CHILDREN playing and skipping in the streets were everyday sights for residents of Parkeston.

Mary Gooch grew up in the village, the same way her family had for generations.

She was christened at the Parkeston Methodist Chapel, in Tyler Street, where her family were regulars in the congregation.

She later married at the same church.

“We had a very good Sunday school with lots of children – it was very popular,” said Mrs Gooch, formerly Dean.

“There was quite a big, good choir, with Tommy Bell as the conductor.

“My great-uncle, Fred Porter, was a steward in the church. There was a lovely pipe organ and they used to rely on someone to pump the air into it – that was his job during the service.”

While the church was a thriving place of worship when Mrs Gooch remembered attending services, in the 1940s, it suffered decline in the congregation and closed in May 2011.

In October 2012, the church celebrated its 125th anniversary and earlier this year it was put up for sale with a price tag of £100,000.

Mrs Gooch, 80, and now living in Manningtree, added: “It was a lovely village. It was completely different to how it is now. There were no cars in those days and everyone kept their places clean and tidy.

“I have wonderful memories. We used to be able to play in the streets and make our own fun.

“We would have a skipping rope from one side of the street to the other.”

Parkeston Quay, named after Charles Parkes, chairman of its creator Great Eastern Railway, opened in 1883, and homes were then built to house the workers.

As well as the Methodist and Anglican churches, there were also a primary school, village hall, shop and fire station.