Kirdford, West Sussex

Kirdford during the Second World War

My cousin and her brother were evacuated to Kirdford for the duration of the Second World War. They lived in a property rented by their parents which was called Clark's Farm. When I tried to trace the house a few years back I was told it was no longer in existence.  My cousin will be 70 in 2010 and I have... [more]

KIRDFORD in the '20's

Born at Halfway house in 1917, attended the school Jan 1922 to Dec 1931. Joined the army, Royal Horse Artillery, Jan 1932.  Served in India Feb 1933 to Dec 1939. War, Desert, Normandy, retired because of wounds.

Worked in London (Unilever) 1946 -1950. Came to Australia 1950. Diplomatic posting to London (Australian) 1958 - 1962. Returned to Australia.
Last... [more]

Kirdford School in the sixties

I went to school in Kirdford for a couple of years in the sixties and have fond memories of it.
The school headteacher was Miss Dunsmore and there was a Miss Dadswell and a Mrs Heaver I think. The toilet block was outside, as most schools were in those days.
There was a metal roundabout on the patch of... [more]

My grandmother Pullen

My grandmother Margaret Pullen was married to Frank Pullen. He was my step-grandfather.  I know only that he served in the African Boer war and I saw the medal once. His father was a local preacher and that's all I know of him. He has 2 surviving children, Frank and Della and 3 other step-children, my father Peter Karesa, Debra Karesa... [more]

A lovely village where time has stood still

I recently visited Kirdford with my mother to try and trace family history. My mother is a Pullen and all her ancestors originated from Kirdford, we visited the graveyard and lo and behold found some Pullen graves. We also visited a few of the houses mentioned in census returns where Pullens had lived. It would have been nice to talk to... [more]

Worthing Town and City Memories

The buildings on the corner of High Street and The Broadway were named Warwick Mansions. This commemorated the fact that in 1901, they were erected on the site of old Warwick House, which had been demolished a few years earlier. The trees and flint wall in the photograph marked the southern boundary of the Warwick estate. These were retained as a feature when part of the... [more]

Worthing Town and City Memories

During the 1920s and 30s, Worthing continued to rapidly expand. By 1937 the town was being promoted as both a summer and winter resort, and hotels now occupied much of the sea front and the area behind it. The Beach Hotel had opened at 4 Marine Parade in 1915, expanding into the whole parade by 1936, when the original red-brick houses that had, in part, comprised... [more]

Worthing Town and City Memories

The Corporation's policy of providing a sufficient number of public parks and recreation grounds for both residents and visitors was actively pursued during this period of expansion. In excess of fifteen additional areas for outdoor recreation were provided and by 1938 there were seven separate recreation grounds (amounting to fifty acres) and ten public parks recorded in the borough. Several of these combine... [more]