Every picture tells a story
Volunteers of HM Coastguard at Holmpton in 1935 pose outside the building on School Lane in which were stored the rockets to be fired from the nearby cliffs in the event of a shipwreck. Ropes attached to the rockets could be used to rig up a bosun’s seat to bring the survivors to shore, where the village pub doubled as the Bethel – a place of safety for survivors. Today this building is a private residence known as Rocket House, a nod to its maritime past.
Scroll down to explore more images of Holmpton in years past. They are from the collection amassed by villager Mike Cox, and many have been newly colourised for this website.
Holmpton through the years – brought back to life in colour
Advancements in computer technology have made it possible to view these wonderful old images as the photographer saw them. Cliff Farm has long since been lost to the sea but here we can revisit day-to-day life on the land and inside the elegant Edwardian-styled farmhouse.
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Holmpton from the air
The coastal location of Holmpton has long made it a natural choice for aerial photographers, and these shots show the changing make-up of the village.
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Holmpton's characters
Get in touch if you can supply more information about any of the villagers pictured here.
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Hi. A great local interest web site. Working on a similar item for Burstwick.
Again. Great effort.
Alan Somers.
Elm Tree Farm used to be in our family. The tractor and men in the photograph show two German POW’s who worked on the farm towards the end of WW2.
My Grandfather top right in the photo of the Rocket Brigade (Clifford Stanley Hodgson). Grandfather had seen action in WW1 serving with the Royal Navy, and farmed at Elm Tree Farm.