Memories of South Hanningfield.

Further to my previous ‘posts’ about South Hanningfield, I have found some photos I took, many years ago, but after father had moved us to live in the village.

To come into the village from Harrow Farm we pass a field on the right, farmed by Jim Mallinson of Flemmings farm. It is of Geoff Maples (son-in-law of Jim) harvesting potatoes. He is driving a Nuffield tractor, trailing the harvester.  Note that the ‘holmes’ were not being cut, or treated before harvest, which slowed the operation down and the potatoes were still being picked by hand.

Next we come to a view over a wheat field, also on Mallinson’s farm, and is looking across to a tree then known as ‘The Big Oak’ . It still stands today, but has lost a lot of its vigour.

Further along the road, on the left is shown Well Wood covered by a snowfall which I seem to recall, fell on Christmas day night. This wood was part of Giffords Farm, owned by Mr Hedley Millbank, and is taken before this farm was flooded to create the reservoir. The wood did not become part of the reservoir, but now forms part of the woodland walks, as an amenity, and no doubt a bird reserve.

There is a picture looking over the reservoir, taken, I would say, from about where the cafe and visitor centre is at South Hanningfield.

The final picture is taken in the ‘dip’ as you enter the village. In the bottom of the ‘dip’, on the right was the village pump, from where two households still drew their water. One was the two Sayward brothers who lived opposite to the village hall. The one who collected the water used to carry two buckets on an old wooden frame made for the purpose. The other was an old man whose name was Arthur King, who lived alone, after a lifetime spent as horseman to Jim Mallinson who farmed the land on Claydens farm in the village. Arthur was a bit of a character, and was known locally as ‘Wasa’. His house had seen better days. It was thatched, and was knocked down, to be replaced by the semi-detached brick houses.

These houses were council owned and let to George Reeve and his family. George had been a general farmhand to my father when he farmed Poplars Farm.   The other house was lived in by the Wooten family, whom I recall, sadly lost a daughter from drowning, when swimming in the reservoir, whilst it was still under construction, and being filled. On the opposite side of the rise can be seen the original type of school warning sign which then passed the entrance to the post office which father owned.