The Sun Inn c1955, Dunsfold
The Sun Inn c1955, Dunsfold Ref: D68035
Memories of The Sun Inn c1955, Dunsfold
My Birth Place
I was born on the 23rd March 1947 in my grandparents' home, Hope Cottage to the right of the Sun Inn and next to Lloyds Bank. Nurse Caines was in attendance. To the left of the Sun Inn lived Lord King ex chairman of British Airways. In front of the pub was a pond that was filled in when the village went onto main drainage. The village boasted six shops, two petrol pumps, a bank, two pubs, a social club, village hall, barbers, allotments, infant school, church, seven ponds, seven dairy herds, cricket and football teams, hotel and Fire Station (still going today run by part time firemen). Sadly many are now gone. The telephone exchange was the first automated exchange in the country. We had an airfield that was used for Mitchell bombers in World War Two and later was used to develop and manufacture the Harrier jump jet. Famous people who have lived in Dunsfold are Diana Dors, Anthea Turner, Gary Brooker (Procal Harlem fame) and the Maskell... Read more
Hope Cottage & 11 Binhams Meadow
My first home was Hope Cottage next to the Sun Inn, Dunsfold. I am pretty sure that the cottage was owned by Lloyds Bank and my parents rented it from them. My grandparents, Stan and Madge Blay, also lived in the village and my father and his 4 brothers all grew up there. When my grandmother died and my grandfather retired to Devon, I moved as a very small child to 11 Binhams Meadow, which was my grandparent's house.
Dunsfold & local memories
Read and share memories of Dunsfold and Surrey inspired by Frith photos.
Dunsfold Village Stores
I recognise very well the photo of the Dunsfold village store in 1965 because it belonged to my uncle Bill Cox, who also ran a florist's and a taxi business from there. Before that, it had been run by a Mr Jarvis. The store was one of at least four shops in the village around that period - the others as I recall were the Post Office and draper's-cum-general store kept by Mt Erricker, the Country Stores a few yards further along, and a newsagent's round in Mill Lane. Some good few years before that, a lady named Nellie East had kept a bicycle accessories shop further along the Common. I believe the village is now struggling just to keep its one remaining shop and post office - village life has certainly changed in the last 50 years.
