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Little Baldon

Little Baldon maps

Historic maps of Little Baldon and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Little Baldon maps

Little Baldon area books

Displaying 1 of 7 books about Little Baldon and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Little Baldon

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Oxfordshire memories

The Olivers, William, Lilian, May, Violet, Henry, Bill, Jack, The Lodge, Chiselhampton Oxon

My grandparents William and Lilian together with their 5 children lived at The Lodge, Chiselhampton. William was head gardener employed by Sir Charles Peers until his death 22.9.42 aged 58, Lilian died 18.10.74, her 86th birthday. They are both buried in St Katharine's Churchyard, Chiselhampton. William was a special constable. I have a photograph of a fire which started at the bakehouse, Stadhampton, (1926?) in which I can see him, also his son Bill born 1919 - he looks c.7 years old. William had a huge garden which grew many vegetables, which fed the family. He cut the village men's hair, repaired shoes, watches, clocks, bicycles. Daughter Violet (my mother) was also employed by Lady Peers, starting as a maid, she once accompanied Lady Peers as her personal maid on a visit to London. When Sir Charles was 80 and they both were going to a nursing home, my mother Violet was asked if she would look after them for a week or two. Mother was only too pleased... Read more

Drayton St Leonards 1936

1936 - my father Ernest Eldridge and mother Violet and myself Barbara moved from Dorchester on Thames to Drayton St Leonards. My mother's friend May Rusher (wife of Frank Rusher) arranged for the cottage next door to be let to us. The kitchen window looked out to the churchyard. I attended the small village school until we moved to Oxford in c.1939. My grandparents lived at The Lodge, Chiselhampton. I remember going to the chapel on a Wednesday afternoon straight from school where mothers would be. I suppose it was a meeting of sorts.
Frank Rusher was a lay preacher there. I remember the plays and various other entertainments which were enjoyed in the chapel hall. Our garden was across the road from our cottage adjoining a field. The old fashioned toilet was there. I absolutely loved the cornfield with poppies, daisies and cornflowers and it led to my interest in my later life designing flower birthday cards and also Christmas cards. I remember taking a milk churn to... Read more

A Glance Backwards

The Post Office And Village Store c1960
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I came to live in Stadhampton in 1954 from Henley on Thames. My father was the village Policeman. I found that even for 1954 life in Stadhampton was comparatively primitive compared with what I was used to! But it was a very good life for all that. Life was gentler, slower and bore far more comparison with Victorian England than I had been used to. The village was full of 'characters'. George the Postman still suffered from Second World War shell shock. He could not/did not speak, just 'zuzzed' his way through life. He made a perfectly competent local postman, cycling around the village with his collie dog parked in the carrier on the front of his bike. Would he be employed as postman (postie) now? Not a chance. The social life of the village was centred around the Village Hall, the venue for the Youth Club, Cinema, Dances - this old thatched barn of a structure was one of the... Read more

Childhood Memories

I lived in Stadhampton from 1949 - 1952. When I was eight years old living in Rutland my parents split up leaving my Dad with three small boys rather suddenly. As was often the case in those days I was shipped out and came to Stadhampton to live with my aunt & uncle Lottie & Reg Wood during term time at what was then No1, The Close in School Lane (after other houses were built in the row it became no11). It was an interesting and rather scary experience, for all parties I suspect! A middle aged couple with no children suddenly have their routine and space invaded by a fairly lively and large 8 year old used to playing with two brothers noisily. I went to the village school at the end of the Lane which is now a private house. At that time the head teacher was Mrs Burston who wore her hair in a bun and was very strict but fair. She lived in the school house with... Read more

Town/e Family

The Hunt Stables c1955
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My Great Great Grandmother,Eliza Town was born here in 1831. In 1854 she married James Barnard Balmer in St.Mary's Portsea,Hampshire,who was a Plasterer by trade.

If anyone knows anything about the Town/e family from Stadhampton,please get in touch with me.

Family Connections.

The Barley Mow Inn 1890
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This was my grandfathers favourite inn at the time the photograph was taken. He was coachman at the Manor House at Long Wittenham a short walk along the 'Maddy' (a road from the inn to Long Wittenham following the river and very prone to flooding). Its a family story that he would often spend too long here and Granny would have to prepare the horse and coach and dress up in his clothes to fetch the master of the house from Didcot station several miles away. I remember her as a very resourceful woman. She died in 1938 on her 83rd birthday.

Location

The Village c1960
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High Street, looking towards the cross.

We lived in the next house to the Post Office/stores (with the Walnut tree on the left) from 1959 - 1976.

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