AU34/18/4/6

Reminiscences about Ampthill

Late 1800s to 1969

From: 1880 To: 1969

Undated notes made on Flitt Motor Co. Ltd headed paper, reminiscing about people and events in Ampthill, presumably made by Annie Grimmer and written down by Andrew Underwood. "Street and House Names. Scrapbook Stage coach S.S. treat up Gudgeons sheep walk nr King's Wood - Ridgeways - tea and scramble for sweets. Herb. Pressland, Park Hill, disappeared - couldn't be found anywhere - not found all night. Dr Ambler brought out dogs and found him fast asleep in cornfield between Maulden. Fanny, his sister, brought blind father to church. Had been bandmaster in the late '80s. Excursion - train to Clacton S.S. treat. Grandad and friend Bert Edwards sent out on bicycles and met them there - arrived first - started 1/2 hour before. 6am leave 11am arrive, tea, home 11pm. McLeod's house - Miss Louisa Moore sold pillow lace, later moved to Caxton House. Mrs D's - Joey Rushbroke. George R. started at no 7 Church St. Alfred Mann of Bedford sweets and the Fields. W.V.S. Horace White - carpenter; before that 2 tinsmiths - Smith. Father of 3 Miss Smiths - Swannells house - before that coachman's at D's. "Fizzer" Abbis (Squibbs) - blacksmith, coachbuilder always said "most people live in fools paradise". Blacksmith where Claridges stables were. Abbis (another and no relation) Blacksmith in smithy. John Ramsay learnt at first from Miss Mary W. Up gateway at back of telephone house (ex). Local carver used to teach carving. Alf Wildman - monumental mason (and sanitary inspector) employed several men. George (middle of 3 sons) took over. Eldest was surveyor and youngest a butcher at Bedford. Before 1898, Claridges stables - heard in Arthur St (tiles cracking). Holly Walk caught fire."

item

Grimmer, Annie,
Underwood, Andrew,
Flitt Motor Company,
Gudgeon,
Ridgeway,
Pressland, Herbert,
Ambler,
Pressland, Fanny,
Edwards, Bert,
McLeod,
Moore, Louisa,
Rushbroke, Joey,
Mann, Alfred,
Women's Voluntary Service,
White, Horace,
Smith,
Swannell,
Abbis,
Claridge,
Ramsay, John,
Wildman, Alfred,
Wildman, George

reminiscences, doctor, bandmaster, trains, railways, bicycles, lace, lacemerchant, sweets, carpenter, tinsmith, coachman, blacksmith, coach builder, stables, smithy, carver, monumental mason, sanitary inspector, surveyor, butcher, AMPTHILL, Ampthill Kings Wood, Ampthill Arthur Street, Ampthill Holly Walk, MAULDEN, Clacton, BEDFORD