Hillam Village

Arthur Warren

Arthur was initially drafted into the area during the war with the Royal Devonshire Yeomanry and was billeted at Monk Fryston Hall from November 1940 to March 1941. During that time he met his wife.
As soon as possible after the war he returned to his pre-war trade as a blacksmith. He and his wife set up home and business in the Blacksmith's Yard next to the Blue Bell public house in nearby Monk Fryston.
Eventually he retired to his current home in Hillam. Arthur has a scrap book which catalogues village life and events over the past 60 years.

Dorothy Hudson
(nee Longbottom)

Dorothy has lived in Hillam all he life, originally in what is now Orchard Cottage. She can trace her family within the village back to 1799 and in the local area back to 1775.
Dorothy has a wonderful collection of old picture postcards originally sent from her relatives in the village to her son who emigrated to America over a hundred years ago and which were rediscovered through family research.

Ruth Kelsey
(nee Hudson)

Born in the village, Ruth originally lived over the family business, the village cobblers. This was based in what is now Corner Cottage and was then part of Carters Row.
After leaving the village school she originally went into service. This was followed by a range of jobs, including working for the railways in York at the it was bombed during the war.

Tony Hudson

Tony has always lived in Hillam, indeed he was the first baby to be born in Ashfield Villas.
With the passage of time he now feels he can now admit to the youthful misdemeanour of letting loose the bad tempered billy goat belonging to the father of Ruth Laycock.