Flaxfield- A bucolic 1950s Suffolk backwater

[Jordan]

I don't ever recall see a telegraph pole so clad, it would be interesting to replicate it. The more I look at those images of Cutlers Green, the more I can see it ( or something similar to but inspired by ) as a stand alone diorama or module. A module would be more appealing as it could be incorporated into a bigger scheme at a later date.

Mmmmm. A 900 x 400 board could work.........

Rob

I spy a slippery slope ahead.........

... In O Scale....

 

[NHY 581]

... In O Scale....

Well, IF Rapido had gone ahead with their plans to produce their J70 in 7mm.......different story but I'm quite happy to remain in 4mm world, mainly thanks to Rapido and Accurascale. Both are producing models that are currently ticking all the boxes for me.

Certainly Flaxfield and the other East Anglian ideas are pretty much in hand from the point of view of stock. I've finally managed to acquire a non Westo J15 at a sensible price which was all that was outstanding so we could now see 65388 recreated in miniature before too long.

Meanwhile, the research continues.


Rob

 

[alastairq]

Mmmmm. A 900 x 400 board could work.........

I have often order mags/books from Titfield Thunderbolt.
The arrive lashed to one of those A4 sized hardback file covers every time.

A suitable basis [maybe two or three joined together?], with suitable support framing, for dioramas, methinks?

Very stiff, with the option of a smooth surface, or a rough surface....

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Last couple for this evening....

Cutlers Green.

Interesting you should post these of Cutlers Green Halt. In the second photo (original reproduced below) my maternal grandfather often spoke about his childhood here and mentioned either his father or grandfather planted the copse of trees on the Horham Hall Estate seen in the left backgroud of this 1951 photo.



My maternal great-grandfather was head gardener at Horham Hall (600m or 1/3 mile) south of Cutlers Green Halt. The foot crossing seen in the photo is a footpath which links Loves Farm with Horham Hall - there are no roads at the halt. Loves Farm in the north together with Sharp's Farm and Armigers Farm in the south were part of the Horham Hall Estate until sold off in 1968.

This is an AI colourised 1911/12 photo (using Palette.fm) of my great-grandmother and great-grandfather (back row 1st and 2nd from left) and grandfather (front row 1st left) with his sisters in the grounds at Horham Hall. Also looks like they are in their Sunday best.



And apologies for the diversion....

 

[timbowales]

Apology not necessary for this Thunderer.
Diversions like this are what makes this forum so wonderful.
Where else could you find wonderful memories of a forgotten past alongside exploding diesel engines but on WT?

 

[NHY 581]

Interesting you should post these of Cutlers Green Halt. In the second photo (original reproduced below) my maternal grandfather often spoke about his childhood here and mentioned either his father or grandfather planted the copse of trees on the Horham Hall Estate seen in the left backgroud of this 1951 photo.

View attachment 227142

My maternal great-grandfather was head gardener at Horham Hall (600m or 1/3 mile) south of Cutlers Green Halt. The foot crossing seen in the photo is a footpath which links Loves Farm with Horham Hall - there are no roads at the halt. Loves Farm in the north together with Sharp's Farm and Armigers Farm in the south were part of the Horham Hall Estate until sold off in 1968.

This is an AI colourised 1911/12 photo (using Palette.fm) of my great-grandmother and great-grandfather (back row 1st and 2nd from left) and grandfather (front row 1st left) with his sisters in the grounds at Horham Hall. Also looks like they are in their Sunday best.

View attachment 227144

And apologies for the diversion....

Top stuff, Dave. Thank you.

Rob

 

[Allen M]

I love these old photos. I have since the mid 1950s when out cycling as a teenager found the branch lines more interesting than the main lines. My locals from Kidderminster where the Severn Valley, the Tenbury branch and the Cleobury Mortimer & Ditton Priors lines.
This was then 'driven home' by a series on Colonel Stephens railways drawing & notes in Model Railway News from 1969 to 1971. If interested these are now available from the Colonel Stephens Society.
Regards
Allen

 

[Joe's Garage]

Thanks Rob for the details and yes another diversion..... amazing how it works. The shades of grey must be very subtle between a light green and straw brown.
This is going to be fun. I have many old photos of my grandparents and great grand parents.
Cheers Julian

 

[NHY 581]

Morning all,

Well, arguably of course, but the last item of motive power for Flaxfield has been acquired. Yet another Hornby J15, in the form of 65356, has landed at Chateau Sheep. 356 will eventually become 65388, a Mid Suffolk regular.

So stock wise, I'm pretty much there.

Buildings next methinks....

Rob

 

[NHY 581]

A quick update on 65356..It's another stonking runner judging by the test run last night. These do have excellent mechanisms ( five pole motor, twin fly wheels ) so you have to be unlucky to get a pup....though I have managed it in the past !

I am aiming for two Westinghouse fitted examples and one non- Westinghouse example which will take care of motive power requirements.

So, as I say, buildings next.

Rob

 

[JayDean]

I’ve very much enjoyed reading through the 14 pages of this Rob, thanks for the heads up mate!

Jay

 

[NHY 581]

I’ve very much enjoyed reading through the 14 pages of this Rob, thanks for the heads up mate!

Jay

Hi Jay. Great to see you here.

Different vibe to the 'norm' methinks and perhaps illustrates where I'm coming from.

Rob

 

[MrWolf]

As Jay has said, the past fourteen pages have been an interesting read and very much the sort of inspiring locations we've discussed elsewhere, looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Rob Wolf

 

[keefr22]

Morning Rob.

I had no idea you'd started a thread on Flaxfield over here until I read your musings on 'another thread' this morning. I have to admit that I'd found a lot of posts on said thread were getting very tiresome and your modelling was getting lost amongst them. I was also getting fed up of the numer of emails clogging up my inbox so had actually changed from a notification per email to a daily digest just yesterday!

I'm currently not at home but 'dogsitting' at my son's house - so I have plenty of time on my hands to read through this thread from the start. I'm sure I shall enjoy so doing!

Keith

 

[NHY 581]

As Jay has said, the past fourteen pages have been an interesting read and very much the sort of inspiring locations we've discussed elsewhere, looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Rob Wolf

Morning Rob.

I had no idea you'd started a thread on Flaxfield over here until I read your musings on 'another thread' this morning. I have to admit that I'd found a lot of posts on said thread were getting very tiresome and your modelling was getting lost amongst them. I was also getting fed up of the numer of emails clogging up my inbox so had actually changed from a notification per email to a daily digest just yesterday!

I'm currently not at home but 'dogsitting' at my son's house - so I have plenty of time on my hands to read through this thread from the start. I'm sure I shall enjoy so doing!

Keith

Morning Rob, Keith,

Yes, I've found setting things down here much more rewarding as of late, and it has allowed me to get a real feel for this project.

I'm still a little way off cutting wood ( well, ordering the baseboard kits ! ) but I'm quite excited about the whole Flaxfield thing and the modelling opportunities it offers.

Rob

 

[SteveyDee68]

Hi Rob

Very happy to have found your new layout thread and have just caught up. Refrained from carpet bombing with “likes” but can I say thank you for the many inspirational photos you have posted, especially the colourised versions; am unashamedly using them as reference for my own build!

Steve S

 

[NHY 581]

Hi Rob

Very happy to have found your new layout thread and have just caught up. Refrained from carpet bombing with “likes” but can I say thank you for the many inspirational photos you have posted, especially the colourised versions; am unashamedly using them as reference for my own build!

Steve S

Hi Steve,

Yes, I'm enjoying bringing this project together. I don't feel that this would have been possible elsewhere. My posts would have been submerged in guff which is why, ultimately I shall be continuing to document progress on here without the distractions, rather than elsewhere.

There's a different vibe here.

Rob.

 

[MrWolf]

A bit late to the party regarding the telegraph pole and its fancy cladding, but it occurred to me that if it's turn of the 20th century it might well have doubled up as a hoarding for A4 sized posters or perhaps timetables?

 

[simond]

Hi Steve,

Yes, I'm enjoying bringing this project together. I don't feel that this would have been possible elsewhere. My posts would have been submerged in guff which is why, ultimately I shall be continuing to document progress on here without the distractions, rather than elsewhere.

There's a different vibe here.

Rob.

Rob, I concur.

There’s some truly lovely modelling on RMW and I still visit regularly, but I post there much less than I did.

The photo disaster was a great shame, as so much of interest was lost, but more importantly, the vibe is, as you say, different here.

keep on posting. You continue to achieve something rare, atmosphere, and I find it an inspiration.

(there has to be a joke in there somewhere, but it’s late…)

atb
Simon

 

[michael mott]

I don't ever recall see a telegraph pole so clad, it would be interesting to replicate it. The more I look at those images of Cutlers Green, the more I can see it ( or something similar to but inspired by ) as a stand alone diorama or module. A module would be more appealing as it could be incorporated into a bigger scheme at a later date.

Mmmmm. A 900 x 400 board could work.........

Rob

I couldn't resist

lovely pictures Rob
Michael