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William and Mary Ann Poole-Publicans of "THE BELL INN" 1902.

GREAT DUNMOW and THE BELL- BROXTED.

The traffic in Great Dunmow was very heavy as it was now "The Rush Hour" on this small two lane winding thoroughfare. After dropping Sue off at the P.O., we found a "pay on your honor" system parking lot on a side street, and headed back on foot to "gather up" Sue at the P.O. She was standing out in front with a vacant look on her face, like she was lost. They could not cash her traveler's checks so we did some window-shopping. Actually, the shops were mostly closed except for one where I was able to purchase cough drops and Lavendar hand lotion! It was a drug store..well..sort of. We looked in the windows and saw wonderful things we would love to own. There were beautiful vases, silks, and all kinds of trinkets that would be fun to "remember with"at home. But alas, even the Charity Shops were closed...our favorite shopping store for bargains?:) One shop window featured a cat curled up inside a bowl. We thought of our cats at home.

We continued walking to the Saracen's Head. I would love to have treated Paul and Sonia to a cup of tea in here, but it was time to head back to Broxted, where her parents were waiting for us at their BELL COTTAGE.

#1 Great Dunmow town center.
#2 Rush hour is over now.
#3 Paul and Sonia in front of Saracen's Head with Susie's Head poking around the corner.
#4 Sue and Evelyn once again at Saracen's Head.

#5 Roger Barltrop and Evelyn 1999
#6 Greg, Sue, Evelyn 1971
#7 Greg Sue Evelyn 1971.
#8Sue Carpenter in 1969

#9 Herb, Greg, Sue town center in 1971.
I knew that Sue was thinking back to 1969 and 1971 when we stayed here like I was. In 1969 things were quite different than they are now. It was not considered good manners or proper to have coffee with your meals then. Coffee was always served afterwards in a separate "Drawing Room". I remember that the Spanish waiters had little patience with our eccentricities...like wanting (but not getting) coffee with meals! We could not get a smile out of them. I also remember that when we returned in 1971 the hotel management remembered us, and welcomed us warmly. They made a point of serving us coffee, and were most gracious. We were amazed that they would remember us after two years! But not too many Americans visited then, nor did many ask for coffee with the meal.:)
Herb, Sue, Greg and I stayed here at the Saracen's Head for several days in 1971. Sue and I actually stayed longer as we made a return trip here after going to Flatford Mill for two weeks in 1971. I remember we wanted to go to Broxted and a local Great Dunmow "Bobbie" told us to come by the police office at the time he got off in the afternoon, and he would be glad to take us there. Bob and Phyllis Wallis were really surprised when we came riding up in a patrol car! It could only happen in the UK then...probably not now..?

We were running late, so Sonia and Paul made mobile (cell phone) calls to her parents to say we would be a little late. Paul drove us to Sainsbury's and we were in heaven, finding the things we hadn't seen since the last visit here. Scones, jams, cheese of all description, pork pies. These were all piled into the basket which Paul was carrying. He switched to a regular cart with wheels very soon, as we continued to put in other valuable things..milk, salad, fruit, beets, muffins, deserts etc. and yes, the GINGER WINE! However, no clotted cream could be found. The clerk waited patiently while I figured out which coin was which and tried to give her the exact amount..which I couldn't do of course. Back to the car and we were heading toward Broxted when Paul made a quick turn into another store, (Tesco) leaped out of the car and returned with the much cherished CLOTTED CREAM!!! What a thoughtful man! We were off again toward Broxted and the long awaited visit to THE BELL cottage!

We were happily surprised to see two smiling faces awaiting our arrival at The Bell Cottage, home of Mr. & Mrs. Dave and Ann Reynolds. They showed us around the beautiful garden where flowers were blooming as if to welcome us there. In the soil, there was chards to be seen, and Paul actually reached down and handed me part of an old clay pipe. These white clay pipes were used by the patrons of the Old Bell Inn and were not doubt part of the history here in the garden. Dave gave me the top of a very old perfume bottle which he had unearthed. Could this have actually belonged to my grandmother?

#10 Sonia, Paul, Dave&Ann Reynolds..our new friends.
#11 Sonia & Paul with Sonia's parents Mr. & Mrs. Reynolds.
#12 Sue and Sonia in garden.
#13 Dave shows us around his garden.

#14 Ann and Dave Reynolds
#15 Ann pours tea.
#16Ann Reynolds
#17 Ann and Dave.

Sonia's mother, Ann, showed us into her lovely home which she had redecorated herself just recently. We walked through the kitchen and into the living room where we settled in with some tea and a choice of the very delicious cakes which Ann had made for us. Ann, it seems, is also a professional "cake maker" and this is one reason that I thought I had never tasted cakes so exquisite! I looked around the room and tried to visualize how it had once been. No longer was there a bar where the locals would have their pints of ale, but I seemed to hear the voices from long ago as I gazed at the ceiling. The far off laughter and chatting which had taken place right here, so many years ago. I looked around and could almost see this little girl asking the old gentlemen in the pub if she could please have a "widdle drop" of ale. Then from the kitchen, I seemed to see the cracker come flying through the door. It seems Mom had squeezed two crackers (English bisquits) together with butter between. The butter which came through the rather large holes looked like yellow worms to her, and she hurled it into the "large room" where the old gents were having their pints. I could almost hear the laughter which ensued!

#18 Sonia & Paul look out window into garden.
#19 Dave show Evelyn the changes made in kitchen.
#20 Living Room in 2003
#21 Sonia points out photo to her parents.

#22 The old stairs in 2003
#23 Sonia waits on stairs.
#24 Evelyn and Sue start up the stairs.
#25 We get to the top of stairs and the window.

#26 Sonia shows Evelyn the view from window.
#27 Just outside THE bedroom (now bathroom) door.
#28 THE room..now converted into bathroom.
#29 Sue and Sonia in THE room..the bath.

#30 Glimpse in the past.
#31 Sonia's old bedroom.
#32 Sonia show us her bedroom window.
#33 The view.

#34 Effects from bathroom bubble window.
#35 Old school tree at bend in road.
#36 The ancient tree.
#37 School Villa opposite the OLD TREE.

After a nice visit, looking at old photos, etc., Sonia proceeded to show us upstairs. At the top of the stairs was a window which looked out over the garden. One could also see the newly "cropped" tree which still stood as stately as it did when it guarded the entrance to the Old School which my mother's family attended. We looked out of the window. Then we went into the lavendar colored bathroom, which at one time had been the bedroom where my mother was born. Yes, there had been many changes here, but looking at the sloped ceilings, I could well imagine how it had been at one time. Just to think, that this was the very spot where Mom was born! Again we looked out of the window to see the picturesque view. I was curious as to which room it was that my mother and her older siblings had put up a swing. Here they could actually touch the ceiling with their feet when swinging very high. I'm sure this was not appreciated when the plaster eventually began to fall! :) We went into Sonia's old bedroom which her mother had preserved. It was as if Sonia still lived there. We looked out of the window to the garden below and far off the Thaxted Steeple could be seen we were told.. The same view as when my grandparents lived here so long ago. What nostalgia! Was this just a dream? A wonderful dream? I pinched myself to see if I was really here, in England, in the Old Bell Inn! We walked back down the stairs. I remember how Mom had told me that there was no electricity in those days. They would have walked up these very stairs, candle in hand, when going to bed. A squirrel paused on the wall below to look back at us, wondering why the faces kept appearing at the windows above him..
What a wonderful day this had been! So much in such a small amount of time, and there was still more to come.
We again went into the garden for a last visit. I was brought back to reality when Paul and Sonia noticed a car go by with our soon to be new friends...Lisa and Simon Cooper driving in from Great Dunmow to meet with us at Moor End Farm. Yes, it was time to take leave once more and hurry back to Moor End Farm. After thanking Ann and Dave for their lovely hospitality, we were soon on our way back to Moor End Farm to meet with Lisa, Simon and her parents, Barry and Linda BARKER. Mr. and Mrs. Barker lived at Brick End...near the Prince of Wales Pub. Again, my grandparents had at one time or another lived at Brick End too.

Click HERE to meet the BARKERS.

Evelyn Delight Carpenter

Copyright © 2003 - Evelyn Delight Carpenter
All Rights Reserved
Webmaster: Evelyn Carpenter - Evelyn Delight Carpenter

| INDEX HOME |Story Part 1 - June 3, 2003--From Los Angeles to Moor End Farm. |
| Story Part 2-Walk to the CHURCH. | Moor End Farm Photos | Genealogy Marriage records | Broxted Church Photos |
| Story Pt.2 continues to Great Easton.| Great Dunmow and The BELL
|The BARKERS.| TILTY | The Maltings.| THE GALLERY |CHICKNEY CHURCH | Colchester| Old Photos|
|OLD STORIES | LONDON-Last Stop!|
|Fat lady's version-Pt. 1|
|Fat Lady's version - Pt. 2| Fat Lady's version - Pt. 3| Fat Lady's version - Pt. 4|
| Fat lady's version Pt. 5| Fat Lady's version - Pt. 6| Version 7| Version 8|
|Fat Lady's - Part 9|Part 10 by Fat Lady|Rain storm-Pt. 11 by the Fat Lady|

#1 Great Dunmow town center.	#2 Rush hour is over now.	#3 Paul and Sonia in front of Saracen's Head with Susie's Head poking around the corner.	#4 Sue and Evelyn once again at Saracen's Head.
#5 Roger Barltrop and Evelyn 1999	#6 Greg, Sue, Evelyn 1971	#7 Greg Sue Evelyn 1971.	#8Sue Carpenter in 1969

#10 Sonia, Paul, Dave&Ann Reynolds..our new friends.	#11 Sonia & Paul with Sonia's parents Mr. & Mrs. Reynolds.	#12 Sue and Sonia in garden.	#13 Dave shows us around his garden.
#14 Ann and Dave Reynolds	#15 Ann pours tea.	#16Ann Reynolds	#17 Ann and Dave.

#18 Sonia & Paul look out window into garden.	#19 Dave show Evelyn the changes made in kitchen.	#20 Living Room in 2003	#21 Sonia points out photo to her parents.
#22 The old stairs in 2003	#23 Sonia waits on stairs.	#24 Evelyn and Sue start up the stairs.	#25 We get to the top of stairs and the window.
#26 Sonia shows Evelyn the view from window.	#27 Just outside THE bedroom (now bathroom) door.	#28 THE room..now converted into bathroom.	#29 Sue and Sonia in THE room..the bath.
#30 Glimpse in the past.	#31 Sonia's old bedroom.	#32 Sonia show us her bedroom window.	#33 The view.
#34 Effects from bathroom bubble window.	#35 Old school tree at bend in road.	#36 The ancient tree.	#37 School Villa opposite the OLD TREE.