The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here:

Golden Cross

Golden Cross maps

Historic maps of Golden Cross and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Golden Cross maps

Golden Cross area books

Displaying 1 of 19 books about Golden Cross and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Golden Cross

No memories of Golden Cross have been shared yet - be the first!
Add your memory of Golden Cross or of a photo of Golden Cross.

East Sussex memories

Some Berwick Memories

I was a Dutch student of English and spent my summer holidays at a farm at Berwick in the years 1959-61. The farm was run by John and Chris Buckland, their phone number was RIPE 393. I can't remember the name of the farm (if it had one) or the name of the road, but I do remember the road led to the railway station. Also, if memory serves me, when one went from the farm to the station one could enter a lane on the right at the end of which was a small, beautiful but dark and cold house which was owned by an elderly lady who slept outside, year round, and still rode side-saddle. We had tea there once or twice but I have forgotten her name. I had wonderful times and loved the countryside.

Scraps of History

Never had any direct connection with Alciston but have known it since my teens in the early 1960s and have visited many times over the years. What caught my interest is that the village has stayed relatively unchanged in the 20th and 21st centuries because it is just off the main road and has no through traffic.

A few things I have learned about Alciston:

In mediaeval times the village was 'owned' by the monks of Battle Abbey who operated as Lords of the Manor. The 'big house' Alciston Court was designed like a church building with pointed arches, some of which were retained when the house was converted to a farmhouse in the 18th/19th century. The Great Barn, once used to store the Lord's produce still exists and is still in use as a farm building. It is said to be the largest Sussex Barn still in existence.

The original road to Alciston ran just south of the village immediately below the downs.... Read more

Has it Changed?!!!

The Church c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

I remember going to this Church as a child. Cannot remember the Ministers name. I thought it was surrounded by more trees. I walked past this chruch many times on my way to visit friends further down the road.

Vines Cross Road

The Village c1960
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

I remember this scene very well as I used to live a little way down the road to the right, on the way to Vines Cross. I lived there, in fact, until about 1967 when I went to study in London. My parents continued to live there until about 1986 when they moved first to Heathfield and then to Suffolk to be near me and my family. My parents were members of the Horeham Players for many years and used to rehearse and perform in the CYF Hall which was further down the road on the way to Vines Cross.

The shops in the picture are those of Mr Delves the grocer - on the left and Mr Setterfield on the right. The latter was a bike shop.

Sandra Reynolds (nee Thomas)

High Street, Horam

Because of the grounds of Horeham Manor virtually all the shops were on the side of the road that is to the right in the photograph entitled "Horam, Main Road c1955". One exception can be seen in this picture, and I believe is still there now. It was a wooden structure, built (so I understand) by my late father and his brother (the latter died in 1955, before I was born). The two began selling produce from ground they rented from Horeham Manor, calling their business 'Manor Nurseries'. In about 1959 my father moved what had then become a greengrocery and florist business - using the same name - to the brick-built shop almost directly opposite (which since he finished in 1967 has itself been various types of shop, currently one selling antiques).
My father's name was John Pierson, and some of the shop personnel included Mr (Harry) Sands and Mrs (Marjorie) Pope. My name is Mark, and I was very young when... Read more

The Lodge Foxhunt

School days over, I came home to my mother who had married again to Walter Day who lived at the Lodge Foxhunt. I made friends with Joan and Betty Bennett. I sang in the Choir of All Saints Church in the village. Another friend was Ian Smith whose parents operated the Star Inn. I stayed in Waldron for 4 years then Joined the RAF. I have many fond memories of those days. Both my mother and step father are buried in the church yard of All Saints. And I did some gardening in the Rectors garden.

The Windmill

The windmill shown in the Willingdon photos was always known to me as the Polegate windmill. I remember it when it was in working order and watching the mill stones grinding the grain. This was in the 1950s when the Council houses were starting to be built there. Later the mill closed and went into decline for some years until it was decided to restore it. I knew the gentleman who was given the job of cleaning out the resident pigeon population and so secured quite a few very plump pigeons which were delicious, they having been so well fed on the grain that had been left stored in the mill.

Polegate, like Willingdon, has grown considerably since those early days as when I used to walk to Polegate from Lower Willingdon there were few house between the two villages, whereas now they are practically continuous.

Also, I was very familiar with Wannock Tea Gardens as I used to walk through them on my way to The Glen... Read more

© Copyright 1998-2012 Frith Content Inc. All rights reserved.