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Hello again

Yes, Auntie Ett did go more or less blind and lived in the bungalow until around 1960 by which time electricity had arrived!  She moved to one of the little bungalows the counsil built in Bran End.  I think you are a few years younger than me but I remember that you had a sister called (?) Susan. I can't remember your name but I do vaguely remember Percy who loved part way up the lane.  Do you still live locally?  I have been away from the area for forty years or so but now live in Wethersfield.   Stebbing has changed almost beyond recognition over the years with not even a shop now - strange to think that then there was even a sweet shop!

I have only just come across this and don't know if anyone is still interested but I grew up in Stebbing and knew both water mills well. Bran End Mill belonged to C G Pulford & Son and at the time I was a kid, 1950s/60s it was managed by Harold Hynds. The Stebbing Mill, the one in Mill Lane belonged to another branch of the Hynds Family, most recently Len who was the last miller. Forge Cottage in Duck End had an adjoining blacksmiths shop which belonged to a relation of mine, who I believe was called Ted Barritt (Barrett?) after he retired it was for a while used as a wrought iron workshop making gates, standard lamps, etc. It is still there but disused.  I believe one of the windmills was at Hornsea farm a few hundred yards along the road from Bran End towards Duck End, now used by an animal food dealer. I am pretty sure I can remember my mother saying this mill burned down one night in a gale. The Green Man in Bran End was most recently kept as a pub by Doll Hayden and her husband Fred, both now dead. It closed in 1968 and was converted into a house. If anybody wants any more information about this period I would be pleased to try to help.