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Chelsfield memories

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

Childhood in Worlds End Lane

Worlds End Lane c1950
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I am almost certain that this photo shows my great-grandfather walking from Chelsfield village to our house. He did this every week with a sack of vegetables over his shoulder. He would never get in a car, and walked everywhere. He lived in the village and had 2 allotments behind the recreation ground where he grew everything from potatoes to soft fruits. You name it, he grew it. He died in 1953.

A memory of Chelsfield, shared by Marian Lee.

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The Shops

The Shops c1960
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I think the shop next to Bon Marche was Hoddinots (butchers) and the last 'old' shop was Stanley Marks (bakers) and then a record/electrical shop run by Don Skinner - then a betting shop? In 1966 I lived for a while in the flat above Centra supermarket, one of the 'new' shops. Other new shops I remember: Hayletts, Harlins (hardware) and a hairdressers on the end. Happy days.

A memory of Chelsfield, shared by Sandra Viner.

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The Shops I Remember

The Shops c1960
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I think the photo must have been taken in 1961 or 1962, as the "new" or "top" shops are there; the original parade from the 1930s are taller than the later ones which can be seen at the top of the hill.

From left to right, and as far as I can remember were:
Out of shot to the left Walker's grocers, to which I referred in an earlier memory; W Haselden the chemist, Maison Calypso (ladies hairdressers at rear, mens' barbers at front), Hardware and Domestic Store (I went to school with the son of the owner), White's Greengrocer, Bon Marche (sub Post Office, wool, toys and stationery amongst others), Lakers shoe shop, can't remember the next, Lucille (haberdashers), can't remember, Pearks Grocery, Coop Grocery, Coop Butcher, and the end shop (of the original parade) was always changing hands but was an electrical store for some time.

On the new parade, there was Guys and Dolls (clothing), Hayletts (confectioner and tobacconist) a pet... Read more

A memory of Chelsfield, shared by Bill Hayles.

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Crown Road And Warren Road

I was born in Farnborough Hospital in May 1949, and lived at No. 1, Crown Villas, Crown Road (later 18, Crown Road) from then until 1968. This house was one of the original set built when the roads were built early in the 20th Century. I later lived at 11, Crown Road (built in the 1960s next to The Bungalow) from 1980 to 1986. My parents lived at 18 Crown Road until they died in 1990. When I was a child, The Bungalow was occupied by the Marsh family; I was friendly with the son, Alan.
I also drove the local bus (route 493) between 1974 and 1978, so I have strong memories of the area.
I remember Mr. Libbiter and his nursery well; he had a fierce Alsatian dog. Like the other nurserymen (Wells' Nursery was where Crown Close now stands) he sold his land for housing in the late 1950s, early 1960s. The three roads - Crown Road, Albert Road and Edith Road, were... Read more

A memory of Chelsfield, shared by Bill Hayles.

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Woodside

I was born in May 1945, in Green Street Green - Highfield Avenue, and moved to Woodside, Chelsfield in 1949. I lived there until I married in 1966, so I have clear memories of Crown Road. Two roads led off Warren Road up to Crown Road, they were Edith Road and Albert Road. I have a clear memory of the house on the corner of Edith and Crown, owned by a family called Liberter? Mr Liberter had green houses where he grew tomatoes and huge chrysanthemums. If I smell 'real' tomatoes now, it takes me back to those days when I would ride my bike down to Edith Road and buy the tomatoes. Chelsfield was an idyllic place to grow up; there was very little traffic then and we had as a playground the road, to play cricket, skipping etc, the 'rec' woods -which had a huge crater made by a bomb dropping there, a corn field at the corner of Woodside and Warren Road and two 'dumps', one now... Read more

A memory of Chelsfield, shared by Sandra Viner.

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Very Early Memories!

I was born in Chelsfield in March 1945 at The Bunglaow, Crown Rd/Warren Rd. I was born on the day that the last doodle bug bomb was sent over by the Germans and it dropped not far from where I was born. I have been told that the midwife attending my birth grabbed me and dived under the bed and left my poor mother lying there! We were, however, all quite safe.

I was 3 when we moved from The Bungalow on the death of my father aged 40. But I do remember The Bungalow with the railway running at the bottom of the garden and remember The Golden Arrow going along the track.

I also remember a shop in the village called The Hot Cross Bun Shop which was located on the way to the station. I have only been back to Chelsfield a few times since 1948 so perhaps this memory was collected on a visit there.

I seem to... Read more

A memory of Chelsfield, shared by Janet Newton.

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Memories of Kent

4 Prospect Cottages Pratts Bottom

I was conceived in 4 Prospect Cottages, in 1931, the Clutterbuck family home. The cottages are still there I think and are just to the right in the photo of the cross roads. The land opposite the cottages was a council tip in the 1930s. I was actually born in Farnborough Hospital and we lived variously in farm cottages between Pratts Bottom and Green St Green, STG itself and later in Orpington. The view is along the main road towards Knockholt Station, Pol Hill, etc. The hill to the left led up past a duck-pond to Old Chelsfield and the church, where many of my family are buried. One of my father's sisters married Doug Parkes, one-time landlord of The Five Bells. Another of his sisters married Percy Kerridge and that family lived further up past Prospect Cottages, a few doors along from a Primary School. That road led to Halstead. Also to the left of Chelsfield Hill, there was a petrol station. This was some sort of factory during... Read more

A memory of Pratts Bottom, shared by John CLUTTERBUCK.

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Crescent Way Orpington Kent 1960-1968

Crescent Way c1960
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My family lived at 3 Downsway just off Southlands Avenue. I had two older brothers when we arrived and by 1966 I had two more and a sister. My older brothers and I attended Warren Road Primary and I remember many of my old teachers and classmates. My mother used to shop in Crecent Way Stores with Mr Cowell and Mr Ford, Barnes Greengrocers, where Chuff used to give me greens for my Guineapigs. Hayletts and Lipscombes were our sweet and toy shops. There was Storks the childrens clothing shop where mum used to get my Ladybird clothes, Maltby the fishmongers, the bakery on the corner. There was a barbers near the grocers and Beales the Ironmongers were round the corner. They are just a few of my memories. My old school friends were Paul Duffett, Geoffery Whelan, Ceri Morgan, Jane Harkness, Caroline Lawrence, Karen Bacon, Lesley Attrill, Kate Ashbee, Deborah Room, Anita Saunders. Where are you all now?
I am living on the Isle of Wight and have... Read more

A memory of Orpington, shared by Peter Browning.

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Happy Days of Crescent Way in The 1960's

The Crescent c1960
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A memory of Orpington, shared by Peter Browning.

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Crescent Way & Beyond

Crescent Way c1960
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My parents, sister Barbara and me, Brian, moved into 14 Oakleigh Gardens in 1938. Shortly afterwards Barbara and me enrolled at Warren Road School (the year it opened). Everything was perfect until 1939 when the Second World War broke out. We were too young to understand and headmaster Mr Stevens and his fantastic staff made sure things went on as usual. Air raid shelters were dug and many a lesson was held there. A bomb dropped in the school playing fields and blew all the windows out so we were unable to attend school. During this time lessons were held in people's houses. Barbara was evacuated to North Wales but I stayed at home with my mum as our dad was in the army. After the war in 1947 my father bought the Newsagents and Post Office on Crescent Way. My mother and father worked all hours running this 7-day-a-week business. In 1957 after I finished my National Service he asked if I would go into partnership with him to... Read more

A memory of Orpington, shared by Brian Lipscomb.

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1940s/1952

I remember the Palace cinema, Bill Evendon, Arthur Townsend, the butcher, theWhite family from "The Mount" where we tobogganed down when it snowed. I remember my friends from the Delaney family and old Ned Hugget's shop, Bruce's and Battles the baker. The Jarrets of Aynscombe Angle. My schools in Chislehurst Road and Charterhouse Road, my school friends from 1939 to 1949, so many memories. We now live in "Oz" but still come back from time to time.

A memory of Orpington

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