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Ashbury
Ashbury maps
Historic maps of Ashbury and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Ashbury maps
Ashbury area books
Displaying 1 of 7 books about Ashbury and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Ashbury
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Ashbury.
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or of a photo of Ashbury.
Fire at The Rose And Crown
I was four when my family moved from London to Manage the Rose and Crown in 1940. The Rose and Crown was then about four hundred and fifty years old. After six months there was a devastating fire which destroyed the whole of the thatched part of the hotel and part of the building which is in Church Lane. The cottage immediately opposite across Church Lane was also burnt down. The fire started during the evening and as it was war-time it was important to put it out as soon as possible it could be seen for miles. Fourteen fire engines attended.
I was in bed and I called out to my mother for a drink. She came upstairs with my drink but she shushed me and said "Listen". there was a crackling noise above the ceiling. She ran downstairs to tell my father who got a ladder and climbed up to inspect a hidden part of the thatch by the chimney. He called down to say the thatch... Read more
The New Family
The Ashbury School photograph was indeed taken circa 1926. I know this because my father, aged three or four years old, is standing by the school gate and he was born in 1923. His brothers and sisters are also on the photograph. The girl stood apart from the crowd against the wall was his sister Kit, and his brother Fred is sitting on the wall with an odd looking hat on. We lived in Kings Close, Ashbury, just around the corner behind the photographer.
Oxfordshire memories
Downsview Estate
I believe that the photo is taken looking towards Shrivenham coming up Station Road. The next turning on the right is Charlbury Road and we moved into no 24 around 1965 - perhaps a bit before. There was still lots of building going on and I can remember getting my wellington boot stuck in the mud and falling over - did I get it when I got home! I remember the Coventrys who drove a green Ford Consul and lived in Coventry Close. Chris and Barry Colman lived in Charlbury Road and their dad had a 2 tone Vauxhall Cresta. We had a grey Austin A35 van and I can remember cutting my knee on the exhaust pipe trying to retrieve my football. We lived next door to the Rumbolds who had a huge boat parked outside the window which went down well with my parents.
Catharine Rose Oliver Pratt's Little School House
My mother, daughter of Dr. Oliver B. Pratt and Catharine Rose Winckley Pratt, operated a small primary school on her father's property prior to and during the Second World War. She and I have visited a few times in years past. I am trying to determine the exact name of her school. I also need to find out the name of the teacher's college she attended. This information will be used sometime in the future for her obituary. She currently lives in the Los Angeles, California area and is in failing health. She will be 92 in June and resides in her home of 35 years with her faithful corgi, Laddie, and a full time nurse. My mother has had a wonderful, eventful life and has returned to the British Isles many times to visit family and friends. She has never given up her British citizenship. Kindly write back if you have any information or would simply like to say hello to my mother, Catharine Silver. Sincerely, Joan Silver George
A Foreigner's Memories
My other half and I are having a great time here, in Woolstone at the foot of White Horse Hill for nearly 4 years now. I can only recommend this charming little village to anyone who wants to have an idea of the typical English countryside. Worth a visit for all nature lovers. You are always welcome here.
2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
My Father tells me that there was an airfield at Watchford and that the Paras used it as a drop zone in the 1950's. Taking off from Abindon, they would drop at Watchfield. My Father did his night drop here and said that the staff on the ground would leave the hanger doors open with the lights on so that the young paras could just see enough to assess how much the wind was making them drift. Does anyone have photos of this aspect of lift in Watchfield. There is no mention of Watchfield in current aeronautical charts. Your Watchfield, NAAFI Corner photograph suggests some military ties. I would be interested to learn more.
Paras at Watchfield
Hi Alan, I can confirm that there was a military airodrome at Watchfield. I remember watching from a distance as learner paras jumped from a baloon basket. The baloon was let up to a great height and the men in the basket jumped out one by one.
Tony Stayne
