A Lifetime of Memories in Box
by Stella Clarke, July 2014
Stella is aged 96 and has been a Box resident throughout her life.
All photos courtesy Stella Clarke;
family tree compiled by her daughter, Joyce Smith
Left: Stella, aunt Mary and grandmother Martha at Nonotion, Rudloe in about 1919
by Stella Clarke, July 2014
Stella is aged 96 and has been a Box resident throughout her life.
All photos courtesy Stella Clarke;
family tree compiled by her daughter, Joyce Smith
Left: Stella, aunt Mary and grandmother Martha at Nonotion, Rudloe in about 1919
Childhood
I was born Stella Marguerite Wilkins in Box in 1917 and I have lived in the village all my life. My mother was Ada Francis Wilkins and she married my father, Alfred John Rawlings.
My earliest memories of Box are from when I was four or five and living with my grandparents in a cottage at Nonotion, near Rudloe, off on a track, just two cottages on their own. It was a lovely spot to live in as a child but a long way to walk to Box School. I lived there until I was about ten. I remember using a wooden yolk over my shoulders to fetch water in pails from a tap at Rudloe Farm. My grandparents, Edward and Martha Wilkins, kept poultry and pigs which, in those days, weren't fenced in at all. You always had your own eggs and a cockerel at Christmas. You had to be self sufficient.
A rather eccentric old lady who lived at Widdenham used to walk to Box once a week to collect her pension at the Post Office. She had rather old-fashioned clothes and a parasol. We had a cockerel who had taken a dislike to her and, whenever she passed our cottage, the cockerel would attack the backs of her heels and she would poke him away with her parasol.
I was born Stella Marguerite Wilkins in Box in 1917 and I have lived in the village all my life. My mother was Ada Francis Wilkins and she married my father, Alfred John Rawlings.
My earliest memories of Box are from when I was four or five and living with my grandparents in a cottage at Nonotion, near Rudloe, off on a track, just two cottages on their own. It was a lovely spot to live in as a child but a long way to walk to Box School. I lived there until I was about ten. I remember using a wooden yolk over my shoulders to fetch water in pails from a tap at Rudloe Farm. My grandparents, Edward and Martha Wilkins, kept poultry and pigs which, in those days, weren't fenced in at all. You always had your own eggs and a cockerel at Christmas. You had to be self sufficient.
A rather eccentric old lady who lived at Widdenham used to walk to Box once a week to collect her pension at the Post Office. She had rather old-fashioned clothes and a parasol. We had a cockerel who had taken a dislike to her and, whenever she passed our cottage, the cockerel would attack the backs of her heels and she would poke him away with her parasol.
My Family
My grandfather, Edward Wilkins, worked as a shepherd for Rudloe Farm, now Rudloe Manor House, and we lived in a tied cottage which meant the house went with the job. I still have two bells that he used as sheep bells. My grandmother, Martha, was very strict and I had to do as I was told. She had seven children: four boys and three girls. They were: Ada Francis (b 1885), Arthur Henry Edward (b 1887), Reginald (b 1891), Albert (b 1893), Elsie Evelyn (b 1902), Ivor (b 1904) and Doris (b 1908). My mother, Ada, was in service as a cook for the Brakespear family at Pickwick Manor at one time, opposite the Hare and Hounds in Corsham. Her sister, Elsie, was also there as a maid. |
Two of my uncles served in the First World War.(1) My uncle Arthur, was in the army. He was already a chauffeur before the war, working in Bristol where my mother was in domestic service.
When Arthur came back he was a chauffeur for Mr Fuller at Neston Park. Later he was a chauffeur for someone in Cheltenham and used to drive them to Scotland to go grouse shooting. Albert, his brother, went down to work in the mines in the Great War. He stayed in Wales and had a family there before he died of silicosis.
At School
When Arthur came back he was a chauffeur for Mr Fuller at Neston Park. Later he was a chauffeur for someone in Cheltenham and used to drive them to Scotland to go grouse shooting. Albert, his brother, went down to work in the mines in the Great War. He stayed in Wales and had a family there before he died of silicosis.
At School
I went to school at Box Church of England school in the village. I remember I always used to take my lunch to school (there were no school dinners in those days) but one day I forgot it. I had to sit with a school master, which I didn't like at all. I didn't forget my lunch any more after that. I was keen on sports and I used to do a lot of running and hurdling. We used to go from Box School to Corsham to compete in leagues.
I used to have long hair which, at school, I wore in a plait hanging down my back. In those days we had dipping pens and inkwells.
The boys sitting behind me would dip my plait in the ink for their amusement. Box School had a lot of shields covering one wall of the school which they had won in singing competitions. I wasn't a singer then but more recently I went to the people in local residential homes, who so enjoyed the music. It was organised by Liz Porter, and afterwards Tudor Jones carried it on. |
As a child I played hop-scotch. We had hoops to play with and there used to be a big door just past Burchill's Dairy in the Market Place where we used to play ball. Dykes took it over after them. Every Sunday morning I would go there with my jug to get the milk for mother's rice pudding.
In those days children were taught to swim in the brook. They would clean out a certain bit of it. Dr Martin used to tie the children on a pole and say, Swim, you bugger, swim! My parents wouldn't let me go in the brook. They said they knew what went into it higher up.
I used to be in the pageants put on by Rev George Foster and Mrs Foster. They were very good. I enjoyed them but I was nothing very special in them, just one of the chorus girls.
We used to have Empire Day with floats on all the lorries. We would have a parade and all the children wore a sash with a country's name on it. We assembled around the war memorial, marched down through the Market Place, and came back up through the main street.
At Christmas time John Miller put a piano on the back of his lorry and we used to go carol singing around the village and out to Alcombe and places. The Northey Arms sometimes invited us in for a drink. I don't think you could do that now.
I remember when the miners were on strike in 1926. They marched through the centre of the village, turned at Rudloe towards Lower Rudloe and they all sat down on the bank to rest and took off their boots.
I used to be in the pageants put on by Rev George Foster and Mrs Foster. They were very good. I enjoyed them but I was nothing very special in them, just one of the chorus girls.
We used to have Empire Day with floats on all the lorries. We would have a parade and all the children wore a sash with a country's name on it. We assembled around the war memorial, marched down through the Market Place, and came back up through the main street.
At Christmas time John Miller put a piano on the back of his lorry and we used to go carol singing around the village and out to Alcombe and places. The Northey Arms sometimes invited us in for a drink. I don't think you could do that now.
I remember when the miners were on strike in 1926. They marched through the centre of the village, turned at Rudloe towards Lower Rudloe and they all sat down on the bank to rest and took off their boots.
Life in the Village
The route to school was just through fields, there were no bungalows or buildings there. I had to walk there and back every day. This took me down the hill, passing the Clift where they quarried for stone and, on the other side of the road, The Rising Sun public house which in the 1950's was blown up with a gas explosion killing the Griffin family.
On the left hand side I passed the Box Hill Post Office kept by Mr Sheppard. On the right behind the trees was Fogleigh House and where the Bassetts are now was just a field which belonged to the lord of the manor Mr Northey. This was sold in 1927 to Mr T. Best for building.We are now just before the bridge over the railway from where you can see Box and Middlehill tunnels. Where there is a wide pavement, there was a weighbridge for weighing the blocks of stone. This was always known as the Wharf.
The route to school was just through fields, there were no bungalows or buildings there. I had to walk there and back every day. This took me down the hill, passing the Clift where they quarried for stone and, on the other side of the road, The Rising Sun public house which in the 1950's was blown up with a gas explosion killing the Griffin family.
On the left hand side I passed the Box Hill Post Office kept by Mr Sheppard. On the right behind the trees was Fogleigh House and where the Bassetts are now was just a field which belonged to the lord of the manor Mr Northey. This was sold in 1927 to Mr T. Best for building.We are now just before the bridge over the railway from where you can see Box and Middlehill tunnels. Where there is a wide pavement, there was a weighbridge for weighing the blocks of stone. This was always known as the Wharf.
Box Field Bank Holiday Fairground |
Over to the left where Bargates and Brunel Way is built was Box Field, a large field where every August Bank Holiday there was a fair with roundabouts, swing boats and other fairground stalls. Here on the right you have the house where Rev Awdrey, author of Thomas the Tank Engine, lived. Our local doctor, Dr Stroud lived in one of the houses opposite and had his surgery via a side entrance.
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Further down on the right was the Post Office kept by the two Miss Fudge's. The shop, which at present is a cafe, they ran as an ice cream parlour. Mr Walford lived opposite and he was the local postman. He delivered all telegrams and mail on his bicycle.
On the site of Vine Court used to be Merrett's Yard. It was here that my father-in-law. Henry Clarke had his blacksmith shop.
I believe he was the last blacksmith in the village as he was still working after the war. It was closed in the 1950s.
The centre of the village was the school. On the other side of the road was the chemist with large jars of red and green liquid on display. Between the school and the British Legion was a small furniture shop owed by Mr Oatley. Mr Oatley was also an auctioneer in Corsham. This later became a cobbler's owned by Mr Killick.
Where the Co-op now is used to be a row of houses and one of them had a big clock on it and was called the Clock House.
I missed the opening of the Co-op because I was ill with measles. Opposite there was the garage and the Manor House owned by Mr Chandler. In later years, when we lived on the Devizes Road, if my mother's brother came for tea he would pay Mr. Chandler 6d to park his car in the barn. My uncle was an ex-chauffeur and took a lot of care with his cars.
Further up the High Street was Miller's garage with old granny Miller and her son Harry (John Miller's father). Part of their place, before the garage, was a little cake shop and next to it was the doctors' surgery with Dr Davey. Part of the Queen's Head was the barber's shop which then became a butcher's owned by Mr Abrahams, until Les Lay took over.
I believe he was the last blacksmith in the village as he was still working after the war. It was closed in the 1950s.
The centre of the village was the school. On the other side of the road was the chemist with large jars of red and green liquid on display. Between the school and the British Legion was a small furniture shop owed by Mr Oatley. Mr Oatley was also an auctioneer in Corsham. This later became a cobbler's owned by Mr Killick.
Where the Co-op now is used to be a row of houses and one of them had a big clock on it and was called the Clock House.
I missed the opening of the Co-op because I was ill with measles. Opposite there was the garage and the Manor House owned by Mr Chandler. In later years, when we lived on the Devizes Road, if my mother's brother came for tea he would pay Mr. Chandler 6d to park his car in the barn. My uncle was an ex-chauffeur and took a lot of care with his cars.
Further up the High Street was Miller's garage with old granny Miller and her son Harry (John Miller's father). Part of their place, before the garage, was a little cake shop and next to it was the doctors' surgery with Dr Davey. Part of the Queen's Head was the barber's shop which then became a butcher's owned by Mr Abrahams, until Les Lay took over.
On the opposite side was Bradfield's Newspaper shop. Where the Chemist is now used to be Browning's first garage with one petrol pump, until they moved to the Devizes Road. That burnt down once.
In what is known as the Paddock, Dr Martin did his own dispensing of medicines at his house in The Paddock, up the steps and in the wood there, opposite the Hermitage, at an area called The Slope. He did his house calls on horseback. Next to The Bear, just past what is now the car park, was where the fire engine was kept. It was drawn by four men. |
We now start at the top of Quarry Hill. Here there was a small shop where they restored furniture run by Mr Maslen. Halfway down on the left was the Gospel Hall and further down opposite Brunel Way was Dyer's, the undertakers. Opposite Bargates, the factory there was then a candle factory which made an awful smell. At the bottom on the corner of Quarry and Hazelbury Hills, Miss Harrison had a sweet shop and the large window was full of jars of gobstoppers.
Centre of the Village
We moved to 2 The Market Place, right opposite the Chequers Inn, now closed, when I was about ten. When we moved there the house was still lit by gas lamps and you had to be careful when you lit them not to break the mantle. They always attracted moths.
At the top of the steep hill, the Slip (Glovers Lane), Mr Butt had his cycle shop. At the bottom, by the Chequers, was another butcher's shop owned by Mr Beszant from Corsham. He was then joined by Jim Hill.
The characters in the village included Mr Hall, who had the barbers shop, who spent a lot of time in the Chequers. He was quite a nice fellow, really.
A man from Colerne used to come to the pub with his horse and cart selling fish. On getting thirsty he would partake of some beverages in the Chequers. Meanwhile the cats of the area would have a field day with his fish. Having consumed a substantial quantity of his beverage, he was unable to find his own way home so the horse used to take him back safely. I don't think he sold any fish after he left the Chequers.
Centre of the Village
We moved to 2 The Market Place, right opposite the Chequers Inn, now closed, when I was about ten. When we moved there the house was still lit by gas lamps and you had to be careful when you lit them not to break the mantle. They always attracted moths.
At the top of the steep hill, the Slip (Glovers Lane), Mr Butt had his cycle shop. At the bottom, by the Chequers, was another butcher's shop owned by Mr Beszant from Corsham. He was then joined by Jim Hill.
The characters in the village included Mr Hall, who had the barbers shop, who spent a lot of time in the Chequers. He was quite a nice fellow, really.
A man from Colerne used to come to the pub with his horse and cart selling fish. On getting thirsty he would partake of some beverages in the Chequers. Meanwhile the cats of the area would have a field day with his fish. Having consumed a substantial quantity of his beverage, he was unable to find his own way home so the horse used to take him back safely. I don't think he sold any fish after he left the Chequers.
On the other side of the road was Bence's shop. Here on one side you could buy your groceries and on the other they sold drapery, shoes and even wirelesses. You could take your accumulator there to be recharged. Just past here there was a tap in the wall and this is where the Market Place residents collected their water. There was no running water in the houses and only gas lighting.
We now reach the factory which was originally the Brewery owned by Mr Pinchin. It was still operating when I was a girl; then it became a tennis racket factory owned by Murray and Baldwin; now it is owned by Mr & Mrs Dodds.
Opposite the butcher's shop, now owned by David Hill, was a shop selling ironmongery and sweets, owned by Mrs Tranter, then taken over by Mr Scholfield, and later by Nigel Bence. I used to buy sweets from Mrs Tranter: liquorice sherbets and similar. Next door to Greensleeves, in the big bay window, Mrs Newman would sell steaming trays of faggots and peas. We used to take our basins there to get faggots and mushy peas; they were lovely. Behind her shop, Ben Drew had his bakery before he moved to Devizes Road.The bakery in Devizes Road backed onto his house which was next to the chemist's on the London Road.
He did his deliveries with Joey, his horse, pulling a cart. He was an unusual person: I used to collect bread from his shop and he would make a tiny little loaf just for me.
On the Parade, the Ponting brothers had their shops. One brother had the grocery shop, later to become the barbers; and the other brother, Squeaker Ponting, had a drapery shop. Bodmans had it built on and sold fish, and eventually it became County Stores. Between the two, in the corner, was a coal merchants run by Mrs Bolton. In later years, where there is now the council offices, Mr Oswald Butt had a fish and chip shop. On the end was the Betty shop, which was run by two sisters as a haberdashery; one was called Miss Betteridge.
We now reach the factory which was originally the Brewery owned by Mr Pinchin. It was still operating when I was a girl; then it became a tennis racket factory owned by Murray and Baldwin; now it is owned by Mr & Mrs Dodds.
Opposite the butcher's shop, now owned by David Hill, was a shop selling ironmongery and sweets, owned by Mrs Tranter, then taken over by Mr Scholfield, and later by Nigel Bence. I used to buy sweets from Mrs Tranter: liquorice sherbets and similar. Next door to Greensleeves, in the big bay window, Mrs Newman would sell steaming trays of faggots and peas. We used to take our basins there to get faggots and mushy peas; they were lovely. Behind her shop, Ben Drew had his bakery before he moved to Devizes Road.The bakery in Devizes Road backed onto his house which was next to the chemist's on the London Road.
He did his deliveries with Joey, his horse, pulling a cart. He was an unusual person: I used to collect bread from his shop and he would make a tiny little loaf just for me.
On the Parade, the Ponting brothers had their shops. One brother had the grocery shop, later to become the barbers; and the other brother, Squeaker Ponting, had a drapery shop. Bodmans had it built on and sold fish, and eventually it became County Stores. Between the two, in the corner, was a coal merchants run by Mrs Bolton. In later years, where there is now the council offices, Mr Oswald Butt had a fish and chip shop. On the end was the Betty shop, which was run by two sisters as a haberdashery; one was called Miss Betteridge.
Working in Box
When I left Box School I went to work in Lorne House for Mrs Bence who was living there after Rev Awdry. I was a domestic tweenie. I learnt a lot, housework, cooking and the like.
There was just me looking after the house. There were stone steps to scrub and polishing the floors, doing the grates with black lead and getting the fire going for hot water.
When I left Box School I went to work in Lorne House for Mrs Bence who was living there after Rev Awdry. I was a domestic tweenie. I learnt a lot, housework, cooking and the like.
There was just me looking after the house. There were stone steps to scrub and polishing the floors, doing the grates with black lead and getting the fire going for hot water.
I went to Corsham Court temporarily. It was tough; you had to work really hard for your money. I used to work the morning shift from 6 o'clock, getting things ready for the cook to prepare breakfast, washing up afterwards, scrubbing the tables down. It was the only work available at the time.In later years I went to the Glove Factory in Corsham. One time we made a pair of white gloves for Princess Marina as a wedding gift. During the early years of the war, I worked in Melksham at the Avon Rubber factory, examining ear-plugs and gas masks.
I was living with my parents in one of the big houses, Fernlea, on the Devizes Road. I used to cycle to Melksham over Atworth Hill. |
Wartime Box
I married my husband Ronald Thomas Clarke in June 1940 prior to Ron going away to North Africa for four and a half years, serving in the Middle East with the 8th Army, as a desert rat. We got married on a Saturday and my husband went back into the army on the Monday. I was looking after my mother and step-father then. My husband was chasing Rommel up and down the desert. Then he went to Monte Casino. He never said any more about it, just saying he was there. They had to go without food for a long while at that time. Around Box, there were troops at Colerne and also down at the siding at Bathampton, where they had a place right up in the hills. They also had many soldiers at Box Hill underground then. The blackouts were tough with no lights here at all to get about. I was a teenage girl then and I didn't worry about being attacked. I used to walk to the Bingham Hall in the village and back. There were coupons for lots of things: sweets and clothes. I used to go over to Corsham to the Royal Wilts to queue up to buy sausages and different things. I met my husband, Ron, at a dance in the Bingham Hall. Both of us had attended Box school but I didn't really know him then. |
Before the war, Ron had started as an apprentice mechanic down at Jay's Garage by the Northey and he worked his way up to an engineer.
When peace came we got a little house; we were in there for three months on our own. Then Ron's mother died and we had his father with us for seven years. Later we had to give up the little cottage and come back to Devizes Road to look after my mother for the next five years and then my father. On his return from war Ron and I had many happy years together. Village Events |
I used to go to dances in the Bingham Hall in Chapel Lane. I think there were one or two baths there, then the toilets, then the library, then the big hall.
We used to play whist in the Bingham Hall and have concerts. I danced the can-can there one year at a concert. They used to have a lot of events including the Young Wives' Club there. Mrs Burton used to look after it and she was quite strict; we had to mind our Ps and Qs. |
We didn't go to Bath much; it was too expensive. When we did go it was a trip, an event, and we celebrated by having fish and chips. I didn't go on holiday as a child, except one time I went to Trowbridge to Ashton Street where my aunt lived.
The first car we had was a hired one to go on holiday. We went down to Weymouth. We used to take most of our food and we hired a caravan down there from Mr Bodman with a canvas kitchen outside and a primus stove. We took tins of food with us when we left because we didn't have much money in those days.
After my daughter, Joyce, was born I did a bit of work at home for Slopers, who had part of the factory where Prices are. Slopers used to make different rubber goods. I used to sit up till 2 o'clock in the morning doing them just for a few pence. Slave labour it was. Mr Sloper lived at Ashley until he died; his brother lived up at Wormwood Farm. |
After my husband died, I moved to the Bassetts in 1986 because our house was too big for me. These houses were built in the 1930s.
Later, when we were widows, we used to go round and have a meal in each other's houses in the village: Liz Porter, Ida Haines, Peggy Pearce (who is 100 this year), Peggy Kettlety and others. We had a lot of fun.
The neighbours here are very good and keep an eye out for me. Box is still a very good community to live in.
Left: Stella, June 2014
Later, when we were widows, we used to go round and have a meal in each other's houses in the village: Liz Porter, Ida Haines, Peggy Pearce (who is 100 this year), Peggy Kettlety and others. We had a lot of fun.
The neighbours here are very good and keep an eye out for me. Box is still a very good community to live in.
Left: Stella, June 2014
References
(1) See photos In Memoriam
Appendix
Wilkins Family (Maternal)
Great Grandparents
Henry Wilkins (b 1828) and Carolyn (b 1830)
Children: Jane (b 1850), Edward (1865 - 1922), Amy (b 1871), William (b 1873), James (b 1876)
Grandparents
Edward Wilkins (1865 - 1922) and Martha (1876 - 1934)
Children: Ada Francis (1885 - 1961), Arthur Henry Edward (b 1887), Reginald (1891 died in infancy), Albert (b 1893), Elsie Evelyn (1902 - 1983), Ivor (b 1904) and Doris (b 1908).
Arthur married Mary
Parents
Mother Ada Francis and father Alfred John Rawlings
Stella Marguerite married Ronald Thomas Clarke (1917 - 1984) on 15 June 1940
Child: Joyce
Rawlings Family (Step-family)
Grandparents
Thomas (b 1866) married Annie Hatter
Children: Alfred "Son" John Rawlings (1895 - 1963), Frederick, James, Florence, Ethel
Step-Father
Alfred John Rawlings
Clarke Family (Husband)
Great Grandparents
William Clarke (b 1821) from Slaughterford married Dinah (b 1817) from Corsham
Children: Ann (b 1847), William Thomas Clarke (1851 - 1919), James (b 1856)
Grandparents
William Thomas Clarke married Sarah Ann Billett (1854 - 1950) from Ford
Children: Mary Ann (1875), James (1877), Annie Ethel (1878), Elizabeth Naomi (1880), Henry Thomas (1882 - 1968), Agnes Sarah (1885), Ada (1887), Walter Frank (1889) and Ernest (1891)
Parents
Henry Thomas Clarke married Ethel Mary Hancock (1882 - 1949)
Children: Lillian Ethel (1911), Albert Henry Richard (1914 - 1971), Ronald Thomas (1917 - 1984) and Royston James (1925)
Husband
Married Ronald Thomas Clarke (1917 - 1984) on 15 June 1940
(1) See photos In Memoriam
Appendix
Wilkins Family (Maternal)
Great Grandparents
Henry Wilkins (b 1828) and Carolyn (b 1830)
Children: Jane (b 1850), Edward (1865 - 1922), Amy (b 1871), William (b 1873), James (b 1876)
Grandparents
Edward Wilkins (1865 - 1922) and Martha (1876 - 1934)
Children: Ada Francis (1885 - 1961), Arthur Henry Edward (b 1887), Reginald (1891 died in infancy), Albert (b 1893), Elsie Evelyn (1902 - 1983), Ivor (b 1904) and Doris (b 1908).
Arthur married Mary
Parents
Mother Ada Francis and father Alfred John Rawlings
Stella Marguerite married Ronald Thomas Clarke (1917 - 1984) on 15 June 1940
Child: Joyce
Rawlings Family (Step-family)
Grandparents
Thomas (b 1866) married Annie Hatter
Children: Alfred "Son" John Rawlings (1895 - 1963), Frederick, James, Florence, Ethel
Step-Father
Alfred John Rawlings
Clarke Family (Husband)
Great Grandparents
William Clarke (b 1821) from Slaughterford married Dinah (b 1817) from Corsham
Children: Ann (b 1847), William Thomas Clarke (1851 - 1919), James (b 1856)
Grandparents
William Thomas Clarke married Sarah Ann Billett (1854 - 1950) from Ford
Children: Mary Ann (1875), James (1877), Annie Ethel (1878), Elizabeth Naomi (1880), Henry Thomas (1882 - 1968), Agnes Sarah (1885), Ada (1887), Walter Frank (1889) and Ernest (1891)
Parents
Henry Thomas Clarke married Ethel Mary Hancock (1882 - 1949)
Children: Lillian Ethel (1911), Albert Henry Richard (1914 - 1971), Ronald Thomas (1917 - 1984) and Royston James (1925)
Husband
Married Ronald Thomas Clarke (1917 - 1984) on 15 June 1940