Whitepost Hill 1907, Bletchingley
Whitepost Hill 1907, Bletchingley Ref: 57492
Memories of Whitepost Hill 1907, Bletchingley
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Bletchingley & local memories
Read and share memories of Bletchingley and Surrey inspired by Frith photos.
Selmes Butchers
I remember being sent to Selmes the Butchers to buy my Mother Mrs Dora Maynard, cuts of meat. The floor was covered in sawdust and there was a little cashiers office at the end of the counter. It always had a very friendly atmosphere although I used to cry when I saw the animals being unloaded from the lorries into the slaughteryard. Once or twice I saw them escape. Helen Swabey (Formerly Maynard)
Place Farm
I was born in Redhill at Earls Wood Hospital in February 1944. I lived at Place Farm until 1955. I remember all the celebrations for the coronation of Elizabeth 2nd as we watch a black and white TV. The entire village celebrated with street parties and dancing. I have very fond memories of my childhood there.
My Time in Godstone
I was baptised at St Nicholas church, we were then living at the Homestead vicarage. After a short time living in Sussex we moved back and lived in 13 Salisbury Road. I went to the school riding on my bike. We played by the bay pond, and used to slide up and down at the sand pits. I love the walks by the church and over the fields, and all the lovely lanes, Bull Beggars Lane, Flower Lane and Church Lane. My granddad helped to build the house in Salisbury Road, I wish I knew him, he died before I was born, his name was Alfred Streatfield, and mine then was Rosemary Waite. Godstone still feels like home, even though I had to leave many years ago.
Castle Hill House
This is Castle Hill House bought that year by Augustus Brandt of William Brandt's and Sons bank, my Great Grandfather. Mostly now demolished, and the rest converted into flats.
Childhood Memories at Tilburstow Farm
I lived at Tilburstow Farm through the 1950s, my dad was head herdsman on the the farm. My name back then was Margaret Robb, I have so many memorie,s of that beautifull place, the bluebell woods, primroses, walking for miles with my friends, we walked miles to school every day, first the school in South Godstone , then when I was older, Bletchingley. I remember taking my dad his pint mug of tea every morning while he was milking the cows, I always got sixpence to spend, I would save it up all week, then on Friday I would go to the ahop on the green in Godstone to buy a farm animal or something for my toy farm, they were such lovely times. I'm now living in Canada, have been back a few times and always visit the old places. Tilburstow Farm is no longer a working farm and there have been lots of changes, but it's just so lovely to have the memories and share them with my... Read more
Selmes Butchers
My father Francis Coppard worked here as long as I can remember until his death in 1957, he delivered the meat as well as slaughtering the cattle. I always remember his job on Saturday morning was to make sausages for the owners and staff and Saturday night supper was these fantastic tasting sausages, they do not taste like that today.
Small Boy on Donkey
The small boy on the donkey is my father, Arthur Wallis, born 1904 in Bletchingley. The man standing to the right is my grandfather, Arthur Wallis senior, born 1862 in Bletchingley. Arthur Wallis senior was the licensee of the Red Lion Inn and later the proprietor of the newsagents in the background. The Wallis family came to Bletchingley early 1700s and for 200 years carried out bricklaying as their trade.
Childhood
Looking at the pictures takes me back to my childhood, having lived in the village for 20 years. My home was at the end of this slip road behind the large hedge. I remember walking down to the bakers and to Taylor and Bristows, to me was like an Aladdin's cave, and then on to the butcher for steak for my dog. The village has changed but many things have stayed the same, only older. I still go back for the odd walk round. It was great to find this web site.
The Cottage of Content?
I have never lived in Bletchingley, but my paternal grandfather, Alfred David Balcombe, was born and raised in the village. My great grandfather was a publican - at The Cottage of Content - but had died when my father was a young boy. My great aunt and uncle remained unmarried and continued to live in the property, although I'm not sure if they continued to run it as a public house. My great uncle was also a blacksmith. Sadly, the building was demolished sometime during the 1960's. I would love to know if anyone has any information regarding the family/property before then. My only memory is going there for tea once - there was a big, sunny room with a huge mirror on the wall on the end of the building and a large brass wheel on the bar wall - a type of musical 'box'? Can you help?
Church Walk
We moved to Bletchingley in 1958 [then spelt Blechingley] to no1 Church Walk [my mother named it Obberds]. I remember Selmes the Butcher and the animals being unloaded for slaughter, horrible. My dad and I would go fishing on Sunday mornings and catch pike which would be wieghed on Selmes's scales and then consumed by us for Sunday lunch! We owned nos1, 2, 3 and the old works where my Dad [Clyde Willats] ran an engineering business and we had a collection of vintage cars, Alvis, Morris, MG, Sunbeam etc. I now live in South Africa which I love and my brother and I are in the process of selling the Old Works which really is a bit of an eyesore! As a young man I loved Bletchingley and sometimes regret leaving!
Grossmith Families
My family members named Grossmith lived in Bletchingly for over two hundred years from circ 1600 to 1800. Their are named on the church records. I would be delighted to know if any Grossmith's still live in the area
Carol Anne Slater
Bletchingley
I grew up in Bletchingley and have just been looking at the photos of the village which provoked a lot of lovely memories I would like to see a photo of the post office during the 70's,which when i left the village in the late 80's was Lawrences auctioneers,can any one help.I remember going in the post office as a child and seeing a lovely wooden counter and smelling ground coffee which was ground in an old fasioned coffee grinder on the end of the counter.
