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Downe
Downe maps
Historic maps of Downe and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Downe maps
Downe area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Downe and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Downe
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Kent memories
I Never Caught A Fish!
I remember as a young lad, cycling to Keston Ponds from my home in Nunhead, my brother's fishing rod tied to the cross-bar.
I was disappointed not to catch a fish.
Ken Cook
Greyhound, Fox & Central Garage
This photo has the 3 places that were a big part of my early working life. I worked in the garage from 63 through 69, the owner was Charles Holland who lived next door, we used the fox pub most evenings & weekends and were friends with the landlord John Leahy who drove a black & white Zodiac convertable. The Greyhound supplied our rolls for the mid-morning tea break in the garage and was run by the Mr & Mrs Redmond. Be great to hear from anyone with similar memories. daha.ing@gmail.com
The Lakes
My grandparents lived in Heathfield Road all during and after the Second World War, my granddad was responsible for looking after the boat house and I think a punt for pulling out drowned swimmers, now all gone, he also looked after the swans. My mum and dad and I would visit most weekends and after lunch we all would walk through the woods and sit and watch the fishing going on, then I would play on the stepped waterfall with any other kids that were about. Those were wonderful days. I remember the aircrew who were billeted in some of the big houses, now many of those have also gone, the lakes and common were a playground for me all during the war, happy days. Sunday evening and mum, dad and I would catch the No146 bus at the Fox back to Bromley on our way to New Cross with the thought that we would be back in Keston the next weekend.
Growing up in Farnborough
The picture of Farnborough High Street facing the A21 at Farnborough Green evokes memories of the sweet shop, Hills the newsagents, a small "supermarket", the butcher's shop and a small shoe repair shop.
To the left of where the picture was taken was the old Scout hut where once a week us younger boys congregated in the Cubs. Straight ahead in the picture is the old Farnborough Primary School that I attended until 1956.
The old houses are still there in 2008 as is the A21, a little busier than it was in 1955!! The newsagents disappeared to be replaced by a house only recently. The sweet shop became a supermarket and the old "supermarket" is now an Estate Agents. That's progress for you.
Change of Venue
The George and Dragon in Farnborough was the end of the 47 and 51 bus routes for many years. Drivers and conductors then adjourned to the Orange cafe or the little tea room nearby for a quick cuppa and a cigarette before their return journeys.
The view from the George and Dragon at this time was hardly interrupted by houses at all. You could see the A21 across the open land on which stood a solitary house owned, I believe, by the Quigley family. Now it is a housing estate with properties selling for £365,000 on a good day.
By the mid 60's the George and Dragon became my meeting place on a Saturday when I turned out for Farnborough Old Boys Guild at football. Sadly by the early 70's the Pub had been sold off and became a rather nice restaurant called simply "The George". Many a good meal have I had in The George and many a good night as part of Locksbottom Cricket Club... Read more
Farnborough Hospital
My memory of Farnborough was of the hospital, a wonderful old pub and the local cricket ground. Our first child was born in Farnborough Hospital. While my wife was in the hospital I was playing cricket for St. Mary Cray C.C. against the local village team. At one point in the match I left to visit my wife. On arriving I asked how she was. Back then they only had two answers to that question. You were either comfortable or dead. Thankfully she was comfortable. When I saw her she was in labour. I said to the nurse, "You call that comfortable?" and immediately staggered to the old coach house pub (whose name escapes me) which was just a few yards from the hospital entrance. After a couple of stiff whiskeys I was able to continue the game. As we have lived in the United States for the last 44 years I wonder if any of the places still exist. My guess is that the pub is the only survivor.... Read more
The George And Dragon
I lived in the George & Dragon when I was a small, I dont know maybe the late 1950s/early 1960s. Mum and Dad were the managers and I remember it being on an open road, almost countryfied, and it was a fabulous size for a child to play in! Hard to imagine it now pulled down, however so many of the pubs I once lived in have now gone and been replaced by flats, or McDonalds.
