Down Hatherley, Gloucestershire

Family of Fowler

Not a memory but an historical fact.  I have traced my family back to Leigh circa 1750.  The patriarch was Anthony Fowler, a carpenter from Bishops Cleeve.  He married Mary Attwood of Bishops Cleeve in 1749.  They had 10 children, all born and christened in Leigh.  They were Giles (1750-1752), Mary  (1752-1752), Richard (1753), Sarah (1755), Mary (again 1756-1756), Elizabeth (1758-1758),... [more]

War time memories

This is the department store Bon Marshe filmed from outside the post office, During the war, part of the store was taken over by the American forces and many a date was arranged, to meet under the clock on the far corner. I remember queueing most Saturdays outside to buy currant bread for a treat for Sunday tea, also nylons which... [more]

The Oxbode

This is a fine picture of The Oxbode, with the Bon Marché on the right and the old Boots frontage in Northgate Street at the end.
Barton Street it is not.

'Sabrina'.

I am certain the steamer is 'Sabrina' built in 1870 and was the steam inspection launch of the Directors and Engineer of the Gloucester and Berkeley Ship Canal, Gloucester. In 1912 'Sabrina' was owned by the Dock Company and did not leave their service until 1942. 'Sabrina' is still in regular use now on the River Thames and still... [more]

Finch Family

My great-grandfather was born at The Folly, Deerhurst in 1886 and moved to Walton, Deerhurst, his name was Thomas Finch.
Thomas's father was David Finch and his mother was Annie Finch (nee Jackson). We know that Thomas moved to Phelps Farm in Ripple, Worcestershire and he is buried in Ripple church but we don't know where David and Annie are buried.... [more]

Walks

Brockworth oh Brockworth, what a lovely village! I grew up there and my dad used to take my brother Melvyn and I for walks up the hill. Castle Hill and Coopers Hill. I remember walks from 1975 onwards, especially on the lower slopes of Coopers Hill where we used to stop at the spring and have some water from it. Boy... [more]

Engagement memory

My grandparents Annie Holland and Alfred John Heeks became engaged to be married at this spot. Both from Cheltenham, they were soon after married and emmigrated to Canada and settled in Manitoba, then finally in Alberta. My grandmother had so many wonderful stories about growing up there.

War time memories

I lived the war years in Gloucester and at weekends when the weather was great, my friends and I would take the bus to Cheltenham and spend the day at the lido. I thought it was a wonderful place.
There were massess of American service men stationed in the area at that time awaiting the assult of the D-day landings. Well,... [more]