Churt, Barford Stream 1906

Pride of the Valley

I used to camp as a child and teenager at Crosswater down the road [my father knew the then owner] and one of my memories is of driving past the hotel en-route from Farnham. I stayed here as a birthday treat in 2003 and went on walks around Frensham Common, and celebrated my 60th birthday here with family members in 2005. I have a framed photo of the hotel [1906] in my bedroom and have ordered the 'Crosswater Farm and the Devil's Jumps' print.

camping at Crosswater

From approximately 1950 when I was five to 1962, I camped almost every year with my family at 'Crosswater', either at Easter or Whitsun. The property was then owned by two Unwin sisters who allowed us to stay in the 'horses field' with our small caravan and tent. Permission was kindly given by Miss Unwin and latterly Mrs Unwin for we Londoners to stay there after my father Tony Clark had camped there with the 39th North London scout group in the 1920's in the hay-day of English scouting and subsequently with my mother Gladys. Crosswater and the surrounding area [which we always referred to as 'Frensham'] including the Big and Little Ponds of Frensham Common and the Devil's Jumps became like a second home to us.

Strattons Shop/Flat 1965 on.

My mother and my step-father lived in the flat above Strattons from about 1965? They loved it there and were very upset when they had to leave. Their names were Alec and Pam Munday. He worked as a plumber for Strattons. He died about ten years ago but my mother lives in Godalming now. My aunt Wendy Jones still lives in Churt in Green Hanger, and my uncle Danny Jones works in the Crossways Pub sometimes. We all used to live at Churt House Cottage off the Farnham Road for many years. I and my sister Susan went to the primary school in Fresham.

lloyd george

My grandmother was one of Lloyd George and Lady Lloyd George's land army girls. My family were very close to them.

Wayside cottages

My great grandmother Lilian Clark was born and brought up in the right hand cottage. The last family member to live there was my great uncle Frank Clark who died in the mid 1980s.