Britford, Wiltshire

Life in the park.

I was born in Longford Park in April 1942, my father was "Bill" Ashman, head gardener to the Earl of Radnor from 1940 until 1965 (approx).  My younger brother Peter and I were fortunate to have been brought up in the relative calm and prosperity of the Longford Estate immediately after the war.  Many reminders of the estate's wartime role were... [more]

GIBBS MEW BREWERY

Does anybody remember Gibbs Mew Grewery on Gigant Street?

The Old School

My place of work. I have done a lot of work on collecting archive photos and making electronic copies of some of the many fascinating letters and articles written by the old girls 1880's to present.

Street Where I Live

Nice to see that not a lot has chnaged since this photo was taken to what it is like to day.
More cars and people now of course.

the Town Path

Have seen this view many times in my younger days back in the late 1920s and early 30s, just after crossing the footbridge over the river, when on my way to see my dear old gran at Harnham. I can still remember the smell of the old mill.

Re Bodenham village

Our Gould family moved from Buggs Farm to Bodenham and lived next door to the Post Office in a long row of cottages that can still be seen from the main road.
They must have moved somewhen shortly after 1901, g granny was still living there in the late 1920s. One of the sons, Horace was working on a farm... [more]

My Family

My father's family lived in Charlton from the late 1880s to the mid 1900s. My grandfather was a shepherd & after farm foreman for a Mr Charles Reid whose brother Bertie also had a large farm in the Charlton area. The village had a school which I attended in my early years & a village shop & bakery also selling haberdashery,... [more]

Dad''s panic

Dad was village copper for several years (our old Police House is now "Peelers" in Thorneydown Road) and had a number of people he got on well with.  He tended not to panic too often but one day a message came through that had him rush out in panic because of the loss of one of his friends, Pat Pocock from... [more]