Knaphill, Surrey

Inkerman Barracks 1969

I lived in Inkerman Barracks with my Spanish sister-in-law, Josie, and her family for a few months and was married out of her house on 9 August 1969 and then moved to Guildford! Then my Gibraltarian brother-in-law returned from a posting in Malaysia, he was in RAOC, and we used to visit frequently with our baby son and I also remember picking fat blackberries there. Josie kept the little house spick and span and as neat as a pin and took it all in her stride. She is in Canada now, widowed, and 80ish now. I have forwarded this page and hope at least one of her four children add to it!!

Inkerman Barracks 1948 toJanuary 1951

My father was a military policeman and we lived at no 17 MSQ (just around the corner from these houses and now known as Wellington Terrace.) At the front of our house there were woods across the road and a small shop. The woods stretched right over to Hermitage Road and were a joy for 7 year olds to play in.
Behind the houses were a large storage depot and more woods which were a short cut to the NAAFI shop and garrison church. I used to walk to school along the barrack path, firstly to the infants in St Johns and later to the junior which had entrances on both Hermitage Road and Barrack Path. We left in January 1951 to go to Kenya.
Now that I am retired I have decided to visit all my childhood places. Went to Woking in May 2008. Walking along Raglan Road was a lot like entering a time warp! The old houses were still there and those around the corner where I used to live. The woods across the road are now a school with a road running behind it, the woods at the back of the depot are now a large block of flats, the barrack path is now split in two by the Amstell Way and half of what used to be the path is now called Inkerman Way. The junior school building is still there and is now a Cranstock day centre, but the old infant school in St Johns has long gone. The house that we lived in looks so much nicer these days. It has a back garden and not just communal washing lines and old air-raid shelters.

Married Quarters, Inkerman Road

My dad was a military policeman stationed at Inkerman Barracks and we lived at No. 1 MSQ Inkerman Road. It was great fun there, the woods over the road, next to the Victoria Cafe (all now gone). To the side of No. 1 was Herbert Crescent, to the back was an army stores depot and at the other end of the road was the Barrack Path. This was the way to St John's School. I remember the hill up to Knaphill and having my haircuts at the top on the right. We had wonderful times as kids climbing those 2 or 3 trees on the green at Herbert Crescent. My mum, rest her soul, once saved me from being hanged by a group of Teddy Boys! Then my dad chased and caught a man who had taken a little girl off into the woods. It was fantastic to watch my own dad jump on somebody and fight him! What is left there? I recently was on the M3 and took the opportunity to visit the area and blow me down, No. 1 is still there and looks very nice. The trees and Herbert Crescent (Hello Christine!) are still there and if there were not so many houses around, I might have attempted a climb! The Barrack Path is still there as is the old school building but it is no longer a school. The woods have been cleared, the area is now open grassland. The army depot has gone too, so has the Victoria Cafe over the road. By the way, anyone passing, stand facing No. 1 with the Spar shop (or Londis or something), behind you. Where the hedge ends, to the left, have a furrow around and you may find a shilling piece. I know it's there somewhere 'cos I pinched it from my mum and then could not find it. Memories!     John.

Knaphill & Inkerman Barracks

I was born in Nursery Road, Knaphill, and left Winston Churchill in 1972 and my first job was with RFDGQ with my friend Maureen Truman. I remember Valerie, Tony & Noel, and the boss was a lovely gentleman but sadly I have forgotten his name. I used to hang out around the barracks & know those houses. On route to school via Beechwood Road, I used to walk along the top of the high wall of the barracks...sure we were not supposed to! The barrack land where we did our cross country, is now full of houses.

Camberley Pocket Album

This view was taken in the middle of the village, and is looking down Updown Hill. The shop just behind the lady, on the right, was that of S Workman, who sold fancy goods; it is now an estate agents. We have now completed our look around Camberley, and by taking the road back to the London Road, we can return to Camberley itself, and our starting point.

Camberley Pocket Album

The bakery of Mr Christmas stands at the junction of Kennel Lane and Church Road, to the right. The shop on the right is that of Boyce the fishmongers. If we take the road to the left we come to our last picture.

Camberley Pocket Album

This is now called Kennel Lane, and the building is that of the Windlesham Institute. The road to the right is Hatton Hill Road, and leads to the London Road.