On our recent road trip we went back to Braintree in Essex on a nostalgic journey as we fancied seeing what the place was like 30 odd years after we left it. I thought we might as well go to Witham too as it’s just a quick hop from Braintree. I used to get the train every morning to work as the ‘librarian’ in the Essex Area Health Authority building. At that time Witham always seemed a bit wealthier than Braintree but for some reason the roles seem to have been reversed and it was looking a wee bit down at heel.
I can’t even remember seeing this ancient building before but I must have because it has the date on it – 1300. I can hardly believe that there’s an ordinary building so old which is still in use. It seems quite mind-boggling but maybe there’s just one tiny bit of it which is so ancient and the rest has been built on to it over the years.
The photo below is of Dorothy Sayers’s house and the building I worked in was situated behind it, I could just about see into the back garden but of course she was dead by the 1970s. I started reading Sayers’s books in the early 1970s and I was amazed to discover that she had lived in Witham. I thought that the house had been bought by the Dorothy Sayers Society for use as a museum but it seems to be a private home. There is a plaque on the wall. This house has been improved quite a lot over the years, I remember it as being quite shabby. You can’t really tell from this photo but it’s in the middle of a terrace and the house on the right of it had been converted into a cinema. Apparently you could hear every word of the films which were shown there in Dorothy’s house. How she managed to get any writing done under those conditions is beyond me! Mind you, she did die in this house.
This is me outside the house, taken by Jack just as my expression was slipping and I was about to say hurry up as I was feeling and looking like a complete eejit standing there with the locals obviously thinking to themselves not another one! And that was Witham, I don’t think we’ll want to visit there again but I’m glad that we did this time around.
As you can see, my hair is needing cut again. The question is – will I pay a horrible amount to get it done by a hairdresser or will I hack at it myself?
That’s a good photo of you and I like your long hair. I’ve had my hair cut by a professional twice in the last few months, after cutting it myself for years. Truth told, I like it better when I do it.
That’s quite a lovely old building in the first few photos. I can’t believe you didn’t notice it while you lived in that town. But, there are places I walk past everyday that suddenly appear to me. Don’t know how that happens, but it does.
Joan,
I feel my hair is too long now and I think I’m going to give it a bit of a trim myself. My hair history is exactly the same as yours! I really don’t like going to a salon, years ago they used to scalp me when I wanted a trim and now they don’t take enough off, so I will go back sooner I suppose!
I think maybe that old building hadn’t been whitewashed before, it certainly stands out now. Or maybe I was just always too busy before and just intent on buying my lunch. But I know what you mean, it’s like things were in a black hole and then they suddenly appear.
I love your long hair! I’m trying to grow mine out and can’t wait ’til it is your length. I can’t believe Dorothy Sayres had a cinema as her neighbor! I wonder if the movies she overheard affected her plots at all?
Anbolyn,
I sometimes think I’m too old for long hair especially as it’s now upgrading from gold to platinum! I don’t know if the films ever affected her plots but I do know that if I had a cinema through the wall from my house I’d definitely commit murder!
I’d have stood there for a photograph too! Pay no attention to sniffy locals, that’s my motto.
Niranjana,
At least it brings people into the town and puts it on the map, and it isn’t as bad as Haworth which is absolutely full of Bronte fans!
and weirdos! At least it was the last time I was there! How they allowed far less put up with some of the shops in the village street, I don;t know!
I think the shops change hands a lot, it was all right the last time we were there and not too many weirdos!
I loved that old building it would make a good bookshop. Though from the picture it looks like an eating and drinking place!
They should not put plaques up if they do not expect people to stop and have their pictures taken. Mind you I have pictures of the hairdressers they used in Open All Hours which was converted to Arkwrights shop – now that was a bit sad.
Jo,
Yes it seemed quite busy anyway but it would make a good bookshop, I love the ones which ramble all over the place and are full of nooks and crannies.
I would have taken a photo of that shop too, but it wouldn’t be the same without the hand eating till!
Strange you should suddenly mention Dorothy Sayers. I was talking about bell ringing with someone the other day – it was handbells I rang – and they asked me if I had read The Nine Tailors. I hadn’t but will have to now!!! Have you read it?
Evee,
I read The Nine Tailors years ago and I enjoyed it but I think she got quite a lot of criticism for going into too much detail about bell ringing. I think you would like it though.
The cinema was in what is now the public library. Hardly next door to Dorothy’s house.
Hi Gillian,
According to the biography that I read back in the 70s the cinema was next door to Dorothy and she was constantly complaining about the noise coming from it, but those buildings are fairly flimsy with just half a brick between them so even if it was further along she would still have heard it clearly.
Thank you for this! I am writing a piece about Dorothy’s house so this is all very useful.
Sybilla Hart,
I think I got the information from a book published in 1975 by Janet Hitchman, I read it back in the late 70s and as I recall someone else disputed some of the facts, but that is quite usual for biographers I think. Dorothy Sayers was certainly an interesting and talented woman.
Thanks. Slightly confused about Whitehall cinema, now the library. That was always the site of the cinema, correct? Thank you!
Sybilla,
I think that someone did say that Sayers didn’t live right next door to the cinema, but I’m sure that is what was printed in that book I mentioned. Of course even if her house was one away from the cinema, they were/are terraced so the noise would still have been terrible.