Great Gidding 80 years ago
An aerial photograph of Great Gidding taken by the RAF on the 10th August 1945. In what was a momentous week in world affairs we’ll take a view on how our local landscape was looking and what was going on in the fields. The photograph is zoom-able and the although image is quite sharp it can be better or worse depending on the quality and setting of your viewing screen
The photograph has been taken in the evening as noted by the long shadows cast by the trees and the orientation of the photograph. If we start at what we know as the shop crossroads you’ll notice no houses beyond either side of the junction. These will be built in the next 3 to 10 years (there is another military aerial photograph showing from 1950 showing a few newly built houses) Following the B660 towards Winwick we have allotments where the recreation field is. There is a much bigger pond on the bend. This was partially filled with spoil from the mains sewage excavation which I think was about 1970. Townsend pond was also partially filled as it lapped right up to the road. The brick yard field was redundant and looks much as it is today although the brick buildings were taken down just a few years ago.
Stooked
The oak tree at the corner with Back lane was probably half the size and half the girth, it is now a very majestic landmark tree. Harvest is underway in the field that is now the King’s Wood, the crop having been cut with a binder, the sheaves of corn have been stooked. We can also see that the field was actually two with a smaller area and dividing hedge. The field was not yet under the tenure of its present owner. The field on the opposite of the Alconbury brook to the Kings wood is also down to grass and doesn’t get planted as a wood until around the late 1970/80’s. Following along the brook there is an intriguing dome shaped field with a large pond at its head I think its just the contour of the location with a ditch line.
The historical layout of the village with the Main street and the deep close’s or long gardens still remains when compared to a modern google aerial photograph. Obviously ownership has changed but most of the dividing hedges are still in place. There are 8 farmyards and about the same number of small holder properties interspersed with solid houses and cottages a few of which will be condemned and pulled down. The occasional infill house is built but apart from the post war council house building programme new houses don’t get built until post 1970 when the village gets its first commuter!
The blacksmiths shop would be very busy as horses were still in every day use on the farms and needed regular shoeing. Opposite the blacksmith’s is the school house and it is yet to get a larger playground. The adjoining grass field butts up to the Church yard. The village hall is yet to be built, it looks like the old cottage is still in place on the site. Opposite is Church farm showing the crew yard arrangement for keeping cattle. Moving up the village the housing stock is much the same as it was in the photo. Dolby’s bakery and shop and opposite the petrol pumps at Johnny Smiths garage. Next door is Top Farm which is a modern rebuild in the same style as the original.
first commuter
Moving further up the village the pub yard which had a greater range of buildings, these were taken down in the early 1970’s, Corner cottage is still corner cottage despite all the heavy traffic turning down Mill road. Adjacent are a few cottages, these would be condemned if not already and be pulled down. Nothing replaced them until the late 1970’s Like wise the opposite side of Main Street we had another hold house with a shop. This was the first site to be developed and where our first commuter moved into one of the three houses now sited in this area.
On Mill road we can see the double cottages are in place, the allotment field which is now part of Jubilee wood. Towards the X roads and the mill is already derelict. It is stated that the village home guard used the top of the mill as a look-out post. Most people remember it for cows and horses sheltering from the rain and looking out. Now refurbished and part of a splendid home.
In the wider scene there’s more harvest activity. Plenty of hay and straw stacks by the field gateways. The Medieval ridge and furrow can be seen parish wide from the older open field system (there are better and sharper images of this on the Historic England site)
Back to the King’s Wood next time. Obviously a lot more can be gleaned especially if you live in Great Gidding and know the area or want to know more. There are about 8 wartime/ post war photographs similar to this but from different angles and heights each showing something different, Take a look using the link below.
https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/
For military history interests the data written on top of the photograph suggest it was taken by 541 squadron operating from RAF Benson and flying Supermarine Spitfires XIX version at the time of the photograph. Source -Wikipedia.
Michael
Excellent piece of research and very interesting.