Fernhurst, Surrey

My first job

I started work at this farm in 1946 my first job at 14 yearts old. On the left hand side if the house was a garage the farm was owned by Mr Suthered and his son-in-law Sid Dibbin had the garage. Sid had one other man working there a chap called Perce Quinnell with me as the grease monkey. ... [more]

Childhood Memories

I started staying with my Aunt Reeves and Uncle Sam at about 2 years old. I remember we use to go for long walks across the hills which was the golf course, or we would meander through Cowdry Park. Aunt use to take me to Bendboe Pond to feed the ducks, also the the large lake at Midhurst to do the... [more]

Snow Hill facing towards Petworth

Snow Hill House on the left was where Mother and I lived for several years, after moving from Maida Villas after the death of Father. We occupied the large top flat.

Snow Hill, with Manor House on the left

Mother and I lived at Behar, which is a ground floor flat in the building just beyond the Manor House, and on the left side. Eastbourne Street is immediately on the right and faces the Manor House.

Bottom of Easebourne Street, went to Primary School further up

The Village Post Office was in the white building on the left, and is still there today 18th Jan 2007.
On the right behind the wall is the Estate Office where my Father, Jack Owen, worked for many years as Chief accountant.

Childhood

I was born in Milland in 1942 at Great Trippetts Cottages. My father, Goody Luff, worked at the farm and had married the 'Nanny' from The Coombe. As with many farm cottages we had no running water or electricity. We relied on the well in the back garden and oil lamps. We had a black range in the kitchen and... [more]

West Street Shops

Shops on West Street in the 1960s were left to right: Merritts the butcher next door to Blackiston the butcher, famous for the specialty sausages, also had its own slaughterhouse and in the back garden an Anderson shelter used by us kids as a 'camp'. Next door florist and green grocer, Goldrings. Harris's the grocer, Bannisters the jeweller, you know, the old-fashioned... [more]