Kennett Village  

                                                     East Cambridgeshire

Site last updated : 31st December 2011

Old Kennett

This page is a collection of old pictures that have been made available from some of the residents of Kennett. We are always on the look out for more where they are available. Any photo's will be scanned, returned to the owner and then added to this web page with some annotation as to the estimated date the location and any points of interest. Also any information about them will be useful

If you have any old photo's you would want included then please contact Derek Miles, 74A Station Road, Kennett, CB8 7QF or call on 01-638-751362. Many thanks in advance.

Our first two photographs were submitted by Diane Wallis.( Thank you Diane)

Dane Hill Road/ Church Lane Junction

This is a picture of the junction of Dane Hill Road and Church Lane taken in the early 1960's. The bungalow's in church lane had been recently built and there appears to be no evidence of houses in the area now occupied by the The Close. A point of interest is the old sign written road sign to show the way at the junction.

To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

Station Road in the early 1950's

This is a picture of the lower part of Station Road looking toward the junction at the Bell Inn. IT appears to have been taken in the early 1960's junction of Dane Hill Road and Church Lane taken in the early 1950' evidence of which is shown by the age of the motor vehicles in the picture. The road sign sign shows the A45 which was the original designation of the main route between  Newmarket, Bury St. Edmunds and Ipswich. When the new trunk road to Ipswich and Felixstowe was built this road was replaced by the now A14 and was re-designated B1506. In a retrospective view the old A45 probably saw less traffic in a day than station road does today !!!.

Towards the end of the road there appears to be no houses apart from George Collins builders yard. Evidence of which is shown by the tradesman's van outside the gates. Also if you look carefully there is a bicycle just past the road sign with a hessian sack is it the postman??

To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

The Following pictures were donated by Margaret Free from Australia who has descendants that originated in the Villages of Kennett and Snailwell. These were the Bakers who at one time worked at Kennett Hall during the latter part of the 1800's. Additionally members of the family worked on the railway both at Kennett and at Newmarket. If anyone has any information on the Bakers please contact me ( Web Editor) and I will pass the information to Margaret.

the following pictures are centred around Kennett End and the Bell Inn.

The Bell Inn and Landwades House very early

in the 1900's possibly around 1914. this view is looking towards

newmarket from Kentford. Notice the  horse drawn cart to the

far right of the picture, either delivering goods to the Bell Inn or the

forge that was just by it.

To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

 Kennett End viewed from the bridge over the river Kennett at Kentford possibly araound the 1930's. Notice the thatched cottages on the right which

 have sadly disappeared. There is also a preponderance of telephone wires on

 the telegraph poles.

 Does anyone recognise the ladies on the bicycles?

To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

This is a picture of Kennett End as it used to be in around the early 1900's.

I think it is earlier than the picture above because there are less telephone wires and also the road is unmade. One can see quite clearly the thatched cottage which is now the entrance to the equestrian centre.The flint cottages to the far right are still there as is the large white building ( Kennett End Cottage) which is to the left of the thatched cottage.

To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

The Old Bell as it used to be in the early 1900's notice the lack of the

"Tudor Look" that it now enjoys. The advertising on the side infers that it

 was Kennett's version of the early shopping "Mall" where it provided garage services as well as equine services. This was probably taken at the same time as the picture above.

 To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

The Old Bell as it was around the 1950's. It has now aquired it's " tudor look" and looks quite new. Notice the houses on the right just after the crossroads at the Bell. These have subsequently been denolished and the land returned to paddocks for St. Simon's stud.

To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

The following pictures were also submitted by Margaret Free and they are of Kentford along Bury Road. These may be of interest .

The Bury Road up by what is now the Cock public house. I would judge this photo to be around the late 1800's because of the absence of telephone poles. Most of these houses still exist, Could anyone tell if Kentford Lodge was actually located to the rear of these houses?

To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

The original Kentford Post Office and general store , unfortunately the building was demolished in late 2007 to make way for a housing development . I would guess this picture is around the mid 1930's. Does anyone know who the ladies standing in the entrance to the post office are?

To enlarge the photograph just click on it.

Picture of Kentford Lodge and gardens, does anyone know exactly where this

 was located please?

 To enlarge the photograph just click on it.