17 20 1030 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/f7dbdcda5bf2c90ac031e602fa3c41eb.jpg 7109bd95bcefb1fb1118cba6adb573ee 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 Heydon Hall Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2507121645 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 1920s Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1920s Heydon Description An account of the resource Postcard of Heydon Hall probably dating from the late 1920s. The term 'Moulton's Series' may refer to Cawston's postmaster from 1929 to 1934. Restoration work was undertaken in the 1970s. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource ST 2025 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/38ef4f44429c4efc2df3e671e6a2963c.jpg 66a686936ff6fe380c8f70b59f352bab 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 Hill Cottages Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2210171058 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Streets & Buildings/Station Road [File 17, Box 117] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1962 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1962 Reepham Description An account of the resource The small holding and gardens behind Hill Cottages in Station Road, viewed from Chapel Walk. Hill Cottages Station Road https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/a1db1990c15c88c804c0ffe51a839fed.jpg 240e7cd4e973510bea3dcbd79e2b79a3 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 Hilton's Stores Description An account of the resource North and west sides of store including lettering painted on north wall. Percy Hilton standing outside. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1920s Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/1609151624 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource B&W photocopy 190 x 120mm Streets & Buildings [File 17, Archive Box 117] Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society RS Database 288 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1920s Reepham Market Place Hilton RL Calendar 2017 shop https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/29338aefcea7034c8ca666b7d529f695.jpg 92e540c4930a928f7cf3252c1fd2aa91 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/5bdad334badc3ddd74abf0f42c90925a.jpg ec468fb3b8efb266907727807f47703d 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 Hiltons' Stores Description An account of the resource Grocery and general store on site of recent Police Station. Double display window curved wooden rail visible. Aproned proprietor standing in doorway under Bovril sign. Young proprietor is probably Arthur Hardiment. In 1921 he was an assistant for S. T. Stangroom. The shop had retained the name of Hilton. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1920s (est) Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 2 B&W photos 240 x 150mm + poor quality photcopy 275 x 180mm Streets & Buildings [File 17, Archive Box 117] Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society RS Database 288 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/1609151614 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1920s Market Place, Reepham 1920s Hilton Hilton's Stores shop https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/7bb3149c42081c79df12020bcc3a6584.pdf cf9579ce1daa0435d1674512091a746e PDF Text Text from the Archive Post date: Thursday, March 15, 2018 Historical features of Market Place premises As seen in the April picture of the Reepham Life 2018 Calendar, one of the noticeable features of the Robertson’s butcher’s premises is the stepping on the gable end that faces the Market Place. A murky picture (above) of crowds celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 reveals a different roof shape with two chimneys, and an architect’s drawing in the Reepham Archive dates the alterations to the early 1900s. John Hall had already been running his harness and saddle-making business there since at least 1890. By the mid-1920s his son Bertie was running the saddlery business and John had retired to live in the building next door that is now Mott’s Pharmacy; he was still living there in 1939. The other photograph (below), possibly from the 1920s, shows the picket fence (or a similar one) that was still there when the building was occupied by L.L. Skipper in the 1980s. �Previously, Robert Barber, a watchmaker and jeweller, had lived in the current pharmacy building for more than 30 years. Barber was born in Salle and had spent some time in the 1st Royal Dragoons, marrying in Dublin while stationed at the Royal Barracks. His two eldest children were christened at the garrison chapel at Arbour Hill, Dublin. His next two daughters were christened in Ashted, Warwickshire, presumably while Robert was posted at Great Brook Street Barracks. By 1871 he was living and working as a watchmaker in Cawston, moving to Reepham Market Place by the time of the 1881 Census. Missing photo album returned Reepham Archive is delighted to report that the missing album of historical photographs has been returned to the Bircham Centre and is now safely back in the library. Janet Archer � 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 From the Archive Description An account of the resource Illustrated articles contributed to Reepham Life and to Reepham & District Community News. From 2018 most articles related to matching months in Reepham Life Calendars. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource From 2016 to the present Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/From the Archive Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital PDF documents Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource JDA 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 Historical features of Market Place premises Description An account of the resource Comparison of the roofline of Robertson's shop at the time of Queen Victoria's Jubilee and the stepped pattern visible in a 1920s photograph. Alterations were probably made in the early 1900s. Details of the life of Robert Barber, watchmaker & resident in what is now (2019) Mott's Pharmacy. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 2018 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/1907131740 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital PDF document Streets & Buildings/Market Place [File 17, Archive Box 117] Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource JDA Barber R Motts Pharmacy Queen Victoria's Jubilee RL Calendar 2018 Robertson https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/ab783e073406233ac7aeeda6cbe318cb.pdf cc35c91ea5a83a93ce331b1361314dea PDF Text Text Final two pages of The History of Whitwell Hall �� Text - 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 History of Whitwell Hall Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2108032100 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1973 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Whitwell Hall Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 26pp A4 photocopied typescript Local Villages/Whitwell/Ivins [File 12, Archive Box 112] Description An account of the resource Account of the owners, residents and tenants of Whitwell Hall from the 1600s to 1938. Includes details of the Monsey, Ellis and Collyer families. Refers to Robert Leamon and his ownership from the 1820s and also shows how the ownerships of both Whitwell Hall and Hackford Hall were connected through the Monsey and Collyer families. Much evidence given from Norfolk Record Office and the Public Record Office. For reference only The last two pages are reproduced here as a summary. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Tony Ivins Relation A related resource RS Magazine 1994 (RS Database 426) Collyer Ellis Hackford Hall Leamon Monsey Whitwell Hall https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/993e322f18e23a3180f34f719851d1f2.jpg a45b604a0612a91b8ce57624f4b32971 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] 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 Hospital Blues Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2501041120 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital WWI [File 21, Archive Box 121] Description An account of the resource Group of soldiers in their 'Hospital Blues' outside the back of Hackford House, later to become the Bircham Centre. The house included a room or rooms for recreation and for extra beds. Hackford House soldiers WWI https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/cd6715c504f8f037b58052ee581d8065.pdf e7fa9c58a2e716ed9c62bb545e6ffa93 PDF Text Text �Trustees have only negative rights to stop encroachment and no authority to make positive plans for the management of the common without the consent and approval of all concerned. � Text - 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 How The Commoners Lost Their Rights Description An account of the resource Document listing relevant events, both legal and social, which had an influence on the management of Whitwell Common. Preparation notes for a topic covered in The Reepham Society Exhibition in 2001. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1803-1977 Whitwell Common Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2104091245 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 4pp landscape word-processed document RS Exhibitions/2001 [File 15, Archive Box 115] Local Villages/Whitwell [File 21] Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society 2001 RS Exhibition Whitwell Common https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/f0ce9ba84134940a010e4d15491c6458.jpg 71d2db344071036718dc250e292e77d0 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 Norfolk Heritage Explorations Description An account of the resource 1) Information collected & edited by members of the Reepham Society & its History Group during 2004/5, as Reepham's contribution to the above project lead by The Forum. Since most information is included in other sections of Reepham Archive the documentation in this collection has not been digitised. The project was web-based and was interactive, i.e. navigation was available through links to the various parts, and included an interactive map. The website is not now available online but traces of it appear via the 'Wayback Machine'. 2) Collection of scanned photographs on two CDs, selected for the Norfolk Heritage Explorations project in 2004/5 The majority are of modern Reepham & there are duplicates. Most were taken by Chris Peakome & Kate Nightingale. Several have already been itemised from other sources & a few appear in the early Reepham Life Calendars. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 58pp A4 printed text + an additional 6pp CD 1  73 items A4 Index 2pp : A4 Description 5pp Copied to CD between August 2004 & February 2005 CD 2  71 items A4 Index/Description 5pp Copied to CD March 2005 Reepham Society Exhibitions Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society RS CD Database 783 & 782 Index & Description RS Database 787 & 791 Thumbnails RS Database 788 & 792 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2004 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, Salle, Booton Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Reepham Society & the Society's History Group Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Norfolk Heritage Explorations Copyright © 2007 Contributors and The Forum Trust Limited, unless specified otherwise. All rights reserved. Written consent to copy, publish, adapt, hire, lend or reproduce, whether in part or in whole, should be obtained from The Forum Trust Limited, 2 Millennium Plain, Bethel Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1TF. The material on the Norfolk Heritage Explorations site was not a definitive guide to the areas concerned or to their heritage, but was presented as an interpretation of those areas by the contributors. 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/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2103301425 Title A name given to the resource HSBC Bank Description An account of the resource This building in the Market Place is now home to Motts Pharmacy. John Ebenezer Hall, the saddler, lived here after he retired from his business next door. In the nineteenth century it was home & workshop to at least two watchmakers, John Shreeve Woolmer & Robert Barber, & it is probable that Symonds, clockmaker to Parson Woodforde also lived here. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2004 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 2004 Market Place Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital bank Motts Pharmacy Parson Woodforde https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/6b225e4b3c03c61b9ca49b52f0ff7cca.jpg 27e3c151876167990e1400424822f95e https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/5621f20ff95aaff7ff74df58e5e239f9.jpg a0fa5e8dda900a9a11d478375b18f996 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/56780e5f339485f912465a9ecec33b0f.jpg 8cafa05daa065d35bc8344343d3f3e91 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 HSBC Official Opening Description An account of the resource HSBC, official opening of the Reepham Branch on Thursday, 6 July 2000. Schedule of Events and 7 photographs showing the Falconers Marching Band and Reepham School Pupils, Martin Woodnutt cutting the ribbon and Matthew Newton and his staff outside the new Branch Office. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2000 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 2000 Reepham Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2005251533 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 130 x 200 mm Schedule of Events 7 colour photographs 180 x 130 mm Events/2000 [File 5, Archive Box 105] Families & Businesses/HSBC [File 6] Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Dick Jeeves, photography 2000 bank HSBC https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/3102afb19d04c08a327c2e7c118e7915.jpg 2fba004e17c915c6df16f1eb3b0c9b0f 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 Hunt's Stores Description An account of the resource Staff outside Hunt's Stores, Station Road, Reepham. Philip Hunt previously had a shop in Reepham Moor. EW advises us that Sydney and Maggie Hunt lived 'over the shop' and that Maggie's father is one of the railwaymen in the snow photograph GB-REE-2009101222 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1970s Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1970s Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2109080858 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families & Businesses [File 6, Archive Box 106] Streets & Buildings/Station Road [File 17] Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource EW 2020 1970s Hunts Stores RL Calendar 2015 shop Station Road https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/08ff33aeb091df723b84125e86097429.pdf 7fc15421a78ba296f646e6fedbdadb89 PDF Text Text I Remember – Part 1 The story of Reepham Market Place in the early years of this century as seen by a small child. As a contribution to a study of Reepham and its surrounding villages, Miss Marjorie Gibbs wrote what can only be described as a long essay, giving a child’s eye view of Reepham Market Place during the period 1902–1920. An essay it may be, but it is a delightful piece of social history which encapsulates the characters, residents and activities of an age personally known now to so few people. Reepham Market Place has changed little and in a way her detail is brought to life by us being able to relate it to the buildings which have changed so little in this particular area in the past 80 years. I have included a map of the Market Place and the numbers (if you cannot work it out) correspond the article with their actual position all those years ago, for example number 9 refers to Barclays Bank taking up the ground floor; they are still in the same building. I am extremely grateful for Miss Gibbs giving permission for her article to be reproduced. The essay was printed and published locally in a small book in 1971 but copies are not readily available. Having known it all my life the Market Place to me is not just a place. In those days Reepham, having a cattle market, liked to term itself a town. The centre of that town was indeed the Market Place and so it was the vital centre and always referred to as “The Town”. Even today, the older generation will remark that they are going in to the town to shop, or across the town if proceeding further or even meeting someone in the town. It has many nostalgic memories for me; indeed, I have a very affectionate regard for it. It was the centre of most activities since the Parish Council (of Hackford only in those days) consisted mostly of residents of the Market Place. It had street lamps of a kind, about four lanterns attached by iron brackets to the walls in various dark corners. These contained oil lamps complete with chimneys and a lamp lighter was employed by the Council. He was responsible for keeping the lamps filled, trimmed and he lighted and extinguished them at the appropriate times. They were not used at all during the summer months. The only lamp lighter I can remember is Mr. James Wasey. During the First World War these were not used at all and I cannot recall having an electric torch at the time. I used to walk to Guides with a cycle oil lamp. The residents and their status are remembered as follows, commencing from Town End: �1. Facing south was Edward Gibbs, ironmonger and seed merchant; more of this business later. 2. In the cottage attached to this building was the Reading Room. This was run by a Committee, mostly Parish Councillors. Dr. E. V. Perry was the Chairman (as he was of nearly every other committee in the town). Downstairs was a public room with daily papers and such periodicals as “Tit‐Bits”, “Answers”, “Pearson’s Weekly” and “Exchange and Mart”. The Windsor, Strand and Pearson’s magazines were the monthlies along with the Illustrated London News and Punch. Only a very few of these publications have survived to the present day. Upstairs was a library consisting mostly of second‐hand books from other libraries and added to from time to time. The large room upstairs was used as a billiards room with a full‐size table. This was mostly patronised by the younger men and boys, while their more sedate elders read their papers, and smoked in comparative peace downstairs. One paid a small fee to belong to the Reading Room and my father was Secretary, I think, and general factotum, seeing that the place was kept clean, unlocking at 9 am and closing it at 10 pm. 3. The next block was divided into two parts with a shop at the corner, facing south. It was kept by Mr. Priest, chemist, who with his wife and daughters lived in part of the ground floor and the first and second floors. The previous chemist was Mr. Cripps (whom I don’t remember) but who was a great friend of my father’s. The Priests were what I think was termed “very genteel” and just a step above the ordinary tradesmen, since one had to “qualify” to be a dispensing chemist. The elder daughter had a small private school at “Sunnyside” on Norwich Road, (demolished in the 1960s). This was a select school for the young ladies of the town and district, and one boy attended, the son of Doctor Berry of the “White House”. Either Mr. Priest retired or died but the school was removed to Foulsham and the premises vacated. My sister attended the school. I was too young and later had a much more normal education up to the age of 12 at the local Elementary (or Board) school. 4. Mr. D’Arcy Collyer, a solicitor, residing at Hackford Hall, also occupied some of the rooms facing south. An eccentric, my chief memories of him are of a bicycle which he frequently pushed, and a large dog which would bark all night if he forgot to take it home with him after an evening at the office. I should imagine he had a great love of music. He would frequently sing strange songs when he came to the office in the evening (or forgot to go home). Sometimes the songs were German Lieder, to the accompaniment of a guitar or banjo, with window wide open. 5. The corner shop was taken over by E. T. Stoner of Aylsham, as a bicycle shop and watch‐mending was done as well. It was managed by Mr. W. Bishop who lived at the other end of the Market Place. I think this tenancy was relinquished during the First World War when Mr. Bishop was called up to the Services. �6. Around the corner, facing east, the basement was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bunnett and daughters and they used the top floor for bedrooms. 7. Mr. Edward Holly had the first floor where he practised as a solicitor and was later joined by Colonel T. Purdy of Aylsham. 8. The ground floor was taken up by Barclays Bank. The Bunnetts acted as caretakers for both Mr. Holly and the bank. The bank manager was Mr. H. T. Owen. Since the four parishes had not yet been amalgamated, he was not a member of Hackford Parish Council as he lived at Moor Lodge, Reepham. 9. 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. Later on, after his demise, Mrs. Bates came to live there from King’s Head, Booton and later still Mr. Rump, the butcher from opposite the church lived there. 10. Next was Mr. John Hall, saddler and harness maker. He had a large family, the eldest son being clerk to Mr. Holly. The saddlery business flourished in those days since horses were the only means of transport (apart from the railway). Mr. Hall also made riding saddles. My chief memory is a glorious smell of leather as I passed by to go to the next shop. 11. This was a grocers and drapers occupied by Mr. George Fisher, also a friend of my father. He had a family of four, two sons and two daughters. One of the latter helped in the shop and one taught music and gave me my first piano lessons. Mr. Fisher was a very likeable, jovial man and very public spirited, as indeed were most of the tradesmen of the Market Place and the immediate surroundings. 12. The last house facing east was the barber’s, complete with gay striped pole. This was kept by Mr. Arthur Fowle, a cripple, and prominent member of the local branch of the Plymouth Brethren. I believe the shop was also a centre for much gossip and argument. This business was later taken by Mr. Harry Swoish who remained there for many years. 13. Turning the corner and facing south is Old Brewery House, so named from the Bircham brewery that was at the back of this house, and owned as far as I remember, by Mr. Samuel Bircham. My first recollection is of Mrs. Bruce and her three daughters living there. When Mr. Bircham decided to live there himself, Mrs. Bruce and her daughters moved to Hackford House. One of Mrs. Bruce’s daughters, Nan, married Richard Bircham. Mr. Sam Bircham had extensive alterations made to the house but after a few years, decided to return to London. Mrs. Bruce returned to Brewery House and her daughter later lived there with her family for many years. �14. 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 Scotton followed on. She was a popular Red Cross nurse at the local war hospital during the War. 15. 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. 16. In the next block was Mr. William Allen’s boot and shoe shop. My chief memory is of his son Robert, a very pleasant young man, who later took over the business, fitting my very small patent shoes. I always had two pairs, one for very best and one for seconds. Robert Allen had a great knowledge of his trade, sometimes making shoes for special orders, a very high‐class shop. Robert Allen died comparatively young, and the business was then taken by Mr. George Cocking who remained there for many years. 17. The other side of St. John’s alley was a “fancy” shop, kept by Miss Howard. Here was to be found a motley of goods, not very tidy, such as newspapers, sweets, tobaccos, odd wools, buttons, beads and cheap toys. Impressed on my mind, and to me as a small child, very mysterious, was a piano, half‐hidden behind the counter. Here, in between serving ha’porths of sweets and ounces of shag tobacco at 3d. per ounce, Miss Howard would give music lessons. This was a source of wonder and even envy to me. A little friend once told me her lesson lasted all the morning. She saw everyone who came into the shop and sometimes she had a sweet. Time was no object in those days! After Miss Howard died, the business was taken by Mr. H. C. Peck (more of him later) and when he relinquished the business it was taken by Mr. F. Miller. Mr. Peck had transformed it from chaos into order and Mr. Miller with his wife continued on these lines. 18. The cottage next door was occupied by Mrs. Stonyx whom I never saw. She was a lady of means, since, when she was ill, she had a nurse, a relative of ours, from the Norfolk and Norwich hospital private staff. At the auction, after her death many antiques were discovered, including what appeared to be a painted chest of drawers bought cheaply by my father. It was discovered underneath to be of solid oak and was renovated as such. This is the house where Mr. Bishop lived when he managed Stoner’s shop. 19. The corner shop was a tailors and outfitters kept by Mr. Juby, who did a fair business. He emigrated and the business was taken over by Mr. A. V. King. Mr. Juby was a violinist and assisted in the local string band. �20. Facing north and opposite Mr. Juby was a small shop, also a tailor’s. I think this was kept by a Mr. Bircham, but I can only just recall Mr. Pask and family living there, himself a tailor. 21. Adjoining was a high‐class grocery establishment kept by Miss Woods and her mother, also rather genteel! I can dimly remember Miss Woods, but Mr. Leonard Riches later took over the business and included the tailor’s shop next door in his premises. 22. 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. 23. Adjoining was Hackford House, occupied by the Misses Spencer, most ladylike, and as a small child I was rather in awe of them. After their departure I can recall their furniture auction in the Market Place. It was the first auction I had ever seen, and I was fascinated with the methods of the auctioneer. Mrs. Bruce was the following resident and later, having moved back to Brewery House, Mr. Sam Bircham leased part of Hackford House to the committee of the reading room in 1911. The equipment, including the billiard table, was removed to these much more suitable premises. Part of the house next to Peck’s was turned into a furnishing and ironmonger’s shop leased to Wallace King of Norwich, but he was not there for many years. During the 1914–18 war Hackford House was used as a nurses’ home for the Red Cross hospital which was run by Lady Grace Parry and her team of nurses, in the parish hall to the rear of Hackford House garden. The reading room became redundant. NOTE: In the early 1900s the parish hall was referred to as the Old School; it was later promoted to the parish hall and after the War when renovations were made, the building was much improved and re‐named the Town Hall. During the War, the wounded from the hospital, mostly convalescents, used the billiard table and room as part of their recreation facilities. In 1919 Mr. Bircham gave Hackford House to the parish as a war memorial and it was re‐named the Bircham Institute. Wallace King had vacated the premises and that part was made into a house for the caretaker: the process of transferring the deeds, etc., of the Bircham Institute took a long time to get settled and when Mr. Bircham died in 1924 the whole of the procedure had to be gone through again, since it had not been settled in his lifetime. �24. Facing north on the square is the King’s Arms hotel, kept first, to my recollection, by Mr. William King. He was a blacksmith by trade and came to the King’s Arms from the Greyhound in Back Street where he used the forge opposite (now demolished). I do not think he did much blacksmithing after he came to the King’s Arms, but he used to drive a very smart horse and trap. Mr. John Dixon followed and then I think Mr. George Hubbard, who was there throughout the War. I cannot recall exactly the years, maybe in the early 1920s, the landlord was Mr. Devlin. His wife was Daisy Ashford who made fame with her childhood book “The Young Visiters”. She did not come out much into the town but served in the bar quite a lot. 25. Under the King’s Arms clubroom was a small shop, kept by various traders, one of whom was Mr. A. V. King, son of the landlord and who later took over Juby’s tailors’ business. 26. In the little house next facing north lived the Misses Boon. Their father had been a shoemaker, but I cannot remember him, although I have a faint recollection of seeing their mother when I was being fitted for a dress. The two sisters were very much liked. Jane, the elder, kept house and was a dressmaker. Ethel, the younger sister by several years, was a school teacher and very musical. She gave piano lessons and was organist at St. Michael’s church. The churches were separate livings at that time. 27. 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. Later he retired and the business was taken over by Mr. W. J. Utting. 28. The Post Office came next, a plain and austere looking house. The room on the right‐hand side facing was the Post Office and entered via the front door and hall. It was a Sub Post Office only. The postmaster was Mr. Herbert Rudd, assisted by his sister, Lydia. They were very nice people and were joined later by their nephew, Donald K. Chapman, who took over the Post Office when Mr. Rudd died. After the War, the premises were enlarged, and a new shop front was added. Mr. Chapman, assisted by his two sisters, then expanded the business with stationery and tobacco, etc. 29. Ivy House, the next facing north, was a pretty house covered with ivy, looking more imposing against the plain exterior of the houses either side. Privately, the Gibbs thought theirs was prettier since it was covered with Virginia creeper which turned red in the autumn, but Ivy House had the advantage of keeping its leaves all the year round. A succession of relieving officers lived here, Whitelaw, Hammond and Lindsey. I cannot remember if there was a tenant in between Lindsey and Mrs. Wilton, who had a large family and two lodgers. Her husband had been a sergeant major, and they first kept the Star Inn at Whitwell. After his death, Mrs. Wilton came into the town. She was a character indeed, with a strong personality. She was most �intelligent, hard‐working, public spirited and a singer, altogether a very busy woman, but she always had time for everything and everybody. When the telephone came to Reepham, she managed the exchange installed in Ivy House, the porch being used as the call office. It was said that she liked to listen in to conversations, but I cannot vouch for any truth in this gossip. After the War when some of the family were grown up, she moved across the road to the old reading room which had been occupied by troops during the War and the telephone exchange moved with her. 30. My very early recollection of the Sun Inn facing north and also facing Gibbs’ shop (and attached to Ivy House) was of “Charlie Culling”, the dog, so named because Mr. Culling was the landlord. I think someone else followed him for a short time, but then came Mr. and Mrs. Fred Watson and they were landlords there for a number of years. Mr. Watson was a most efficient painter and decorator and worked for Mr. John Wright who lived in Norwich Road. Mr. Watson continued with his work for some years but later gave it up to work entirely in the Sun. Mrs. Watson was a woman of great character, and very much respected by all her customers. She was a kind, motherly soul and during the War was known to the forces as “ma”. She was extremely good to all service men, whether Army, Navy and Air Force, especially if they were home sick or lonely. Marjorie Gibbs From an article published in the Reepham Society Newsletter, Christmas 1985 �� 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. 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Title A name given to the resource I Remember – Part 1 Description An account of the resource Personal recollections of Reepham Market Place in the early years of the 20th century Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Early 20th century Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2110041520 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource A4 PDF 8 pages Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society Newsletter Christmas 1985 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Marjorie Gibbs Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Reepham Society Market Place Reepham Society https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/75779f4cea29e854fe0aaae45e9fe278.pdf 4e0216c81cd3d6faf06655859f903791 PDF Text Text I Remember – Part 2 The story of Reepham Market Place in the early years of this century as seen by a small child. In the last newsletter we printed the first part of the reminiscences of Miss Marjorie Gibbs of Reepham Market Place during the period 1902–1920. The first part detailed the residents and their businesses, and this second part elaborates on the social life of the Market Place. The social life of the Market Place was almost a community in itself: Austin, Fisher, Hall, Peck, Cocking, Riches and Gibbs all being members of the parish council and most of these on various committees that were formed from time to time. One of the highlights of the year was the fair on June 29th and I can remember the excitement to us youngsters when the Market Place was invaded by vans, roundabouts, coconut shies, shooting galleries and stalls selling home‐made rock of many flavours and much stickiness. They usually stayed for a week, to the delight of the younger generation, although the adult part of the population was glad when they left owing to the noise and many other inconveniences. Stalls were gay and lighted by paraffin flares. The majestic engine with its shining brasswork was admired and wondered at by everybody as it provided steam to run the roundabouts, current for the organ’s repertoire of tunes and the lighting system. This was also a strain on the pockets of the youngsters for pennies, which often had to be supplemented by a visit to their parents two or three times during the evening. The vans were drawn up side by side on the King’s Arms plain facing the road and the horses were put out to grass on a meadow. We used to visit the “fair people” and take them fruit and vegetables, since my mother always remarked, “Poor things, they have no gardens.” One family came year after year and we would be asked into the van, so spotlessly clean, a wonderful house on wheels and I wished I lived in it. People would throng in from the surrounding villages and make it a real frolic. I was told to be home by 9 pm for bed, but I would lie awake listening to the organ playing its repertoire of the topical tunes of the day and waiting for God Save the King at 11 pm. I can recall Barnes, Stocks, Shaws and Grays, and once Stocks stayed for three weeks. I may add as a personal note, that this liking for fair people has never left me. Disturbing the quiet of the week, each Wednesday was the scene of much activity, when market day arrived. Farmers drove in with their horse and traps, the latter of various shapes and sizes. The horses were taken out of the shafts and stabled at the King’s Arms or the Sun, though some preferred the lesser hostelries such as the Lord Nelson, the Greyhound, Duke of York or George and Dragon. The carts were parked on the Market Place or in the yards of the selected stabling. �Farmers used to congregate to talk to each other and exchange views and farm gossip, bargain with the merchants to sell their corn, or to go to the bank for wages, and do most of their farm shopping at the local ironmongers and agricultural engineers. I have seen cheap jacks with earthenware, and if the sale yard was too full, calves and sheep would be kept there until such time as there was room in the sale ground. The Market Place was the central meeting place for everyone. On Sundays, the Salvation Amy band would hold services in the Market Place afternoon and evening. The band was very good in those days. Two army officers were in charge and the Army had a good cause here. I would always run to the window to see them march by as they paraded to the barracks in Norwich Road via the Back Street, that is, if I was not in Sunday school in the afternoon. The Market Place set the scene for another “once a year” occasion. The Oddfellows held a district church parade, usually on Whit Sunday evening, when men, and in some cases their wives, came in from various lodges, arriving by wagonette, horse brake, horses and traps or bicycle. The men met at 6 pm on the Market Place looking very gay in their various coloured sashes and, with a very imposing banner bearing the symbols of the Oddfellows on it, would march to church via the Back Street. In those days, the churches were not amalgamated, and I think the service was held one year in St. Mary’s and one year in St. Michael’s alternately. After the service they would again parade with the band (usually the Dereham Volunteers’ band) proceeding along Norwich Road, Reepham Moor, Cabbage Court (now New Road) to Station Plain and back to the Market Place via Station Road collecting money en route. They would then disband and repair to either the King’s Arms or the Sun to “whet their whistles”. As a child this was a highlight, and my mother would entertain one or two of the wives during the parade and we would keep open house with coffee and cakes for anyone whom my father or my brother would bring in afterwards. It was a “treat” for me to be allowed to stay up to watch the parade after church. I cannot recall the Coronation of Edward VII but to celebrate this I believe marquees were erected on the Market Place and the whole village attended a feast of cold salt beef and pickles (I don’t think salads were so fashionable then), with plum pudding to follow. Every child was given an enamel mug with the picture of King Edward and Queen Alexandra on it, as a souvenir. Another feature of life in the Market Place during the winter months was the weekly dancing class held in the King’s Arms club room. I envied my sister and brother who were old enough to attend this very popular pastime. Most of the young ladies and young farmers from the district attended (even Mr. Peck, though not so young!). The culmination of all this was the annual dance, held in the same place. Miss Boon supplied most of the music on the piano and the dance usually finished by midnight. �The King’s Arms had a flourishing Bowls Club, well supported by the Market Place residents. Another daily event in the Market Place cones to my mind. At 6 am the people living there were often awakened by the arrival of the mail cart and its noisy driver. The cart was like an ordinary heavy trap, with a covered‐in portion behind for the bags of mail and was red. The horse was given a nose bag while the driver knocked up the postmaster. He came every day including Sunday. Musically, the residents could be an entertainment in themselves. Mr. Fisher was organist at the chapel, choir‐master and also conducted Glee Parties. Mr. Cocking played the bass fiddle and trombone, Mr. Juby the violin, Mr. Edward Gibbs Junior violin, piano or any other instrument he could find, and with residents from other parts of the town, a string band was formed, not grand enough to be called an orchestra. Local concerts for various charities were given in the old school, Mr. Peck singing in his light baritone voice part‐comic, part‐sentimental songs that not always succeeded in being funny. Miss Boon was a willing accompanist and would also sing well‐known ballads of the day such as “Don’t Hurry” and “The Song that Reached My Heart”, accompanied on the piano by Miss Austin who lived next door and who was also pianist with the string band. Mr. Austin hadj a rich tenor voice and could always be relied on to sing “Nivana” or “Thora”. Mrs. Wilton and lastly the Gibbs family would sometimes help. My father was ever popular with repeated requests for one of his six or seven humorous patter songs, some for which he had never seen the music and my brother would invent accompaniments for them. Since my father had a gift of wit and great humour, he could always be relied on to make a racy speech of introduction or pass a vote of thanks. The elder daughter would recite and the son, with that rare gift of improvisation, would play the piano or organ and any instrument that he could find for his collection. He even invented an attachment for the piano which was like organ pedals and produced music from bells, each pedal playing one bell. The younger daughter (myself) only came in to the music picture about 1913 by playing accompaniments on the piano and piano solos, and even at an early age was in great demand to sing childish songs. Throughout the War she sang in concerts for the troops. Her voice was trained but she could never pursue a musical career as intended, as with the shortage of man‐power she had to leave Dereham High School and make a career in the family business instead. With several “outsiders” from other parts of the town and surrounding district the musical gentlemen of the Market Place formed a highly successful minstrel troupe, calling themselves “The Black Diamonds”. Mr. Le Neve, the relieving officer from Dereham Road, was interlocutor, the two corner men were my father as Bones and Mr. Sidney Eglington as Tambo. The assistant corner men were Messrs. Austin and Peck. They rehearsed in �the club room and were in great demand as entertainers. Every year a grand Garden Fete (another highlight since there were few cinemas and a visit to the theatre an event) was held in the grounds of Dr. E. V. Perry, the committee for this being of course the Market Place gentlemen with a few others. Their wives formed the tea committee. Sometimes the Barnardo boys from Watts Naval Training school at Elmham would give displays of life‐saving, various gun drills and physical displays and also dancing of the hornpipe. The band of this school would parade from the Market Place. At night the gardens would be illuminated with hundreds of fairy lamps, along the paths and festooned around. These consisted of coloured glasses about the size of a large cup, each containing a night‐light. Usually, one or two of the juniors were assigned to light these at dusk, and the band played for dancing on the lawn. When the Black Diamonds were formed, their first performance was given at one of these fetes. For this premier a covered proscenium was erected, the string band accompanied, and it was all a huge success. The stage was unique in those days in that it was lighted by electricity supplied through the gardens by land line from Mr. John Dixon, who at that time had the cycle shop on the corner of Towns End. The friendly Market Place took on a different aspect and with the outbreak of war in 1914 everything seemed changed. Market days still continued but with less enthusiasm, local men were either called up or volunteered for the forces and with the arrival of troops, the Market Place became a parade ground. We had army personnel here throughout the war billeted in homes and various buildings. There was much excitement when the first troops arrived in late 1915. These were the ‘A’ Company of the Honourable Artillery Corps. I well remember them arriving on horses with their equipment. We were daily awakened by the sound of reveille from the Market Place at 6.30 am and it was also sounded from various points in the town. During the day, we heard “Come to the cook‐house door” and later at sunset, the “Last Post”. To the younger generation who did not realise the seriousness of war it was a thrilling sight to see the Company on horseback lined up for inspection on the Market Place, probably before going around the country side on manoeuvres and many a child was late for school in consequence. This group of peace‐time soldiers who were called up at the outbreak of war were drawn from all quarters of city life in London. Stockbrokers, solicitors, actors, musicians and all grades of professional life. It was Reepham’s boast that it held a very special regiment. These men entered into the village life and were very welcome guests in many homes. The officers’ mess was at The Ollands, and the NCOs and men were in billets. The horses were kept in various stables in the town, and we had two, as well as our own horse, in ours. We had two sergeants billeted with us. One was a dentist from Hanover Square, London, who by way of contrast was the Saddler Sergeant. �The other sergeant was a highly qualified engineer, and he was the Wheeler Sergeant, so was more or less dealing with machinery. They invariably had their evening meal with us, and although the sergeants’ mess was at Brewmere, they became part of our family. The very small artillery guns of the H.A.C. were kept and guarded on the Market Place. One vivid memory of the H.A.C. is still very much imprinted on my mind. It was New Year’s Eve. We had kept open house for most of the evening for coffee and drinks for several of the officers and men with whom we had become friendly. There seemed to be a great camaraderie amongst these troops and various ranks mingled with each other very freely. Nearing midnight everyone came out of their houses and a huge ring was formed entirely around the Market Place. Soldiers and civilians linked up, in rather a merry mood, and we all sang “Auld Lang Syne” and “Home Sweet Home”. For a very young teenager, taken care of by one of the sergeants of the household, this was, as I have already said, an unforgettable experience. If the Market Place could feel, it would have thrilled as it listened to about 150 folk of all ages, singing the Old Year out and the New Year in. It was with much sorrow that we saw the H.A.C. depart for active service in the spring of 1916. The Middlesex Yeomanry followed during the next winter, with horses, and the year after that the Hampshire Yeomanry arrived on bicycles when, instead of the Market Place being a parade ground with horses, we saw bicycles lined up for inspection instead. By this time, a small Y.M.C.A. was functioning in the King’s Arms club room. A succession of regiments followed, and each one entered into the life of the village, although we did not even have another New Year’s night on the Market Place. During the war several of the Market Place gentlemen were special constables and would be on duty in pairs, working on a rota system. The young generation became adept at avoiding their respective fathers, not wishing to be caught with a special army friend. When peace was declared and Reepham was again without its troops it never seemed the same. The tone of the town had altered, some men did not return, some were crippled, some had been prisoners of war and we all felt war weary and in a much more thoughtful mood. However, the old Market Place itself never changed and it returned to its peaceful splendour and serenity as it is today. As a matter of interest, the ironmongers’ business of Edward Gibbs was established in 1767. In approximately 1850, Mr. William George had these premises. I do not know who had the business previous to Mr. George unless it was his mother. It was found in records of the early 19th century that Mrs. George was a shopkeeper in �Reepham, but no trade was mentioned. Mr. George was a man who did not intend to miss a penny, and it is said that he would open the shop at 7 am and sit on the doorstep eating his breakfast of bread and milk to avoid missing a customer. About 1875 the business came into the hands of S.W. & W. Leeds. In 1888 Edward Gibbs (my father) took the business over. He wanted to be a farmer as his father was before him, but at that time farming was at a low ebb, and he was apprenticed to what was said to be the next best business, and that was an ironmonger. Here he remained all his life, being joined later by his son. The premises were large, with many warehouses, each one assigned to one section of the various goods stocked. In the 1890s the grocer’s shop adjoining became vacant, and this was added to the existing shop. Until after the war, the shop was opened at 7.30 am, open all day until 7 pm, on Fridays 8 pm and on Saturdays 9 pm and it was never closed for meals. The dwelling house attached was enlarged in 1904 when two rooms were added, one on the first floor and the other underneath, with an extra staircase and pantry behind. The business carried a large stock in great variety including some unusual articles, e.g., piano hinges. It was said that if a certain article could not be obtained elsewhere it could always be found at Gibbs’. A story with its unconscious humour occurs to me. My mother often helped at the desk with bookings and cash on Wednesday afternoons. During the war she was chatting with a customer, long since deceased, about meat rationing. She remarked that as a farmer, he would have, at least, a plentiful supply of eggs to supplement his meals, to which he replied, “What’s in a egg, two mouthfuls.” As a child I loved the shop, and the premises were fine for playing hide and seek with my friends. I could write about the business at great length but so many reminiscences might be boring. Sufficient to say I have enjoyed writing this saga of Reepham Market Place of so many years ago. I have looked back into childish memories and savoured again my childish pleasures as ‘I remember’. Marjorie Gibbs From an article published in the Reepham Society Newsletter, April 1986 � 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 I Remember – Part 2 Description An account of the resource Personal recollections of Reepham Market Place in the early years of the 20th century Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Early 20th century Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GN/REE/2111041615 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource A4 PDF 6 pages Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society Newsletter April 1986 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Marjorie Gibbs Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Reepham Society Market Place https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/190bf600cd7def502205ef22dd8aa096.pdf 0c631e5123d691d908d2f08e07a14a92 PDF Text Text If there are ghosts, they should be here on the old M&GN The railway lines around Reepham were built well after the railway mania which swept through early mid Victorian England. Their working life was from the late 1880s until the passenger closures in the 1950s although goods traffic carried on for a few more years. Today the line remains and has found a new life in offering a route to walkers and horse riders, its past use remains in the empty cuttings and archless bridges all built by hand more than 100 years ago. The line was built by navvies who used tipping trolleys and hand tools as they dug, blasted and drank their way through the Norfolk countryside, many of them lived too far away to return home at night, so they slept in barns or among stacked up sleepers covered with tarpaulins. Many of the workmen employed on the line were ex-farm labourers from the surrounding areas who were attracted by the 50% increase over the normal wage which navvying offered and during the summer months particularly, the possibility of overtime gave them the chance to earn even more. The gangs were made up of colourful characters such as Sam Shirt who apparently was not impeded in the quality of his work by having only one arm; Lumpy Ling, Spitting Joe the Diddekoi and Loo Dye, the latter of whom was famous or notorious, for his breakneck style of engine driving. The men often had to get or make their own meals. They cut wood for fires and would cook their food in communal coppers, which often included anything they could get by poaching. But mostly they would exist on the staple diet of bread and cheese and vegetables often taken from the local farmers’ fields. These vegetables were cooked in the coppers along with the famous Norfolk dumplings made from bread dough. Water for the coppers often had to be carried long distances and to ensure that none of it was wasted any left over after the vegetables and dumplings had been cooked in it was used for making tea. The gangs dug cuttings and used the soil to construct the embankments and they built culverts, bridges, level crossings and stations with most of the materials being sent by rail from Melton Constable as the line moved relentlessly on towards Norwich. On some occasions it was necessary to use locally made bricks from sand and clay dug from nearby pits and then fired in local brick kilns. After the line was built, life for those in the permanent employment of the company was geared to the arrival and departure of the trains. For a short while this part of the working day was one of hurried business and in between it could be confined boredom, particularly during the wet and colder weather, but languid enjoyment during the spring and summer months. This intermittent workstyle affected all the station staff but particularly the signalmen and the crossing keepers. Many a �signalman has wandered off to fish in nearby pits or streams whilst waiting for the next train. At the turn of the century railway regulations stated that gate-houses, such as the one at Themelthorpe, could only be occupied by married couples, and the husband had to be a railway employee. This meant that during the day (when most of the trains passed through) the operation of the gates was left to the wife. With the house so close to the line when the trains went past, they would shake the doors and window panes and rattle the pictures on the walls and move the ornaments on the mantelshelf. Level crossings were a prominent feature of the M&GN. They usually had a small crossing-keeper’s cottage, perhaps built of concrete blocks made at the Melton works, alongside. Originally it was intended to build a cottage at all but the smallest crossings, provide it with a plot of land, and then offer it rent free with a modest wage to anyone who would undertake to handle the gates as required. The wages offered varied according to the traffic and in a very minor lane just after the last war it would be a couple of pounds a week and this sort of sinecure job was much sought after. When Reepham Station was built the navvies were fortunate in that the site was used as a main base by the contractors and a bakery was completed and available to make bread and dough for the workers who made their way back to Reepham each night. The line is now overgrown and has become a wilderness for wildlife such as seen in very few other places today. It offers a rural enchantment in its slumbering beauty and you can feel a wistfulness and nostalgia for a railway that has now gone forever. Under the bridges you can still see the blackened remains of old train smoke high above on the brickwork. The cuttings are steeply pitched and up to 18ft high. In the summer, many areas are ablaze with hawthorn and particularly the dog rose. Later in the year they are heavy with hips and haws – a berry-red harvest of crimson and scarlet. When the railway was in use the sides of the line were kept free of undergrowth and were used for hay. This was scythed and the tonnage was sent to London where it was used by the horses of the Great Eastern Railway. This scything of the high grass was a practice which also helped to prevent fire along the banks from the sparks of passing engines. The policy of keeping the undergrowth down meant that windborne sparks sometimes did not stop until they had landed in and subsequently set alight to nearby cornfields. �Along the walk if you look carefully you can find the few remaining examples of the railway and its staff; the odd sleeper covered in undergrowth which will in time rot away; the few rails which were never taken away when the line was ripped up and which will no doubt permanently remain, offering a metal gravestone honouring the life of the railway; whilst their surface bears no inscription they will remain for many years, their very presence speaking volumes of the seventy years that the line formed the backbone of the industrial and social life of this area. The line will now become a reserve for nature and a place of peace and solitude for the walker but it will also become a time capsule of ghosts and memories: before the last war there were a number of passenger trains every day travelling along the two lines either side of Reepham. They were slow but punctual and many a farm worker would stop and check their pocket watches or would time the routine of their day with the sound of the whistles or the sight of the trains. In this hurried age we can now only look back and consider these thoughts with nostalgia but wouldn’t we like to travel back in time and ride on these trains again… if only we could! From an article published in the Reepham Society Magazine, 1991. D 15 No. 62528. The winter sun in February 1949 brightens the 10.31 am to Norwich City as it approaches Whitwell Station. �The M&GN crossing keeper’s cottage at Themelthorpe. “The Last Sleepers” on the old track bed at Reepham Station. � 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 If there are ghosts, they should be here on the old M&GN Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2312081040 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource A4 PDF, 4 pages Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1991 Description An account of the resource An account of the history of the railway line around Reepham. It refers to the Midland & Great Northern railway line although this was the Wroxham to County School branch of the Great Eastern Railway line. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived From an article published in the Reepham Society Magazine, 1991. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Reepham Society Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Scanned and edited by Geoff Fisher https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/60be6fc86ddeb61707313b9cf03693b4.pdf 30b99d9535a53b4a019fa1bc1afa489c PDF Text Text Indenture of 1609 : Eades Mill Sample of text GB/REE/2301251700 � https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/17f9501c5e85d86c03817fafa74f0b0e.pdf a1f3e2d949613bfec6a01555d1d29be4 PDF Text Text Indenture of 1609 : Eades Mill GB/REE/2301251700 � Text - 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 Indenture of 1609 : Eades Mill Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2301251700 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 1p A3 photocopied text Land, Property & Titles [File 8, Archive Box 108] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1609 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1609 Great Witchingham Description An account of the resource Copy from Norfolk Record Office of an indenture between Henry Eade, of Whitwell...miller of flour etc. and ??? Symonds of Hindolveston concerning oe piece of pasture in Great Witchingham. A previous contract with John Eade is referred to. There were Eades born in Whitwell parish at this time with a John Eade named as father. On reverse : Gt Witchingham Mill Sayer 1970 Document not transcribed Sample of text given here ; plus full copy Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society Eades Mill https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/388676705778360b7052f47cb3c1c86a.pdf ac3f97087f6ecf361a25317fc58566e4 PDF Text Text Inside Riches Stores 1962 GB-REE-1610071203 �� 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 Inside Riches' stores Description An account of the resource View inside Riches stores from doorway with Rita Grout behind counter at the weighing machine. Newspaper cutting shows the same photograph with caption, in green, "the interior of LR Riches grocery, wine and spirit merchant shop in Reepham. Date June 1962". The Harrisons purchased Riches Stores in 1971. The notes were written to accompany an article & photograph printed in the May 2007 edition of Let's Talk! Nostalgia. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/1610071203 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource B&W photograph 200 x 150mm + Newspaper cutting 1p A4 notes Families and Businesses/Riches [File 6, Archive Box 106] Families and Businesses/Harrison/Grout [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 1962 Reepham Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Archant Norfolk Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Archant Norfolk Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Harrison 1962 Harrison Riches RL Calendar 2018 shop https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/906b32c45b3777f8667870aabe4130db.pdf ac54aa82d6476b601a3c0df3e7fa88f8 PDF Text Text GB/REE/2303081120 Inventory of Church Goods 1368 � https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/577fd4bd0dcfa9f71df70ab07bfdea1d.pdf f828dd4b729c9f860d910af350f15ec5 PDF Text Text GBREE 2303081120 ChInvNotes � Text - 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 Inventory of Church Goods Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2303081120 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource 1 page A4 typescript 1 page notes Churches & Chapels [File 4, Archive Box 104] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1368 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1368 Reepham Churches Description An account of the resource Transcription of an inventory made in the 14th century. The list includes books, vestments and silver held by St. Mary's. Very few items listed for All Saints & St. Michael's. Second sheet giving explanations of some of the terms. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society Pre-1500 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/02b0917439f77d8a16d5c289e87a2737.pdf 47df2d29f6568517a62d5d74daac9695 PDF Text Text from the Archive Post date: Thursday, January 10, 2019 Ironmonger’s shop open all hours The February photo (below) of the Reepham Life 2019 Calendar shows the Roger Korval Sports shop in Market Place, Reepham, possibly in the 1960s. Many Reepham inhabitants will remember that this shop was once an ironmonger’s and seed merchant’s store run by the Gibbs family. When Edward Gibbs took over the business in 1888 it had been trading for many years, previously by Stephen Leeds and before that by the George family, who were running the shop in the 1830s. The shop front itself remains remarkably similar to the earliest photographs we have (below), including the railings, which are still a feature of several buildings in the Market Place. �By the early 1900s Edward Gibbs had expanded into the building next door and his son, Edward Gibbs junior, recounted in a newspaper article how he had to remove 16 shutters ready for the shop to open at 7 am. The shop was open until 7 pm every day, except Thursdays when it closed at 4 pm (half-day closing!) and Saturdays when it stayed open until 10 pm. The article lists items that were once in everyday use: tortoise stoves (so-called because they burned fuel very slowly), larding needles, goffering irons (for ironing frills and ruffles), leather for pump clacks and lamp glasses for oil lamps. A hundred years from today people might be just as intrigued by the objects for sale in Reepham Home Hardware! Reepham Archive has a small selection of items from the shop, including a selection of kitchen tinware made by James Wasey. When Edward Gibbs senior retired he moved into The Laurels (previously Veranda House) on Dereham Road. His son Edward and daughter Marjorie continued to run the business until December 1966. Marjorie is commemorated by the bench that stands near the pharmacy in the Market Place. Janet Archer � 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 From the Archive Description An account of the resource Illustrated articles contributed to Reepham Life and to Reepham & District Community News. From 2018 most articles related to matching months in Reepham Life Calendars. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource From 2016 to the present Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/From the Archive Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital PDF documents Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource JDA 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 Ironmonger’s shop open all hours Description An account of the resource The early days of Gibbs' ironmongers shop. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 2019 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 Gibbs Shop Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/1907132030 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital PDF document Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource JDA Gibbs Gibbs Shop Korval RL Calendar 2019 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/d56c323ae0c1d02422783193af1ba753.pdf efaaa57e76e3f13970b2881dd531c88a PDF Text Text Lynn Advertiser 2 July 1943 � https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/98536decae41b16774ba96c78a43c85c.pdf 013a73dceef724b899ffc4619f907d70 PDF Text Text GB/REE/2501101030 Jack Barnabas Bennett 1901-1943 � 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 Jack Barnabas Bennett Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/2501101030 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Assorted size B&W photographs Uniformed Services/Police [File 20, Archive Box 120] Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1943 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1943 Reepham Description An account of the resource Newspaper report about Jack Bennett who arrived in Reepham in February 1943, having recently been promoted to the rank of inspector after serving with the Sandringham Division as sergeant for eight years. The photos include a studio portrait probably taken when he first joined the police force. Other images show him as a sergeant. 1943 Bennett police https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/482afae1984ea12965155f20874620d8.jpg 988c6f67e5057b7aed501cd17f188108 https://reephamarchive.co.uk/omeka/files/original/12d1716abe4f084937aff66a0cf48097.jpg 68c87a37877786fe185be59c167167c2 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 James & Hester Barnes with Mary Burroughs Description An account of the resource Photograph and newspaper cutting about three vagrants, remembered by Marjorie Gibbs in a letter she wrote to a local paper in 1976. On the reverse :- Postcard dated Apr 11 1908 reached Malta on Apr 16th. Addressed to J. Kiddell F Company 3rd Kings Royal Rifles, Intarfa (Mtarfa) Barracks. John was killed in action in October 1914; the card may have been amongst his returned effects. He is commemorated in a display at the Bircham Centre. 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 Reepham Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context GB/REE/1901281135 GB/REE/1901281136 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Digital Families and Businesses/Vagrants [File 6, Archive Box 106] Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Reepham Society RS Database 317 1900s Barnes vagrants