Earlswood memories
Here are memories of Earlswood and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Earlswood or a Earlswood photo.
The Kiln
This most likely stood in my family's New Pond Brickyard. The family firm was W Brown and Sons. The New Pond yard existed from 1813 to about 1938.
Earlswood Brickmakers
This photograph was added to the Frith Website in 2006, I believe.
However, I think it was taken towards the West end of Earlswood Common. I think it is of my Great Grandfather's home, Mackrells. GGF William Brown was a master brickmaker. The family firm was at Mackrells for over 100 years, making bricks and pottery items.
William was Mayor of Reigate towards the end of the 19th Century.
Sadly, the house has gone. It was replaced by Council flats and a close of houses in the 1960's. The name lives on. The flats are grouped around a close called Mackrells.
I would love to share memories etc with anyone who remembers the family & brickworks. Any photos??
Memories of Surrey
Saturday Nights
What memories this building holds. It gave the opportunity for a lot of teenagers to have their first Saturday night outs. It usually cost 1s 6d entrance fee unless there was a fairly well known group appearing that night then it was 2s 6d. I attended Redhill Tech (my surname then was Watts) and worked on a Saturday in Woolies on the sweet counter and most of the day was spent chatting to various friends who used to come in and there would be great excitement in waiting for the evening to arrive.
I would rush home, wolf down some tea and then spend about 2 hours trying on outfits, usually wearing the first dress that I had put on. It was such an exciting time, minis were just coming in and there were clothes that were actually designed for teenagers and not trying to make them look like mini adults. One of my favourite dresses was a mustard coloured dress with black buttons and mock drop collars, oh I... Read more
Saturday Nights Out in The Market Hall
This is the place where I went to watch bands from about 1958 until they stopped in the 60's. First Saw Johnny Kidd & The Pirates here, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and later The Searchers, The Hollies, Brian Poole & The Tremoloes, Freddie & The Dreamers. Many of the local Bands used to play here as well. I lived for music then & still do, playing some Bass now and running Jam sessions up in Norfolk where I live now. Went to Reigate Priory School and later Redhill Tech. Used to spend my dinner hours when I was at the Tech in the snooker rooms above Burtons The Taylors. Great times!!
Swimming With The Fish
I would go swimming In this lower lake at Earlswood Common from about the age of 8 with a few friends. No adults were present or needed, we had all been taught how to take care of ourselves and help our friends. Even so, parts of the lake were about 8 feet deep in places so the rule was "stay in the shallows if you can't swim". We didn't take a towel just stripped off to our underpants and dived in and when we came out just waited for the wind and sun to dry us off. In the big freeze up of '63 we used have slides of about 50 metres on this Lake!!
High Street at Redhill
As a 16 year old, I was a boarder from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia at Saint Joseph's Convent, 122 Ladbroke Road. With me there were around 25 girls ranging from the ages of 4 to 17 years old and at least from 10 different countries from around the world. As far a Kenya, the Sood sisters, from Hong Kong the Leung and Ho sisters. And Jackie Lemaitre and Beatrice Velez, both from Cartagena de Indias and childhood friends. I would call our little boarding girl group a small NATO. In my first year at St Joseph's I was in 4th form. Coming from Cartagena de Indias, a very tropical and warm city, my first winter clothes were purchased at High Street. My friends Jackie Lemaitre and Beatrice Velez, both childhood friends and studying at St Joseph's with me, were my "personal shoppers". My first ever winter warm boots and gloves, etc. I remember going to the Post Office, to send letters and pictures home. I remember... Read more
Redhill Swimming Baths And Town
Does anyone remember the old swimming baths at Redhill? I started swimming there in the 1970s when it was still a Victorian building. The steps in the pool were of stone and the changing rooms were around the poolsides with wooden doors. You could pay to have a slipper bath! There was a young lady who gave you a box to put your clothes in and you had to remember the number on it to get it back after your swim. Sometimes we saw cockroaches scuttling on the floor. I joined the swimming club 'The Marlins' and trained every Thursday with Mrs Ditzel. She seemed rather fierce at the time but she was just trying to get the best out of us. I also remember certain little shops along Station Road, a lovely old-fashioned chemist and a children's clothes shop called Hancock and Bean. There was a nice boutique near there which sold Mary Quant clothes which my mother used to love. I was really sad when Redhill changed so... Read more
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