Introduction

Most people, I suspect, have kept old school books and perhaps college work and they are gathering dust in their lofts never to see the light of day again. This study would have remained one of these, until in a chance discussion with Ann Whalley about the compilation of the Oral History of Great Baddow I told her of my work on Great Baddow. She showed interest and so I dusted it down and lent it to her, never expecting matters to progress this far. She told me that Allen Buckroyd was typing it up for the Great Baddow archives and this took several years. When he told me it was finally typed and that he wanted to publish it, I had severe reservations. I had not read it since 1963 and I had no idea if it was worth going any further.

Having now read it again, I can see that by today’s standards it would not pass as an academic piece, as the facts are not fully referenced and I think that I have quoted from other people’s work without acknowledgements. I was faced with completely retracing my research and doing it all over again, or allowing it to be published for what it is, i.e. just a teacher training college project to show that I could research a topic and it provides a snap shot of the village at that time.

As Allen Buckroyd had done so much work I did not feel that I could abandon it altogether so here is our joint effort, warts and all, and I hope that our readers will enjoy browsing through it.

Incidentally I went on to teach at Meadgate School, Great Baddow, from 1965 to 1970 and later went in to the Adult Education sector organising classes for language skills for English and non-English speakers.

I have retained my love of history and belong to the Essex Family History Society.

My thanks go to Allen Buckroyd for his valiant work in the typing and editing of this work and to Ronnie Crowe who gave me some of his photos of Great Baddow back in 1962.

I must also sincerely thank my cousin Shirley Green (née Smith) who painstakingly typed this project from my original notes in the days before correcting facilities,

If readers have any comments to make I would be pleased to receive them.

Christine Goldstone (née Steele)

March 2007

Email: christine.goldstone@blueyonder.co.uk

(NB. Bearing in mind that Christine wrote the original manuscript in 1962, explanatory notes have been added to assist the reader . This has enabled the integrity of the original text to be retained as far as possible. Allen Buckroyd, July 2007).

Background - The Girl Who’s Chasing Memories

(The Essex Chronicle, Friday August 24 1962)

She’s writing the History of her Village

No one living in Great Baddow should be surprised to hear a knock on the front door and find pretty Christine Steele outside ready with her notebook, asking questions about the history and geography of the village.

Christine, aged 19, lives in Winchelsea Drive, Great Baddow. She came to live in the village 10 years ago and was a pupil at Sandon Secondary Modern School.

Even in her schooldays Christine showed a great interest in history. “It has always been my weakness”, she told a reporter.

Now, a student at Coventry Teachers’Training College, Christine is preparing a historical and geographical study of her village, Great Baddow. The work is for her college-but she has collected enough material for a book-"although of course it won't be published", said Christine.

Christine’s sources of information are both official and unexpected. For the past fortnight she has spent many afternoons poring over old books, maps and documents at the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford. And at weekends she visits people in their homes at Great Baddow to ask what they remember of the village in days gone by.

MEMORIES

“I am hoping people will write and tell me their childhood memories of the village and the changes that have taken place”, said Christine.

“The Study of the Parish of Great Baddow” will be illustrated. Christine has borrowed some old photographs and drawings and has been busy with her own camera, too.

Christine drew a blank on one of her investigations. She went to visit an old house of historical interest she had heard of in the village – only to be told by the owner of a nearby farm, “It was taken down and transported to America many years ago”. (See Plate 17)

But the young and enthusiastic chronicler of Great Baddow is not only interested in the past. She enjoys cycling, and has won her bronze medal for swimming. And she is looking forward to the end of her college training when she will be making her own pupils as enthusiastic about her favourite subject as she is herself.

Contents of the Book