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Coolham
Coolham maps
Historic maps of Coolham and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Coolham maps
Coolham area books
Displaying 1 of 24 books about Coolham and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Coolham
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Coolham.
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or of a photo of Coolham.
The Post Office And Stores
My family and I lived in the post office and stores when this picture was taken. I am Christine Sheldon, one of the twins of the Sheldon family. We loved living there, my dad was the baker and the shop sold everything - and even had a tea room. My twin and I lit a fire in the attic once with straw and set fire to the roof. Coolham is a wonderful place and we were very sad to see that the shop had been pulled down and was now flats. For a while we went to the Vikkage school on the opposite corner, which was fun, then we moved to Capel in 1952-ish to the bakery there. Happy days, Christine Grigg (nee Sheldon).
Coolham House
I had happy holidays at Coolham House with my Auntie Jean and Uncle Douglas (Colonel Cameron) when I was about 10 years of age. I remember there was a prisoner of war called Coconi (an Italian) working on the farm. I remember driving a horse and trap to the village. I no longer live in the area and I wondered if it still existed.
Hammer Cottage
I left Coolham 1n 1957 to go to sea to become a Salvage Diver. I was very fortunate to have achieved my ambition and became the senior diver within Admiralty Salvage. My family lived and owned Hammer Cottage, together with Saddlers Cottage plus some land near Oak Tree Farm. I hold the original deeds for this property back to 1800. Should any one in the village be interested, I also have some pictures of Mr and Mrs Harding who owned the carpenter's workshop next to the Selsy Arms and a house across the road from my home (three doors up from the old shop). My mother was Mrs Thurza Gandy who became Mrs Tittle. I also have one remaining picture of Coolham School assembly dated about 1955. Contact me on 01507442093
West Sussex memories
Mr And Mrs A Garland
I remember spending many happy times in Shipley, staying with my grandparents, Mr and Mrs A Garland, or Arthur and Edith (Arlie) Garland, at 16, Church Close, Shipley, Sussex.
I used to walk the dog with my grandad across the fields, and play games with the other children in the village - Mays, Goddards, Kings. They were happy, carefree times. I also used to go fishing in the river for eel and canoeing.
I remember the whist drives in the village hall, the old shop, where you could buy anything, the bus that took us shopping in Horsham. The allotments where Arlie and Grandad would grow all their vegetables, now sadly built on. Going to the Castle to watch the dogs and riders for the hunt going off, picking blackberries and primroses. Going to bell ringing practice, as I fancied Peter May at the time. I still remember pulling on the 'Sally' and what a beautiful sound came from the tower.
Sadly Arlie and Grandad have been dead for 23... Read more
Shipley School
My children attended the Shipley School, having only a total of around 50 pupils it was a very family orientated school. Mrs. Slack was the headmistress at the time, a lady who loved the pupils and the school, she even undertook training the football team, not an easy task for a woman to take on. The summer fete was something to behold, every parent was involved in making, creating and helping with the supply of goodies and running the stalls. People would flock from all around and fortunately the weather was always perfect for the fete. The school was involved heavily with the local Shipley Church and the minister would visit each week and on special religious occasions the children would walk down to the Church to take part in that occasion. Eventually the time came for my daughter to go on to The Weald, a huge school, and as a parent of a child used to being in such a small family orientated school there was a trepidation... Read more
The Post Office
I was born in 1933 and went to live in Broadford Bridge in 1937. There were two village shops, ours incorporated the Post Office. No electricity and when butter was required for the shop it was down in the well to keep it cool. The Bacon was in a metal box hanging in the tree.
When the war started my father was called up in 1939 leaving my mother to run the shop. The helpful postman delivered all the papers whilst doing his rounds. I cycled around on Sundays. No buses, it was cycle everywhere. I bred rabbits for food, taking them on my cycle to Steyning market for sale to earn pocket money.
Just before the outbreak of war my father installed a small engine which drove a generator giving 50volt lighting to our home, but still no power. The large accumulator batteries for this were installed on the first floor of the barn and needed regularly to be topped up with distilled water. I soon realised... Read more
Moved to Barns Green in 1958
My family moved to Barns Green in 1958 purchasing Cootes Farm and then Bachelor's Farm shortly after (hardly large enough to be called farms, but that was their names). I was 15 at the time and had many friends and fond memories of growing up in and around Barns Green.
If anyone that can remember me would like to swap memories I would be happy to hear from them. I was a little young when we moved there to take a very active part in the local pub, but this soon changed! I spent many happy days there with the great crowd of people my age in and around the Horsham area. My brother Alan who was eight years older than I played cricket for the local team as did I but not so much.
We moved to the Isle of Wight in 1963 where we purchased another couple of proper farms and stayed there until 1986 when I moved to the Caribbean.
Feel free to email... Read more
