Lingering images of forgotten places
Elaine Maslin In 150 years life has changed more than just a little bit in the villages of Fulmodeston and Barney. The two villages, in the same parish near Fakenham, once had shops and pubs and even a busy railway station on the Midland and Great Northern line.
Elaine Maslin
In 150 years life has changed more than just a little bit in the villages of Fulmodeston and Barney.
The two villages, in the same parish near Fakenham, once had shops and pubs and even a busy railway station on the Midland and Great Northern line.
Now all are gone. Fewer churches are in use and the demographics of the people living in the villages has changed dramatically.
It is a fascinating picture soon to be laid bare in an exhibition containing letters, photographs, documents and maps showing 150 years of life in the villages.
Fulmodeston and Barney local history group has collected enough local historical information about their villages to fill the village hall.
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And to highlight the changes over the years, they have taken photographs of the modern villages to compare to the photographs and maps they have of times gone by.
Neville Murcott, from the group, said: “There are considerable differences in the churches and attendances and the composition of people living in the villages.
“All the shops in the two villages have disappeared, all the pubs have gone, but we do have photographs of them.
“In the village of Barney there was a railway station and a railway going through. It was a very busy railway station for passengers and goods and we have all the details of it.
“All there is now is a road.”
Members of the society include one whose family has been in the area since the early 19th century. Another has lived in the village all his life and worked on the Hastings estate.
It is hoped that the exhibition, being held from March 20 to 21 at the hall between 10am and 4pm, will give people a chance to see the history of the village.
The history society also hopes that people might bring in more information to them.
