Post
War Everton
After the Second World War ended in 1944,
life in Everton was still dominated for many villagers by deprivation and
difficulties. Clothes were still rationed until 1949 and food until 1952. The
village shop provided the basics and an occasional bike or bus ride to Potton or
Sandy could get most other items. Four grocers used to come and take orders
which were delivered the next day. Two butchers used to come round on a Tuesday
morning. The wet fish man came round on Friday. It used to be Mr Wren of St
Neots. Mr Jennings of Potton used to supply paraffin oil and Jordans provided
pet food and corn for poultry.
During the 1960s a government modernisation
policy began. Many of the old thatched cottages along Sandy Road were demolished
and replaced with more spacious council houses and large gardens. Warden Hill
Farmhouse remains but a private estate was built on the land behind it. The
WAAF camp opposite the Recreation Ground was demolished and the Lawns, a
private housing estate was constructed. A temporary Post Office was opened in
one of the houses. Other council houses were built on Potton Road.
In the first half of the century most
families in Everton were involved on the land. There were about twenty-five
separate holdings on the Pym estate between Sandy and Everton. In the 1990s
there were only five. Most of the villagers today work away from the area in
Bedford, Stevenage, Luton, St. Neots, Milton Keynes and London.
The village shop closed down in 199-
following three ram raids and rent increases. The building was demolished and a
block of four terraced cottages were built and rented out. There was a prospect
of a new village shop being built in the St Mary’s Walk estate but it never
materialised.