Fentons Way

The Parish Council formed a small sub-committee to look into the problem and they, with the help of other interested parties, came up with the idea of naming roads after past and present! residents, characters and businesses. The first twelve names were to be after ex-employees and members of the two farming families who previously owned the land. These were selected by the vendors. Thus we started with the main through road, Ropes Drive, after Mrs Rope and her son Crispin. Mrs Rope is sister to the late Philip Jolly who farmed most of the land. Mrs Ropes husband, Squadron Leader Rope, was killed in the R101 disaster at Beauvais on 5th October 1930. The Catholic Church of the Holy Family and St Michael was built in his memory. It was enlarged in the 1950’s and the latest extension has just been completed.

Next came Through Jollys, named after the Jolly family who farmed Grange Farm and ran the nurseries from 1924 until the building started. The other main throughway is called Fentons Way. This is after the Fenton’s who farmed Bell Barn Farm, of Kesgrave Fruit Farm, from 1933. Mr John Fenton at present farms Kiln Farm, Kesgrave – on the right of the A1214 opposite Sewells Garage.