The Limes, 34 Black Street, Martham

The Limes stands on the east side of Black Street, Martham a few doors north of the former Oddfellows Hall. It is not the oldest or most historic house in Martham but can be noted for several reasons. Firstly, it was built in 1914 by John Larter (1868-1951) – see below – whose son Oswald (Ossie) also became a builder in Martham, and his grandson who became famous as the creator of Pleasurewood Hills American Theme Park. Another reason to include it here is because it happens to appear in two very good old photographs of Black Street that date to around 1920-1940. A couple of these, probably, show members of the Larter family outside the house. 

 

John Larter (1868-1951)

John Larter was born on 17th March 1868 at Ludham to Joseph Larter & Blithe Lincoln, nee Dale. The family lived at Yarmouth Road, Ludham in 1871 and High House Hill, Ludham in 1881 where his father was a farm labourer.

When John was 24, he married Edith Mary Ann Cubitt Gallant, the daughter of John Gallant & Mary Ann Barnes nee Cubitt, on Christmas Day 1892 at St Mary the Virgin, Martham. They went on to have eight children who were all born at Martham but three died very young. They were:

1. John William who was born on 27th May 1894. Sadly, he was killed in action in WW1 on 26^th September 1915 and is buried at Loos, Nord, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
2. Ethel May Elizabeth who was born on 17^th January 1896 and married Archibald Cotton in 1921.
3. Oswald George (the first) who was born on 24^th December 1896 but died only five months later on 13^th May 1897.
4. Eileen Hilda who born on 2^nd March 1898 and died as a baby on 17^th October 1898.
5. Eileen Blythe who was born on 21^st April 1903 and went on the marry William Ezra Dack at St Mary the Virgin, Martham on 29^th March 1929.
6. Florence Rose who was born on 12^th October 1904 but died when she was only seven months old on 6^th July 1905.
7. Oswald George (the 2^nd) who was born on 2^nd January 1907, married  Helen Rhoda May Storey-Smith in 1938 at Horning and died on 18^th March 1965. You can read more about him by clicking on his name.
8. Harry Cyril who was born on 11^th March 1910 and went on to become a grocer and married Grace Olley in 1931.

According to the 1901 and 1911 census returns John & Edith lived at Ross Villas, The Green, Martham and by then John had built a successful business as a self-employed house painter, sign-writer and decorator. In 1914 he built his family a house called The Limes at Black Street. The house had a large garden full of fruit trees which is probably the reason for its name. John also grew vegetables there. Edith died 18 years before him in 1933 and he moved to a bungalow he had built next door to The Limes called Leaside where he had a large workshop. The original Leaside has since been demolished but the owners of the replacement bungalow retained the same name.

John died on 12^th June 1951 and was buried on 16^th at St Mary the Virgin at section H, plot K20. He was 83.

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