Photographs, postcards and illustrations of Ongar throughout the years.
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More images will be added here as the archives become available, so please keep re-visiting the site!
The ownership of some images is unknown. OMHS are willing to remove any at the request of authorised owners.
Charles Foster standing outside his insurance/estate agent business 1930s
Ongar High Street early 1900s
Noble's work outing outside the King's Head circa 1900 - 1910
Ongar goes to the polls - picture taken outside the Wilderness (which is now a carpark!)
Auckingford Bridge 1905 (now the A414)
Mrs Mott wife of F J Mott photographer/postcard printer
The Long Walk lined with elm trees (they were destroyed by Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s)
WWII NFS crews outside the Fire Station in the yard behind the Red Lion Pub (now demolished)
Shelley House at the Four Wantz (demolished 1960s)
High Street possibly 1940s
High Street showing Joseph King Cottages possibly 1940s
Junior School Class 1 1946-47 Teacher is Mrs O'Rourke (School is now a supermarket!)
W H Childs Draper 1893
Holmlea. The house is older than the Regency front suggests, probably dating back to the mid 17th century.
Staff and pupils in the garden at Holmlea when it was a co-ed school circa 1911.
Surridge 's 101 High Street. They sold and maintained cycles, motorbikes and Ford Cars. They also sold gramophones, phonographs were the first to stock gramophone records.
Victor Surridge was a works rider for the Coventry based Rudge-Whitworth Cycles and just weeks before his death had broken the world record for distance covered in an hour at Brooklands motor racing circuit. A rising star, he was still in his late teens when he tragically became the first rider to be killed at the Isle of Man TT races.
Victor Surridge's funeral 1911
Henry William Mihill & staff outside his grocery store circa 1911. The sign on the attached house says 'Fireman', the small gap to the right of the grocers was the fire station yard. The shop is a private residence now.
The Old Rectory circa 1890.
Budworth Hall when it was being used as a Red Cross Hospital during WWI
Reverse of Red Cross Hospital postcard
Postcard by F J Mott showing the Essex Hunt Meet at Ongar on 4 February 1914
Possibly another Essex Hunt Meet, this card is embossed with 'Arthur Hands Snaresbrook' but not dated
This postcard has the caption England's Flag Day Ongar 29/4/16
Reverse of England's Flag Day postcard - collecting for the War Memorial Hospital to be built?
High Street Ongar, no date but International Stores on the left began trading in 1902
This may be Mrs Mott, the card was produced by F J Mott of Ongar
Ongar Ladies Hockey Club by F J Mott. Written on the back is 'Middle row, second from left is Miss Blanche Foster'
There isn't a date on this postcard but written on the back is 'Seated, 2nd from left, Miss Waters'
Marden Ash Hill postcard from the M and L National Series
Approaching High Street Ongar, a hand-coloured postcard from the M and L National Series circa 1930
Bowes House
Four Wantz
Ongar Grammar School
Ongar Grammar School Dining Room
Ongar High Street The Kings Head
Ongar War Memorial Hospital
The Red Cow Pub Shelley
Fairfield Road Estate around 1950
The Two Brewers, The Borough 1955
Coopers Hill before Longfields estate was built
The Taylor Houses
Osborne Collection - Ann Gilbert's Album
Images shown here with thanks to Robin Taylor Gilbert, Christina Duff Stewart and
The Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, Toronto Public Library.
Castle House by Jane Taylor dated Hull 1821
Castle House in 1994
"My Father's House at Ongar, Essex (Peaked Farm) by Isaac Taylor circa 1820
New House Farm (known to the Taylors as Peaked Farm) in 1994
Rear view of Ware Lane property (now 10 Castle St.) by Isaac Taylor 1822
Ware Lane property now 10 Castle Street in 1994
Castle House drawing by W. Bartlett, engraved by H. Wallis published 1832
Meeting House and Burial Ground at Ongar by Isaac Taylor of Stanford Rivers circa 1822
Church Lane sketch by Annie Laurie Gilbert November 1912
Images of Ongar from the 1900s compared with those from 2005
Ongar High Street looking north circa. 1903 and February 2005
The Lion Hotel (demolished in 1953) stood where today's fire station is located. Note the AA sign!
Heading up to the Four Wantz road junction in 1934 and 2005.
11th Century St Martin's church is at the centre of both photographs.
Ongar Grammar School in 1916, now residential and business use.
