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Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill photos
Displaying the first of 12 old photos of Biggin Hill. View all Biggin Hill photos
Biggin Hill maps
Historic maps of Biggin Hill and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Biggin Hill maps
Biggin Hill area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Biggin Hill and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Biggin Hill
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Biggin Hill.
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My Birthplace
I was born in Norheads Lane before ww2 but sadly had to leave at the outbreak of war. The bungalow I was born in was called Burghill and my grandparents lived nearby at a house called Sheridan which has now been replaced by townhouses as far as I know. I also had relatives further down Norheads Lane. I haven't been down there again for many years and even the last time in 1980's it had changed beyond recognition. I remember the shop called Temple's and the greengages we used to pick on our way home from this shop. Happy Days !!!
Kent memories
Jobseeker in New Addington, 1977
I'm sorely puzzled. The New Addington Hotel I saw in March 1977 had twin Dutch gables. And it was rather handsome.
Anyway, I then went on to a job interview in Vulcan Way (Holt's). "You get 45 minutes for lunch. We fetch in our own" How about the Hotel? "Any good with your fists, Mr Kingsbury?" In the event, no problem. Didn't get the job!
King Henry's Drive
My parents were one of the first people to live in King Henry's Drive, in the year 1951. The houses had only just been built. I remember a lot about New Addington. There was a gypsy camp right at the end of the road, and I can recall seeing a young gypsy boy, riding a horse along the road, bareback, and his long hair blowing in the wind. The roads at that time were not made up, but soon after, the old steam rollers came along and flattened down all the tarmac. The gardens were not planted with any flowers and Dad had lots of turf delivered, which he laid by hand. On the night they moved into the house, they were asleep in bed when they heard somebody breaking into the house. My dad went downstars in his underpants, and when the burglar saw him looking at him, he screamed and ran, and my father chased him up the road, jumping over the garden fences...
I also remember the... Read more
Feather Bed Lane
Yes that's right. On a big corner turning from the London/Croydon Road. Feather Bed Lane seems to have ben so called as there were a number of poultry people along there. Mainly.. dreaded Geese!
An Uncle, Aunt and cousin with whom I spent many holidays and other times, had a poultry/orchard smallholding, high upon on a steeply sloped property, above that turning. I see from googlemaps that it has probably been re-developed.
My cousin Stephen & I had all kinds of adventures on that place, and I recall our trips down the lane to the big Yew Tree woods at the far end of the lane.
I had a tricycle with the rigid, solid wheels - most unsafe and scarey fun from the top of the property by the house, doooowwwn to the curve of the gateway!! Well I sometimes went by trike, at all of 4 or 5years of age, along the lane past the biggest Goose farm.Boy would they rush out and at you.
It... Read more
Castle Hill Close
I remember living in the post war prefabs,in I think it was called Castle Hill Close,number 4,right next to a power pylon.Yoy could walk across an empty field to the New Addington Hotel,then into Addington.I can always remember going with the local baker on a sat: morning delivering fresh bread from his van,pulled by a horse.The smell was wonderful.I'm pretty sure his name was Miller.In those days you could ride your push bike down to the Cricketers arms and back.Wheat fields across the road where we used to play and hide...long time ago.
I went back for a visit 10 years ago(from australia) where I now live,hardly recognized the place..lol.
Jim Young.
Born And Bred
My parents were one of the first to move to New Addington onto the Boots estate from Peckham before I was born. I have very fond memories of growing up there attending Wolsey infants and junior schools, moving onto Fairchildes secondary modern school, (didn't pass the 11 plus) opting out of evening classes to go to the Hilltoppers club. I loved every minute of it. One of my sisters was involved in the Carnival and the organising of the begining of the Hilltoppers and the pictures (cinema) that was held at the community centre. I eventually moved away on marrying a thornton heath man, not a good move!! Visit NA occasionally and feel much at home, although some seem to think it not a good place, what is!!!
Boarders
When I was just a little lad - my dad was the senior carpenter for Croydon and I remember that one summer school holiday I was with him in his lorry and we marked out the boarders of New Addington with chestnut fencing. One year I was one of his guests at the annual dinner at Brighton a 14 course affair and - I suppose because of his position in the borough - I was also invited to meet the mayor at a mayoral feast.
