Glyndebourne, East Sussex

Micro Brewery, Lewes,  East Sussex, around 1936

My father recently told me that his grandfather, William Parkes, was the manager of a micro brewery, in Lewes, East Sussex, in about 1936. My father, Gordon, remembers spending many holidays visiting his grandfather there, with his sister, Barbra, and believes the brewery was a 'Watneys'. He also remembers the hams that used to dry in the cellar, which were sold... [more]

2 years in the village

Sometime around 1956, for about two years, two of us shared a cottage in Iford village (one of the first two as you came off the main road from Lewes). We worked for Mr Robinson milking his Guernsey herd and doing the dairy work for one of the Shorthorn herds, in those days there was a bottling plant at the other... [more]

Married in Rodmell

I was born in Rodmell on 25th November 1964 at Mill Furlong. I continued to live there until my father built Abergavenny House. I eventually married the son of the Pearce family who bought Mill furlong from my father Terry Denyer. I continued to live at Abergavenny House until I married Steve Pearce in 1986. I have... [more]

Family Tree at Barcombe

My great-grandmother was born here in 1847, Elizabeth Reed. Her father William was employed as a farming bailiff. I recently drove 200 miles to take photos of the fine church in the village, only to return home and see a better one on the net. However I did find 2 gravestones with Reed names on them.
Such a pretty village... [more]

Coombe Place

My grandmother Edith Lizzie King was first a seamstress and then I believe the housekeeper at 'the big house,' Coombe Place. She later married the chauffeur Ernest Crane, after looking after his children for many years, his wife having been admitted to a psychiatric hospital suffering from post natal psychosis. My grandmother had my mother in secret in 1921 before my... [more]

Growing up at Coombe Place

My family and I moved to a bungalow at Coombe Place in 1960. My father, Walter Motley, took up the post of farm manager on this 100 acre dairy farm with a herd of Jersey cattle. Coombe Place is set on the side of the South Downs with views across the Weald of Sussex. It was a truly magical place to... [more]

Coombe Place

I was born in this lovely house in1970. My parents worked here for Mr. Cannon from 1960 until 1983. We then moved to Italy, my parents home country. I have many sweet memories but unfortunately I have lost all contacts, maybe because when we went to Italy I was only 13.All I know is that the Cannons died many years ago... [more]

summer holidays in Piddinghoe

I have very fond memories of my holidays in Piddinghoe, spent at my Aunty Rene's home which stood on the bank of the River Ouse. I loved walking into the village to buy cream soda pop from Mr Caplin's shop. He would call me & my little sister "his little Welsh friends" as that's where we travelled from to visit... [more]