Any Questions?

Since starting the Tiptree Turner website, I have had many people emailing me with questions about the village - many of which I had no answers for, so I've now launched Any Questions to put your queries online, with the hope that other readers can answer them. Simply email: webmaster@tiptreeturner.co.uk with your questions and, hopefully, answers. It might also be useful for geneaologists!

TYLER: Hello all, i go to Thurstable School and i am doing a graphics project and i am finding it difficult finding information about Tiptree’s former Astoria Cinema. do you know anything or have any pictures?
(David: I, for one, do remember a 'cinema' being located above the Bright's electrical shop in Church Road. While I was younger, about 30 years ago, I remember going up there when it was still be used. Please email if you have any more information).
ANSWER: My parents resided for some years in Church Road, Tiptree, and we had strawberry fields and a small orchard, which stretched along behind what is now Brights Electrical Store. I well remember the time in around 1950, when Mr Bright built the cinema there, and I attended the first film to be shown. I and friends regularly attended the cinema, until lack of audiences presumably as a result of television then becoming more readily available, caused it to close as a cinema. For a while then Mr Bright held disco evenings once a week there, whilst the rest of the time it became an electrical shop.
I also remember well Mr Bright's two attractive daughters, one of whom I believe was named Elaine, and with whom I had my first kiss ! We left Tiptree in 1957, and I did not return until 2004, when I had a nostalgic wander around, and was pleased to see that the old cinema building was still there, as an electrical store, and that the rest of the village was thriving. David Care


JAN FORD: Hi - I have been scanning your site with much interest. I am looking for information on a 'HOME' for boys (possibly girls also) known only to myself as 'Whites Home'. If you have or can find any old photographs (circa 1943) showing this place or any relative information on a 'Home' around the Tiptree area it would mean a great deal to me.
ANSWER: I can tell you a little about the childrens home in Tiptree. It was called The Children's Home and Misson and was moved to the Grove from Woodford, in Essex at the outbreak of war in 1939. I went to school with many of them, but afraid I can't remember many names: Pinner/Godden/Dick Kent, who worked in the local garage untill he was called up for National Service. I didn't see him after that, and also Ron Harris, who worked for TJ Evers, the local builder ,and rose to be a director of the company.
They all went to The Heath School, and used to be escorted by one of the young ladies who looked after, them both ways even going back for lunch as there was no meals at school then, we had to take sandwiches. John H Wood
ANSWER: I saw the letter by Jan Ford regarding the Children's Home. As John H Wood says, it was moved to Tipttee for the duration of the war, before moving back to South Woodford. It is still going, but now is a care centre. It is run by Keith White, grandson of Mr White, the Home's Founder. My mother spent much of her childhood in the Woodford Home, and enjoyed it - all those brothers and sisters! She was there during the 1930s, spending some time at Tiptree, too. She loved Tiptree and often spoke about the wonderful house, called, I believe,The Grove, now pulled down, where the Home moved to during the war. A few years ago, a party of 'old boys and girls' from the Home spent a day at Tiptree where they were made most welcome.
If anyone is interested, about 10 years ago my mother, Joan Warne nee Giddens, wrote a book of memories of life in the South Woodford Home, which has one chapter about the Tiptree days. There are a few copies still available from the publisher, Virtual Valley, 11 Lodge Hall, Harlow Essex CM18 7SU price £6 incl. P&P. Cheques payable to Virtual Valley. Susan Brewer


PAT THOMAS: I wonder if anyone has a record of people who worked at Tiptree? I would like to know if you have a George F Oakeshott in about 1847 on the books, as i know he worked in this area.


JAMIE: Hi, I'm searching for and frends of my grandad, name of Harry Turner. He went to school in Tiptree and was born there in 1919. His family lived in the house outside Tiptree jams, they also worked there in the 1920s - 1940s. His uncle lost his arm in a machine, if anybody remembers.


SALLY, of Tiptree: I have recently moved into a property in West End Road, Tiptree, and am really struggling to find history on the property. The house name is Norette. If you have history on the The Ship pub, especially old photos of the house, would be brilliant. I have been told that this house could of been a Wesleyian/Methodist chapel, as the style is similiar and the only one of this style in the street. I have also been told that there is a disused well on the property, and graves at the end of the property near the quarry. The house belonged to Gary Smith for 25 years and I believe the Purdy family before him. Ihave no idea how old the house is, but it is vital that we obtain history on the property as there have been strange goings on here. I managed to find an old photo of The Ship pub taken 1810-1820, and it looks like what may have been our house but we can't be sure. Any knowledge of the names Thomas Purdy and two children - Kathleen or Catherine, and Iria, or Iris - would be helpful too.


KAY (nee QUIGLEY), of the USA: Thank you for making information for family researchers on your site. Do you possibly have a list of the former millers of Tiptree? I believe my ancestors with the name of Mortlock, connected to Peldon, were Millers of the area, and they had relatives running the Wivenhoe mill. I'd like to try and contact Paul Stoker born on Mersea Island. He moved to Tiptree with his sister Jane & mum Barbara in the late 50's or 1960's. We are having a friends of Mersea reunion next September the 9th all are welcome.


GAVIN STROUD: Just been looking at your website and was just wondering if you had any information on Maldon Road in Tiptree.
1. Is there a border between Tiptree Heath and Tiptree?
2. What year do the properties date back to Maldon Road and any history around that area?


DAVID CAWDELL: Hello from Lexden. Congrats on your excellent site. I am researching the history of brass bands in the Colchester area and have found 28 so far. I believe that there was a band in Tiptree. Do you have any info on such a band?
There is an old band uniform and instrument in the Wilkins museum but enquiries have indicated that it just belonged to a member of staff who played in a local brass band not necessarily connected with Wilkins which leads me to believe that there was one around at one time.


BOB WILESMITH, of Australia: Hi am carrying out research on Harry Wildsmith ex Leamington 1884 -1980 war veteran over two world wars and additional military service reported to have brought small holding in Tiptree calling it Leamington between 1930-1937 the depression era. Would like additional data on the village and a pic or to add to the History.


HELEN MURPHY: I am doing some research into the late John Joseph Mechi and wonder if you could inform me of any archive material.

 

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