The Recreation Ground c1950, Haywards Heath
The Recreation Ground c1950, Haywards Heath Ref: H252588
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Memories of The Recreation Ground c1950, Haywards Heath
Spectators
It is possible that amongst the spectators of cricket on the lower tier maybe boys from "Sharrow School" in Heath Road, which I attended from 1945-50 because we played cricket there (see also H252587). If so, it is also possible that the lady standing in the foreground could be Miss Irwin (later Mrs Singer) a mistress at the school.
Sharrow School
Amazed to find a reference to Sharrow School where I was a ten year old schoolboy in 1934. I remember the train room and friends named Allwood, Ffoulkes and I guess that is about all. The Allwood brothers family grew carnations I remember, the younger one was nicknamed "Onion" .We went to Great Walstead School, near Lindfield for sports days as they had a wonderful estate and gym facilities. My goodness, 76 years ago!!
Haywards Heath & local memories
Read and share memories of Haywards Heath and West Sussex inspired by Frith photos.
Boltro Road Businesses
I remember from the mid 1970's I was planning to have a career as a Town Planner (ended up training as an RMN at St Francis) and was always writing studies on post war Haywards Heath. Needless to say, I was delighted to come accross the offices of the architect Douglas White who designed the very distinctive classic, of their time, houses on what was originally called the Harlands Farm Estate as well as others such as; Fairfield Way, Mytten Close, Ashenground Close and Lincoln Wood.He lent me his original sales brouchures which had wonderful drawings in and even more wonderfull prices of 1958 sales of the first Harlands Farm houses and chalets. I seem to remember there were plans in the original scheme for a parade of shops where the big office blocks eventually went up on and along with Oakfield House in Perrymount Road brought employment in the town into the 20th centuary....
Southdown Bus Station And Clair Meadow
I used to play in the old Clair Meadow and remember the drinks machine which sold pink milk in a wax carton by the tree at the footpath entrance to 'the rec' on Perrymount Road which is still there...I spent many a happy afternoon there and remember well the lovely old green and cream buses going in and out of the old bus station, which to me at age 9 epitomised Haywards Heath as we had just moved from Bristol. I remember seeing 'Jungle Book' and 'Battle of Britain' but was never allowed to go to the Saturday morning kids cinema at 'the Perrymount'. Our house was the first up from the current Tesco metro in Hazelgrove Road and we had a vegetable patch which is now occupied by the rear service road. We had to sell to the developers of 'The Orchards' in 1978/9 under threat of compulsory purchase along with our neighbours. We moved to a town house on the site of the pair of very tall houses... Read more
The Cafe
My dad owned what I think was The Hayward in the early 60's. Does anyone remember if the cafe had a dining room and a bar on the second/third floor? I think is now the Blue India.
Hayward Heath Schoolfarm 1952-57
I was aged about 10 or 11 years old and went to a large school, it was like a big mansion with a farm attached to it. The headmaster was named Mr Mann, and his wife also helped run the school. I can't find the school on the internet and would appreciate some info as this is my childhood I can't really remember.
Schooldays
I lived in Haywards Heath between 1948 and the early 1960s. I lived the other side of Victoria Park and walked each day through the town to St. Clair School. I seem to remember that there were some stables on the left of this photo in the foreground and often used to stop and talk to the horses.
Perrymount Cinema
As a child I went to the ABC minors every Saturday morning, it cost six old pence to get in. I think the last film that was shown at the cinema was in 1971, it was called Shaft and starred Richard Roundtree. I was one of the few there.
People in The Picture
My family friend Mrs Pat Davey thinks that the people on the right, walking along the pathway are her & her late husband William (Bill) Davey.
Charles Clarke Clock
My Dad put up the clock that used to hang outside his office of Charles Clarke printers in Boltro Road. Does anybody know what happened to it ?
Sergison Arms
I worked at The Serg in 1970-72, had a lot of great times there - The landlord was Len Henshaw who could enjoy a large gin for breakfast. Many really colourful regulars at that time
The Landlords Daughter
I courted Bob Turner's daughter Pauline, and have very happy memories of times spent at The Serg. Where is Pauline now???? Dennis Nichols
Shop Names
'The Hayward' sign was outside 'Haywards Cafe & Restaurant' which flourished until the 1960s when it successively became 'Delmontes', 'Pieros', 'La Ferola' and now 'The Blue India'. Going down the right hand side of the Broadway facing north, one had immediatelyThe National Provincial Bank (with flats over;Mr Bill Lowings was the last manager to live 'over the shop' in the 1950s), then Evans (electrical) and Miss Warnett's wool shop. On the other side of the road looking north as depicted were Broadley Brothers (tailors), a dairy later a bakers, Mulhollands (shoe shop) and Ballards (grocers).
Buses
I cannot recall this single-decker Leyland bus on the 29 Route from Lewes. It is worth noting that up to the 1950s most of the local bus routes were serviced by single and double decker laylands (with even a few pre-war 'Gilfords') but the Haywards Heath circular route (no 84) was always serviced by 'utility' GUY double deckers.
Bus Station
It could be an AEC double decker that is running into the bus station in this picture. I think it could be a little later than 1950 because of the 'embryo' roundabout, bnut not much because of the single decker leyland on the station forecourt. 'The Burrell Arms' (centre left), revamped in the 1930s, was once run by the father of cricketer Maurice Tate.
Shops And Businesses
This is the Broadway as I knew it. Both the Middlesex registered Driving School Morris 1000 and the East Sussex registered Morris 1000 truck MPN556 date this to after 1958. On the right beyond Eastman's the cleaners were WF measor (haberdashers), JD Neal (who took over the business of F Butcher, jewellers), James Langridge (the Sussex Cricketer) who ran a toy shop, and beyond that was Ballards the grocers. On the left was mcMillans butchers but this shop was before that run by WE Kenneth Licoln farmer and pork butcher of Wivelsfield and a local magistrate from about 1937. His mother ran a butchers shop in Sussex Square. The building at right angles half way up on the right was Dixons the chemists. Some of their stained glass adverts can still be seen on the windows of the clothes shop there today. The blinds beyond are over the shop of Hydes, later Rixons, fishmongers. This was all before the 'Star Roundabout' became... Read more
The Star
This is taken from outside the Star and shows (as does H252583) the system that pevailed before the Star became not jsut a pub but a roundabout eg things could turn right down the Broadway and Muster green north was still a through road. The 36 bus is going to East Grinstead (although the 30 only went to Chelwood Common to connect with another bus).
Standard 8 Tourer
This neat little Standard 8 Tourer (DNJ 785 - an East Sussex registration from 1947) could then get down nearly to the pavilion.
Shops And Businesses
By this time Seeboard have taken over the Uptons building but Caffyns still have their garage premises which finally became a furniture salesroom in about 1982. the one way system has still not been created (see H252069), the restaurant is still 'Haywards' and the bank is the National Provincial.
The Park
The "Park" - known to us as "The Rec". I walked across this daily to and from my prep school 1945-50 and our scout troup did it's wodcraft here!
"The Serg"
I was a fairly regular customer at "The Serg" from about 1955 to 1967. Mr Turner was the first landlord I knew and he was succeeded by Stan and Betty Allen who came from "The Charter" at Epsom.
Shops
I suspect this is a little earlier than 1960 (but after 1956) the first building on the right was the offices of "Waugh Brummell and Barron" later Waugh & Co Solicitors and still going strong. The original Waughs were prominent in the C19 not only as solicitors but clerks to the Local Board, Magistrates and the newly formed Council. Further down on the right, up to the 1960's were "Jacksons Ironmongers", "Hoadley and Wickham" (provision merchants), Clarkes Book Shop and the offices of the Mid Sussex Times, Wrights (tobacconists), Cheals (hairdressers), a green grocers and Lloyds Bank.
More Building Use
As can be seen (also in 252002 & 252006), the 1930's "Psuedo Tudor" block on the corner then contained "Dewhursts" the multiple butchers, 2 (later 3) frontages for "Edward Hodges" an independent tailor and outfitter, then "Sussex Stationers" (manager Bruce Gillett?), The "Copper Kettle Cafe" (owned and run by Mr and Mrs Hyslop) and "Scilla" (hairdresser). The offices of "Vincent Penfold" estate agent, fronted Perrymount Circna and the tile hung building beyond was Commercial House offices of "Bradley and Vaughan", estate agents (see also H252586). I still work in the successor to "Comercial House", the sons of the original Mr Vaughan being my Landlords and the grandson still being an estate agent on the other side of Perrymount Road. By 1960 the former Beeny's Emporium had ceased to be Forrest Stores (grocers) and was divided into several uses.
Dinnages Toy Shop
Before George Hilton and Sons took over the buildings on the right as a furniture store (now Robert Dyas) it was Dinnages Toy Shop (a subsidiary of the garage company) where I bought my "Dinky" toys in the 1940's. The shop on this side was J Norton - bespoke outfitters.
Scrase Bridge School Class Photos
I am trying to find any class pictures of Scrase Bridge School between 1964 and 1968 featuring my wife then known as, Jill Gigney. There seems to be no archive for the school during that period, and no former pupils association. Thank you, John.
Children's Home
Does anyone remember there being a children's home in Haywards Heath in the mid to late 1940s? I was sent to one, along with my brother, when we were both infants. Our family had come down from Scotland and were homeless. My parents and older brother stayed in a hostel in London until we were all eventually reunited. Although I don't have any clear memories of exactly where it is, Haywards Heath was sometimes mentioned in connection with where we stayed. Hope this rings bells with someone who can help me to build up memories of my childhood.
Nana & Grandad
We stayed with them when I was aprox 11. They had a wool and baby clothes shop and I believe the name was A.W.Baldock. The shop next door was a sweet shop run by Mrs Swan, she sent me beautiful postcards when we had left & come to Canada. I went to a school called Cuckfield. I loved Sundays when Grandad would take me & the dogs up to the woods where he could whistle to his heart's content. I can almost taste the tuppence or so chips he got me on our way home with a warning "Don't tell your Mum or Nan!" I remember being dressed in pink on a float in a parade, something to do with St. Wilfrid's I think. My Nana could crochet lace bedspreads, I remember her still in a shop smock by the fire working on something with a cigarette hanging from her lips and a Guiness warming by the fire. She lit her cig and never touched it again until... Read more
