Andover memories
Here are memories of Andover and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Andover or a Andover photo.
Heath History
William Hawkins Heath was my Gt Gt Grandfather and I am trying to find out more about him, his siblings and successors.
Mother's Brother And Sisters
Just after the war Dad, Mum and I would travel every other weekend to visit aunts and uncles and cousins on our Norton motorbike and sidecar. We usually based our visit with Aunt Flo and Uncle Stan (a wartime despatch rider, now back with his wife), they lived at 27 Wellington Road at the top end of a steep road about 100 metres up the hill, and the amazing thing was their Golden Retriever would bark as soon as the bike turned into the road and Aunt Flo would put the kettle on, knowing we were not far away. Some holidays I spent with them and I would always have to accompany my aunt to the Weslyan Chapel in town for the Sunday morning service, and in the afternoon I would either with local lads or alone go up to the Dell, such a peaceful walk. I think my uncle's parents lived opposite. I remember a big fuss made when my aunt gave birth to Pauline Elizabeth, I was about... Read more
The Library
Before Chantry Way was developed, the town library was situated in the building on the right of this picture. The thrill of being able to indulge myself, for free, in books, books and more books still resides in me today. I swear I can still smell the distinctive aroma of the building once you stepped through its doors!
Happy Days
I was stationed in the RE's in Andover - Barton Stacey camp. Remember shopping in 'International Stores' supermarket as they had good looking girls ! I also recall being in a cafe when some of the Troggs came in. Happy days, must return for a visit some day.
Saturday Afternoon Shopping
I do remember Andover about this time. We lived in Tidworth at the time and my father had a car with petrol allowance as he was a Barrack officer. We went to Andover, mum, myself and him every Saturday afternon and had to park centrally. It had all gone when we last went - just modern car parks now. He did a truly nineteen forties thing and sat in the car whilst we shopped. What a lovely childhood I did have there.
Joan Battershill (nee Norman)
The Old Andover Grammar School
This building, now a museum was in the 1940s the home of a famous old Andover gentleman Mr A C Bennett. He wrote a book about Andover St Mary's Church and played the organ in the church. He was also my piano teacher at 2 shillings a lesson(10p) and I don't think anyone tried his great patience more than I did.
I remember well as a lad of 11 years walking up to that, what seemed, huge door and banging on it and hearing him shuffling down the stairs to let me in. He must have felt the cold at his age as he always wore several layers of overcoats.
In hindsight I wish I had practiced more instead of regarding it as a chore at the time which kept me from my pals. He was a very nice man and a true Andoverian.
Winchester Street Quaker Burial Ground
This picture brings back childhood memories of the 1940s. Behind the wall on the left was a Quaker burial ground, a small grassy area on which one was free to stand upon.Opposite the wall were thatched cottages which were destroyed by fire later in the same decade I believe. A friend of both me and my sister was living in one of the cottages at the time.
My Time NearAndover
WE were married in July 1966. As I was stationed at Middle Wallop, after our honeymoon in London we caught the train to Andover and stayed for 2 nights at the White Hart (is that the name? Opposite the old bus station near the canal and post office). We hired a flat on Weyhill Road and decided we must have a washing machine, so with great reluctance bought one on HP - sinful in those days) at a place opposite Squire's electrical shop near the post office.
After a while we moved to rotten old Married Quarters in Middle Wallop and had our first child, Julian there. (He was born at the War Memorial Hospital in Andover - I would go there each evening and stop for a pint at The Railway Tavern near the station.)
Most Saturdays we would do our shopping in Andover - a right fuss that was too as going back we had multiple shopping bags, a baby and a fold-up pram to take on the... Read more
Memories of my Two Years
We spent two years in Andover, two of the children went to Eastfield School and one daughter was born there. If I remember right, I had to get the baby milk from a pub. I have been back a few times and my goodness what a change has taken place, hardly could find my way around. I remember the really pretty villages, all the thatch roofs, lovely memories.
Warm Days Away
I lived with my father, an officer in the Air Force, and my mother and brother in a good solid house on the Air Force base in Andover. I went to Portway Primary School by the airforce school bus and would be allowed threepence worth of sweets from the Linga Longa sweet shop around the corner from the school.
I remember my years here as very happy. We had a wonderful Headmaster who, after he had been to see the stage production of My Fair Lady, took the trouble to describe the whole experience to us during an assembly. My passion for musicals I am sure was ignited from this.
Once a week we would go on the most wonderful Nature Walks where every flower or insect we encountered were explained to us. On a recent visit to the school, after 52 years, I found the signpost to the Woodland Trail still there at the foot of the school field!
At this school I was taught Italic writing by a... Read more
My Beginning
I returned to Andover in August 2010 and was as excited as the day we left in November 1956 when my family decided we were going to Australia. 54 years is a long time and I think that my wife was surprised at how much I remembered because I was only 12 when we left. If you know "Black Swan Yard" there is a small shop there with a window and a small door, it is not being used now but when I was there I helped my dad paint it. He set up a Watch and Clock repair business there. His name was Fred and Mum's name was Florence (Flo) and together they also ran "Tony's Cafe" in 2 West Street opposite the old Rex Cinema. Next to us was the old Lovells' Dairy and further up West Street towards the Guild Hall was Tommy Wickenden's the Jewellers' shop on the corner. Sadly these shops have made way for the Super Centre that you have there today. Mr Martin Loveridge was... Read more
A Childhood Revisited
So many memories, where to start? I was born 1961 and grew up in The Crescent, just off Weyhill Road.......the rattling trains full of gravel making the house shake, the outside toilet (visits in the middle of the night in winter were at olympic record level), Mrs Mabeys apple trees...scrumping i think it was called! The smell of the pig farm if the wind was in the wrong direction on a hot summers day, building camps in Gallaghers Woods and wow betide anyone who dared venture in! The Big Bonfire at King George Road playing fields, Portway School and its fantastic playground (Health & Safety bods would be quaking in their shoes now, but OMG was so fab!).
Does anyone remember the concrete railwaymen hut that was between the pedestrian level crossing (linking The Crescent and Floral Way) & 'Gleesons Bridge'? Hot summers sunbathing on top of this strange little building!
Burbidges Bakery, fab bread.....my mother would send us off to get the daily loaf... Read more
Memories of Hampshire
Village Days
I was born in Upper Clatford in 1945. I have fond memories the good and bad times. I went to the local school where we would draw on slates with chalks. I used to live in cottages now pulled down. There was a well at the bottom of the path where I drew water in a wooden bucket. I had a dog, Tiny was his name. My friends and myself often went to play in the old chalk pit. I was brought up in a family by my mother, May. Sister Dot, father John and myself, Maurice Owen. If anyone has any memories of my family please contact me on: maurice-66@mail.com.
Age Old Custom?
Is this the church where brides 3/4 length wedding gloves were hung from the rafters till they rotted off? Upper Clatford snobs born in a bucket christened in a tub!
Childhood Escapism
My aunt and uncle, Jan and Keith Harman, lived in Enham after their marriage in 1965, initially in Dunham Lane, I think it was called - a development of prefabs that backed onto the woods. I spent school holidays loving the freedom of the woods at the end of the garden and long walks to Smannel, cadging lifts off my aunt's friend Margaret McCrill who lived round the corner from me in Andover but worked at the Enham Industries. I remember being dropped off outside the factory and walking through the early morning mists to Dunham Lane.
The Penton From 1939 Until 1951
When the Second World War was declared, my family consisted of Mum and Dad, my elder brother Bob and my baby sister Ann. I was four, Bob was eleven and Ann was three. My father was a staff sergeant in the RAMC. We were living in married accomodation at Kempton Barracks, Bedford (the depot of the Beds and Herts Regiment). When war was declared my father along with the rest of the regular army was immediately mobilised, and he was posted for active service. Within days my mother was told that we had to vacate the accommodation, which meant we were homeless. Mum and Dad had spent their entire marriage in army quarters. Mother's younger sister, Auntie Olive, lived with her husband Albert Eggington in Penton. She agreed that we could move in with her for the time being. They didn't have any children and offered Mum and us three children her spare room. We eventually stayed with them until 1946 when my Dad eventually left the army. Auntie Olive lived in the... Read more
Visiting Auntie Freda Eggington at Rose Cottage in Summer.
y nethier did Wendy she fell in love with this prettymyself and my wife wendy took mum,phyllis to visit aunty freda. it was a very long journey as we live in buckinghamshire. rose cottage was so pretty which looked as penton grafton did then, a quiet place, not much traffic and a wonderful peaceness about it. we left mum with aunty freda for a week whilst my wife wendy and i went to boscombe f place. unfortuately, we have not been back as we lost our dear aunty. often wonder if rose cottage is still there or if there is anyone who knew aunty freda,but i suppose like everything things have changed. many,many thanks for a wonderful memory and hope hope things have not changed too much. stephen .or a break. when returning mum did not want to come awa
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