Coombe Place 1898, Offham
Coombe Place 1898, Offham Ref: 41914
Memories of Coombe Place 1898, Offham
Coombe Place
I was born in this lovely house in1970. My parents worked here for Mr. Cannon from 1960 until 1983. We then moved to Italy, my parents home country. I have many sweet memories but unfortunately I have lost all contacts, maybe because when we went to Italy I was only 13.All I know is that the Cannons died many years ago and the house was sold.I hope to go back for a visit soon, to show my children where I grew up...very happily!
Growing up at Coombe Place
My family and I moved to a bungalow at Coombe Place in 1960. My father, Walter Motley, took up the post of farm manager on this 100 acre dairy farm with a herd of Jersey cattle. Coombe Place is set on the side of the South Downs with views across the Weald of Sussex. It was a truly magical place to grow up with a 50 acre beech wood to explore and make camps in, numerous old farm buildings with lofts and secret hideaways to explore and the 'big house' garden with its treehouse, croquet lawn and tennis court which the owners, Mr and Mrs Richard Cannon, let us use when they were away on their extended holidays abroad. The 'big house' in the picture still has evidence of the old victorian kitchens below stairs and there is an original ice house a short walk from the house. The house is also linked with a tunnel under the lawn to the stable courtyard so that the Victorian ladies could walk... Read more
Offham & local memories
Read and share memories of Offham and East Sussex inspired by Frith photos.
Coombe Place
My grandmother Edith Lizzie King was first a seamstress and then I believe the housekeeper at 'the big house,' Coombe Place. She later married the chauffeur Ernest Crane, after looking after his children for many years, his wife having been admitted to a psychiatric hospital suffering from post natal psychosis. My grandmother had my mother in secret in 1921 before my grandfather was free to marry. My mother was brought up in Grayshott with foster parents who were former Salvation Army officers, Mr and Mrs T McVie. There she met and later married my dad. As they were both excluded to some extent from their families they went to live and work in Singapore. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers my grandparents.
