MemoriesofThorpe Abbotts

Localhistorian,Dennis Crossfrom Diss,shareswithushisfascinating collection of oldpostcards, focusing on adifferentvillageineveryissue. Thistime, we takeawalk down memorylaneinThorpeAbbotts.

 TheLion,in1912, wastheonly pubinthe village at t thattime.The landlord wasWilliamBaliant, whowas a also abricklayer. Thepub is nowclosed.

 This1925postcardshows Thorpe AbbottsSchool,at theentranceto School Lane, which wasbuiltin1862 for 60 children.Theheadmistressatthistime wasaMissFM Powell. Thebuildingis nowprivatehouses.  Thorpe A Abbotts P Place, i in1 1916,was ad del ligh htf ful l mansion ownedbythe twoKay sisters, whowerealsothe p principallandownersinthe village.Thisphotographwas t taken by Ernest Abraham, whowastheofficiallocal war p photographerduringthe1914-18 warand travelledwith t troops whiletheyweretrainingin thearea.

 The Street,i in 1907,l looked very different to how it is today. Thepopulation at this time wasjust over 200.

 Harvesttimeinthe summer of1945, shows(l-r) Reggie Venton, Vera Ruddockand JoeFormanina field adjacent to theairfield.  These oldhouses,seenhere in 1930, were livedinbypeople whoworkedonlocal farms. New houseshave nowbeenbuilton otherside ofthestreet.

 Datedaround1930,this postcard shows thevillagePost Office, whichwasrun by Mrs LouiseDebenham.Shealso ranthe local blacksmiths, whichher husband’sfamilyhad ownedfor generations.

If readershave anylocal postcardsofDissorthe surroundingvillages,please getin touchwithDennis after7pmon 01379651897