My Memories of Bilsington
I can remember moving to Bilsington village when I was just over seven years old.
I attended Bilsington Primary School and have clear memories of Miss Fellows (the headmistress). She had a kind heart I think but at the time she seemed very strict to me. She would take us off for nature walks and it was during these times that I learned to love the soft greens of the countryside. She would point out to us the wonders of the wildlife and plants and we would pick grasses and wild flowers to take back and decorate our classroom with.
Our Sports Days were held in the field opposite the school ( the one with the monument in) and I can remember having to clear the field of sheeps' droppings so that we could take part in the sporting activities without fear of falling in sheeps' poo!
We had school outtings once a year, and the school would be closed the day before (much to my mum's annoyance) in order to prepare for the outting.
We had a small vegetable patch at the back of the school playground and we would plant small crops of vegetables and marigolds under the watchful eye of Miss Fellows. She encouraged my interest in gardening, and this has stayed within me to this day. I feel we were lucky to have her as our teacher, although of course we didn't appreciate her at the time. She used to wear crimpolene suits and brown lace up shoes and I have memories of her having a gold coloured compact ... it used to fascinate me as a child.
I was a member of the choir and have fond memories of the kind Reverend Peacock who gave up lots of his time for us children. He took us swimming, on camping holidays and at Easter he gave us Easter Eggs.
Mr Stanger owned the village shop and my mum worked in there for a time.He used to deliver groceries to homes surrounding the village. I can remember his endless patience, while he waited for my brother and I to choose which sweets we wanted to buy with our little bit of pocket money.
I can remember Fenick's Garage but sadly that too disappeared and I can remember strawberry picking with my mum in the field behind school.
I will always treasure my memories of living in Bilsington. Times were often hard for my parents, but they always gave us what they could. They taught us to appreciate the wonders of the natural world by letting us explore the countryside and for that I will be eternally grateful.
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RE: RE: My Memories of Bilsington
Dear Creina
It was so lovely to read about your memories of Bilsington. We moved to Bilsington almost 4 years ago now. We absolutely love it, but there appears to be little evidence about how the village used to be. It has obviously changed a great deal. As a teacher, I would love to have worked in a school in my own village. My husband and I wish that the village shop still existed. We live at The Old House (2nd house up the hill, over the cross-roads) and although in many respects, it feels as though time has stood still here, I can't help but feel that the village you describe had more charm. When did the school, shop and garage close down and where were they exactly? Do you have any photos of the village as it used to be? I hope you feel able to reply to me. Look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Joanne Hoy
Comment from Joanne Hoy on Saturday, 7th May 2011.
RE: RE: My Memories of Bilsington
In the late 1950s and 60s I used to visit my great auntie Grace (Boulding) who lived at St Annes - first bungalow up the hill on the left. The house was named after my great grandmother, Agnes Anne Boulding, once of Parsonage Farm, Bonnington, Grace's mother, who Grace said was "a saint". Auntie Grace had once been a teacher at Bonnington School where she and her cousin taught my father. How I loved how the wind howled in the telephone wires - the only noise I ever recall when visiting Bilsington which was always to calm and quiet. The Stangers lived next door and they ran the village post office. I understand that an uncle - Easton used to live in the old house just up from the crossroads. He wrote a children's book about mice. Up the road at Hill Farm lived auntie's brother, Jesse Boulding, a grazier but my recollections of him are hazy.
Comment from David Boulding on Monday, 9th January 2012.
RE: RE: My Memories of Bilsington
In the late 1950s and 60s I used to visit my great auntie Grace (Boulding) who lived at St Annes - first bungalow up the hill on the left. The house was named after my great grandmother, Agnes Anne Boulding, once of Parsonage Farm Bonnington, Grace's mother, who Grace said was "a saint". Auntie Grace had once been a teacher at Bonnington School where she and her cousin taught my father. How I loved how the wind howled in the telephone wires - the only noise I ever recall when visiting Bilsington which was always to calm and quiet. The Stangers lived next door and they ran the village post office. I understand that an uncle - Easton used to live in the old house just up from the crossroads. He wrote a children's book about mice. Up the road at Hill Farm lived auntie's brother, Jesse Boulding, a grazier but my recollections of him are hazy.
Comment from David Boulding on Monday, 9th January 2012.