1900

1900 - 1904 GEORGE HARTLEY Landlord of the OLD WHITE BELL.
1900-1904 HARRY RAVEN Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.
1900 JETHRO BOYCE Landlord of the THE SHIP INN BRANDON CREEK.
1901 Population of 1106 in Southery.
1903 Odd fellows Hall was built, part of which was used as a reading room.
1904 - 1925 GEORGE GRAVES Landlord of the THE SHIP INN BRANDON CREEK.
1904 HENRY BARNES Landlord of the SHIP INN at POPPYLOT.
1906 The Ferry Service ended.
1908 JOHN HENRY PARKIN Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.
1908 - 1912 ARTHUR BALL Landlord of THE OLD WHITE BELL.
1904 WILLIAM SHINN Landlord of the SHIP INN at POPPYLOT.
1912 ARCHIBALD PETCH Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.

A Quote taken from the Lynn News 11/2/77:
At the turn of the century, when horse-drawn vehicles and wheelbarrows were the sole occupants of the road. Having moved with my family from a tiny village quite near to Ely, it was a change indeed to find myself in the depths of Feltwell Fen just outside the boundary of Southery, but still in sight of the towers of Ely Cathedral and still near the bank of the Great Ouse that carried water past my old home in the small River Lark.

Interest in the new locality quickly dominated any feeling of homesickness as so many things were different and in many ways more interesting to a young inquiring mind; and as Norfolk seemed a more important place than the so-called Isle of Ely. At eight years old it was quite an adventure to face up daily to a walk of three miles to School, two miles along an unmade drove flanked by a deep drainage stream leading to a large pumping station whose huge wheels lifted the Fenland waters up several feet into the Ouse near Southery Ferry.

Now after nearly 80 years it often seems that walking those daily miles laid the foundations of a good robust health that has been my thankful lot. There were new companions on the road and there was a postman who came twice a week to the farm but more often left any mail at Smith's farm for me to collect en route home, which procedure stopped after arguments and counts of mail at nearby office at Downham.

My companions usually called the Sedge Fenners were a happy and friendly clique, but good mixers with the uptown children when at School. We carried our dinners to School and fed together under supervision, the big drawback being a lack of drinkable water at the School and of course, no milk or meals.

As we walked to School, men from the village walked down to the farm to work until a boneshaker bicycle appeared on the scene. The Fletcher's, Clarks, Days, Walkers, Copseys and Paynes a good crowd always.

At the Ferry Inn there was a real crank-handled ferry that crossed the river when needed and a pump for river water where we washed our boots during muddy weather days. And on Fridays a special treat when the Lynn and Cambridge steamer Nancy with Capt. Dishman in full uniform called at the ferry quay to unload oil cake etc., and collect farm produce for transit to the then mythical and distant towns of Lynn and Cambridge.

Next to the Ferry Inn lived the mother of George Kibble the postman, and she kept a very good stock of sweets in case we got hold of an odd copper or two. The village School run by the council with local staff under a Yorkshire-bred master and mistress of the best type. There were three or four good food shops, two bakeries and a useful butchers. There were two smithies a bicycle shop, which grew gradually under the care of one of the blacksmiths and a plumber. It was a good village and well supplied most of the people's ordinary need. The carrier went weekly to Ely and Downham and it always puzzled me how he managed with his customers most of whom were named Porter, Osler, or Bell. The annual event of real importance was the feast, the Church and Chapel School treats and the cricket matches. I never saw a football in Southery.

A SEDGE FENNER

Southery Bowl's Club

Left to Right back row
C. Lister, F Bates, A Reynolds, Rev E. S. Morton, Eves, W. Bates, B. Smith, and H. Robertson.
Middle Row
B. Porter Eves, D. Porter, W Gallaway, W. Shinn, G. H. Attlesey, W. Lister,
Front Row
A. Coleman, W. Bradley, G. Buckenham, W. Missin, J. Bradley and W. Gallaway.

History From Jack Porter

Billy Whiteheads father Joe Whitehead used to go around the village with a horse and cart and sell peat blocks for a penny each for people to burn on there fires.

1906

History From Jack Porter

There was a bad freeze and people skated to Ely every Thursday for 16 weeks on the river Ouse.

1903

The Odd Fellows Hall was built.

1907

A Playground and new office was added to the School.

1909

Extra Rooms and Porch were added to the School.

O.A.P started this year.

King George V 1910-1936

Southery School pupils 1912

1912

Here is the 1912 Southery Football team, Heber Bell is 2nd from right top row, William Bell is left centre, the rest are unknown to me, and maybe some of you can help identify the rest.

Picture send to me from Rod Bell USA.

My mother was Grace Hazel, daughter of William Hazel the landlord of the Ship Inn at Brandon Creek. She is now registered blind but can see large print, etc. She is very interested in the picture of Southery Choir as she was a member of the winning choir who went to London and broadcast on the radio and were entertained to tea at the House of Commons. Before the competition in Norwich the Choir was referred to as the Fen Sparrows, but after they had won Mr. Lee the master said "Now you may call us the Fen Nightingales". I have printed the picture from the web, but Mummy cannot identify any faces. I wonder if it would be possible to email me a copy of the picture so that I may perhaps make it clearer. I also wonder if you have any idea how many of the Choir are still alive? We left the area some 50 years ago. Looking forward to hearing from you, Rita Eustace

09.01.1922 SARAH BUCKENHAM Landlady of the VICTORY INN

05.02.1923 EMMA ELIZABETH WELDON Landlady of the CARPENTERS ARMS.
08.01.1923 WILLIAM JOHN SHIRLEY Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.
04.01.1923 HERBERT JULIAN MOTHERSOLE Landlord of the SHIP INN at POPPYLOT.
08.01.1923 JAMES CHALLISS Landlord of the SHIP INN at POPPYLOT.
07.04.1924 JOHN YOUNGS Landlord of THE OLD WHITE BELL.

1925 Mr. Arthur Hodson with his Bread Wagon.

06.04.1925 ALFRED COE Landlady of the VICTORY INN

1925

Parish Clerk Arthur Younge, Sub Postmaster Frederick Daniel Roe, carrier William Kit Cat, Manor House William Thornhill, Nags Head William Buckenham, Ferry Boat Inn David Nichols, Blacksmith Arms Albert Osler, Crown Anchor John Shirley, Carpenters Arms Elizabeth Emma Weldon, Jolly farmers William Weldon, The White Bell John Younge.

Also this year Ely Sugar Factory opened.

Southery's first District Nurse was Nurse Dunham who came to the Village in 1925 and worked until her marriage to Percy Lack in 1931.

11.10.1926 WALTER STEPHEN HURST Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.

The year Southery School Choir went to London

Southery School Choir around 1929 beat the rest of Norfolk in the finals at Norwich to win them self's a day in London and sing on the BBC Radio. This must have been so exciting for the Children as most of them would have never been any further than Hunstanton on the Chapel outing once a year. The names of the children in the picture above is the best I can do if anyone knows someone missing please let me know.
Marc Bowers, Les bell, Eric Legge, Walter Gott, Jack Clark, Herb Webb, Arthur Smith, Len Smith, Len Greenacre, Ray Gent, Alf Coe, Johnny Legge, Lil Smith, Nellie Holman, Joan Roe, Josie Jerome, Ada Bowers, Sybil Flack, Glad Griggs, Jessie Brown, Hilda Carpenter, Zenia Osler Joyce Cattermole, Hilda Bowers, Rose Reed, Dora Bell, Ray Cattermole, Daisy Brown, Eva Dunnett, Florrie Brown, Mary Buckenham, Dolly Norman, MR. LEE, Marion Porter, Kath Jeffies, Flo Clingo, Janice Attlesey, Thurza Copsey, Quin Porter, Alfred Fletcher, Mauricie Lister, Clifford Bowers, Les butcher, Vic Webb, Vic Greenacre, Charlie Bowers.

16.07.1928 WILLIAM HORACE EAGLE Landlord of the CARPENTERS ARMS.
07.01.1929 GEORGE RICHARD EVES Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.

1930

24.09.1934 FREDERICK WILLIAM BESTOW Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.
Fines imposed 15.07.1935 of £2/4/- for selling out of hours & £3/4/- for failing to admit a constable.
24.09.1934 BERTRAM MARSLAND Landlord of the CARPENTERS ARMS.

1936

06.01.1936 ERNEST ELMER Landlord of the SHIP INN at POPPYLOT.
06.04.1936 JOHN WILLIAM BROWN Landlady of the VICTORY INN

King George VI 1936-1952

06.01.1936 JOB HENRY NEVE Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.

The Fens were drained and the land was very fertile, very good Farm Land. Many older properties have been demolished and most sites now have modern houses built in their place. They had fascinating names such as Bugs Row on the Feltwell Road. The last families to live in the 5 cottages were the Youngs living in 2 of the cottages the Bonnets, the Smiths and the Legges. Foresters Row was in Westgate Street. The last families to live in the 4 cottages were the Bowers, the Collins, the Webbs, and the Reeds. Chapel Row (Chain Row on the Deeds) on the Ferry Bank last families to live in the 5 cottages was the Rowell, the Porters, the Barrows, Jimmy Bubbles and the Galloways. The Lighthouse was a tall house at the end of a row known as Avenue Row and there was a recess in the gable end, bricked like a window, where a lantern used to be. The last families to live in the 5 cottages were the Totmans, the Worledges, the Brundles, the Hoddsons and the Youngs. Another row was called Legges yard behind the Bell pub, The last families to live in the 6 cottages were the Feltwells, the Reeds, the Harringtons, the Cobbins, the Weldons and the Reeves.
The houses did not have fixed staircase, a purpose-built ladder with wide steps was used instead. Also Puttys yard I do not know where this was. Southery was once two Hamlets, (West End formerly Townsend) Ferry Bank, Westgate St., Upgate St., Common Lane, Church Lane which made up Southery and down the Feltwell Road at the entrance to Halls Close was Little London. Boats used to moor on the edge of Southery by the Anchor Pub which is now closed and the Lighthouse were places for them to tie up. All the rest of Southery is new and has not been here long. The River Ouse which runs past Southery is not a natural water way, it did not run from Brandon Creek to Ely, that is all new Man made. The Little Ouse which joins the Gt. Ouse at Brandon Creek is not the true water way. The Little Ouse ran to Littleport and then on to Wisbech. The Rivers did not have Banks years ago.

The Great Ouse at Ely also ran to Wisbech, which was a town by the Sea.

DENVER SLUICE 1923 and 1938

DENVER SLUICE TODAY

06.04.1936 ROBERT HILDRETH Landlord of the CARPENTERS ARMS.

04.01.1937 HARRY PORTER Landlord of THE OLD WHITE BELL.

The engine, a rebuilt Claud Hamilton, which has sometimes pulled the Royal train.
The second coach of the Lynn-London express after it at been derailed at Ten Mile Bank. The four women who lost their lives and most of the injured were travelling in this coach. The greater part of the coach consisted of a mail van, and there were only two passenger compartments. All around were pathetic remnants of the tragedy-a suitcase labelled with a holiday address, paper parcels, women's hats, a frock, an umbrella, a man's bedroom slipper, a pair of spectacles unbroken.

1st November 1940 Ely Sugar Factory was bombed.

07.10.1940 BERTRAM MARSLAND Landlord of the CARPENTERS ARMS 03.02.1941 HAROLD FRANCIS PLUMMER Landlord of the CARPENTERS ARMS.
03.02.1941 STANLEY JAMES ALLEN CHALLISS Landlord of the SHIP INN at POPPYLOT.
07.02.1944 KENNETH WILLIAM HUDSON Landlord of THE OLD WHITE BELL.
24.09.1945 AUBREY BERTRAM DURRANT Landlord of the CROWN & ANCHOR WESTGATE STREET.
17.06.1946 JAMES ALFRED MYCOCK Landlord of the CARPENTERS ARMS.

Halls Close was built between 1941 and 1947, the rent was 14s per week .

Nelly Legge, Claira Nichols, Vera Porter, Edna Legge, Elsy Webber, Peg Shinn, Ena Whitehead, Tot Porter, Edie Porter and Flo Barrett at the WI in the old National School.

1947 Reserve Football Team

Click on picture

Elf Rowel, Albert Porter, Bill Flack, Tom Butcher, Alec Brown, Don Feltwell.