1. 

Back row l. to r.  : Ted Muchmore, Olive Muchmore, Cousin John Front row l. to r.: Cousin June, Audrey Muchmore date: pre-war, about 1939 Sheds in background belonged to Mr and Mrs Holmquist.   They had an iron stove which werestoked by lifting the top.  They lived out there until evening and then returned to the bungalow 27A, Margaret Avenue, to sleep.

 

2.

Eleanor Muchmore, Marion's mother, who gave her name to the property. Back garden, showing vegetable patch, fruit trees and greenhouse.

3.

Marion Muchmore, about 1952 .The tent was given to the family by their neighbour, Mr Scott.   It was fitted with bunkbeds and was very cosy.  Marion slept there on warm nights. Behind in a plot next door was a shed used by weekenders, never seen by the family in their 20 years of residence in Eleanor.   On the further side of this plot was a large pond, still in evidence today.

4.

Brian Gower, son of Olive, Marion's eldest sister, aged 4-5 He was a frequent guest at Eleanor in the school holidays while his mother worked.   Background: the shed where the  family kept poultry and  Jack's home-made garden seat.

5.

Marion and sister, Audrey, as bridesmaids for brother, Ted's, wedding in 1950. The bungalow has been pebble-dashed and the veranda replaced by a smaller front porch. On the left, Mr and Mrs Scott's bungalow, "Killarney".  The shed by the ladder housed an electric generator.   They did their cooking in a small shed, sleeping in the bungalow at night.

6.

Marion's father, Charles Arthur Muchmore, more often known as Jack He had built the bungalow at weekends with the aid of Marion's Uncle Bert, sleeping in a tent. The window on the right was the front room, the kitchen on the left, two bedrooms at the back. Washing and fresh water storage in an outhouse on the left side; water was brought from the standpipe at the top of Second Avenue with the help of Jack's home-made shoulder yoke.    This water was used for cooking and drinking, collected rainwater for everything else.

7.

The bungalow before its pebble-dash rendering: asbestos sheet and wood structure with metal window frames. Fruit trees included apple, pear, plum, greengage and damson;  soft fruit included red and blackcurrants, loganberries and gooseberries. The toilet shed is behind the honeysuckle covered trellis. There is a well just out of sight.

8.

Marion c.1952 The pebbledash rendering made the bungalow much warmer and  more weather proof in winter, cooler in summer.   The removal of the veranda improved the light inside the front rooms.

9.

Laindon residents including members of the Muchmore family gathering for an excursion to the seaside, probably Margate.

10.

"Eleanor" now has a back extension and extra chimney. Jack installed a back boiler and radiators in all rooms.  The extension contained a bath that was supplied with hot water from a tank next to the fire.in the front room  The water level had to be carefully maintained  in the tank, but the system generally proved efficient.  Clearly visible is a raised rainwater collection tank. Waste water was channelled into a soak-away.

11.

February 1947 Marion , Olive and Bill Gower,  Ted and Audrey building an igloo. Visible on the right, the Hendersons' shop at the top of First Avenue;  on the left, Mr and Mrs Bond's weekend and holiday bungalow in Hillcrest Avenue. The large trees from the former field layout formed the boundary between Dunton and Laindon addresses.

12.

Marion's sister, Audrey, 3yrs old, c.1938. The next door plot went through from Margaret Avenue to Crest Avenue, but Marion doesn't remember anyone coming to it. Sheds visible in Crest Avenue. The building on the right  (background) belonged to Mr and Mrs Holmquist.