Knaphill memories
Here are memories of Knaphill and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Knaphill or a Knaphill photo.
Knaphill High Street
On the left of the picture just past the pub sign shows the old orchard. Shops were built here and my Father owned the one next to the pub. We moved there in 1959, so I imagine this photo should be dated 1955.
I Lived Here
I lived in number 42 between 1953 and 1957. My dad was a corporal in the Military Police at the time and even though I was very young I still remember living there. I remember the swing park at the end of the road that had a maypole in it and I remember the NAAFI. My dad was George 'Sherry' Sheridan and sadly died at the age of 78 in 2002 in Melbourne, Australia. My brother and I returned to Woking in 2001 and saw what was left of Inkerman and the few remaining houses. I would love to live in one of them now!
Royal Military Police
I was in the Military Police stationed at Inkerman Barracks in 1962. It's a shame most of it has gone.
Direct Enlistment
It was the 24th May 1955 when I arrived, with a number of other lads, at Inkerman Bks to begin eighteen weeks training that would "hopefully" see us depart with the somewhat doubtful tital of Military Policemen. My memories of the Depot & Training Establishment RMP are quite vivid, including the hallowed parade ground that bods like me were only allowed to set foot when under instruction (square bashing), then to B-Coy lines where after six weeks initial training one was learning to drive 15 CWT Bedford vehicles, also those awful 350cc BSA motorbikes (a very painful expeirience), one had to be competent enough to ride the thing backwards, stand on the seat with one leg extended in the air, if that wasn't enough one had to sit with legs over the handlebars then made to ride hands free. At this point in time, after being inspected vigorously, one was given permission to walk into Woking town-in uniform of course. At meal times for the first six weeks training each... Read more
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.
I Lived in One of These Married Quarters! 1972-1974
I moved into one of these houses in the picture (Iremember which one but not the number) while living here I worked for (I think it was called R.F.G D.Q) parachute makers and then was a driver for the home office prison stores which were behind the married quarters. I do remember our house had a bathroom added on at the back ( it was so cold in the winter and with all the condensation you had to sit in thre bath holding an umbrella!) but the quarters opposite had a bath in the kitchen and only an outside toilet! They were lovely houses if only they could have had some money spent on them. I also remember picking lovely blackberries we picked on the derelict land at the back.
Inkerman Barracks - A Demolition Too Far!
The photo shows the remaining houses on Barrack Road; another survivor being Wellington Terrace in adjacent Raglan Road. Local opposition to the demolition of this historic site was ignored and the wrecking ball was sent to work and I for one was deeply saddened. There was probably never much hope for the original massive buildings although it had been hoped that the great clock tower might be saved as it was a local landmark but what should never have happened was the demolition of all the other houses in Barack Road. Opposite the houses in the picture were similar but semi-detatched properties and on the same side of the road facing the playing fields were a series of large detached houses; again in the same style but exceptionally fine residences - presumably reserved for the officers. The gardens were quite large and always well maintained - as one might expect from the military top brass. At the end of the road could be found the Sergeants Mess. In itself an... Read more
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... Read more
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... Read more
Memories of Surrey
My Dad
Just got back from a day out with my dad, he took me to show me where he spent a couple of years living in St Johns Village, he lived at Number 7 Warwick Lane (I think it was Warwick Lane. We walked from the main car park in the village across from the childrens play area, walking towards the play area we walked over what looked like an old stream and there it was number 7. He told me when he had been given a golf club to play with and as he went to take a shot a lady of a bike came round the corner into him. He told me about a Spitfire coming down, I think he said where the golf course is now, and everyone running up to see what had happened. He said about the sweet shop near or on the bridge where the canal is he use to enjoy buying a sherbert fountain from there, of course not there now. He told me... Read more
Happy Childhood.
Because my father, and later on my mother and brother, shot at Bisley, every summer holiday was spent on the ranges. We would catch a train to Woking, then another to Brookwood and then board the "Bisley Bullet" which would take us to The Ranges. The last time the Bullet ran, we all put pennies on the line and the little engine ran over them and flattened them.
At first we hired a caravan and then we bought a big family tent to stay in. I loved it there, with all that open space to play in. I remember spending my pocket money in Gale and Polden's marquee and drinking delicious chocolate Horlicks in the Horlicks' Marquee. I first went there when I was about three years old, in 1950. The last time was when I was a young married mother.
My father, a retired Naval Officer, became secretary to the TA rifle club and sadly died at Bullet lodge in 1972. He had been a great shot... Read more
Bisley School 1937-1941
I was a pupil from 1937 until 1941 when I left to go out into the wide wide world and I always said that we went in to the Bisley Schools as boys and very soon became men as many of us went into the services and made a mark for us the rest of our lives Where are they all now?
The schooling was second to none as I have looked back and it helped us on our way to be self-reliant, and my children I know have learnt from my life.
I was in the 'IRONSIDES', one of the four houses in the seniors, and our dormitory was in the top right of the photo and my bed behind the second window from the right.
I have certainly learnt a lot from my life
John
I Was at Bisley Boys School With my Brother John, From 1954-1959
I was mad about photography and would go all over Bisley with my camera. I would concentrate on the wildlife, esp. on the village pond where my brother and I would look for various types of pond life. In those days we would often not see a single person, and cars were so rare that we would spot cars, as in "That is an Austin A40" or "That is a Sunbeam Talbot", now I suspect there is a constant flow of traffic through the village. I came back to Bisley in 1980 and took ten photographs of the village store, etc and found that our old school tuck shop was still there..as I am always in Guildford on accountancy work, for that is what I went on to become. I intend to come back and photograph the very same views standing in the exact spot that I did 30 years ago, and compare the changes over the 30 years. When I have done this I shall make the 1980 photographs available on... Read more
The Lodge
Well, I don't remember then, but my father was born in the gatehouse or lodge in 1901. Does anyone have a photo of the lodge? Do they remember it or was it demolished before the 1940s/'50s?
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