For many families, throughout their histories there are numerous ties to the land. For those fortunate enough to own land, those ties can be even deeper. Whether our ancestors owned land or worked it, mined it or travelled it regularly, ties to land plays a major role in how our families evolved, developed and lived.
My father's family had strong ties to Fordham Hall (also called Manor Farm) in Essex, being tennants at the Hall for several generations. Although they were not the owners, they were major local landholders and were the gentry of their small community.
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| Fordham Hall, Essex |
The Green family of Fordham Hall farmed the land, kept a pack of foxhounds,and took part in many community events. The article below, from the 'Essex Standard' on Friday 13 October 1837, mentions Isaac Green of Fordham as one of the judges at the annual meeting of the local Agricultural Society.
The wedding of Constance Green, daughter of Walter Proctor Green, in 1909 was a major event at Fordham Hall, with a large party attending and the event extensively reported in the local newspapers. Below is a photograph of the wedding party, taken on the lawn at the rear of the Hall.
