Laughton
Laughton maps
Historic maps of Laughton and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Laughton maps
Laughton photos
We have no photos of Laughton, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Halland| East Hoathly| Ringmer| Chiddingly| Glyndebourne| Glynde| Firle| Upper Dicker| Framfield| Berwick| Michelham Priory| Arlington| Barcombe| Blackboys| Uckfield| Horam| Lewes| Wilmington| Hailsham| Iford| Newick| Heathfield| Polegate| Wannock
Laughton area books
Displaying 1 of 24 books about Laughton and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Laughton
No memories of Laughton have been shared yet - be the first!
Add your memory of Laughton
or of a photo of Laughton.
East Sussex memories
Some Berwick Memories
I was a Dutch student of English and spent my summer holidays at a farm at Berwick in the years 1959-61. The farm was run by John and Chris Buckland, their phone number was RIPE 393. I can't remember the name of the farm (if it had one) or the name of the road, but I do remember the road led to the railway station. Also, if memory serves me, when one went from the farm to the station one could enter a lane on the right at the end of which was a small, beautiful but dark and cold house which was owned by an elderly lady who slept outside, year round, and still rode side-saddle. We had tea there once or twice but I have forgotten her name. I had wonderful times and loved the countryside.
Scraps of History
Never had any direct connection with Alciston but have known it since my teens in the early 1960s and have visited many times over the years. What caught my interest is that the village has stayed relatively unchanged in the 20th and 21st centuries because it is just off the main road and has no through traffic.
A few things I have learned about Alciston:
In mediaeval times the village was 'owned' by the monks of Battle Abbey who operated as Lords of the Manor. The 'big house' Alciston Court was designed like a church building with pointed arches, some of which were retained when the house was converted to a farmhouse in the 18th/19th century. The Great Barn, once used to store the Lord's produce still exists and is still in use as a farm building. It is said to be the largest Sussex Barn still in existence.
The original road to Alciston ran just south of the village immediately below the downs.... Read more
Family Tree at Barcombe
My great-grandmother was born here in 1847, Elizabeth Reed. Her father William was employed as a farming bailiff. I recently drove 200 miles to take photos of the fine church in the village, only to return home and see a better one on the net. However I did find 2 gravestones with Reed names on them.
Such a pretty village I was very pleased to have visited it, and almost wished the family had not moved away.
Blackboys Post Office
This was the year that I and my family moved into the Post Office where we lived for the next 9 years. During this time I saw lots of changes to the buildings accross the Framfield Road. My father changed the inside of the Post Office. The old wooden counters were removed and replaced with open shelving and self service shopping.
There was a sorting room inside the Post Office which was busy each morning as the post and parcels were sorted into different rounds for Nora who delivered everything on her red bike, except at Christmastime because of the amount of parcels and post. This was deliverd by car with lots of help.
The Post Office is no longer there and the trees have all been cut down but the photos that were taken of the people and the place are still with me today and bring back the happy times we all had.
I Was There.
John your memories of Blackboys Post Office bring back cherished memories of my own. I was fortunate to have lived in Brownings Cottages opposite the PO and at the age of ten I helped ?? to remove the counters and walls one Saturday afternoon, with yourself, your father and Mr Berry, who referred to me as FOREMAN.
St. Phillips Convent
I believe that before the convent was called St. Michaels it was St. Phillips located on Church Street opposite Fullers Bakery. The lady would come over on our break and sell sticky buns out of a square basket for a penny a bun. I went to the convent at the age of 31/2 at in 1937. I well remember the day war broke out, we were fitted with gas masks in the playground. When the bombing got bad we were brought home to Surbiton, Surrey. I also remember Sister Camillis and Sister Imelda and sister Anastasia and a french teacher called Mrs Collins. Does anyone remember Freda Parkinson. Her name sticks out in my memory. Ann Blaker. My other sisters went there too; Betty, Violet and Kathleen.
The Lodge Foxhunt
School days over, I came home to my mother who had married again to Walter Day who lived at the Lodge Foxhunt. I made friends with Joan and Betty Bennett. I sang in the Choir of All Saints Church in the village. Another friend was Ian Smith whose parents operated the Star Inn. I stayed in Waldron for 4 years then Joined the RAF. I have many fond memories of those days. Both my mother and step father are buried in the church yard of All Saints. And I did some gardening in the Rectors garden.
