Chrishall Village History

The life and times of a North Essex Village
Alfred Brand and the bees

Alfred Brand and the bees

Jun 27, 2020 | Crawley End, People

Alfred Brand lived at Peacock Cottage in Crawley End Chrishall. We don’t know where the above photograph was taken – whether it was in Peacock Cottage garden or at an allotment. At the time Alfred Brand lived there, there would have been allotments just...
The story of Engleric

The story of Engleric

Apr 17, 2018 | Crawley End, Houses Crawley End and Hertford Lane

We have recently been asked the reason behind the name Engleric and are delighted to re-produce this article written many years ago for the village magazine.  Mrs Irene Cranwell, village historian, wrote articles for many years under the guise of the village pumps. ...
And then it snowed

And then it snowed

Dec 18, 2017 | Advent 2017, Crawley End

It seems appropriate for this winter that we include some snowy photos from years gone by.  I cannot name any people on these pictures though – can you?  The photograph above is looking up Crawley End from near the pond on the green, in 1963.  You can just see...
Chambers Milk Cart

Chambers Milk Cart

Jul 23, 2015 | Crawley End

This was probably taken in the 1940s. Milkman Charlie Cane poses with Robert Chambers’ milkcart in Crawley End in front of Peacock Cottage. (From the Bruce Drury Collection)
Dormers cottage crawley end

Dormers cottage crawley end

Jul 23, 2015 | Crawley End

This view of “Dormers” is probably from the 1920s or ’30s, although this view looked very similar as recently as the 1960s. The road is much wider now with modern houses on either side. The thatched building on the right no longer exists. Rather...
Crawley End 1900

Crawley End 1900

Jul 23, 2015 | Crawley End

This lovely old picture from 1900 shows Crawley End.  Note no railings around Rooks Pond.  Left to right can be seen the Chapel, Chapel Cottage, Manana, Phoenix Cottage, Rose Cottage, Cobblers and Faerie Cottage. (With thanks to the Rogers family collection for this...
Crawley End Chrishall – sheep grazing

Crawley End Chrishall – sheep grazing

Jul 22, 2015 | Crawley End

This unusual view (1980s) is from the field on the east side of Mill Causeway looking at the backs of the former council houses.  Rosemarie Gant (Davies) remembers driving her small first car, a renault 5, along Crawley End and meeting the sheep which were being...
The story of Engleric

Crawley End north

Jul 22, 2015 | Crawley End

View north: the car – an Austin 3000 – suggests this photo was taken in the 1970s and predates the building of the council houses and the little close Engleric, which now exists where the car is parked.
Rooks Pond

Rooks Pond

Jul 22, 2015 | Crawley End

This photograph was taken circa 1930.    On the left is Chapel Cottage recently rethatched.  Primrose Cottage is just visible behind the telegraph pole. Cobblers, at the end of the pond, has since been extended and rendered in a peach colour. Faerie Cottage is on the...