Bygones and Essex Tales Archives - Phoenix FM

Of course being a Tuesday I was once again joined by our very own local historian, Margaret Mills who this week told is about the life of an authoress, who hailed from Ilford.

She wrote under the name LUCY WALFORD and although her books were very popular in her day, are now largely forgotten.

Her books revolved around family life in country villages, and were a particular choice of Queen Victoria, whose favourite title was “MR SMITH”.

It seems that her books were also enjoyed the prime minister of the day, William Gladstone, who was known at one point to be reading another of her novels, called  “TROUBLESOME DAUGHTERS”.

If you missed what Margaret had to say about this lady, you can catch it all again, here: –

I look forward to the pleasure of your company again next week,

The post An authoress from Ilford with connections “at the top” appeared first on Phoenix FM.

The subject chosen by Margaret Mills this week concerned a truly ODD man from Loughton.

He rejoiced in the name was Octavius Dixie Deacon who was at one time employed on the railways, but some of the things for which he is remembered, are the sketches he made of “day-to-day” life as it was lived in and around Loughton during the latter years of the 19th century and early years of the 20th century.

If you missed what Margaret told me, you can listen again here: –

I vey much hope to have the pleasure of your company once again next week,

The post A truly odd story appeared first on Phoenix FM.

For my final show of 2025, I was once again joined by PHOENIX FM’s very own local historian, Margaret Mills who took us back to June 1906 to join a works outing to the seaside organised by an Ilford based company.

Strangely for an Essex based company, the seaside resort chosen for the outing was actually in Kent.

The travel arrangements were all made by rail and things did not proceed smoothly.

If you missed details of all the horrors experienced, you can listen again here: –

I look forward to your company once again next week, but in the meantime may I wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous, 2026,

The post A works outing in years gone by appeared first on Phoenix FM.

For her look back in history, our very own local historian, Margaret Mills, took time out to explore a couple of connections with two Essex based companies who had links with the ill fated voyage of  the Titanic.

The first connection unearthed by Margaret concerned Marconi, who had installed a radio room on the vessel. The other connection involved Crittall who it turns out had supplied most of the windows.

If you missed what Margaret told me today, you can listen again here: –

I very much look forward to the pleasure of your company once again next week,

The post Some Essex connections with the ill fated voyage of RMS Titanic appeared first on Phoenix FM.

The subject chosen today by our very own local historian, Margaret Mills, involved a woman, who lived in the middle of the 17th century, and seems to have been blessed with many talents, including cooking and home decorating.

Her name was Hannah Woolley who wrote a book which provided recipes, cooking tips, health cures, sewing hints and even tips on interior decoration.

To add to her talents, together with her husband, she even founded a grammar school at Newport, a village in the Uttlesford district of Essex, about 3 miles from Saffron Walden.

You can listen here to what Margaret told me today: –

I very much hope you will be able to join me once more next week for another trip into the past,

The post The story of Hannah Woolley appeared first on Phoenix FM.

For today’s step back in time, Margaret Mills unearthed a story relating to one of the earliest motor cars produced in Essex – and “NO” it wasn’t a Ford.

In fact the manufacturer was Bentalls of Goldhanger, better known as E.H. Bentall & Co, manufacturers of agricultural equipment, who in 1961 became part of the Acrow Group of companies, before going into liquidation in 1984.

But it was between 1906 and 1912, when the company briefly entered the motor industry, manufacturing a total of 100 cars.

Indeed it was during this period that the company was approached by none other Charles Rolls with a view to some form of amalgamation.

You can listen again here to what Margaret had to say on this early foray into the motor industry by the company: –

I very much hope you’ll be able to join once again next week,

The post A very early Essex made motor car appeared first on Phoenix FM.

The subject chosen today by Margaret Mills, concerned the life and times of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton.

Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, who was born in Castle Hedingham, was a philanthropist who became a partner in the brewing company, Truman, Hambrey, Buxton & Co. and due to his campaigning work on social reform and the abolition of slavery, was eventually recognised by means of a memorial in Westminster Abbey, which was granted largely as a result of a campaign by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.

You can listen again here to what Margaret had to tell me about this gentleman: –

I very much look forward to the pleasure of your company again next week,

The post The life and times of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton appeared first on Phoenix FM.

Being a Tuesday I was once again joined by Margaret Mills.

You may remember that last week, Margaret was telling us about a somewhat colourful member of the ecclesiastical fraternity, who rejoiced in the name of Henry Bate Dudley.

Now last week we left this “worthy” who hailed from Fambridge, dreaming of plans to become Vicar of Bradwell.

With this in mind he was determined to build himself a truly magnificent vicarage/rectory which he insisted had to be designed and built by the very best available architects and designers of the day!

But as we’ll hear although the new rectory was indeed completed, and is now known as Bradwell Lodge, his plans to become Vicar of Bradwell, were thwarted by the church authorities who decided that he was not a “fit and suitable person” to be appointed to this position.

Amazingly after eventually becoming a baronet, he eventually manoeuvred himself into being appointed as Canon of Ely Cathedral!

All sounds a bit ‘dodgy”to me!

Anyway if you missed Margaret’s revelations today, you can catch them all again right here: –

I very much hope to have your company again next week,

The post Henry Bate Dudley – revisited appeared first on Phoenix FM.

The topic chosen this week by Margaret Mills involved a somewhat colourful Essex clergyman, who rejoiced in the name of HENRY BATE DUDLEY who lived for a time during the late 18th/early 19th century in Fambridge.

You can listen again here to what Margaret had to say about this “worthy”: –

Hope to catch you again next week,

The post The “colourful” life of The Rev. Henry Bate Dudley appeared first on Phoenix FM.

The topic chosen today by Margaret Mills concerned a bare knuckle fight staged in Fobbing between two prize fighters – Tom King and Jem Mace, on 24th November 1862.

This event was clearly regarded as a truly major attraction as special trains were laid on to take punters down from London to watch the event, and given that the cost of entry was no less than two Sovereigns – around £2100 – this was a very big deal indeed.

As the fight lasted for an incredible 20 rounds, at least those attending got value for their money!

The winner of the contest, Tom King, although no doubt emerging from the bout severely battered and bruised, was also well rewarded with a championship belt and a prize of £300 equivalent to over £46,500 today.

You can listen again here to Margaret’s “commentary” on this event: –

Now I won’t be here next week so I’m very grateful to Helen Castell for stepping up to the plate in my place.

All being well I hope to return on Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th November,

The post This must have been a fight night to remember appeared first on Phoenix FM.