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hart1961
12 Posts |
 Posted - 30 Mar 2007 : 17:02:04
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Hello,
This is essentially a copy of a message I posted in the 'New members' section. The site administrator (Jackie) suggested I post this in the more relevant Village History part of the site...
I'm the son of bill_hart1 - 'Bill Hart 2' I guess would have been a suitable name for me, as I'm Bill Hart also. Adding to my father's original post to this BBS, I thought I'd let people here know that back in the mid-1960's, my father took a number of super-8 home movies of Orsett, Finches and the High Road, one of which I've transferred onto a digital movie clip that I've posted onto the YouTube site. If anyone is interested in seeing what the place looked like around 1966 or so, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18zYF-2o23g
The shots include some of my grandfather, Henry Grierson, who founded the Pickwick club at the Foxhound, which I understand is still going strong today. He lived at Finches for the last years of his life while my family moved to America, and kept the house for us until he died in 1972. My brother Nick and I also appear in this film (I'm the one in the vintage pedal-car), my mother and her old nanny (Nan, to us) who also lived at Finches with my grandfather.
Some may not remember that alongside Finches, there used to be an old blacksmith's, which has now been replaced by a small group of houses. Finches itself was also only half the size it is now, and there certainly weren't as many cars back then!
Some of you may remember some of the people in this video, or perhaps have some thoughts on the village as it then was. It would be interesting to hear from you if you do. There are some other films of the place which I haven't managed to convert yet, but I'll inform anyone who's interested when I do. |
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JanetC
112 Posts |
Posted - 31 Mar 2007 : 00:59:06
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WOW....Thank you for sharing your film.
As a new resident to Orsett it's amazing seeing the changes to the village over the years. I can't imagine not sitting outside the Foxhounds with a cold glass of wine as I did last summer, to me it's always been the same!!! And what happened to that phonebox?
I for one would love to see more.
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hart1961
12 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2007 : 15:41:32
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Found another film, possibly a little later than the last - this time of the Foxhound specifically, and featuring the couple who ran the pub in those days: Charlse and Rita Bankes. Their daughter Jackie - who now runs the Foxhound - is also in this one, riding her horse and even leading it into the bar! I doubt that even Jackie herself will have seen this, as I don't believe we made copies of these super-8 sequences until now. The link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t06pPwqC-NU
I remember Charles, particularly, with some fondness. He once invited me and my brother into the bar when it was technically closed for a lemonade, and I played 'barman' much to Charles' amusement. My recent visit to Orsett included a quick look in the pub, and I don't think it looks very much changed from 40 years ago, although my memories are of course a little faded - rather like parts of this film...
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Roland Butter
138 Posts |
Posted - 02 Apr 2007 : 17:05:13
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| Thats brilliant hart1961. Especially as Jackie will bar anyone for so much as farting in the bar these days, let alone leading a horse in there! |
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Dave01
21 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 13:25:35
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Hi Bill,
I found your first movie clip particularly interesting as i live in old blacksmiths forge next to Finches that you refer to. It hasnt been replaced by a row of houses as you suggest, but has been extended quite a bit! Many thanks for posting this
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Edited by - Dave01 on 03 Apr 2007 13:32:53 |
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hart1961
12 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 13:37:18
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Hello Dave01,
Apologies - I only had a quick look at the place last time, and thought that the blacksmith's had been knocked down altogether and new houses put up. So I take it that your house is the original blacksmith's re-developed? It looked far too good to have ever been the original place I remember...
I still have some more old films of Orsett to post - will have a go at doing them some time soon, when time permits. |
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Dave01
21 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 13:47:01
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| No apologies needed Bill, the forge has been extended quite considerably and as such would not be instantly recognisable but the original part of the building can certainly be made out on closer inspection |
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Jacqui M
22 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2007 : 20:54:11
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| What an amazing film. I came to the village with my family in 1970 (to Malting Lane where my parents still live today) and it is wonderful to be reminded of what the village would have been. I now live between the Foxhound Pub and what was village shop. In your film the Close does not exist - it is covered in fencing which may be covering the construction ? (our house was completed in 1969). Did your Grandfather sell to the Amos family ? I would love to see the other film you have. |
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hart1961
12 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2007 : 08:26:52
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Hi Jacqui,
Thanks for the positive feedback! Finches actually belonged to us - meaning my parents. My grandfather lived there from around 1964 when we moved to the United States until his death in 1972. We then came back for a visit the following summer of 1973 and I believe the house was sold some time either that year or the following year. As I was only 11 or so at the time, I don't know who it was sold to exactly, although I believe that my parents rented it out for a while.
Much of what I have left in the way of Orsett material is more stuff of the house, my father driving his vintage car around the village and a few shots of The Bell at Horndon on the Hill. I had sort of wondered if anyone might have remembered or known any of the people in these films. I'll see if I can get something else up shortly. |
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hart1961
12 Posts |
Posted - 19 Jun 2007 : 10:04:17
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Finally got around to putting a little more on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVWuw-oyhTY
This footage shows mostly the gardens at Finches (and my brother and I fighting), but there is a quick shot of the road outside the house and near the end is some film of the Bell Inn at Horndon-on-the-Hill. My father and I visited the Bell earlier this year, and it doesn't seem to be in any way different to its appearance in this 40-year-old film! I'll ask my father for his name, but the then proprietor of the Bell appears as well - his son runs the place today. We met him after a great lunch there. |
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Mike Jones
192 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2007 : 22:34:15
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| Great stuff really enjoyed watching this. I will be begging you in the not too distant future to let me include it in a new film I hope to release in the Autumn which is all about the village |
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hart1961
12 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2007 : 11:24:57
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Mike,
No problems about using the film. I don't believe my father is too concerned about copyright or anything as they're just home movies. Let me know if you need the 'original' mpegs...
Bill |
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rog
11 Posts |
Posted - 28 Aug 2007 : 12:25:26
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Hi Mike
Great to see the films of the Finches as I have lived next door since 1976. The other side from Dave01. Laburnham cottage was knocked down and 2 houses built.
I have an old photo of the cottage, taken in the 1950s and would be very interested to hear if you have any cine or stills which include the old cottage before it was demolished.
rog |
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rog
11 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2007 : 10:17:28
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Whoops, sorry Mike, that's a great start. With my first post I get the names wrong, so apologies to both yourself & Bill.
Bill, my wrongly labelled inquiry of yesterday does, of course, refer to your goodself.
rog |
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hart1961
12 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2007 : 13:50:09
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Hi Rog,
I only tend to look at this site from time to time, so sorry for the delayed reply. I don't recall Laburnum Cottage, although I'm not sure if you're talking about the house on the opposite side of Finches from what I remember as the old smithy (Dave's house). Was Laburnum Cottage behind Finches but beside the smithy?
I have a few more bits of film from my father's collection that I just haven't had time to transfer onto YouTube yet. One shows my father coming up the High Road in his vintage Vauxhall and pulling into the garage at Finches. There's a possiblity that some footage there may have a glimpse of the cottage you mention, but I'm not sure. I'll let you know when I get the next clip posted. I'll drop him a line and see if he knows anything about it.
Regards,
Bill
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rog
11 Posts |
Posted - 11 Sep 2007 : 17:13:15
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Hi Bill and thanks for responding.
Like yourself I only have a look at the site every now and again.
Look forward to hearing if anything crops up. You can always use my email address as I look at that daily.
My house is the other side of Finches to Dave and the old Smithy.
Kind regards,
rog |
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Film of Orsett taken in 1961
