Ford on The River Mole 1928, Fetcham
Ford on The River Mole 1928, Fetcham Ref: 80801
Memories of Ford on The River Mole 1928, Fetcham
Trips to The Blacksmiths
In the 1950's I used to ride my pony from the Leatherhead Road in Gt. Bookham through Fetcham to Leatherhead to get to the blacksmiths. The blackmsiths was a proper big old forge at Prewetts Dairy off Randals Road. I used to have to lead my pony over this rickety little bridge. It had wobbly planks and there was one missing one time I crossed it. It was probably a 9 mile round trip just to get the pony re-shod. It didn't cost much though, I think it was about 7/6d. The blacksmiths were father and son - I can't remember their names. The old man used to work the bellows mainly and shoe the quieter horses - like my old pony. Wish I had a picture of that too. It was a lovely sight with the fire going and the smoke. It is in my head though.
Rickety Bridge, River Mole at Fetcham And The Splash.
I remember the rickety bridge over the River Mole here, when I was very small my mother used to take me over it to eat sandwiches by the 'splash' and go for a paddle. The bridge was really scary with wobbly planks and I was afraid of falling through where the missing one was. When I was old enough to go on my own I learned to swim in the river, hanging on to the water weeds and kicking my feet until I was confident enough to let go and 'doggie paddle'. I am not sure why that part on the river is called the 'splash'. Some say it is because it was once a ford and the horses splashed across, and others say it is because a bomb dropped in the river which made a big splash. The water is deep over the bomb crater which is still there. Last summer I was 60 and swam over the bomb crater and it was still out of my depth so... Read more
Rickety Bridge
At this time I lived in Bookam and worked at The Central Electricity Research Laboratories in Leatherhead. I cycled over this bridge on my "off road" route to and fro work. Happy days! I remember the dairy but not the blacksmiths that others mention.
Fetcham & local memories
Read and share memories of Fetcham and Surrey inspired by Frith photos.
The Bell Inn
This was a super pub with a really great landlord called Tony and wife Sue. A group of us used to meet here several times a week and have a warm welcome and great laugh. I worked here several times to help out in the summer. Eventually moved in to the close next to the Pub for 3 years.
Fetcham in The Forties And Fifties
This parade of shops is in my memory for ever - my family moved to Orchard Close - which starts just beside the post office on the right of the picture - in 1946. My brother was five and I was six months old. We were there for twenty years. Every day, until a supermarket appeared in Leatherhead in the early sixties and we got a fridge, my mother would walk down our road and buy the food for lunch and the evening meal, and she'd cook the evening meal from scratch; always meat or fish and vegetables and a substantial pudding.
These shops held everything: starting from the right of the picture were the post office, the chemist's run by Mr. Coleman, the greengrocer's, the grocer's run by Mr. Read and the butcher's. Right at the end was a fishmonger's but I cannot recall if it was open every day or just Fridays.
One more recollection - the greengrocer used to... Read more
Ascot House
I started at Badingham College at the age of just over 11 years, joining the Ascot House. I was extremley home-sick away from my home in Leeds, Mr O'Brian saw me through those first months, handing the responsability to Mr Saxton. The remaining years were the most pleasant years of my young life, of which I did not appreciate until demob day.
Youngest Boy in School
I also remember Badingham. For over a year I was the youngest boy in the school and I too got lost just after starting, getting the 708 bus back iinstead of the 718. I also remember the mill pond and breaking my wrist while playing in the colts rugby team in an away match and was rushed to Epsom District hospital where I had an operation to re-set it. I rarely went home at out weekends as in those days it was too far away except at half term but I liked them as there was quite a lot of freedom we were allowed to go out within 8 miles of the school.
The Splash & Timber Bridge
My family, the Whitehouses, moved to Mole Road, Fetcham c1956 and as children my sister and our friends spent many happy hours playing 'down the river'. I remember the rickety bridge, frequently with more than one plank missing, swimming, and riding bareback through (sometimes jumping) The Splash to the blacksmith at Prewitts Farm (the older brother working the bellows with his elbow & spitting into the fire), boys jumping off a rope hung from the tree over the 'bomb hole', these memories came flooding back. Following a visit to Painshill where the bridge reminded me of The Splash I drove on to Fetcham (the first visit for very many years) and was so disappointed to see the utilitarian replacement bridges. The Splash now (2010) has more water as the wall chanelling the main river has been broken through: no longer will the 'stagnant pond' freeze over for ice-skating. Our 'fishing' competitions here comprised catching the biggest tiddler in a jam jar & the odd crayfish. Frogspawn was also available in... Read more
Many Happy Memories
This was the year I started school at Badingham College and I was there until 1964.I remember walking into Leatherhead for the first time but then forgetting the way back to school and having to hitch a lift back. I wasnt good at games although I enjoyed our long distance runs over the local downs and, when I was old enough to keep a bike at the school, I enjoyed visiting local places such as Epsom. I wonder if any former pupils from this period will remember these days.
Happy Days
I Iived in the Children's Home Cannon Court from 1954 until 1960. They were great years. I attended Fetcham School and St Domonic Salvo Collage at Leatherhead. I spent a lot of time at the Splash and walked the cinder track past the pig farm to Leatherhead daily (after I left primary school). I met my first love Diana whilst at Fetcham School and can still remember her today. In September this year (2011) I am going once again vist Fetcham from my home in New Zealand and am hoping at least some things will look the same, even if it is only the Mill Ponds.
