Leafield memories
Here are memories of Leafield and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Leafield or a Leafield photo.
There are no Memories posted yet for Leafield - why not be the first!
- Add a Memory for Leafield
- Add a Memory to a Leafield photo
- Start another search
- See Leafield homepage
Memories of Oxfordshire
Visit to Ascott-Under-Wychwood
A few years ago my brother and I visited Ascott-under-Wychwood. My father's family, surname "Venville", lived there for a very long time. Venville as a surname was rather rare and it wasn't until the wife of a Venville family member in Wales did some research on the name back in the early l990s that we found out about our family connections to Ascott. In the late l950s our family, in our first car, drove all over the area not knowing about the connections. Finally, my brother and I made a visit to Ascott and the church. We were thrilled to be there and found the village and history to be very interesting indeed. I just wanted to say what a charming place Ascott and the surrounding area is. We were so glad to be able to make the visit.
The Marlborough
The white building in the picture below the church tower was the Marlborough pub. During the war through till the early 1950s my grandmother and grandfather were licencees and my father was brought up there. I have a picture of my grandfather and myself as a small child in the back yard of the pub. I'm not sure when it stopped being a pub - my grandmother left after my grandfather died in 1953, but the last time I went to Charlbury it was a private house.
Charlbury Railway Station
I well remember been driven to the station to meet a train that was carrying at least two hundred head of cattle destined for Ditchley Mansion. As a young man in those days, with five other men we drove the animals to the park, it took most off the day I remember. It was for Sir D Wills a short while after he took control of the park, we also spent a few days there doing the fencing. I started my working days for Mr D Wills at Litchfield Manor Estate in Hampshire under the estate manager Mr G Gale, the estate was then run by The Hon Patrick Wills and I left in 1956 to join the RAF.
Our Lives in Milton Under Wychwood
My family and I were in Milton after being stationed at Upper Heyford AFB with the USAF. My daughter Tina attended the village school which was attached to the church. We participated with the mothers' run on the village green. I enjoyed the village. We lived in Heather Cottage and then above Priest Store. The Priest Brothers gave me some of their grandmother's furniture which I still have and will always cherish. I still have contact with my babysitter who was 16 at the time but still lives in the village, Sandra Baldwin who we love very much. It has been over 50 years but I have loving memories of my stay there and have been back to see Sandra and her family. Don't change the beautiful place too much.
Cadel Shop - Market Square
The shop in the middle of the picture with the two awnings (now the Nationwide building society) used to belong to my great grandmother Eva Cadel and was a wool and toy shop. My Grandmother and Great Aunt ran it until 1971. My grandmother Joan ran the toy side and my Great Aunt Mary ran the wool. Many people still today tell me that their first pram/doll/train set came from the Cadel shop. Pictures such as these are very special and are a treasure.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,875 memories of 5,951 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Blaenavon, Gwent
- Gillingham, Kent
- Sway, Hampshire
- Godstone, Surrey
- Netheravon, Wiltshire
- Oban, Argyll
- Maesgeirchen, Gwynedd
- Southampton, Hampshire
- Hornsey, Greater London
- Barnehurst, Kent
- Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex
- Stadhampton, Oxfordshire
- Blaenllechau, Mid Glamorgan
- Amble, Northumberland
- Eamont Bridge, Cumbria
- Woodbridge, Suffolk
- Ansdell, Lancashire
- Golders Green, Greater London
- Severn Beach, Avon
- Greasbrough, South Yorkshire
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
