Photo credit: James Collitt
Houses of the Village
After 96 years in the same family, Pond House, a listed building, is about to change hands and start a new chapter in it’s history.
Bought in 1922 by the Blewitt family, Pond House has been a home to four generations of the same family. The house has two distinct living quarters and there were often three generations living in the house together at any one time.
Until now the attics have never been cleared and fascinating items have surfaced: Edwardian fancy dress outfits, Great Grandfather’s dress uniform complete with feathers, a blue velvet clown outfit decorated with marquisette embroidery. 1000 books, collected over the years, many of them leather bound, have also been found a new home.
In 1922 the household employed a cook and maids. There has never been central heating installed but the thick lath and plaster walls, a sunny position, and natural shelter from cold winds has meant that it has always been a warm house. Wood from the grounds has kept a wood burner ticking over in the winter.
A natural brook, which ran through the grounds, was harnessed and a lake added to the grounds in 1956 to irrigate the fruit trees that had been planted on the surrounding farmland, known as Hill Farm. In summer it was a muddy pool. The family were always very generous in allowing the public to share in the enjoyment of some of the grounds. When the fruit farming became uneconomic and the fruit trees taken out the lake became redundant and a fishing club was able to use it. People were always allowed to enjoy tobogganing on snowy winter days on the hilly field next to public footpath 125 which crosses the grounds.
There is a lot more historic detail and interesting photos about Pond House in the book “Boxted, Portrait of an English Village “ which can be purchased via:
https://boxted.org.uk/community/books/
The book also details the connection Pond House had with Boxted Hall Farms. The two properties and land were intertwined as two brothers originally occupied the two properties and farmed as a partnership. This partnership was later expanded to include the Carter family, who owned Hill Farm.
Boxted Village Hall AGM
Tuesday 18 September from 7 pm in the village hall. All welcome.
AGENDA
1. Apologies
2. To approve the minutes of the previous meeting
3. Matters arising
4. Chairperson’s Report: A brief summary of the year.
5. To accept the Village Hall Accounts for the year ending 31 July 2018 and agreement that they can be submitted to the Charities Commission
6. Summary of hirings and report from ‘CHIP’
7. Reports from local hall users
8. Projects/improvements to be undertaken for the year 2018 – 2019
9. AOB
10. Date of next meeting.
History Group
Elizabeth Garrett – Anderson – a talk by Mark Mitchels.
Wednesday 19 September 7.30 for 8 pm. Boxted Village Hall.
Visitors welcome.
Mobile Library
This will be at Boxted Playing Field car park on Thursday 20 September from 10.10 – 10.40 am.
The larger van has problems parking and manouevering on the car park. Could people please avoid parking on the 3 central spaces if possible.
Read a review of the book ‘the American Wife’ here:
Evergreen Club
A Picture Quiz:
Thursday 20 September from 2.30 pam in Boxted Village Hall.
Church Services
Sunday 22 September
9.30 am Sung Eucharist at St Mary’s Langham with Revd Ray Sams
11 am Locally Arranged service at the Methodist Church with Dominic Shiel
6 pm Evensong at St Peter’s Boxted
Poppy Appeal Quiz
Saturday 20 October. Boxted British Legion. 8 pm
Teams of 4 – 6. £2 per head.
Please contact Barry Took on 07941 724543 to book.
Boxted Village Website:
https://boxted.org.uk
Boxted Parish Council Website
https://www.essexinfo.net/boxted-parish-council/
Boxted Village Hall
https://boxted.org.uk/community/village-hall/
Boxted Primary School
https://www.boxted.essex.sch.uk
Little Owls Pre-School
https://littleowlsboxted.co.uk
Langham and Boxted Churches
https://lb-churches.co.uk
Boxted Methodist Silver Band
http://www.bmsb.co.uk
Boxted Cricket Club
http://www.boxtedcricketclub.co.uk/default.aspx
Boxted Running Club
https://boxted10k.co.uk
Boxted Airfield Historical Group
http://www.boxted-airfield.com/home
Langham Community Centre
http://www.langhamcommunitycentre.org.uk
Langham Community Shop
http://www.langhamcommunityshop.org.uk
Langham Parish Council
http://www.langham.org.uk/Parish/Parish%20Index/Parishindex.htm
Essex County Council’s PROW Interactive map
https://www.essexhighways.org/getting-around/public-rights-of-way/prow-interactive-map.aspx
Boxted Village Website 