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Ashford

Ashford maps

Historic maps of Ashford and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Ashford maps

Ashford photos

We have no photos of Ashford, although we do have photos of these nearby places:

Calverhall| Prees| Styche| Hodnet| Market Drayton| Pell Wall| Peatswood| Whitchurch| Wem| Peplow| Childs Ercall| Hinstock

Ashford Jigsaws

We have just a few copies left of a 1,000 piece Jigsaw of Ashford. The featured photograph is High Street 1901, Ashford.

Why not create your own Jigsaw for Ashford from 4 favourite Frith photos of the area? Available as 520 piece or 1,000 piece Jigsaws, you can choose any four Ashford photos, or choose photos from other places too.

Ashford area books

Displaying 1 of 4 books about Ashford and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Ashford

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Shropshire memories

Growing Up....war Years

Earliest memory was the wedding of my uncle, Harry Copnall...this would have been in the 1930s though before war was declared in 1939. My next vivid memory was an anniversary Sunday at the Methodist chapel in the village. This was in the early 1940s and a very sad day for the Copnall family, my uncle Harry had been killed in the war, leaving a widow and baby son. I remember Mildred Ratcliffe was about to sing 'Land of Hope and Glory as our family left the chapel, although I, as a young child knew nothing of this until much later when I found my father sobbing in our garden at Station Road. Only twice did I see him cry and the second time too was upon the death of a friend, Vic Grocott, a well known local business men. Prees was a thriving village in those days, we had three general stores one with its own bakery. Two sweetshops, one of which also sold vegetables and various grocery items,... Read more

Life in Prees

I have great memories of living in Prees from 1958-1968, my late husband's parents, Wright and Gladys Speed had lived in Primrose Lane in the village for many years. We moved into the house next door which is now the kennels. My husband had lots of family living in and around the village, including Nellie and Vic Grocott (whose son still runs Grocontinental). Our 4 children loved living in the village and have lots of fond memories of our time in Prees. They would be out for hours during the summer months. Prees club was a great place to meet up with friends, and we've hosted many a family party there. There was a young girl evacuated to Prees in the Second World War who stayed with Mr & Mrs Minshall, she loved her life in Prees so much that she remained there for the rest of her life, that's the sort of village it is.

Shelly And Sarah Stanway

I only have sad thoughts of Prees, my sisters Shelly and Sarah stanway were killed in a house fire in 1992 and I have no memories of them. Sadly I was only 13 months old at the time, wondered if anyone knew what happened as it's too painful for my parents to talk about.

Buntingsdale Hall And Farcroft.

Buntingsdale Hall 1899
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My first posting as as an L.A.C. Chef in the R.A.F. was to 22 Group H.Q. at the hall in May 1953. I was eighteen at the time and was to become chef to A.V.M. Merton in his residence, Farcroft in Market Drayton.
I reported to the guardroom and was then whisked up to meet the A.V.M. by his P.A. F/Lt. Jan Badini who I was told was a Polish Count. I think he must have been as he later told us about hunting wolves on his estate in Poland before the war.
I was later to live in Farcroft cooking for the A.V.M., his wife known to us as 'Agie' (behind her back), Cpl Davis, Pete Redcar and another batman called O'Gorman.
It was a quiet life for about a year before I was moved on to R.A.F. Bridgnorth.
The main thing I remember there was Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, coming to dinner and staying the night. I was given an audience the following morning with the Duchess... Read more

Lock Keepers at Tyrley.

Tyrley Locks 1911
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My great grandfather worked as a lock keeper at Tyrley at the time of my grandmother's birth in 1883.  My great grandfather named William Nixon married an Elizabeth Timmis whose father and brothers also worked as lock keepers at Tyrley and lived there.  My grandmother Eva Nixon married Henry Thacker and he too lived near Tyrley and worked as a 'lengthsman' on the canal.

Betton Hall

Betton Hall 1899
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I was looking at the photo of Betton Hall and I think my aunty used to live there, Joyce Allen.

Betton in The 1940s-50s

Betton House 1899
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I remember Ramsdons living at Betton House in the 1940s - 50s.  I myself lived at Moss Lane Farm, Betton from 1939 to 1959.  My fathers name was Arthur Holland.  I also remember delivering the newspapers to Betton House and that there were several small yapping dogs.  I think after that Tellwrights lived at Betton House.  Brenda Bailey nee Holland.

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