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 course, the church - but I couldn't find the Johnston named pew! I could write a book about Balcombe in those days - let alone 1000 words, but meanwhile I would be interested in any information about Monks. Does it have a website at all? Hoping for your interest.
Nev Robinson
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RE: RE: Evac
I think you may be getting your Monks a bit confused. The NT property Monks is actually about 15miles from Balcome about 24k, it's actually Rodmell near Lewes. It does have a website as it was the home of the writer Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard. They owned it from 1919 until 1969.
I was born and brought up in Balcombe.
May I respectfully suggest you may have lost your bearings over the years?
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-monkshouse.htm
Comment from Toni Stoner on Thursday, 21st January 2010.
RE: RE: Evac
Hello, I know it is a long time since you wrote your memory of Balcombe but I have only just come across it and hope you may still read this.
My father lives in Monks in Balcombe! He has been there for about thirty years now. The house is on the London road about 3 miles out of the village on the right hand side. It's down a short drive which also takes you to Monks farm. I'm sure it must be the house you are talking about and if you answer this message I will send you a photograph. I live in Italy but visit my father, who is very nearly 92, as often as I can.
Comment from Patricia Cicognani on Monday, 6th September 2010.