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Meadvale
Meadvale maps
Historic maps of Meadvale and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Meadvale maps
Meadvale area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Meadvale and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Meadvale
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Meadvale.
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Meadvale as A Living Village
When we first moved to "the estate" in the early fifties I would have to catch the bus into Reigate as I went to school in Holmesdale Road. The school I have forgotten about but what is memorable was the smell of the fresh baked bread coming from the bakery across the road from the bus stop. As kids we would go in and the lady (cannot remember her name) would give us nubbins of left-over dough that had been baked for that very reason. In those days it was a thriving place of commerce with a Butcher, Baker, Newsagent, Hardware store, Grocer, Shoe, Electronic shop and Post office. I still visit when I can as I still have family there. However I left for America over thirty years ago. My life-long friend was apprenticed to Friths and we would carry around a half plate camera taking all kinds of photographs some of which may be in... Read more
The Top Shop
This was the year I started school and my mum took me into the top shop after school for some sweets for being a good girl at school (I think it was called Berrys) and every Saturday my nan came over and gave me sixpence to spend at the top shop for sweets and they would have to last the week. AsI grew older my mum let me go on my own, I never moved from the village and I could do all my shopping there as well. We had shops - a butchers (owened by Mr Harriot), a bakers (sorry, can't rember the name), a post office (owned by Mr and Mrs Barnard), another sweet shop (owned by Mr and Mrs Paine), a delicatessen (owned by Mr and Mrs Deerman), a greengrocers (owned by George and Jack Samuels) and a few more shops that I can't remember and the top shop which changed owners frequently, the one I can remember is Mr and Mrs Welfare as Mr Welfare looked... Read more
I Remember, Years Ago.
I was born in the County Hospital, where my Mum worked as an almoner. My grandparents, Herbert and Frances Pink lived on Copse road in an old row house that I loved, especially the attic where my cousin Valerie (Davis) and I used to spend time rummaging around in the ancient trunks full of 20's clothing, cigarette tins full of picture cards, old tubular records and huge heavy pattern catalogues. When I was 4 we moved to a little community of "Prefabs" near Nags Head, but Gran and Grandad would still look after me while my parents H.Maurice and Eileen Pink went to work. My cousin and I would go to the post Office and sweet shop, go to the dairy for Walls ice cream and along the path to the common, and St. Johns School that I attended. I remember the daffodils, the Chain Lakes, and sitting at at a table with my Gran, giving out concentrated orange juice in bottles (among other things) in return... Read more
Meadvale Garage
I also remember Meadvale Garage as Stan and May were my grandparents. I spent a lot of time there as a small child. I also remember the local shops at Meadvale and my parents Bill and Heather also were landlord and landlady of "The Old Oak" public house in the 1970s. There was also another shop opposite the post office called "Berry's" (I think) and we used to buy sweets there on the way back from school, St John's, we used to walk to and from school through an alley way.
MEADVALE GARAGE
My father Stan Long started Meadvale Garage in the thirties, I'm not sure of the precise date.
When he purchased it, it was a derelict rat infested old builders yard and stables.
He and my mother "May" together with my uncles "Les" and "Eddie" both worked hard on getting rid of the rats, digging holes for the petrol tanks and pits.
Dad built it into a typical village garage, serving petrol, paraffin, used cars and repairs. Most of the local village businesses were his customers. There was Harriot's the butchers, the two brother Samuels, the green grocers, George Payne the sweet shop and newsagent, a bakers, a shoe shop Mr. Mrs King, the Old Oak pub Mr Herford (and later Ted Reeves), the post office Mrs Barden and later Mr Ilyffe, the wool shop Mrs Warren. Earlier there was a dairy run by Mr. Mrs Hawkins (I think).
Peter Long
Surrey memories
Earlswood Brickmakers
This photograph was added to the Frith Website in 2006, I believe.
However, I think it was taken towards the West end of Earlswood Common. I think it is of my Great Grandfather's home, Mackrells. GGF William Brown was a master brickmaker. The family firm was at Mackrells for over 100 years, making bricks and pottery items.
William was Mayor of Reigate towards the end of the 19th Century.
Sadly, the house has gone. It was replaced by Council flats and a close of houses in the 1960's. The name lives on. The flats are grouped around a close called Mackrells.
I would love to share memories etc with anyone who remembers the family & brickworks. Any photos??
The Kiln
This most likely stood in my family's New Pond Brickyard. The family firm was W Brown and Sons. The New Pond yard existed from 1813 to about 1938.
