My Early Years in Eastleigh
I was born at 15 Factory Road in 1936 and left to work in London in 1954. I cannot recognise the shops in the High Street photo. 'Detective' tells me that the view must be from the Factory Road/High Street corner, looking down towards Leigh Road, I do not recall any trees in the street. The left hand corner was Stubbingtons furniture, Greens greengrocers, The Salvation Army chapel (Mr (Major) Stubbington)) was in charge there, opposite was the Post Office and coming back up high street a newsagency, a 'ladies' shop, Mrs Luffman's confectioners (the story went that she was advised during wartime of the death of her son or husband, I'm not sure which, and instinctively put her hand to her head and when waking the following day discovered a palm sized patch of grey hair), a bit further up the local fish and chip shop, what was on the corner, a clothing shop perhaps? Then Blackman's confectioners and ice cream, a greengrocers, and after the war a re-opened men's hairdresser, a couple of houses and, on the corner of Market Street, a haberdashers. The only reason I have for thinking it is taken looking towards The Rec is because I was born in number 15 and that would be on the opposite side to the number 39 in the picture which must then be High Street and further down to Leigh Road would be the start of numbering.
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RE: RE: My Early Years in Eastleigh
I was born at 117A Market Street which isn't too far from you. We lived behind and above Ayley's Cycle shop - my father was Jim Ayley.
Comment from Valerie Davidge on Wednesday, 17th March 2010.
RE: RE: My Early Years in Eastleigh
I was born at 117A Market Street which isn't too far from you. We lived behind and above Ayley's Cycle shop - my father was Jim Ayley. We lived there until about 1952 when we moved to Nightingale Avenue and the shop was run by Terry and Cyril Ayley.
Comment from Valerie Davidge on Wednesday, 17th March 2010.
RE: RE: My Early Years in Eastleigh
Hi Valerie Ah yes Ayley's bike shop, an establishment that occurs in many people's Eastleigh memories, my dad used it as a source for building my bikes from spares etc unfortunately not an inherited trait. All part of the Swan development now I believe. I was recently contacted by another local who wrote from the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia just 30 km down the road from where I now live. He was from Chandlers Ford and we have taken to exchanging memories on a regular basis via email and I must remember this week to ask him if he too remembers Ayley's bike shop. Best wishes John Scott
Comment from John Scott on Thursday, 18th March 2010.
RE: RE: RE: My Early Years in Eastleigh
I lived in Leigh Road from 1958 to 1980 I am pretty sure that the photo was taken from the Rec. Looking on the left Clemo's Ladies Shop and Delbridges the seed shop on the right which is now sadly KFC. My dad was Reg Blackman who had the Sweet Shop in Factory Road.
Comment from Richard Blackman on Thursday, 29th July 2010.
RE: RE: My Early Years in Eastleigh
I remember Ayleys as a lad in the late 1950s. They used to sell maggots for 6d, the first people in the area to do so. When the bus station moved down Southampton Road, I used to buy a stale lardy cake from the cake shop in Market Street for 3d and eat it on the way home. My father taught at the Crescent School for many years. For those that went there during the 1950s and 60s, he is still well, 92 years old and remembers most of the children he taught, although he sometimes gets mothers and daughters mixed up. I have never known him have a bad word for any of the pupils from the old Crescent School and quite a few still call in to see him when passing his house in Brambridge.
Comment from Mark Badkin on Saturday, 6th August 2011.
RE: RE: My Early Years in Eastleigh
I lived at 29 Twyford Road in the late 1930s and early 1940s which is when it was converted to a hairdressers. I went to the Crescent School, Mr Leigh was the headmaster. Most of my family came down from London during the Blitz and have stayed in Eastleigh. Both my Uncle John and cousin Joe worked in Pirelli's and my other cousin Charlie became manager of Torbocks grocery store. My maiden name was Hover. I have many happy memories of Eastleigh and my friends were Dolly Darby, Joy Douse, Roy Jefferies, his parents had the off licence in Mill Road, and Ronnie Turtle, amongst many others. I have been back on numerous occasions to visit but not in recent years. I recall the Regal Cinema and the Picture House opposite, we always preferred the Regal for some reason. Happy Days. I now live in Ashford in Kent, my father was promoted so the reason for the move, and have been here since 1943.
Comment from Joyce Heathfield (nee Hove on Saturday, 3rd December 2011.