Earlswood, the Common 1906

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??

Born in Redhill and I need help

Hello
I am seeking your help and advice.

My name is Jason Clarke. I was born at Knighton Road in Redhill in 1959. My father Ronald Sidney Clarke died as a result of a road traffic accident in Bridgewater in Somerset in 1962, and the family moved soon after this happened. I'm trying to locate anyone who knew us, in particular my father's relatives

my mum Joyce Clarke (nee Phipps) lived in Merstham at Ketton Green from her teens  
I know my parent at some time lived in the Batts Hill area and later moved to Knighton Road in approximately. I have so many unanswered questions and would love to put some pieces of the jigsaw together.

I am also looking for Graham Fitzpatrick who was the same age as me and lived in Knighton Road at the same time.

Redhill pool, hair spray and teddy boys.

I remember the pool at Redhill and the cardboard boxes for our clothes. Oddly I was only thinking of it last week when I was locking my clothes up at the gym, I was wondering how they tracked our clothes when we were kids. The pool had a balcony upstairs where parents used to watch us perform - we mucked about most of the time. I can remember my mum and her friend, Mrs. Smith, laughing their heads off after I'd called out proudly, "Watch me, Mum" and promptly did a belly flop. I also remember the Teddy boys outside the Coffee Bar on Portland Drive, we were school kids then and we'd watch them from over the shops, we were scared of them. I remember buying that Hair Spray from Miss Ann's Hairdressers on Portland Drive, it went on thick (it was like paint) and perfect for back combing the hair. I remember Saturday morning pictures in the winter months. Playing in the woods and feilds, bluebelling, camps in the woods, quiet long hot summers.... I remember playing Five Stones, Jacks and Run Outs. Most of all I remember laughing a lot. It was a very happy and safe childhood, we were so lucky. I pity the children these days.

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 much in the 1980s. It seemed to lose so much character. Has anyone else got any information on the old baths?