Secret History of Stowmarket - on my walk to work!

[@averagewhovian]

An Amazing video 🙂 I’ve learnt a lot about Stowmarket, Thank you

[@Walksandwanders]

Wow! Thank you. Lots more local history on this channel. 👍😀

[@hotbella1993]

Wow bringing back some memories, I moved to Australia back in the 70’s I had one grandparents who lived in St Edmunds Rd And my other grandparents lived in Edgars Avenue and I went to school at Combs middle school so between The Smith and Goold’s I would walk around town, Now I still have relatives in Stowmarket My Uncle Greg's he’s a retired plumber My auntie Helen and they two boys my cousins

[@mrlotusmic]

I remember Asda (Gateway at the time) getting built. It was the site of the old livestock market and many a time I remember a pig escaping and running down the high street on a Thursday (if I remember correctly). You could just wander in and see all the livestock getting sold. (Same with Bury). The town changed a lot and went downhill for a while after the supermarket was built along with the councils obsession with changing the main road through it to block paving etc. I used to work on the market for my dad while still at school then living in Combs Lane at a small garden nursery. Early 50’s now but no longer in Suffolk. I used to get library books out of your office area before the new one was in built near the church.

[@Walksandwanders]

Great memory of escaped pigs in the high street! Thanks for sharing these stories.

[@saraharvey1251]

My daughter is researching local history of Stowmarket for a brownie badge and we came across this video. Really interesting thank you!

[@Walksandwanders]

Oh nice! But there’s a lot more local history videos on my KZbin channel. Glad this one helped. 👍😀

[@conradfreezer175]

I left Stowmarket in 1965 and it was interesting to see the huge changes, such as new housing, since then. You passé the flat where I first lived after marrying in 1962, over Cooper's opticians opposite the Regal. I was originally from Combs Lane.

[@Walksandwanders]

Conrad Freezer Vast estates now between Cedars Hotel and A14. Also houses at Chilton Hall now gradually joining up with developments at Onehouse.

[@mattjswaby]

I've recently moved to stowmarket and discovered your videos. I really enjoy them, keep up the good work! Also hoping you will do a "lost pubs of stowmarket" video, as I live near Lime Tree Place and I've noticed from looking at some the houses on that road, they could have maybe once been pubs?

[@Walksandwanders]

Swabes 113 Thanks for that comment. The lost pubs is an interesting idea!! Have to research that. Glad you enjoyed the videos. 👍

[@takemeaway285]

I know of two in that area. The Unicorn which was converted into housing a few years ago at 22 Lime Tree Place, and the Rose and Crown at 32 Bridge Street, also now residential, which must closed in the 90s I think.

[@Walksandwanders]

takemeaway I remember the Unicorn. Went in there a couple of times. Rose & Crown was before my time in Suffolk I reckon.

[@cannsawv2]

I stumbled upon this video and found it really interesting. Red Gables also helped me fill out my disability forms to send to the DWP a few years ago, so I felt the need to send a thank you message for that. Subscribed.

[@Walksandwanders]

cannsawv2 Great! 👍

[@archieclark7641]

I I saw u

[@takemeaway285]

I notice you didn't tackle Seabreeze Road 🤔

[@Walksandwanders]

Correct. I do know it's not about a "sea breeze". I'd just need to check that info with local historians. It was to do with a person calle Mr C Breese I think. Maybe in another video. There was obviously tons of stories on my route, however, I generally try and keep videos around 10 minutes or less. Well spotted though!

[@takemeaway285]

@@Walksandwanders As far as I know (and it's entirely possible I'm wrong) Mr C Bree was a surgeon who lived at one time at Stricklands, and he bought some land in the area that is now Danes Close and Seabreeze Road. The jury was out whether it was a simple mistake by the map makers being told by locals "that's C Bree's road" or a deliberate mischief on their part. Either way, it stuck. The house on Fairfield Hill named Seaview is definitely a joke though, haha.

[@Walksandwanders]

takemeaway That sounds about right!