Nostalgic memories of Great Bookham's local history
Share your own memories of Great Bookham and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 21 - 30 of 39 in total
Hi, the house in this picture is called Ralphs Cross. The road that runs up next to it is now Crabtree Lane. I lived there from 1968 until 1983, near the top, no 43, on the corner of Halepit Road. It was a nice bungalow and I remember many of the kids/neighbours. I am in touch with many via Friendsreunited and Facebook.
We went to South Bookham Infants and Eastwick Middle School. Jenny Hammond and her family ...see more
It's only roughly 1955 because we lived there from 1944 and moved to Little Bookham but I always remember Mum used to go to, as she would say, Absolems, which I remember well. I knew St Nicholas church then, we always went to church. I had friends down the Lower Road where we lived. I went to St Nicholas School. Would you know Gillian Lee or Gillian Longhurst? It would be good to get in touch.
Interesting to read the memory from Sue Rainer- Copland on Petherbridges greengrocers - my Mum worked there for many years. I can vividly remember long queues outside the door on many, many occasions. Above Camerons and the greengrocers was a ladies hairdressers called Geralds. Does anyone remember Walker Smiths - grocers on the opposite side of the road?
I was born in Dowlans Road, opposite to Dawnay Road. The grocers which is referred to was where my mum used to shop. Next to the grocers my best friend Nigel lived, as did Dave Hill before him. The waste ground to the left in the photo was a bit of a dumping ground. We, Dave and me, found some old paint tins one day and we took them into the rec and painted the swings, white. You can imagine our mums and dads when they found out. We were only about 6 years old at the time.
I grew up at No 12 Dawnay Rd and stayed here until about 1975. This picture was taken from the Dorking Road, at the time we had a shop (grocers) which was run by Harry Absolem and his daughter Diane on the right hand corner. A lovely red telephone box stood on the right hand corner of this picture as well. Grass land to the left was were we played as children and hid. As you progess down the road very few people ...see more
This view from Downs Way shows Beckley Parade and my uncle's shop which was next to the houses, the first house belonged to Councillor Turville Kill. My uncle's shop was a greengrocers and he and my aunt moved from here to the High Street in Great Bookham to a larger premises next to Camerons the sweet and toy shop. They traded in the area until 1971. A lot of my family had businesses in the village from 1930 to 1975. Sue Rainer-Copland
I remember this shop and several others in the High Street as my Aunt and Uncle ran the green grocers further down Peterbridges, and my other Aunt ran the dress shop down from the church. Absolem also had a shop at the top of Dawnay Road where I lived and my grandparents lived in Crabtree Lane from 1930 onwards Sue Rainer- Copland
My husband Gerald and I moved into 1 Grove Cottage 6 years ago. We love living in a house so full of history and often try to imagine what it would have been like during the hundreds of years people have lived here. It's certainly a lot more comfortable now with central heating, running water and electricity instead of the fire on the ground, the well outside and candles to see by. If anyone has photos of the ...see more
This photo was taken in Church Road, looking north towards Sole Farm Road. The large building on the right was originally a flour mill and later converted into a house called The Granary.
My parents were married in St Nicholas Church in 1960 - Valmai Daily (my mother) grew up at 234 Lower Road with her brother, Adrian and parents Dot and Drew. My Grandfather was a local electrician who spent all his free time at Effingham Golf Club and my grandmother (having retired from midwifery) was for many years the nurse at The School of Stitchery. I spent many of my early years in Great Bookham and then every ...see more
