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After visiting the St. Mary's church in Broxted, and wending our way back to Moor End Farm...we were delighted to see that Sonia and Paul had arrived early, and the pleasure of actually meeting my
He assured us that no matter how much grass we trekked into the floor of the car, there would be someone at the agency to clean it up and that was no problem. I think Roger Barltrop can relate to this, as I remember that on previous occasions when Roger was the one driving me around in his new car, that I was the one with mud on my shoes depositing it upon his mats on the floor. 
Roger Barltrop in1999 I felt bad about that, as I knew he would have to spend some time cleaning the mats later. But he did assure me that there was no problem. #1 Paul stands in front of HIS car. |
 #2 Sue says "MINE!" |
 #3 Evelyn wants this one. |
 #4 Sonia's choice. |
 #5 The Great Easton Church. |
 #6 Great Easton War Memoria-A BARLTROP name appears. |
 #7 Sonia tidies up a relative's grave. |
 #8 The Grave Searchers. |
 We enter through this door at the grand old church. |
 Inside Great Easton Church |
 Great Easton Bell dated 1827 |
 We had to leave. |
Paul stopped at the FORD in Great Easton so that we could actually walk on this famous old bridge. How I became acquainted with this ancient bridge, and found out what it is called and where it is located was again, with the help of the great people I have met on the Internet. First, I had found a very old sepia photo (about 2 inches by 2 inches..) in an old album of my mothers. I had no idea where this photo was taken nor when or by whom. I thought it would make a beautiful painting. Of course, the old faded photo was only in sepia tones, but that made no difference. I was off and running to my paints and started working on the painting which I would later call "The Ford, Gt. Easton". Here is the painting.
The reason I could finally name it, is because I had met this nice gentleman who lived in Bedfordshire. He was on the Essex Genealogy List and we had exchanged e-mails about Broxted, as he once lived near there and knew it well. His parents then lived in Great Dunmow..about three or four miles from Broxted. I sent Richard Byford (my e-mail friend) the photo. He printed it out and showed it to his parents. His mother immediately identified it as THE FORD at Great Easton. My greatgrandfather, Charles GUNN had lived in Great Easton and I often wonder if he actually took the photo. You can see it hasn't changed much in 100 years!
 Paul, Sue and Evelyn. |
 Paul, Sue and Evelyn |
 Sue and Sonia on bridge |
 The house looks just the same. |
I must tell you about another very nice gentleman named Kenneth Rose who has a great website
Old English Village Schools.If you click on his site you will see some marvelous photos. Ken is a great photographer. When I told him about the painting and the photo of The Easton Ford, he actually drove over to it and took a photo for me!! I don't know where he actually lives, but I'm sure he had to drive quite a distance to do this. I also met Ken on the Internet. These English people are all so very helpful!! Here is the photo Ken sent. Compare this with the painting and I think he did a fine job of getting to almost the exact spot, and without anything to go by. They say it still floods out, like in the painting sometimes.
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