Datchet memories
Here are memories of Datchet and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Datchet or a Datchet photo.
Manor Hotel Bar
A load of local young lads took over the hotel bar about this time, of all classes, much to the horror of residents and no doubt the owners, but they served Youngers Scotch Ale No 3 from the barrel, powerful stuff and cheap. Eventually we were asked to leave and frequented the Lord Nelson at Old Windsor (or was it the Lord Nelson we were asked to leave?). I dunno whether I oughta say about what we got up to (I played only a small part) as some might still live locally but fond memories of parties at Weavers, mud plugging on Dorney Common, rowing to the Donkey with 1/2" freeboard. The barman was one of us and would say "Cheers so and so" making out we had bought him a beer and pour himself one! Happy days!
1947 Floods.
Born in 1944 at no 2, Waterworks Cottages (later 123, Slough Road) on the corner of Castle Avenue. I have vivid memories of the floods, though only three at the time: Mother, Father, Sister and Self were confined to the (very small) upstairs for many weeks, as when the water subsided, downstairs was of course thick with mud and assorted unsavoury objects! (no main drainage in those days). Mother had only a single gas ring upon which to cook, washing facilities were rudimentary, and toilet facilities consisted of one Elsan bucket! Supplies were delivered mainly by ex-army DUKW amphibious vehicles, with Village Bobby P.C. Burr in charge, and well I remember him shouting at me to stand away from the window, and, having failed to do so, being struck between the eyes by a then very substantial Mars bar which he had launched with Constabulary zeal! The R.A.F. came around with huge hangar heaters in an attempt to dry out downstairs, but of course everything had to be thrown out,... Read more
Datchet Under Water 1947
1947 was the year that my parents, my sister and I moved to Datchet and the shops in this photo, taken 2 years before, are so familiar, even now. Not long after having moved here, the snow which had lain thickly on the ground for many weeks, began to thaw. The Thames eventually broke its banks, due to the volume of water now finding its way from further up river and the whole of the village green was under water. Our house, very fortunately, was not flooded but I can remember my parents taking up carpets and moving furniture upstairs (just in case) Also coming down to the water's edge by the International Stores and waiting for punts bringing food etc. across the water and the people trading from their boats. As no buses could get through to take us to school we had to be picked up by lorry and taken to the main road in Langley to pick up a bus for the rest... Read more
Memories of Berkshire
Herbert's Supply Stores Eton High Street
My Great-Great-Grandfather William John Herbert established the Herbert's Supply Stores seen to the right of this photograph. The stores were made of twenty four departments and held the Royal Warrant for Queen Victoria, the Empresses of Russia and Germany, and many minor royals from across Europe. Following a fire in 1896 the building was rebuilt as seen here. The business became Cullum's Garages during the mid 1920's.
Burning Bush
Dad always called this the burning bush, I assume it was the first public lighting they'd seen.
Granny Trotter
Immediately on the right here was Eton College's Rectors House (?), mum's mum was cook, she was a WWI widow with 5 kids and walked daily from a railway slum in Stoke Gardens Slough. When mum left school in the 30's at 14 and was too young for work the rector's wife said to gran to bring the girls along (Nell, mums older sister), mum was "tweeny" (in-between stairs maid) and hated it. Rector took them all on a "holiday", I think to Littlehampton. The girls were laughing at some joke, sitting on the lawn with their mum when they were told off by the rector's wife and given some sewing to do. Mum swore she'd never go into service and got a job packing razor blades, cutting her fingers. Gran also did a "bagwash", washing packed in a pillow case, mum collected and delivered it in an old pram, gran caught her hand in the mangle. A treat was a rabbit which one of the boys caught whilst caddying... Read more
Move to Horton
I think it was about 1986 when I moved to Horton, I was around 7 years old. We only moved from Wraysbury Road near Staines but it may as well have been 500 miles, leaving all my friends that lived all along the road to moving to Horton. There wasn't that many kids in Horton back then. We moved into the house next door to the Five Bells pub, a large detatched 4 bed house, it felt like a mansion house. Darlaron was the name of the house because the owner of the house, Stan Errett's granddaughter, couldnt pronounce the real name...my mum and dad changed it to Forge Cottage. Horton has changed a lot in the years since I left. The pubs have had many different owners! A lot of new houses and apartments have been built. When I moved to Horton the close where my sister lived until 2011, Champney Close, was a paper mill. Me, my brother and our friends would jump the wall on the weekends... Read more
Growing up in Horton
I lived in Horton from my birth to my 22nd year. I went to the Horton Church School first in 1941. There was a separate playground for both boys and girls, and a small door leading into the shelters. When the air raid siren went we all had to go into the dark, windowless shelters until the all-clear. One day a Nazi plane machine-gunned the pavement near the school. Being a church school, we sang "Now The Day Is Over" at the end of every school day. I thought it very mournful! Mr. Brown had the Grocers' shop near the school, and one section was a post office. Opposite, was Mr. Dove the newsagent and his shop was divided into two, the other side being for greengroceries. A tiny Horton Bakery served the schoolchildren with buns for morning break. Not too far away lived the then Queen Elizabeth's aunt (Lady Bowes-Lyon) -down a long winding lane with a river running... Read more
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Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Thornton Heath, Surrey
- Raby, Merseyside
- Crook, County Durham
- Maidenhead, Berkshire
- Strood, Kent
- West Hartlepool, County Durham
- Salford, Lancashire
- Sedlescombe, East Sussex
- Fleetwood, Lancashire
- Thurstaston, Merseyside
- Cwmaman, Mid Glamorgan
- Nant Ffrancon, Gwynedd
- Ilfracombe, Devon
- Rustington, West Sussex
- Golders Green, Greater London
- Beeston Castle, Cheshire
- Boxley, Kent
- Blaenllechau, Mid Glamorgan
- Kempsey, Worcestershire
- Maesgeirchen, Gwynedd
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