Hascombe, the White Horse 1906

Childhood in Hascombe during wartime.

I was born in 2 Pound Cottages in 1940. It was the home of my maternal grandparents Arthur John and Katie May Street. He was a gardener who worked for Col. Harper at Lamberts. I recall a house in Godalming that was hit by a bomb and being embarrassed by furniture on view! There was a lone grave in what is now the churchyard extension at St Peter's of a German airman who had been found dead on Hascombe Hill. I am told that his body has since been returned to his family. Nurse Caines exercising her goats on their leads was a frequent sight if one were walking in the countryside. She ministered to me when my grandfather's terrier bit my wrist. I remember my grandfather made me a little wheelbarrow and small tools and the family stitched dungarees with seed packets attached to take part in a village fancy dress competition. A celebration was held at The Raswell for either VE or VJ day with fireworks and in my agitation I clasped the hand of a complete stranger! In those days, there was a second pub - The Royal Oak - in the centre of the village. My memories are of Ron and Molly Hoare running the White Horse and later I played with Rosemary, their daughter. She is alive, well and married near Wolverhampton now. My aunt, Vi Street, did domestic work at the pub on giving up her job at Dunsfold Aerodrome to look after her father when my grandmother died in 1950.
The scene in your photo has changed little. There is a wide sweep of carpark opposite the White Horse as conservation area status has made the village a popular eating place and magnet for walkers and horseriders. Some of the pub's back garden has been surfaced as well.TIt is still the bus stop. The most striking change is the restoration of the pond by the church in memory of Daisy Coote, the dedicated school mistress. She always remembered my birthday which fell a day after her own on St George's Day even when my family moved away. In those days, Miss Musgrave who lived opposite the church was a terrifying lady to youngsters and caught me rearranging flowers in the churchyard, trying to share them with graves that had none once! She played the organ for services until very old. It is lovely that St Peter's has been restored so carefully - I can still recall the fishing net design on the walls of the nave in very poor and damp state.
Jean Waddington

Across the years!

My Grandmother, Grace Mary Enticknap (later Gravett) was born in Hambledon in 1906. I have just found this out researching my family history, and am so excited to find these old photographs of the village - and nearby Witley where she and her family also lived at one stage. Now I can imagine what life was like for her, her parents and siblings ... what a beautiful place to live! She and her husband later emigrated to South Africa, along with my mum and dad and me (as an infant). I grew up there but recently moved back to England in my old age! I do hope I can visit Hambledon soon. But if anyone knew the Enticknaps (her dad George was a blacksmith and mother Eliza a dressmaker) I would love to hear about it!

My Birth place

I was born on the 23rd March 1947 in my grandparents' home, Hope Cottage to the right of the Sun Inn and next to Lloyds Bank.  Nurse Caines was in attendance.  To the left of the Sun Inn lived Lord King ex chairman of British Airways.  In front of the pub was a pond that was filled in when the village went onto main drainage.  The village boasted six shops, two petrol pumps, a bank, two pubs, a social club, village hall, barbers, allotments, infant school, church, seven ponds, seven dairy herds, cricket and football teams, hotel and Fire Station (still going today run by part time firemen).  Sadly many are now gone. The telephone exchange was the first automated exchange in the country.  We had an airfield that was used for Mitchell bombers in World War Two and later was used to develop and manufacture the Harrier jump jet. Famous people who have lived in Dunsfold are Diana Dors, Anthea Turner, Gary Brooker (Procal Harlem fame) and the Maskell family actors/actress.

Bramley Grange

My grandfather was the Head Gardener at the Grange and my father was his Under Gardener prior to the Second World War. I am not sure of the years but remember visiting my grandparents around 1950. I have a vague memory that they lived opposite a Boys Home in the village. In later years my grandmother lived in a cul de sac of bungalows just outside the village. Both my grandfather and my father were called John but my father was better known as Jack. Does anyone have memories of my family?