Nettlebed memories
Here are memories of Nettlebed and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Nettlebed or a Nettlebed photo.
A Memorable 'stay' at Joyce Grove - Nettlebed
As a young student nurse at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington W2 - I recall fond memories of Joyce Grove where I undertook my initial six week training period, prior to joining the staff at St Mary's Hospital. What a magnificent house it was, huge to a young girl from a three bedroom house in Hertfordshire. Large rooms, open fireplaces where one could imagine the open log fires of earlier times - the entrance hall led to a large room with such a fireplace, and a grand staircase, where one could imagine the elegant ladies of ealier times walking elegantly down the stairs to join their partners. Another room led into what I was told was a music room - large enough to hold a grand ball - it was breathtaking. We ate our meals in another large dining room - our tutors sat at the head of the tables and we moved, in turn, to sit next to them each day during our stay, they were testing our powers of coversation,... Read more
Morris Dancers at Nettlebed
I remember coming to Nettlebed in 1993 to play my piano accordian at this pub (and several others!) for Whitethorn Morris.
It was a gorgeous sunny summer day and crowds gathered round to watch the entertainment. Whitethorn Morris is a women's clog morris team from Harrow and they always look smart in their scarlet and blue kit with shiny black clogs. We brought our own band to play and had a really good day's outing in Nettlebed along with with dancers and musicians from other morris sides.
Memories of Oxfordshire
Nuffield, English Farm & Conduit Cottages
Does anyone happen to have any photos or information on Conduit Cottages which until about 20/25 years ago were a pair of semi farm cottages belonging to English Farm? They could be reached either by a track from the Nuffield-Stoke Row road which lead to what is now I believe Phoenix Cottage or from further along the same road nearer to Nuffield at the side of other farm cottages which lead to the actual farm. At one point a Mr. Francis, Cowman at the farm, lived here. Either way you then walked up a track to the Conduits which were in the middle of fields by a copse and three ponds. In the 1950s the farm was owned by Mr. & Mrs. Mundy (Monday?) and Mrs. Mundy's brother Mr. Purdy. The Conduits have since been converted into one very grand house, the ponds are gone and everything appears to be landscaped. The farm was purchased a few years ago, the old house renovated and the farm... Read more
Kathleen Schlesinger Home
In 1944 my mother was in the Ruskin Emergency Hospital in Oxford giving birth to my brother. Before going to hospital she sent me to the Kathleen Schlesinger Home at Russels Water. I was 4 years old but I do remember bits of my time there. I was there from around 3rd August until 6th September, a long time for a 4 year old to be away from his mother. I have some letters written by members of the staff to my mother.
Russel's Water isn't a very big place and I wonder if the building is still there. Strangely, no local historian, nor anybody at Henley Town Council have ever heard of the place.
If anybody reading this has any memories of the Kathleen Schlesinger Home, please send me an email, rick_n_jane2004@yahoo.com
Rick Wilmot
Tudor & Mills Family Roots
I have always loved Highmoor; my father, John Tudor Mills, was born there, at Satwell, in 1924, his mother Doris Tudor having been born opposite St Paul's church in Highmoor in 1900; her parents, George Tudor, of Cowhill, Gloucestershire,and Annie-Marie Smith, of Kingsclere, moved to Highmoor circa 1898 following their marriage (his second). George Tudor was a local "Excavating Road Contractor", and worked in partnership with the Frouds of Assendon. George's sister, Hannah Davis, nee Tudor, was already living in the area (Ipsden) with her family; when Mr Davis died, she moved to Bix, circa 1901, living at Bix Brand farm; her daughter married Horace Froud,and their descendants still live at Laurences Farm, Bix,to this day. My grandfather, William "Billy" Mills, was born in Lyminster, Littlehampton, but moved to Rotherfield Greys when his father, John Mills, became a farm bailiff there some time between 1900--1911; John lies buried in Rotherfield Greys churchyard, William at Fairmile Cemetery. George Tudor had been married previously, having already fathered 12 or so children before Doris... Read more
Star Brush Factory
We lived in a council house adjacent to the Star Brush factory where my father worked for some years before we moved to Peppard. While our house was very modern by some standards, we had no electricity for some years, but we did have flush toilets. I remember the beech trees being hauled into the factory for cutting up for making the backs for brushes which were then sent to London to be shaped and the bristles fitted.
There was quite a successful cricket team in the village in which my father played as a bowler and opening batsman.
I can still remember the petrol pumps at the local garage with the price at one shilling and one pence a gallon!
During the Second World War we were kept awake by the aircraft from Benson airfield going out to bomb Germany and were woken up in the morning when they returned.
Our neighbour was Tom Clark who was the village baker at the village stores before he was called up... Read more
Uxmore Farm Ipsden
Any news /photos/records of Uxmore Farm, Ipsden would be welcome. I have been to Ipsden Heath and Stoke Row, visiting relatives but not actually visiting Uxmore Farm. since my father and grandfather farmed there in the early 1900s I have a particular interest in the area.
The Read family owned the farm for hundreds of years then it fell into being not cared for and was eventua'ly rented/sold to Robert James Hayward and Frances Emily Hayward (nee Cotterell). The Haywards farmed there till 1925 when Robert Hayward died. Frances died about 1914. The farm was probably bought via Cotterell money as Robert's father John of English Farm, Englefield died broke, brother-in-law Ernest Cotterell being a mortgage trustee to the Uxmore Farm with sons ands daughters of Robert and Frances. Under Read ownership the farm was about 500 acres on an old Roman site. In fact my father said when a tennis court was made, Roman gold coins were found. What happened to the gold coins I don't know.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,881 memories of 5,952 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:
- Hawley, Hampshire
- Oswestry, Shropshire
- Croydon, Surrey
- Cwmaman, Mid Glamorgan
- Maidenhead, Berkshire
- Strood, Kent
- Battersea, Greater London
- Southgate, Greater London
- Watford, Hertfordshire
- Kings Sutton, Oxfordshire
- Bexleyheath, Kent
- Netherbury, Dorset
- Shotley Bridge, County Durham
- Taxal, Derbyshire
- Barnehurst, Kent
- Southampton, Hampshire
- Sway, Hampshire
- Cononley, West Yorkshire
- Ilfracombe, Devon
- Beverley, North Humberside
- ... 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.
