Belchalwell, Dorset

Small but pretty

I grew up here, a tiny hamlet underneath Bulbarrow Hill. My grandfather and father are buried in the churchyard. My mother still lives here and is a great stalwart of this tiny community.

Second World War welcome home plaques

I have lived in Shillingstone since 1977.  By default I seem to have become the village archivist.

In March I was given 14 brass plaques, still in named envelopes, which were meant to be presented to individual soldiers returning to Shillingstone after the Second World War. They were produced by the Parish Council Welcome Home Committee, under the chairmanship of... [more]

Coronation Day in Shillingstone plus other memories

I can remember Coronation Day in Shillingstone, the weather was not settled and there were showers, I can remember watching the crowning of the Queen on a TV which was in Mrs Fudge's house at the lower end of the village. In the afternoon we had a parade of fancy dress and walked to the recreation field where a fete was... [more]

Shillingstone Station

I have always been interested in trains, and Shillingstone Station gives me some great memories.
I did not enjoy the best of health when I was young so spent a lot of my childhood down at the station, even on days when my asthma was bad, in the summer months when the line was busy I would take an old camp... [more]

The Central Stores.

My parents ran the Central Stores from 1951 to 1955, their names were Tony and Eunice Jeanes. The date of c1955 is about right as this was the year that my father and mother sold the business to Mr Dean, whose sign appears in the photograph. I was two years old when my parents took over the business and... [more]

Weekends with the Jones

We used to vist Kim and Dave jones in Mappowder every weekend after we met them in Barbados in 1995. Great friends and good fun. Very special times.

I lived and worked here.

I lived and worked at the manor from Sept 1986 to around May 1988, if anyone remembers me and wants to get in touch please email. j.goodwin007@hotmail.co.uk

Evacuation to Hanford House in war time

My sister and I came to Hanford House with the Wimbledon High School at the beginning of the war. After a year the school returned and the owner of the house, Mrs. Lister, collected a small group of teachers and offered to keep on any children whose parents did not want their children in London. We stayed two further... [more]