I have written back to Caryl to see if she will let me have some of those memories.
I also mentioned that Hethersett Hall was built by John Luke Iselin. I haven't been able to find out too much about this gentleman who is commemorated via a stone in the nave of Hethersett Parish Church.
What I do know is he was born in Basel in Switzerland in 1746 and died in 1816. Somehow he made his way to Norwich where he became a prosperous woolstapler or dealer in wool. He formed a partnership with John Patteson. Apart from a business in wool and textiles, Iselin also invested in property in Hethersett. He bought land in 1785, built a cottage in 1791 and also built what has been referred to as "a speculative property which became Hethersett Hall. A speculative property would be one not designed to be the primary home.
The drawing at the top of the page was the second design of three for the building. The drawing shows a house three bays by three storeys, the ground floor having a central staircase and entrance vestibule between two principal rooms. I believe there was a subsequent third plan which didn't vary from plan two greatly.
A little more delving turned up an interesting possibility of a link between all those mentioned above. John Luke Iselin who built Hethersett Hall was in partnership in the wool trade with John Patteson. Patteson was the uncle of John Patteson who founded a brewery and then went into partnership with another William Steward to form Steward and Patteson which many local people will remember. There seems to be a distinct possibility that the two William Steward's were related and perhaps that's how Sir William Steward came to hear about and buy Hethersett Hall from the Back Family. I know the links are rather tenuous but who knows - perhaps I am also related to the Steward of Steward and Patteson.
One of our neighbours is revisiting a single seater kit car he put together in the early 1990s and which was last used in 1996 before being put in his garage. He is hoping to have it back in roadworthy condition for the end of lockdown.
On our way back down Cedar Road we saw a couple of ducks crossing the road to get back to a pond. Nothing unusual about that but it did take us back to the days many years ago when ducks and ducklings at times ruled the roads of the village. It was not unusual to see mummy and daddy duck with a line of teenies trailing behind them, some of whom sadly often fell down gratings.
Most of the ducks are long gone. The village was very much divided between those who loved seeing them and those who felt they were a nuisance. There was some suggestion that a load were put into a van and transported to another parish having had their wings clipped. No idea whether there was any truth in this - perhaps someone can enlighten us.
I need also to mention another neighbour who is in his nineties but still plays with a jazz band. Last night as we all clapped in appreciation of essential workers, Derek played "You'll Never Walk Alone" on the saxophone. Next week he's thinking of playing "We'll Meet Again." It was a lovely touch and much appreciated by us all.