The Limes, Ditton Green, Woodditton

History of The Limes

Listed Building

Farmhouse, early C19.

Apart from the land farmed directly by the [Stetchworth} estate, four local farmers worked the remainder of the arable land. The most progressive of them, Stanley Hensby, known to his workmen as “Josh”, lived at “The Limes” farmhouse in the centre of the village and always seemed in a hurry. He had started farming in the early twenties with the help of a Ford Model T lorry together with a motor cycle and sidecar as personal transport. Stan Hensby had a shrewd sense for making money and gradually acquired thousands of acres in and around Wood Ditton when land was cheap, perhaps sensing that one day it would be worth a fortune.

Staunch locals, too old for military service, too appointments as air raid (ARP) wardens. Mr Dugdale (The Major) a retired army officer living at the Limes, who ha lost a leg in World War I, briefly held the position of chief warden. … Somebody with a telephone was needed and the village school-teacher, Mrs Grace Hatley (Stetchworth 4) took over the job. (p70)

It became illegal to destroy paper, cardboard or bones and we took them to a central point at The Limes, for collection and recycling. (p72)

(Rodney H Vincent, A Tanner Will Do)

1939

Gerald Dugdale, b 1884, manager lime pit, ARP head warden

Dorothy, b 1894

Catherine White, b 1913, secretary

Sarah Selby, b 1920, office worker