The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here:

Combe memories

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

Combe

I was born and brought up in Combe, born in Slate Cottages, the second one from the end as you go past, my parents also lived in the end one. I spent most of my young life living at Rights Farm, until I got married and left to live in Hungerford
Combe was then a great place to spent your youth, I always said I would like to live there once I was married, but things change, different places from around the world seem better. I fell in love with Tauranga, New Zealand, but Combe is still in my heart, my parents are buried there.

Memories of Berkshire

Ancesters

My great grandmother was born in Kintbury in 1844. Her name was Sarah Holmes she married somone with the surname of Millin. She eventually moved to London and became Sarah Horne. Is there anyone in Kintbury today who recognises these names?

Can a local historian tell me about Kintbury in the 19th century?

Jenni Morris

Highclere When I Was Young!

I am the eldest son of the Mills family, we lived in the stable yard at the rear of Highclere Castle, at the age of 5 I went to Highclere primary school, a Miss Baker was the Head, assisted by the Misses Eva and Cissie Thirkell. The school is now a private house, has been for some years, it was situated just below the lodge gates of the Carnarvon estate. Was a long walk from the Castle to School, I remember the winter of 1947 a lake called Red Pools froze solid, great fun on that! and the free milk froze, had to be thawed by the classroom stove!. Later joined the Choir at St Michaels and all Angels church, just below the school, Rev Wormald in charge then, on one occasion for some reason I was the only choirboy that turned up, I had to lead the singing solo! I later joined the Bellringing team, ringing master was a Geoff Dodd, after this a gang of us used to gather outside... Read more

Best Place to Live

Bridge Sreet 1903
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

We moved to Hungerford in 1987 just two months before Michael Ryan shot 14 people. See that white house way down on the left with one window in the top, well I lived in the house just after that. You can't see it very well but it is sited on one of the old mills and is called Mill Hatch. So called because the hatch where the water turned the wheel is still in the back garden. We had trout that lived in the garden and I would fish for them with string and bread but no hooks. They took the bait immediately and I would be able to lift them out of the water before they slipped off the string and fell back into the water. I wonder if they are still there?

Roxtons Doorway

Bridge Street c1960
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

We lived for 9 years a few doors behind where the photographer is standing. The shop with the awning on the right was Roxtons, a very trendy 'hunting shooting and fishing' shop where you had to be landed gentry to get in the door. If you were to watch from our upstairs window shortly after closing time, every night, the same guy would stagger up the road and have a pee in Roxtons doorway. With his heavy beard, and the same annorak worn every night in every weather, it was a most disturbing spectacle! I wonder how the paintwork is standing up?

Tracing my Family

Bridge Street c1960
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

Hi can anyone help, I am trying to trace my family tree, the lady I am looking for is Kate Collins, she was a maid in service to a Lord Cutlip/Cudlip?

Memorybank total

We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.

You've shared 28,861 memories of 5,948 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!

Browse memories button

Find Memories

Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.

Start by searching for your favourite places

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:

How does it feature in your personal history?

What are your best memories of this place?

How has it changed over the years?

How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?

Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?

Start now!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.

Your memories

To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here

I Remember When...

I Remember When

This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.

A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.

Learn more button Save 25% on I Remember When when you order now!
Home > Explore your past > Combe > Memories of Combe

© Copyright 1998-2012 Frith Content Inc. All rights reserved.