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Magham Down
Magham Down maps
Historic maps of Magham Down and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Magham Down maps
Magham Down area books
Displaying 1 of 19 books about Magham Down and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Magham Down
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East Sussex memories
Herstmonceux Re. Hailsham Rd 1965 Photo
Good to see the photo of Herstmonceux in 1965 along Hailsham Rd.
I was born outside the village in 1957, my father being the local Reverend from 1956 till 1973/4. The old car in the foreground was right outside the large village school and the tin building on the left was part of the village hall. Further along on the right was the local garage with showroom, owned by the big "Caffyns" group selling BMC and subsequently BL cars. The little, low white building was a further showroom, which could just about hold two cars! How I remember as a 12 year old, longing for my mother to buy a brand new white MG Midget that sat waiting in that showroom. My father could then afford two new cars every 18 months! That road went up to a little village called Cowbeach where father had a third "tin tabernacle" church with hand - pumped organ. Services were held there once a month, whilst most services were in Herstmonceux in... Read more
Has it Changed?!!!
I remember going to this Church as a child. Cannot remember the Ministers name. I thought it was surrounded by more trees. I walked past this chruch many times on my way to visit friends further down the road.
Vines Cross Road
I remember this scene very well as I used to live a little way down the road to the right, on the way to Vines Cross. I lived there, in fact, until about 1967 when I went to study in London. My parents continued to live there until about 1986 when they moved first to Heathfield and then to Suffolk to be near me and my family. My parents were members of the Horeham Players for many years and used to rehearse and perform in the CYF Hall which was further down the road on the way to Vines Cross.
The shops in the picture are those of Mr Delves the grocer - on the left and Mr Setterfield on the right. The latter was a bike shop.
Sandra Reynolds (nee Thomas)
High Street, Horam
Because of the grounds of Horeham Manor virtually all the shops were on the side of the road that is to the right in the photograph entitled "Horam, Main Road c1955". One exception can be seen in this picture, and I believe is still there now. It was a wooden structure, built (so I understand) by my late father and his brother (the latter died in 1955, before I was born). The two began selling produce from ground they rented from Horeham Manor, calling their business 'Manor Nurseries'. In about 1959 my father moved what had then become a greengrocery and florist business - using the same name - to the brick-built shop almost directly opposite (which since he finished in 1967 has itself been various types of shop, currently one selling antiques).
My father's name was John Pierson, and some of the shop personnel included Mr (Harry) Sands and Mrs (Marjorie) Pope. My name is Mark, and I was very young when... Read more
The Windmill
The windmill shown in the Willingdon photos was always known to me as the Polegate windmill. I remember it when it was in working order and watching the mill stones grinding the grain. This was in the 1950s when the Council houses were starting to be built there. Later the mill closed and went into decline for some years until it was decided to restore it. I knew the gentleman who was given the job of cleaning out the resident pigeon population and so secured quite a few very plump pigeons which were delicious, they having been so well fed on the grain that had been left stored in the mill.
Polegate, like Willingdon, has grown considerably since those early days as when I used to walk to Polegate from Lower Willingdon there were few house between the two villages, whereas now they are practically continuous.
Also, I was very familiar with Wannock Tea Gardens as I used to walk through them on my way to The Glen... Read more
When My Children Were Young.
We lived in Eastbourne at this time and would always come out to Pevensey Bay on summer days and spend time on the beach. It was so peacefull and there was very little traffic. There were many privately owned small shops and Pevensey Bay had a wonderfull village atmoshere. There was the Butchers shop, Greengrocers,Hairdressers,Do-It Yourself shop, who also sold wood e.t.c
Coast Road was rarely used by traffic, except to go to Normans Bay. The children used to love calling in to the Pet shop, who stocked Chinchilla, Rabbits, birds and other animals. We now live in the Bay and after all these years still loveit, although it has sadly changed,--- like most lovely villages.One shop I forgot to mention was Gilberts Grocery, We could buy everything we wanted and were always made to feel so welcome.
Willingdon Childhood
I was born and raised in Willingdon and lived two doors away from the previous correspondent Ian Friend. I also attended the school referred to as Willingdon Church Hall before a new school was built in Rapsons(?) Road, Lower Willingdon. I have very fond memories of my childhood days there and spent many hours playing and exploring the Downs nearby. The Chalk Pit above Willingdon was a favourite area where I explored for fossils and iron pyrites. One of the unique features of the Downs (I think) was the dew ponds. These were round concave excavations created at appropriate positions at or near the bottom of long slopes. These ponds were created for sheep to drink and accumulated water from dew that condensed when cold air moved down the slopes at night and formed droplets when it drifted over these ponding areas which had retained warmth from the daytime sun. These seemed a very effective idea with no running costs and I used to catch newts and tadpoles in these... Read more
