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Bisley
Bisley maps
Historic maps of Bisley and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Bisley maps
Bisley area books
Displaying 1 of 10 books about Bisley and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Bisley
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Thoughts of Bisley Rodborough Chalford And More.
1794 The year my direct ancestor was born in Bisley. It was not until I found my connection with him that I discovered that my roots started there. Abraham Davis for that was his name, was born, lived, married and came to a untimely end in the Bisley area. His death occurred on the 29th September 1851 when he accidentally fell in the canal at Rodborough and drowned. I am now itching to find out more about him and the area in which he lived, also families that were living there at that time. Some families may still be living there, indeed even some of my own. If I find anything unusual of local interest I will post it here. To finish, the places where I know Abraham and his family lived was, Bisley, Eastcombe, Chalford Hill and Rodborough.
Gloucestershire memories
THE WAR YARS 1939 1945
Hi I am Derek Hyde. I with my sister arrived in Eastcombe late afternoon on the day war was declared, Sept 3d 1939. We had been evacuated from Birmingam, we were to live with our grandparents for the duration of the war, we were the lucky ones to be with them, many others who came later did not know who they were to live with. We were related to the well known Bond family. I only ever remember very fond memories of all the people I got to know during that period. Boys of my age were Derek Dowdswell, Hedley Law, Maurice Greenwood. I worked on the farm owned by Mr Andrews. I was also a choir boy in the local church. I am now 76 years of age. I have from time to time revisited Eastcombe on my own and quietly sat on the green and reflected my life. No other place has ever had the effect on me that Eastcome has. My very best wishes to all in... Read more
Caravan Holiday With Mum
We stayed in a small caravan on Ridings Farm, owned then by Mr & Mrs Rand. We travelled by coach from Gosport, Hampshire. Catherine Hackett, my mother,adopted me when I was less than a year old, she was widowed and had 4 children of her own and as you can guess she was very special. Gosport is a naval town on the opposite side of the Portsmouth harbour. We had no television, no car and so I had quite a limited childhood. To then find myself amongst this truly lovely countryside and the introduction to cows, calves, piglets etc was awesome. We spent another holiday there some 4 or 5 years later and they were the only two holidays that I remember that we had. France Lynch has been in my memories all that time, it caused me thereafter to search for houses in the country and the farm experience, to give me my love for animals and I can happily report that I now... Read more
Early Life in Chalford
I was born in Chalford at "The Little House" in Chalford Hill in 1932 and lived there until March 1940. I was the youngest of six children who all lived in the cottage and have very lovely memories of both the cottage and the local school which I attended. My Mother was a local girl who was a clerk in the post office beore her marriage. Her name was Florence Emily Griffin, and she married my Father Christopher Hugo Chatteris in 1924 when they moved into "The Little House" prior to that the cottage was occupied by my Grandmother who died in 1932. I recently returned to Chalford, and although I remembered the hill was steep, at my now advanced years it was hard to believe how we used to walk up and down at regular intervals to the railway station when my brothers & sisters went off to boarding school. I think next time I would be better off using a 4 X 4.
The Old House
The first time I left Scotland was to visit my grandparents at the old house, Kay and Bill. I was excited, and after many trips we lived with them for a while. Papa always had a bag of pennies for us and Grandma introduced me to literature. At that time we shared a love for Cliff Richard. We moved to Rose Cottage, and had the best ever Easter when Laurie hid so many Easter eggs in the garden for us, there may still be some there! Gloucestershire is the only place in England that I would ever consider living in. Uncle John was the postie at that time. As kids we were very afraid of the story of lady in the lake. nowadays, I am convinced the old house was haunted, especially the 'dressing room' just outside Bill's bedroom. I also remember the day there was a fox hunt, and the fact that Laurie did not want these people on his land. I quite agree! I hope one day to... Read more
Firwood
1958 our family came from the US to settle our Aunt Ethel & Uncle Edmund Smyth's estate Firwood. Edmund had been the 1st Bishop of Lebombo, Africa & Ethel had been a missionary & painter. Firwood had a dairy on the property & my sister's & I played with twin sisters that lived there. The sisters had us go to Brownshill & ride a teenager's motercycle. I loved the village & people there. If anyone knows about Firwood or the people who now own it, we've heard it's called Smyth Estates. (I could be wrong) please contact me. ... Thank you for the fond memories. ....... Terri
My Grandmother
My Grandmother was born in The Round House, Chalford in 1901.
