The Males of Stembridge


7 minute film extract : The Willow Story

Full Film : The Willow Story : 36 minutes

Leslie Male – as a baby at Deadlands 1927.
L to R rear : Bernard Jeanes, Earle Male, Lillian Male nee Jeanes, Jack Jeanes.
L to R front : Kathleen Jeanes, Leslie Male, Audrey Jeanes


Photo taken at Coronation Villa, Deadlands.

This photograph was taken in about 1934, at the rear of what was then the family home of No. 6 Council Houses, Stembridge. The photograph shows my father’s Earle Male’s workshop where he set up his withy business. The tin shed at the rear on the right was where things took place as well as in the yard where the people are standing. There is a withy stripping brake on the right of the photo, set up on a post. It was quite usual for families to run their work from home. Shaun Stuckey – who was a waggon builder and wheelwright lived in No 4Council houses and he also worked out of sheds to the rear.
In this photograph – left to right are:
Ray Barrett who lived in No. 3 Council Houses – he is dressed up to go courting and he was courting Rene Dabinett.
Next to Ray is Joe Mitchell who lived in No 13 Council Houses and in front of him is his son Pete Mitchell.
Next is Harold Dabinett who was brother to Rene Dabinett and in front of him is Elsie Mitchell who married Bill Pounder.
On the right in dungarees is my father – Earle Male.


Notes from Leslie Male March 2017


Film : The Willow Story : 36 minutes

Film : 1974 TV Farming News – The Males Points West

Film : Leslie & Hugh Male Walking on Westmoor in 2017 and talking about Withy Growing.

Film : Conserving Old French Withies – Leslie Male.