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85. No.1 Theatre Street (since demolished to make way for public conveniences).

Below is the story of how this photo came to be sent to me by Geoff Gooding, who had asked me if I knew of any photos of the house:

31 January 2010
Dear Linn,
I have contacted my distant relative, Johnny Taylor, and he is quite happy for the photo to be used. It comes from a pamphlet which his late father had written in the early ‘90s called "Ufford. Memories of a wartime childhood" and which contained the photocopied picture. (Hence the poor reproduction quality of the photo.) Johnny’s father knew the house very well as it was where his grandparents (my aunt and uncle) lived. Johnny’s father is the blonde haired little boy standing next to the chicken run in the back garden of Theatre St. (I am the one in the middle!)

86. Three little boys in the back garden of no.1 Theatre Street.

It would be about the mid to late 1930s when I first remember visiting my aunt and uncle at No 1 Theatre St. on family holidays. Ada Hunt had lived in the house from birth (She was my father’s older sister) and when I first remember them she lived there with her husband Fred Hunt - sometimes known as ‘Darkie Hunt’ because of his Caribbean ancestry. It was an extremely old house with low doors and ceilings and lit by gas with walls and ceilings that did not always run true.

I can clearly remember sitting in my aunt’s front room and looking across the road and down Angel Lane. My uncle Fred told me that the house had originally been built by French prisoners of war captured in the wars with William of Orange. He claimed that there was a space behind his front room fireplace that led directly into Mr. Oxborrow’s shop on the Market Hill corner of Theatre Street.

My aunt was crippled with rheumatoid arthritis and they eventually moved into sheltered accommodation in the Seckford St. almshouses, where I remember going to see them. Unfortunately, in those days, I had not thought about my family history – how I now wish that I had as there are so many questions unanswered.

It was later when I discovered the old houses had been bulldozed and I started looking for any pictures of it. I am sure that today such ancient buildings would not be destroyed without first recording everything possible. I wrote to the local paper who kindly published my letter but without any success. I did have a lovely letter from a Mr. P. R. Warrey/ing ? who remembered the houses and the people in them. I tried the Woodbridge museum on Market Hill but without any luck and, of course, I tried through you. Never give up!!  It is a very long time since I first contacted you about the house at No.1 Theatre St. where my father was born in 1893 (Opposite The Angel pub).

Now that I have finally got a picture, it is just as I remember it.

Geoff Gooding

 

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The Yawl, "Hope"

87. The yawl, "Hope", c1905

The two photos above and below are of the yawl "Hope." One as she was about 100 years ago alongside the jetty at Woodbridge and the second as she is now, in the mud, just up the river. She has been in her present position since 1914. The yawl "Hope", of Cardiff, was probably originally built as a yacht and was owned by R H Rowland, whose department store in the Thoroughfare is now (2005) Woolworths.
The "Hope" carried principally paraffin from London to light the thousands of oil lamps that were in use in those days. She carried other cargo, probably hardware mostly for Rowland's business. Cargo going to London is unknown but was possible timber.

She was not as large as some of the thousands of barges that plied the route. The old photo is in my possession because my grandfather was believed to have skippered her for a time.
I am indebted to Robert Simper, the respected local author of several books on the maritime history of the East Coast, for most of the information. When I walked along the sea wall to find the wreck I asked one of the occupants of a houseboat if he knew where she might lie and much to my surprise he replied, "Oh, the old paraffin barge!" Therefore, I have confirmation from two sources, which tends to corroborate the facts.
    Contributed by Alan Powell 10 October 2005

Additional information:
The hope was moved to her final resting place in 1912, she was the burned because she was rotten. There were three boats Faith, Hope and Charity.
Nick Rowland, 11 December 2006

 

88. All that remained of the yawl "Hope" in 2005.

 

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89. 1913-14 Football Team. This one looks like it was taken at the bottom of someone's back garden, maybe somebody will know their names, or where it was taken, could this have been the Woodbridge football team during the war years?

Another possible explanation was sent to me on Tuesday, 27June, 2006:
From: nancollas.mike#btinternet.com, Mike Nancollas
I just noticed this photo on your site and it looks to me by the badges on their arms that they are probably Boy Scouts, maybe a scouts team.

And here's an incredible "turn-up for the books" - this photograph, sent from New Zealand. Read on...!

89a. Hello Linn,
The photo of Boy Scouts 1913-14 was taken in the same place as the photo above of the 5 Barker brothers. You will note the guy 2nd from left in the rear row in your photo is the same as the one seated on the right in the lower photo, He is Charles Barker born in 1894 which would have made him 19-20yrs in the "scouts" photo. The photo's may have been taken in the photographer's garden, or maybe in the Barker's garden. In the 1901 census their address was given as Mill Hills, Woodbridge but they may have moved before the photo's were taken. By the way the Barker brother's are:
rear Robert, Albert and William [Bill] and in the front Arthur and Charlie.
Looking closely at the photos it looks like the same chairs were used. There were no markings on the reverse of the lower photo that I can recall and sadly the original seems to have been mislaid. The Arthur in the lower photo is my husband's grandfather. Hope this maybe be of some help to you.
Regards Gill Barker
petergill(at)paradise.net.nz

 

 

90. The Church Lads' Brigade 1918
Photo and caption provided by Phil Shimmon, presently in Melvindale, Michigan, USA
The church lads' brigade, taken on the Market Hill Woodbridge 1918. It shows the righthand side of the square looking up towards Angel Lane.

Notice the name H. KIMBER, that was the fish & chip shop. In the front row of boys with the drums is my uncle George, second one in, in the third row.  Standing on the end with his bugle tucked under his arm and his elbow almost touching the lady's wide brimmed hat is Chummy Goldsmith, and in the row behind him you'll notice one of the boys peering over the boy standing next to Chummy, that's my father, Bert Shimmon, aged twelve.
I remember my father telling me that he and his friends sometimes used to go down to the station and wait for the train to come in - they would then pay a penny and take the train ride to Melton station, were they got off and then had to walk home. I suppose it was quite a thrill in those days.

 

91. This old postcard shows the Castle Brewery, which stood at the corner of Castle Street and St John's Hill. Orientation can be helped by spotting the tower of St. Mary's church in the left background.

From a postcard, contributed by Philip Shimmon.

 

92. Woodbridge Town Football Club - winners of the Suffolk Junior Cup1908-09.
Some of the names are well known in Woodbridge history.
Are there descendants of these players still in the area?

With the aid of a magnifying glass, Phil Shimmon eventually deciphered the writing on the reverse, which reads:

SUFFOLK JUNIOR CUP COMPETITION.
SEASON, 1908-9
1st round, Woodbridge 2, 36th Battery R.F.A. 0.
2nd round, Woodbridge 6, St Mathew's 0.
3rd round, Woodbridge 2, Brantham 2.
Re-played tie, Woodbridge 3, Brantham 0.
Semi Final. Woodbridge 4, Felixstowe 3.
Final, Woodbridge 1, 27th Battery R.F.A. 1.
Replayed tie, Woodbridge 1, Battery 1.
After extra time Woodbridge won, 2.1
Goals for Woobridge, 20, Against, 7.

From a postcard, contributed by Philip Shimmon.

 

93. Woodbridge Golf Club clubhouse.

Contributed by Philip Shimmon. From a postcard, contributed by Philip Shimmon.

 

94. Woodbridge Golf Club bridge.

From a postcard, contributed by Philip Shimmon.

 

95. Close-up detail from the Woodbridge Golf Club bridge card, above. Do you recognise anyone from this picture?

From a postcard, contributed by Philip Shimmon.

 

 

96. Woodbridge Comrades FC 1920- 21.
Can anyone say where this photo was taken?

From a postcard, contributed by Philip Shimmon.

 

97. Melton Road, towards Melton.
This used card is postmarked 12th October 1926. The view has changed little over the past 80 years.

Contributed by Brian Richman.

 

 

98. Melton Hill.
This scene is just a little further down the road from the scene above, and the view has changed little on the left but on the right is now a new development on the site of Deben Mill (not the tide mill).

Contributed by Brian Richman.

 

99. The Avenue, Woodbridge. Kingston fields and the tennis courts are now on the right of this avenue, and the railway crossing is still at the end of the road, with a car park on the left.

From a postcard, contributed by Philip Shimmon.