Nostalgic memories of Chelwood Gate's local history

Share your own memories of Chelwood Gate and read what others have said

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.

Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.

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Displaying all 7 Memories

I like these old photos of this site in Chelwood Gate, which I believe is known as Isle of Thorns ?. I visited Chelwood Gate in 1998 whilst attending Downsview Primary, this was when England were playing Argentina at World Cup 98. I can still just about remember the sports hall and the sleeping room. Can also remember a swamp or pond that was nearby as well, unless I'm getting that mixed up with something else. Was a decent trip. E Turan.
It was in the 1950's I was at Old Oak junior school E.Acton when i went on the trip,there was old army barracks there all in a line along the path into the camp,and the entrance had gates.I used to get chocolate from the tuck shop there with money my family sent me.We used to go into the woods and study leaves from different trees and put them in an exercise book,and we were awarded a shield if we ...see more
I remember a weeks holiday with mr clements walking through the woods to the local shop to buy our sweets and bottles of cydrax it was a marvellous time and one istill remember fondly
I was looking at a map of the area, and the mention of Chelwood Gate and the Isle of Thorns, brought back vivid memories of the camp. I was there with the school two summers running in 1957 and 1958, I think. I remember the huts, the sports hall and the swimming pool together with beautiful countryside running into the Ashdown Forest. I recall there were many rabbits there ,albeit that most of them ...see more
Spencer Baker was my grandfather's cousin. He grew up at Forest Farm, Chelwood Gate, son of Spencer snr and Susan Baker (née Lindfield). Spencer was a building contractor and at the age of 29, in 1909, he left Chelwood Gate to work in Saskatoon, Saskatchawan, Canada. Although this 1927 photograph of the Red Lion was taken 10 years after his death on 26th October 1917 in the mud of ...see more
I attended Southfield School in Gravesend, Kent and we had a week's summer camp at the Isle of Thorns, what an adventure, we were away from home for the first time, it was a holiday never to be forgotten even after all these years. I remember walking through the woods to the local shop to spend our money on Cydrax and sweets, kids today do not realise what delight can be got from simple pleasures.
I was a pupil at Michael Faraday at Westmorland Road, London SE17, at about 1953 when we went on the 'school journey'. I will add to this my first holiday away from home. One evening at just before bedtime after a few nights there in the dormitary one of the boys was very irritable and kicked another, which resulted in him crying followed by most of the rest of us because boy, were we suddenly homesick. The teachers must have been used to it I suppose... more to come.