Cold Ash, The Lodge, Downe House School c.1960

Photo ref: C617003

I was five years old in 1953 and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the first vivid memory I have of my childhood. We lived at Midway, Cold Ash Hill, the major road through the village. Dressed as a pirate with silver buckles on my shoes, an eye patch and a wooden cutlass painted silver, with my childhood friend, Keith Stroud, we joined the throng of people making their way up the hill to the recreation ground. ...see more

For a small rural community Cold Ash was a busy village in the 1950s. Collins’ Farm, three shops, four pubs, a coal merchant, and two garages all provided local employment. In addition the Convent with its farm and gardens employed farm and other maintenance staff although the bulk of the work there was carried out by the nuns. The old Girls’ Home, Hill House, recently closed, now a nursery, ...see more

Hello again. I started at Cold Ash School, St Marks C of E in 1953. The school consisted of the original brick building housing two class rooms and a large hall, plus a new wooden extension of two more class rooms and a cloak room. The infants' class was in the old building with its high windows to prevent distraction from outside. My teacher was Miss Clarke, a kindly and quietly spoken lady. My ...see more

I spent the early years of my life in Cold Ash and Thatcham. We lived in a detached house on Cold Ash Hill called Midway. I believe it has since been renamed. The house was built by my grand father Alfred Gadd, the carpenter, for the pricely sum of £460. I still have his book of expenditure on the build somewhere. Next door down the hill was the bungalow owned by Len Durbidge and on the other side, up the ...see more