The Holbrook Sound Project:
Exploring the changing sounds of village life
Some of the sounds we have collected so far
Below are the sounds we associate with Holbrook. Some come from Warrenton's book and some from your suggestions.
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Do you have any more information about the sounds Warrenton Page mentions in his biography such as:
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What was the make and model of the mill engine?
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When did the blacksmith close?
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What tune did Dilla Stiff play on his bugle five mornings a week?
You can use the contact form to add information to the sounds below
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If you spot an error, or have more information about one of the sounds below, please use the contact form above and I will update the sound!
Holbrook Mill
Sound Description: On most days the 'putta-putta-put' of the gas engine at the mill could be heard from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.
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Date: Pre 1926 (the year the mill closed)
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4MbVHY7bJo or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-9WC20YiwM (might be too large an engine?)
The Wheelwright
Sound Description: Hammering, sawing and shaping wood and the hissing of water on shrinking metal.
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I believe that the Wheelwright operated out of a building next to the smithy.
More information needed
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Horse Worker
Sound Description: The horses were guided by verbal instructions, as well as by reins, namely 'Cupee-wee' meant go to the left, 'Gr Wherr-ee' to the right, and the well known 'Whoa'a there' meant stop.
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Date: Linked to mechanised farm machinery? When did the horses vanish?
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Hob-Nail Boots
Sound Description:
As there were very few machines around, it was possible to hear the footsteps of the workmen with their heavy footwear, going to and from work. One pensioner (Abraham Stiff) who was bedridden, would guess, mostly correctly, who was passing his house, by the particular 'step'
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
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Stutton School Bell
Sound Description: If the clock on Stutton School was heard striking, it was considered a sure sign of rain approaching.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
The Sound of Pigeons
Sound Description: Growing up in The Street, my bedroom overlooked the village hall green. My sound is that of the wood pigeons cooing in the mornings when I woke up. Years later I now live in a different part of the village but still hear the pigeons in the mornings. Sounds like home!
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Date: Within the last 100 years
Source: Website submission
Possible similar sound:
Dilla Stiff's Bugle & Percy Abbot's Whistle
Sound Description: At about 9 a.m. on five mornings a week the bugle of 'Dilla' Stiff could be heard, and at 1 p.m. Percy Abbott blew his whistle, and those people who required goods from Ipswich would give their order to o n e of these two carriers.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Waterside Works
Sound Description: When the wind was in the right direction the hooter or bell at Waterside Works could be heard distinctly. It sounded several times during the day, but at 7.45 a.m. people took special note of it as it was accepted as Greenwich time. and workmen would set their watches at the correct time.
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Where is this?
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Church Bells [Practice]
Sound Description: which were rung for each Service, every Sunday, and for practice for 11⁄2 hours on a Monday evening.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound: Present day bell-ringing practice now takes place on a Tuesday
Ice Cream Van
Sound Description: "I also remember the sound of the ice cream van that used to visit Clench Road playing Greensleaves."
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Note: I think that all Mr Whippy vans played Greensleaves as a standard song, but that other operators also used the tune once it was popular.
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Date: 1980s?
Source: Facebook
Possible similar sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys8CVn4nDBs
Combine Harvisters
Sound Description:
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Date:
Source: Facebook
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Helicopters
Sound Description: the helicopters overhead - coastguard but also we used to get the bigger sea kings come over I think possibly to RHS when royals visited?
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Also link in Apache and - Chinook + Princess Anne landing on the Academy playing Field.
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Date: ?
Source: Facebook
Possible similar sound:
The Hunt
Sound Description: years ago you would hear all the horses and dogs coming up the road and we would stand at the edge of the primary school field and watch the fox hunt go past!
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Date: 1980s?
Source: Facebook
Possible similar sound:
Alton Water Construction
Sound Description: I can remember the noises from the reservoir construction.
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Link to other large building work (RHS+ what?)
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Date:
Source: Facebook
Possible similar sound:
Animal Sounds
Sound Description:
Note: MS needs to decide how to show all the different animal sounds suggested
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Date:
Source: Facebook
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The Blacksmith
Sound Description: '... at intervals throughout the day the pleasant ringing sound of the Blacksmith's hammer on the anvil could be heard by people in the near vicinity.'
Hammer on anvil, bellows, fire crackling, water hissing, horses, workers.
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What other sounds do blacksmith's make? When did the smithy on Church Hill close?
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Date: Smithy shown on 1904 map, but not on 1924 map.
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound -
Heavy Horses
Sound Description: The sound of horses' hooves on the picked stoned roads was quite common, and sometimes very interesting: each horse or pony had a distinctive step, especially when trotting. The heavy horses which pulled the waggons loaded with corn etc.
Heavy hooves on the rough road, cart wheels, animal noises
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
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Ransomes' Engine
Sound Description: First came a 'Ransome' Steam Traction Engine, pulling at threshing box or drum, and then followed an Elevator or Straw Pitcher. All three vehicles had heavy iron wheels and were without any kind of springs [...] when the threshing box had been 'set' along side a corn stack, more pleasant humming sounds could be heard, as the grain was separated from the straw.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Brantham Xylonite Works
Sound Description: If the wind blew from the opposite [South West] direction, the hooter at Brantham Xylonite Works could be heard,
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This is 4.2 miles away from Holbrook. What does this tell us about the ambient sound levels of the village at this time?
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Date: The factory opened in 1887 & closed in 2007
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Holbrook School Bell
Sound Description: In School Term time the bell at the village school could be heard at 8.45 a.m., 8.55 a.m., 1.45 p.m. and 1.55 p.m. reminding parents, as well as children, that it was time for lessons. One has to bear in mind the fact that very few cottagers had reliable time pieces, and so the schoolmaster was anxious to help the scholars arrive on time.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Cattawade Train
Sound Description: If the wind blew from the opposite direction, the hooter at Brantham Xylonite Works could be heard, as well as the roar of the trains going over Cattawade Bridges.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Church Bells [Death]
Sound Description: One of the bells was used to inform the Village of a death. It would toll at intervals of three minutes, for an hour. I believe it was three pulls for a man, two pulls for a woman, and one for a child. The’ death’ bell was also tolled at the time of a burial. It began to toll about an hour before the time fixed for the Church Service. This was a signal for the villagers to draw blinds as a mark of respect for the deceased. On arrival of the cortege at the Church, the bell was silent until the end of the Service. It was then tolled until the procession reached the graveside.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Church Bells [General]
Sound Description: which were rung for each Service, every Sunday, and for practice for 11⁄2 hours on a Monday evening.
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Dennis Wombwell rang the bells on wedding days in the 1970s/80s/90s.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book and Facebook
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Butchers
Sound Description: As each butcher killed, on the premises, the animals which supplied the meat for the shops, some very distressing noises were often heard.
Pig killing probably caused the greatest concern, and as I lived near to the slaughterhouse at Reed House I have vivid memories of the piercing shrieks that could be heard at killing time. The mournful blare of the bullocks, and the continuous bleating of the sheep was sure evidence of their unnatural surroundings.
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Date:
Source: Warrenton Page book
Possible similar sound:
Air Raid Siren/Fire Brigade
Sound Description:
We used to have an air raid siren to call the firemen down to the station or at the side of the village hall before the station was built I believe, I think it was a green goddess as well, you could hear it for miles around.
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In the 60's siren in the RHS clock tower that would summon the fireman to the fire station, most of them worked for the school's works department at the time.
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Date: When RHS under construction to 1960s?
Source: Facebook
Possible similar sound: Discussion in Parliament in 1946 about the use of sirens to call part-time firemen https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1946-10-09/debates/c7979a66-558b-42fc-b3c9-6f2a7495c7dd/AirRaidSirens(UseAsFireAlarms)
Coal Delivery
Sound Description: the lorry coming down the road with the bags of coal on the back & getting the coal scuttle ready in the passage out the back once the coal shed had been replenished
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I remember the old coal man’s truck arriving too. He’d flip the full heavy sacks off the truck onto his back and walk them to our coal sheds. I remember the sound of the coal being poured into our shed, one sack at a time…
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Date:
Source: Facebook
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Sporting Sounds
Sound Description: Monday Club after school - at the clunk of rounders bats on the village hall green
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Date: 1980s
Source: Facebook
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Children Playing
Sound Description: My children paddling in the puddle that formed at the bottom of Clench Road
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the swing chains clattering, creaky see-saw joints and the VERY creaky stand-on round about that was well overdue an oiling!
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Date:
Source: Facebook
Possible similar sound:
Sweet Shop
Sound Description: The rustle of Small paper bags being opened by ‘Madders’ ready to scoop in our Ha’ Penny sweet mix
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Date:
Source: Facebook
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Choir
Sound Description: The sound of the choir singing. Under Marion Godley. Nothing better than a choir in All Saints Church. Every Sunday. Was beautiful.
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Date: ?
Source: Website Submission
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