Buck Family of East End, Somerton Road
The predominant occupation in Martham in the early 20th century was farm labouring but a small number of people raised themselves up from labouring on land owned by others to become what were often listed in census returns as market gardeners. They understood, from experience, not only how to grow crops but also which ones people would buy and they made their living by meeting those needs. Many of them slowly purchased or rented extra land and some became small-time farmers. They often also owned livestock and either sold the meat or kept it for their own consumption along with producing eggs and milk. They needed to be prudent with money but most of all worked very hard often seven days a week.
Two such men were Baden Ernest BUCK and his son Brian, both well known market gardeners in Martham.
Baden was born on 29th May 1900 in Great Yarmouth as the first child of Ernest BUCK & Lilian Mabel, nee PINDER. He had four brothers and sisters and grew up living with his parents at Northgate Street and Salisbury Road, Great Yarmouth. His father was a self-employed market gardener before him so no doubt Baden learnt his trade at his father’s knee. When he was 25 Baden married Frances Louise CATTON in Great Yarmouth. Baden and Frances had two children; Brian who was born in Martham in 1929 and Sheila, born in 1933.
So, the couple had moved to Martham by the time their son Brian was born and Baden had already set up as a market gardener on a few acres of land at East End, Somerton Road which was land shaped like a long triangle sandwiched between Somerton Road and Staithe Road. Below is an aerial photograph of the house and land he farmed there.
At the top right of the photo you can see part of an old 2nd World War pill box that stood facing east at the junction of the roads. Apart from crops shown growing at the left of the photo Baden also kept chickens, rabbits, pigs, goats and bullocks housed in the barns and yards along with hay and a Fordson tractor. East End was the house in the centre of the photo facing south and it still survives to this day (2024).
The land that Baden farmed had a history that can be traced back to at least 1812 when the Martham Inclosure Award listed it as being owned by two men. Part of the land, plot 212, was owned by surgeon John Gifford JEFFREY (1766-1848). The main part, plot 211, (shown in blue on the left) was owned at that time by miller George WILSON (1748-1824) but occupied by his son-in-law William BRADDOCK (1777-1864) who inherited the land after George died.
The Braddock family retained ownership of the land over several generations and it eventually passed to William’s grandson Daniel George Wilson BRADDOCK (1861-1929). He had become a farmer with large landholdings and prior to his death lived at West Somerton. After his death his Executors managed his estate on behalf of his wife but when she died in 1935 it was sold at auction. A copy of the auction advert is shown on the right and lists East End, Somerton Road under Lot 5. It seems that Baden had rented East End from at least 1929 (when his son, Brian, was born) but purchased it at the auction on 11th September 1935.
Baden was not called up for action in the First World War as he was too young but when he came of age he did serve in the Royal Artillery, serial number RA 65278, as attested by the photo on the left. He was also an ARP Warden in 1939.
East End covered just over four acres at Somerton Road which would not have yielded sufficient return to live on so the ever-resourceful Baden also farmed the land where Flegg High Ormiston Academy now stands and he grew apple trees on some land where Grove Close has since been built. He also reared cattle on some land on the east side of Black Street that now has bungalows on it. And, he had a small piece of land where the Fire Station in Rollesby Road is now – see below.
Baden is shown with his son Brian at his market garden where the Fire Station is now on Rollesby Road. At the time this field was next to the railway station. Note the advertising board for Clowes Store that was next to the railway.
The family diversified still further in 1963 when they had East End Stores built at Somerton Road out of one-and-a-half old prefabs. The shop is shown centrally in the aerial photo above. The shop is remembered by many locals who often recall it on the Memories of Martham Facebook page. It was eventually demolished and replaced with flats called St Mary’s House in 1991.
Baden’s son Brian (born on 22nd January 1929) grew up with his parents and was constantly at his father’s side mainly looking after the livestock and the land. At one time, after the East End Store had been built, they had two Bedford vans and they delivered groceries and fruit to holiday lets and private houses along the coast from Horsey to Walcott. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays they operated a bread round in the village using one of the Bedford vans whilst the other was later replaced with a blue Austin van bought from Harriss the builders. Baden, his wife Frances and their daughter Sheila ran the shop.
Family Album
1). L to R: Sheila Buck, her mum Frances & her dad Baden outside East End Stores, Somerton Road.
2). Brian Buck with rabbits.
3). Baden and his son Brian outside the East End Store.
4). William Buck on his dad Brian’s shoulders in 1954.
5). L to R: Brian Buck; his dad Baden, his mother Frances, nee Catton and his sister Sheila.
6). Baden Buck with his granddaughter, Maxine, outside the East End shop.
7). L to R: Brian Buck, his mum Frances and grandfather Samuel Catton.
As if their lives were not packed with work Baden and Brian also found time to help out as volunteer firemen. You can read an account of the Martham Fire Service written by Brian’s wife Audrey, nee BAXTER, by clicking HERE. At one time when Baden was a Sub Officer, they used a siren that was built in his garden. Brian was a fireman at Martham from 1944 until he retired as a Sub Officer in 1986. Below are some photographs of both of them involved with the Fire Service.
Baden died on 26th August 1988, aged 88, and is buried with his wife, Frances, at section I, plot G16 of St Mary’s graveyard, Martham. Brian retired in 1994 and died in 1997. His wife Audrey passed away in 2015.
Baden and Brian represent a time that has perhaps largely been lost to the world today. Men who worked the land and expanded into business to raise themselves up through good old fashion hard work. Their story shines an alternative light on the workings of a village like Martham.
I am grateful to William Buck, the son of Brian and grandson of Baden, for the extensive help and information he provided to make this page possible.