe, near Bournemouth in Hampshire. The residents here are single sisters Sophia and Charlotte Robinson. They are both in their fifties and are financially independent. Charlotte's birthplace is given as Douglas, Isle of Man. Also with Jemima is her daughter Dorothy, 5 years old, born Douglas, Isle of Man. Jemima has recorded that she is living on her own means and was born in Scotland. So, where are Margaret and Agnes in 1901? Margaret Campbell Bruce age 25 and Agnes Catherine Bruce age 22, both born in the Isle of Man, (both wrongly entered as daughters to Thomas Attoe) are living on their own means in Reepham Market Place with a living-in servant Winifred Cornall age 17, from Bintry. As they are next door to Ford's the baker it can be assumed that Margaret and Agnes are staying in the Old Brewery House. Tracing the family group, i.e. Jemima Bruce and her three daughters, back to Onchan on the Isle of Man, gives us a few more clues. The 1891 census shows a family headed by Alexander Bruce with wife Jemima, and daughters Margaret and Agnes. There is a visitor Emily Wilson, from the Isle of Man and two live-in servants. The youngest daughter, Dorothy was not born until 1895. But what brought this family to Norfolk and what was the connection with Reepham? RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Alexander Bruce had worked in Scotland for the City of Glasgow Bank before taking up a post on the Isle of Man at the Bank of Mona, a branch of the Glasgow bank. In the 1880s he became the manager of Dumbell's Bank. Mismanagement of loans and investments led to the failure of the bank and a financial crisis for the Isle of Man during 1899/1900. Many leading financiers on the island were made bankrupt, including Alexander. Dumbell's Bank Failure Death of Mr. Alexander Bruce Mr. Alexander Bruce, Justice of the Peace, late chairman of the Isle of Man Tramways, and manager of Dumbell's Banking Company Limited, died at two o'clock on Saturday after a long and painful illness at his residence in the island. The deceased was the head of many important Manx enterprises. The remarkable development of electric traction in the island is chiefly due to him, and he took a leading part in public loans for the Manx Government and the Douglas Corporation previous to the lamentable failure of Dumbell's Bank, which has carried a crop of disasters in its train. The prosecution instituted against him along with other officials in connection with Dumbell's Bank, was recently abandoned in consequence of the hopeless state of his health. from the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - Saturday 21 July 1900 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Reepham Connection Researching Francis Richard Samuel Bircham (1881-1941), the son of Samuel Bircham, the following information was found. After attending Aysgarth School in Yorkshire, Francis went to Eton College where he took 'extras' like Electricity and Physics. He spent a short time at Freiburg University in Germany and during college holidays (1895-97) he worked at the Nine Elms Locomotive Works. In 1838 the London and Southampton Railway Company opened its terminus at Nine Elms. The line was extended to Waterloo in 1848 and Nine Elms became the site of a goods yard and locomotive works. The site was responsible for the repair & construction of steam locomotives. Francis's grandfather, Francis Thomas Bircham (1810-1883) was the original solicitor to the London and Southampton Railway Company, which later became the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) and Francis's father Samuel Bircham took the position until his retirement in 1910. Francis was a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and his CV has the following entry :- During his time on the Isle of Man Francis would doubtless have met Alexander Bruce and his family. After the years of financial troubles and ill-health Alexander's widow Jemima and her daughters may have been offered a place of sanctuary by Francis's father Samuel. There must have been a social and a romantic connection since, in 1903, Francis married Agnes Catherine Sinclair Bruce in Reepham. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Bruce Family Portraits Alexander Bruce Jemima Bruce Margaret Campbell Bruce Margaret Campbell Bruce & Agnes Catherine Sinclair Bruce In 1903 Agnes married Samuel Bircham's son Francis. By 1911 Mrs. Jemima Bruce was living in Hackford House with her daughter Margaret. Agnes is with her husband in Hampshire, but returned to Reepham to live in the Old Brewery House until her death in 1969. Agnes was always called Nan, or Mrs. Nan Bircham. Her daughter Ann continued living in Reepham. Ann died in 2006 and is buried in Salle churchyard. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Wallace King Wallace King was a well-known furniture store based in Norwich. By 1914 a branch had opened in Reepham, using rooms in Hackford House and buildings on Back Street which are now the takeaway and The Granary. During the First World War these buildings were used as a kitchen/utility for the hospital. Wallace King finally closed the Reepham branch in 1919. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 �Images showing advertising boards fixed to the front of Hackford House and a door which presumably gave access to a showroom/office on the ground floor. The boards are advertising furniture, bedding, upholstery, picture frames, bedsteads, linoleum, carpets etc. Cropped from a postcard view towards the Market Place from Dereham Road. RA/WW1/JDA/2024 � https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/6c61ff7b139f0576f3197f2914835fe8.pdf 830c3adb5ba7fddad98318711275510a PDF Text Text Links etc • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZOaMbTRxWY • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySaswgWFy0c • Network name - BTHub6-N7JN • Password - AedhGNw6MkwM �Reepham Caring for the Wounded in WW1 Do you know the role Reepham played? �The Bircham Centre ��The Bircham Centre – known as Hackford House DURING THE GREAT WAR Of 1914-19 this building was established and maintained as a hospital for British sick and wounded. The Army Council, in the name of the Nation thank those who have rendered to it this valuable and patriotic assistance in the hour of its emergency and they desire also to express their deep appreciation of the wholehearted attention which the staff of this hospital gave to the patients who were under their care. The war has once again called upon the devotion and self-sacrifice of British men and women and the Nation will remember with pride and gratitude their willing and inestimable service. �The Bircham Centre’s role • Storeroom • Kitchen (could have been in outhouse buildings (now Chinese Takeaway)… • Recreation • Garden area for outdoor time • Veranda was built alongside the garden wall �The Bircham Centre ��The Bircham Centre ���The Town Hall ��Just an aside about that car… • The Archive have traced it • 1905 Peugeot • Completed the London to Brighton run over 50 times • Still in running order ��The staff… • Commandant • Medical Officer • Nursing staff: • • • • Sister in Charge 18 Red Cross Nurses Nurse for Massage Treatment 14 Members of the Men’s Detachment of the Eynsford Division of the Red Cross Society �The WW1 Nurse • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZOaMbTRxWY ��The patients… • First patients arrived 26 November 1914 • By December 2015, 127 patients had been received • 20 beds • Sent to Reepham from Norfolk & Norwich, Lakenham Military, Norfolk War and Colchester Hospitals • Could originally have come from anywhere in the UK. �The Wounded Serviceman • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySaswgWFy0c �How the Hospital was funded • Money raised largely by donations to the Red Cross • Public Appeal by Queen Victoria at the outbreak of war: • “As president of the British Red Cross Society I appeal for your help… Much money will be needed and many gifts if we are to faithfully discharge our trust and be able to say when all is over that we have done all we could do for the comfort and relief of our sick and wounded. The heart of the great British nation will surely and generously go out to those who are so gallantly upholding the cause of their country.” • By the end of the war, £21,885,035 had been raised • £20,058,355 spent on hospitals, medicine, clothing, grants and care for the sick and wounded. �The British Farmers Red Cross Fund • Aimed to raise £500,000 • Funds for many aspects of the War Effort • Agricultural Sales • Raised a total of £1,024,808 19s 2d. �Red Cross Pearl Appeal • Ladies were asked to donate pearls to raise funds • Donors from all over the world sent contributions • Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra, Princess Mary and Princess Victoria all gave pearls • Single pearls were donated in memory of lost family members • 3,597 pearls were donated • Raised over £84,000 at the sale in 1918 Image: British Red Cross Museum and Archives �Running a hospital in WW1 • Lots of different roles… • Listed in https://vad.redcross.org.uk/ �VAD = Voluntary Aid Detachment • Organised by the Red Cross • Mostly Voluntary Roles • Covered both medical and domestic roles • Duty of those not serving on the front line… �Let’s look again… Who do we have here…? �Commandant: Lady Grace Barry �Medical Officer in Charge: Dr Edward Perry �Nurse: Evelyn Gibbs �The Gibbs Family • Gibbs Ironmongers • Traded for over 200 years • Finally closed in 1967 �Edward Gibbs Senior �Edward Gibbs Jnr �Edward Gibb Jnr • The cap and shoulder badges suggest he went on to join the Army Ordnance Corps • He was awarded the British and Victory Medals, indicating that he served overseas after 1916 • His Service Record didn’t survive the blitz �Nurse: Mabel (or Blanche?) Dewing �Nurse: Ethel Leiper Did she follow her wounded sweetheart to Reepham? �Sara Kendrew �Nan Bircham �Nurses: Sisters-in-Charge, Sisters, Night Sisters, Masseuses �Orderlies, Cooks, Washing Up… �And some interesting descriptions… �Reepham VAD Hospital: Red Cross Staff and Volunteers during WW1 Commandant 2 Cook 4 Quartermaster 3 Odd Man 2 Medical Officer in Charge 1 Secretary and Orderly 1 Sister in Charge 2 Scrubbing 3 Sister 4 Charwoman - scrubbing 1 Night Sister 3 Daily Help 1 Nurse 37 Kitchen Help 4 Masseuse 3 Other 4 Orderly (one night a week) 15 Helper - Washing Up 4 General Help - Kitchen Work 1 95 �Some familiar local surnames… Collison Mee Gurney Peck Eglington Secker Hawes Eke Frankland Stimpson Blyth Perowne – and many more �Could someone in your family be in our photos? �Reepham Archive • Valuable source of local records and images • Can you add to the story of Reepham in WW1? � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Reepham Archive Exhibitions Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Caring for the Wounded in WWI Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2601291100 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Nov 2024 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant WWI Hackford House, Reepham Town Hall Description An account of the resource Talk given by Brenda Gostling & presentation by Janet Archer using materials & resources from Reepham Archive as well as online information from the British Red Cross website. The presentation slides are shown here as the second item. The first slide gives links to two online videos, one of a VAD nurse, the second of a recuperating soldier being helped to dress. On display were photographs of Reepham Town Hall as a hospital ward, recuperating soldiers with nursing staff and military activity in the Market Place. Also included were biographical details for some of the nurses & soldiers, the owner & residents of Hackford House, & the names of volunteers from the town who helped to run the hospital. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Brenda Gostling & Janet Archer Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Archive 2024 Bircham Bruce Hackford House Town Hall WWI https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/1c95a6e488b42ea5ff3899428178e606.pdf 7b04319f931319267d966464f2ef622c PDF Text Text Booton Bridge and Booton Mill To the Editor of the Magazine Previous to 1820 there was no water bridge at Booton, merely a ford for the traffic. The following are bona-fide facts. A gentleman who lived in Reepham went to Booton Hall to have dinner with his father-in-law, and coming home on horseback through the ford fell from his horse and dislocated his neck and died; this was on December the 15th 1811. Nine years after, a bridge was built over the ford. On a cast-iron tablet which is 3 feet 5 [inches] wide and 3 feet 6 [inches] high, which was built in the wall of St Michael’s church tower, in a vault beneath are deposited the remains of Mr David Williams who died December the 15th 1811 in the 58th year of his age. He was a native of Storney [?] near Bridgend, Glamorganshire, and many years a respectable surgeon in this parish. Also Charlotte his beloved wife who died November the 15th 1812 in her 44th year of her age; she was the daughter of Peter Elwin Esq. of Booton Hall by his first wife Miss [?] Paston of Bale in this county, As a small testimony of respect to the memory of such estimable parents, this tablet is put here by their two sons, Peter Elwin and Richard David Elwin. On the parapet wall of Booton Bridge, the upstream side, is the following: “This Bridge was Built by Subscriptions 1820”. Booton Mill The wind to serve the mill finished as the trees of Reepham House plantation grew tall and was removed to Booton Hill. It stood there in working order under the tenancy of Charles Stackwood until 1900. Charles Stackwood at that time thought it was not necessary as he had to two windmills at Cawston and persuaded his landlord to take down the mill with the exception of the brickwork and make same into a storage building for corn etc., the landlord paying the writer to cover in same with felt. All the beautiful old oak was bought by the writer who used it to cover in the Reepham Brewery well for the late Samuel Bircham Esq. and has the date on same 1900. The mill when at Booton was a pleasing dominant feature of the landscape. Few thought of the important part it had played in the economic life of the people or its constant battle against the wind. It was useful after the mothers and their children had gleaned the corn in the harvest field took it to the mill to be ground �into meal flour, also the neighbouring farmers who made use of the beautiful old mill to grind their second quality of corn for their pigs, cattle, etc. There was exciting times when the new sails were fitted, the apparent danger of the workmen riding the sails. The length of the sails was about 60 feet long, weighing about 1½ tons which had to be replaced. I am preparing an imaginary sketch of a windmill standing by the old miller’s house now standing at Reepham occupied by a Mr Cole and his wife. HEH Please digest the above and alter same to suit you, have enclosed a sheet of paper for the alteration if you may wish to make Mrs Cross [?]. I can give you a true story of the removal of Booton Mill which anyone could read in a church. You had better give the mill a rest till after the holidays and then send it back for a day or so. � https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/edea67ec8524470ccb6f1c8f3bd9035a.pdf 9a16ab6a856ede661ff8288f011a321b PDF Text Text ��� Text-digital Any text item for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The text can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a text owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Booton Bridge and Booton Mill Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2512171350 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 2 x A4 PDFs, 5 pages total Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1811 Description An account of the resource An account of an accident in 1811 in which a gentleman on horseback died while crossing the ford at Booton, some years before a bridge was constructed. Also an account of the removal of the windmill at Booton. Both articles from a handwritten letter by Harry Hawes (1863-1957) to the editor of an unknown magazine. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Scanned, transcribed and edited by Geoff Fisher Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Copy provided by Jane Stolworthy, who was given this "many years ago" by a former head of Reepham Primary School, in response to the Digger's Diary column in the July/August 2013 edition of Reepham Life. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jane Stolworthy Booton Booton Bridge Booton Hall Booton Mill Elwin Hawes St Michael's Stackwood Williams https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/f416f0be4ef5285366a0821e27562e43.jpg dbdc42dd7700fe2ef04ef4dc6cc8cd04 Photograph-printed Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Robert Howe Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2512101100 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource B&W photograph 135mm x 85mm Families & Businesses [File 6, Archive Box 106] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1939 Description An account of the resource Robert Matthew Howe (1863-1940) in Bircham's Yard, Norwich Road. Robert was a stockman at various farms in the local area. Born in Swanton Morley, he lived for a long while in Weston Longville. In 1921 he was living in Bircham's Yard and working on a farm in Booton. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Howe https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/81ca4ee03eb0d37a9ea061ec3335f9a5.jpg bb4dffc575f1d905d9dba264fbc1dd8b Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Cecil Lewis Pask Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2510161500 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource B&W photograph 145mmx100mm Mounted + copy Families & Businesses [File 6, Archive Box 6} Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1919 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1919 Description An account of the resource Cecil (1896-1963) was a son of William A. Pask and his third wife Annie Sarah Rowe. Cecil began his working life as a tailor's apprentice to his father. After serving in WWI as a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery he married Doris Wilson in 1924. Two of their daughters, Enid and Elsa both emigrated to Australia. Doris was living in New Road, Reepham when she died in 1948. Cecil's death was registered in Suffolk. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Pask https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/e6fc071c4acab03058e3c0b7d25d6f08.jpg f58e760baee295632ea2d259684b6cb4 Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource John William Frankland Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2510041500 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Families & Businesses [File 6] Description An account of the resource John William Frankland (1895-1964) John's father, Charles Frankland, was a tailor (& a gardener) who worked for William Pask. John himself worked as a gardener and after serving in WWI he worked at the Moor House for Ernest Hudson. The family lived in Reepham Moor and John continued to work as a Market Gardener with his nephew Charles Bernard Frankland. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1910s Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Frankland https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/17c018e7f603684d99c9663a38509e1e.jpg 415b4ed57e68dae1d44c3773f36e3657 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/6ad31f8fc1553d685b2b28090ca0d462.pdf 846d75a1a78cc785441858d688d64e9d PDF Text Text Two Men in a Car GB/REE/251001100 In 2023 Reepham Archive received an enquiry about the location of the photograph shown in the Reepham Life calendar for September 2024. The query originated from Michael Edwards, author of several books on De Dion Bouton cars. It is an image of a 1903 De Dion Bouton, taken around 1905. Cars at the time were rare and very expensive so the owner would have been a person of means. Could we verify the location? The definitive clue is the guidepost which shows places local to Reepham. The three adjacent parishes of Hackford, Whitwell & Reepham with Kerdiston were still separate until 1935. So the 'Hackford' part of the sign would have been accurate for the estimated date of the photograph, i.e. 1905. The viewpoint suggests the corner of Station Road and Dereham Road (outside V's Cafe/The Crossroad). Most of the photographs of that era show guideposts of the iron type. But there is one image that shows this white guidepost :- Further evidence comes from the 1906 Ordnance Survey map where the guidepost is clearly sited on the Dereham Road side of the Towns End crossroads. A 1903 De Dion Bouton was one of the original five cars that launched the Montagu Motor Museum in 1952. It had been in the Montagu family since 1913 when it was acquired from a tenant on the Beaulieu Estate and was used as a works vehicle by the estate engineer until the early 1930s. Edward, Lord Montagu found the car in an outhouse and placed it on display in Palace House in 1952 as part of a small display of cars which was the nucleus of what would later become the Montagu Motor Museum, now the National Motor Museum. Information from the De Dion Bouton UK Club website : dedionboutonclub.co.uk � Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource De Dion Bouton Car Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/251001100 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Streets & Buildings/Dereham Road [File 17 ] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1900s Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1900s Towns End, Reepham Description An account of the resource Image of two very smart young men in a De Dion Bouton car, taken at the bottom of Dereham Road. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource N. Sparrow 1900s RL Calendar 2024 Towns End https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/149aab66450969d2360405b8848d46f4.jpg f3950eed004c3619b8f0559e0997b154 Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource May Mary Tubby Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2509261500 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families & Businesses [File 6] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1910s Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1910s Description An account of the resource May Mary Tubby -nee Barrett (1899-1983) Born in Felthorpe, by 1911 the family was living in Whitwell. Her father Edward was a farm labourer. In 1919 May married William Tubby and in 1921 they were living in Station Road, probably in the cottages opposite the car park. William was a chauffeur for Dr. Perry. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Tubby https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/17bb59b2192a8bb8f41e3dab9854dfa1.jpg 1cf84038531caaa20c7469a7e12984e0 Photograph-digital Any photograph for which there is no previously existing hard copy in the Archive. The photograph can be stored on CD, DVD, memory card, USB stick, on hard drive or 'cloud'. It may have been sent electronically to the Archive or it may be a photograph owned by someone else which we have scanned or photographed. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Mary Besford Timbers Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2509232015 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families & Businesses [File 6] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1900s Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1900s Description An account of the resource Studio portrait of Mary Besford Timbers (1858-1940). Mary was the daughter of Charles Timbers & Charlotte Jarvis. Before she was married she lived with her grandfather William at Six Crossways where the women of the family ran a laundry business. In 1885 Mary married Thomas Piercy who worked for Edward Gibbs. They first lived in Hall Road (now Ollands Road) and later at The Hill, Hackford. Thomas died in 1930. Mary was Wesley Piercy's grandmother. She continued to live at The Hill until she died in 1940. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Piercy Timbers https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/46feb2cbf54bfdded0b432f5558b9d76.jpg ed447b16efe88284eecf6e0bd217cb6f Photograph-printed Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Jasper Kiddell Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2509232000 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Sepia photograph + modern B&W copy Families & Businesses [File 6, Archive Box 6] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1900s Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1900s Description An account of the resource Jasper (1900-1971) was the youngest child of Ebenezer Kiddell and his first wife Elizabeth Cole. He had a sister called Charlotte who was 14 years older than Jasper. <br />On the back of this photograph was written :- <em>"Good morning Sister Lottie have you used Pear's Soap yet? What do you think of my little face? Mother and father are quite well. When are you going to write? Jasper<br /></em>Jasper worked as a stoker in the Royal Navy for many years.<br />Ebenezer Kiddell (1857-1924)was a wheelright, carpenter and beer retailer living and working in Oulton. He spent a few years in Stalham as a waggon builder but by 1904 he was living in Reepham with a work yard probably opposite the Methodist church on Station Road. His wife Elizabeth died in 1920 and in 1922 he married Elsie Rhoda Piercy, Wesley Piercy's aunt. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Wesley Piercy Kiddell Piercy