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Botley memories

Here are memories of Botley and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Botley or a Botley photo.

The Bugle Inn Today

The Bugle Inn c1960
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This great pub has things happening every day - super food and fine beer. The website for the Bugle Inn is www.thebugleinnbotley.co.uk

Josephines?

Not really a memory but I wonder if any of you folk remember a florist shop called Josepine's in Botley, I believe it was on the Hedge End road. She was a Barfoot and a sister of my nan, I think!
Any memories would be great ... a photo magnifico.
I have family in Hedge End and my Grandad had a shop called HG or WG Ferris in the Bitterne area, this info is all new to me so I will be down to Botley soon and have a pint at the Bugle where I've learnt my dad was a regular.
My email is: donnamilee@yahoo.co.uk
Thanks,
Lee Ferris.

Memories of Hampshire

Ferris

Not really a memory but just wondering if anyone can recall my nan, Millicent Ferris, nee Barfoot. I didn't really know her but my father has told me stories about her and if anyone knew her, either from Hedge End or even when her and Granddad had the shop near Bitterne, it would be great - any photos even better!
My email is: donnamilee@yahoo.co.uk   
Thanks,
Lee Ferris.

Swanwick Shore

Moody's Boatyard c1960
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This shows Swanwick Shore Road about 1 mile away from Sarisbury Green at the bottom of the hill. The road came off the A27 roughly opposite the Red Lion Inn at Lower Swanwick and followed the shore of the River Hamble through Moody's Boatyard. At spring tides, this road was often covered at this point at high tide. My aunt and uncle lived in a houseboat at the end of the road - about 150 yards from the point where the road disappears around the bend to the left. They moved there in 1958 and I lived with them from Jan 1968 until June 1970. I walked along the road everyday to and from either the station at Bursledon or the bus stop for buses to Woolston or Southampton opposite the Red Lion.

I Lived on Mtb234, by John Dowsett

River Hamble c1955
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My parents bought this boat from a Mr and Mrs Bailey who had purchased it at Government auction and converted it into a houseboat. The Baileys later moved to Bursledon. When Dad and Mum got the boat the bows were turned to the sea, this was changed when she was put up on stocks for cleaning and now faces the shore. My life as a young lad revolved around this boat and the River Hamble, I have nothing but fond memories of adventures and fun, and often think of all my family and friends. I believe she was sold for preservation in 1980. I moved to Australia in 1966 with my wife Maureen, I would love to find out where my old home now lies.

Houseboat Mtb234

My aunt and uncle, Mr and Mrs Arthur Dowsett, moved to Lower Swanwick in 1958 when my uncle retired after working for many years as a signalman for BR. They bought a houseboat, a converted motor torpedo boat, mtb234, which at that time was moored at Swanwick Shore, a little way along from Moody's Boatyard. I spent some time staying with them during school holidays and from Jan 1968 until June 1970 I lived with them while studying at Southampton University. It was cold in winter and hot in summer, but was a fascinating place to live and a real experience! By the time I left in 1970, there were only 2 houseboats left, whereas in 1958 there had been a whole row of them moored along the foreshore. The boat itself had quite a history to it, having been the flagship of the fleet that sailed out of Lowestoft during the Second World WAr in the charge of Commander Peter Dickens DSO, MBE, DSC who wrote the book 'Night Action -... Read more

Houseboats in The Picture of Bursledon Bridge

The Bridge c1955
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In the photo are several houseboats and yachts moored up to the bank on the LHS of the picture; I used to live on the large white motor torpedo boat (originally called 'Hippocampus') which can be seen between the wreck and the large wooden, armour plated 'LCS' ('Landing Craft/Support'), when she was moved from the River Hamble to the River Itchen in 1974. I renamed her 'Whimsical Macgoffley'. She was built in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, at the J. Samual White Shipyard, launched in 1944, and was one of six MTBs (numbered S-5 to S-10) and manned by the Polish Navy. (Her number was S-8 during WW2 and she was eventually returned to the Royal Navy as HMTB 427 at the end of the war). She was 'up for disposal' by the Admiralty on 18th December 1945 and sold sometime after that date to a Mr. A. Aitcheson. In 1949 she was on the berth shown in the photo which was at 'Deacon's Boat Yard', downstream from Bursledon... Read more

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