On The Wandle 1894, Beddington
On The Wandle 1894, Beddington Ref: 34375
Memories of On The Wandle 1894, Beddington
River Wandle
I used to walk to and from school up the path on the right. It has hardly changed even to this day.
Beddington & local memories
Read and share memories of Beddington and Surrey inspired by Frith photos.
Grange Alarm Called In
My mom had the sweet shop on Croydon Road at Wallington Green. The fire alarm was sounded by Ken on his way home in the early hours after finishing his night shift. This was told to us, by Ken, at Mom’s sweet shop next day. Ken lived over the fish shop over the road from the Dukes Head. I went to see the damage with my girl friend Yvonne. The building was pretty much destroyed, although I managed to to remove a bronze window latch before being told by a fireman to move away from what was still smouldering in the basement of the Grange. I had the window latch for many years after. I’m not sure where the latch went in the end or my first love Yvonne?
The Grange Fire
I too remember the fire and going to see the ruins the day after. I had previously gone there fairly regularly for speech therapy while I was at Holy Trinity Primary School. I vaguely remember the rather ornate internal wooden panelling. At the time of the fire I believe the building also housed a dental office, and the gas cylinders periodically exploded during the fire, as I remember it. We could see the glow in the sky from my bedroom window - we lived on Queenswood Avenue.
Weddings
Fond memories..attending the church with my best friend Jean when we were at school, then in later years in our teens, showing off new outfits that we had shopped for in Croydon. So many weddings, including mine in 1960...so much has happened since then....
Terrible Fire
It was my 10th birthday in 1963 and my aunt failed to turn up for my party. There had been a dreadful fire that evening which destroyed the Grange. I remember as a child going to the grange to see the fish and feed the ducks in the pond there. It looked so big to me then, but probably wasn't, everything is big when you are a child. I cried when we went to see the ruins a few days later, and although it has been rebuilt now, it will never have the same hold on me as it did until the night of January 10th 1963
Summer Days Boating on The Lake
Wonderful memories this photo brings back. In the 1950's after school we would take girls out in the boats...then eat ice cream with soft drinks from the Grange cafe. Beddinton Park and the Grange were the best of times for young romance in the summer. Ron Shelley
Boating on The Lake Near The Grange
Another great photo for memories of Beddington Park and the Grange. There was a boat house and some paddle boats by the wooden bridge.
Ron Shelley
Queen Elizabeth's Walk And Carew Manor
When I was young I lived in No 2 Queen Elizabeth's Walk, fondly known locally as the "QE2" . On one side were houses but on the other was a wooded area where Queen Elizabeth I would walk when visiting the Carews; hence the name. The Female Orphanage was Carew Manor, owned by the Carew Family . Sir Nicholas Carew had been a childhood companion to Henry VIII. It is alleged that Carew Manor was used as a venue for Henry VIII's affair with Ann Boleyn. Not surprising really as Elizabeth Carew, his wife, was her cousin. Sir Nicholas' grandaughter, Elizabeth Throckmorten, married Sir Walter Raleigh, whose body (inculding his head!) is buried in the graveyard of the church next door to Carew Manor. Lovely history, which can be researched further on Wiki (obviously) and the Borough of Sutton website. Other memories of Beddington include being chased by stag beetles, great flying monsters who buzzed around in early summer looking for a mate and landing in your hair.... Read more
