Ardingly memories
Here are memories of Ardingly and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Ardingly or a Ardingly photo.
The High Street - Sayer's Store - 'Nim' And Phyl Alen
My name is Barbara Tester and I live in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
My beloved (late) husband, Brian Tester, was born on 26th July, 1930 at No. 1 Station Cottages, 1 Station Road, Ardingly. His parents were Bartley William Charles Tester and Gladys Evelyn Tester. His father was a stonemason who carried out a number of pieces of restoration work in Sussex throughout his long working life.
The family lived for some years in Eastbourne before moving to Hailsham in the mid 1950s. Brian migrated to Australia in 1952, and we were married in 1955. His brothers, Michael and Richard, and two sisters Anne (Pomroy) and Ethne (Ansfield) all still live in Sussex. Both Brian and Mike were members of St Peter's Church Choir.
During the war, while Dad was in the army, the family was evacuated from Eastbourne (where, like many others, their home was bombed) to Ardingly, where they lived with Aunty Phyl and Uncle 'Nim' who were, at that time, living in 'Cobb Cottage'. Cobb... Read more
Memories of West Sussex
My Mother
My mother, Beatrice Constable, was born in a little cottage in Balcombe. The happy event took place in a small asbestos bungalow with lots of hydrangeas around the front door. Her parents were Joshua and Elizabeth Constable. Nan had seven boys and seven girls. Some were stillborn and buried in the churchyard under a tree. Does anyone remember this family?
Evac
I was evacuated to Balcombe in 1940 along with the Stanley Technical College pupils from south London. At first, 3 of us were billited at Monks, a large and beautiful home some 3 km out of the village. At that time the Johnston family owned the house. This was a fantastic experience.
We were taught at the village school and the log-cabin scout hut was adapted for our engineering workshop practice. Later, I was billeted at a house adjacent to the railway station. I don't recall the owners' names, but the man of the family owned the only car-repair business in the village. We were resented and not made welcome in this home at all. A miserable experience.
I visited Balcombe from New Zealand in 1990 and found that Monks had become a protected property - owned by the National Trust - or whatever is its NZ equivalent. The log-cabin scout hut was still there, as was the school, and of... Read more
Searching Information For Ancestry Search
My father was born in 1927 in Maple Cottage, Balcombe. The Maple Cottage then was not the Maple Cottage now - does anybody know where it was situated in 1927? His mother was Marjorie Hunt but she did not live in Balcombe. I believe she had the baby, registered him and then moved on. Did anybody take in young women to help them with births?
Any info would be very welcome.
Searching Information For Ancestry Search HUNT
My father was born in 1927 in Maple Cottage, Balcombe. The Maple Cottage then was not the Maple Cottage now - does anybody know where it was situated in 1927? His mother was Marjorie Hunt but she did not live in Balcombe. I believe she had the baby, registered him and then moved on. Did anybody take in young women to help them with births?
Any info would be very welcome.
Gladys From Cornwall With The Red Setter
Back in early 1977 I worked at Brantridge House, Balcombe of which I have very fond memories. Perhaps someone knows how I can make contact with either Gladys from Corwall, or her daughter, who would now (2011) be about 49. Perhaps someone knows how I can contact them or others who worked there at the time - the Spanish pair for example.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 26,144 memories of 5,728 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Newhaven, East Sussex
- Warnham, West Sussex
- Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
- Aldershot, Hampshire
- Redhill, Surrey
- Netley Abbey, Hampshire
- Kibblesworth, Tyne and Wear
- Burnt Oak, Middlesex
- Braunton, Devon
- Horne, Surrey
- Slough, Berkshire
- Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
- Seaton Carew, Cleveland
- South Woodford, Greater London
- Chadwell Heath, Essex
- Bromley, Kent
- Cefn Fforest, Gwent
- Earlestown, Merseyside
- Gravesend, Kent
- Nantyffyllon, Mid Glamorgan
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
