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Newtown Common
Newtown Common maps
Historic maps of Newtown Common and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Newtown Common maps
Newtown Common photos
We have no photos of Newtown Common, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Newbury| Thatcham| Kingsclere| Crookham| Cold Ash| Brimpton| Kintbury| Hermitage| Hurstbourne Tarrant
Newtown Common area books
Displaying 1 of 12 books about Newtown Common and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Newtown Common
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Berkshire memories
Pound Street
My first main job on leaving school (Shaw House) was as a tea boy-dogsbody at H C James timber and builders merchants in Pound Street. For quite a while I cycled daily from Highclere Castle, approx 4 miles, it took me just over half an hour to get there and one hour to return! Some hills! My duties included running a mess room, making tea etc twice a day and touring the town for cakes and pasties, some of the men were particular as to which shop sold the best! One in Barthlomew Street near the Regal cinema, on round to Cheap Street to Austins for pasties and Nelsons squares, then to the Empire Cafe for lardy cakes, returning via Market Street and Barts again for fairy cakes near Black Boys bridge. After using a cycle for a while my father bought me an ex post office BSA bantam motor bike, painted green, it was purchased from someone my dad knew who worked at Bleinhem Palace. I rode that... Read more
The Kennet.
The river is the Kennet and this view shows the junction of the Kennet river (from low level bridge on the right) and the Kennet and Avon Canal (towards the locks straight ahead). The tributary to the left is towards the West Mills flour mill (water powered). The view is upstream (West).
Shops in The Broadway
I believe this picture is of the local post office/deli next door to the clock tower inn pub, affectionately known as the 'Clocky'. I grew up in this pub between 1956 and the early 1970s.
When I lived here the mayor of Newbury was Mr A W Luff and he owned the post office/deli next door. His son David did the weekly grocery deliveries in their van. David's sister moved to Canada ages and ages ago. My younger brother and I would sometimes go with David on some of the deliveries and once we went to the Heinz (soup) mansion where for the first time I ever saw a lift inside a home!
Opposite was Wilcox's fruit and veg shop and a newsagents. On the corner was a flower shop.
The actual clock tower in the middle of the Broadway had bench seats around and a phone box in the centre, where I remember it used to smell of urine. The old tramps and meth drinkers... Read more
Love At First Sight (corny But True)
This is where I first set eyes on my future wife. = I was working for Wimpeys at Greenham Common Air-Base, about 60 to 70 of us were lodging in an old army camp in Hamstead Norris that hade been taken over by Wimpeys as it was hard to get lodgings in Newbury. Every Saturday night my mate and I would come to town for a meal, drink and a dance in the Corn Exchange. One Saturday night we went into the Catherine Wheel pub in the Market PLace. Lo and behold, two pleasant young ladies were playing darts. We got playing with them, and thats how it all started. We were married for 53 years. Every time I go to Newbury I go into that pub, have one pint and think back. I lost the wife 3 years ago but visit Newbury often to see her family and put flowers on her grave in East Garson. By the way, my mate married my wife's friend, name of... Read more
My Bedroom Window
I used to live above our shop, "Luff's" the grocers. My bedroom window looked out onto the clock tower. I spent many hours looking out of that window watching people going by and watching the activities around the clock tower. I believe we lived there from about 1948, I left in 1959, but the shop is still owned by my brother.
Boots Chemist
Does anyone recall the curious window on Boots the Chemist? The glass was curved and one could not touch it, always a highlight after crossing the barrel bridge passing Lidiard the butchers.
Highclere When I Was Young!
I am the eldest son of the Mills family, we lived in the stable yard at the rear of Highclere Castle, at the age of 5 I went to Highclere primary school, a Miss Baker was the Head, assisted by the Misses Eva and Cissie Thirkell. The school is now a private house, has been for some years, it was situated just below the lodge gates of the Carnarvon estate. Was a long walk from the Castle to School, I remember the winter of 1947 a lake called Red Pools froze solid, great fun on that! and the free milk froze, had to be thawed by the classroom stove!. Later joined the Choir at St Michaels and all Angels church, just below the school, Rev Wormald in charge then, on one occasion for some reason I was the only choirboy that turned up, I had to lead the singing solo! I later joined the Bellringing team, ringing master was a Geoff Dodd, after this a gang of us used to gather outside... Read more
