Visit To Grandparents

A Memory of Ashtead.

My father's parents (my grandparents) moved from Carshalton to Ashtead in early 1950s to a bungalow at 72 Chaffers Mead. We used to visit regularly from our home in Redhill by rail; a steam train to Deepdene, a run down to Dorking North and an electric train to Ashtead. When we moved to Godalming the journey was even more torturous, with two changes of train, until my father was given a car and we drove. I always remember Ashtead as being a very quiet place, particularly as most of the inhabitants of the bungalows around my grandparents were retired.

We sometimes used to go down to meet Mrs Ellis, who 'did' for my grandparents, who also worked at Budgens in Craddocks Parade. The bungalows in Chaffers Mead had very long back gardens, but we were never allowed to play much as my grandfather was fanatical about the garden and he was worried about his plants and flowers! I last visited Ashtead in 1974 when I went to clear out the bungalow with my aunt after both my grandparents had died. I presume it's changed a lot since then. Both my grandparents are buried in St Giles' churchyard.


Added 07 March 2016

#339225

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