The Mount, the Dashwoods, Aunt Ena

The Mount, Yarmouth, pulled down late 1960s to make way for new road.

It does mean a lot to me that it’s not there, I spent so much time up there. I remember such happy days there.

I have such happy memories. My aunt was so good to me. I could go to the house anywhen I liked and play in the gardens, and play horses with my friends in the old stables.

As I got older – my aunt was such a good seamstress –  I would buy lengths of material and my aunt would show me how to sew and make clothes. She did more like that with me than my mother did.

I did meet Mr. Cuthbert, who was a lovely gentleman. He would wander down to the kitchen when my aunt was there, and talk to me. And I met Miss Constance and Miss Caroline.

The Mount,;photo Brenda Garlick

I always felt they wanted to be much more involved. There was a regime which had been imposed on them when they were children, and they didn’t dare go beyond the boundaries. They kept it up, all their lives. Miss Constance always sat in the Lady Chapel, not with the main congregation. The difference was they had been brought up in the religious background with their father who was a reverend and uncles who were reverends.

They were always referred to as ‘Mr’ Cuthbert and ‘Miss Constance and ‘Miss’ Caroline. I think it was a mark of respect for your betters that we don’t use today.

They were such generous benefactors. If anyone was suffering, wanted money, or was in trouble, they were great benefactors. They gave money to the church, the school. They had so many charities, they were so good to the people of Yarmouth.

My aunt did very well out of them, what they had left they left a lot to her. She loved them; we all did, my mum and my dad.