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Ombersley, Church 1899
Ombersley, Church 1899 Ref: 44018
Memories of Ombersley, Church
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Ombersley & local memories
Read and share memories of Ombersley and Worcestershire inspired by Frith photos
Holt Fleet, the Bridge c1955
Ref: H103023
In 1954 my father and mother took over the Holt Fleet Hotel when I was 9 years old. The photographs on this site brings back memories of the two years that I spent as a child there. Steamers from Worcester would moor at the landing stage and passengers would disembark for afternoon tea in the grandly named ballroom.
The pictures of the hotel shown on this site are of the original earlier building which was demolished in the 1930s and replaced by one of the larger roadhouses which breweries built so many of at that time. As a child it was an ideal place to grow up and I look back at that time with fondness.
Shared on 26 April 2009
A family member used to have his home in a railway carriage at Holt Fleet. It may be that various members of my family lived there at different times. If anyone remembers the carriage I would dearly love to hear from them. There was a pond in the garden full of fish as far as I know. The owner was Thomas Picken but it was also used by a family called Aston and possibly Sneath as well. Do you remember it? If so please post your memories. Regards, Mike
Shared on 06 November 2008
Harvey Dene (Shell Cottage) Smite
When I was little I was taken to Harvey Dene Cottage in Smite by a friend of my mother's. I was enchanted with this incredible cottage garden constructed entirely of shells - the chap who owned it used to open it to the public at a small donation for charity. I remember it was amazing - he had made a cathedral of shells complete with a pipe organ, there was a boat, 2 ponds with lots of strange little manikins and the butterfly motif everywhere. Not forgetting the enormous cement flamingoes taking a sip from the many shell covered birdbaths and the ponds. It was one of my favourite places to visit as a child and I was very very sad when I rode past there on my bike in 1981 to see that the cottage was empty and the garden completely destroyed. All that was left was a bit of a cement column covered in butterflies and a rotting cement flamingo collapsed in the hedge. Does anyone know what happenned? I heard the owner died and someone bought the house and decided to get rid of that incredible garden. How sad - it was amazing and to see it destroyed was very distressing. Does anyone else have any memories of it?
Shared on 14 January 2010
I remember that Jane and Amber
Our family lived in Droitwich until 1965 when we moved to Australia. My brother and I went to Rashwood School and I remember that hill. I used to play rounders on the grassed area near the vegetable patch. The school lunches I remember as pretty gross except for the deserts. Mr Pointer was the Headmaster when we left, I had just sat my 11+ exam, never did find out how I went.
We lived in The Ridgeway, we also used to go to Bluebell wood and catch newts.
My grandparents lived in Vines Lane below Dodder Hill, next to the canal. I think the houses that were there are all gone now.
Shared on 26 May 2009
Droitwich, Westwood Park 1906
Ref: 54311
Mum and Dad bought The Coach House and Walled Garden when the estate was split up after Lord Doverdale died - we were there 1952 - 61. As a lad I used to help furnish the show flats in the big house by moving the furniture from one to another as they were sold! For 2/6d. I seem to remember the gorgeous ballroom with a magnificent ceiling being split into 2 flats. The garden was full of every fruit & variety thereof you could name - we grew tomatoes/cucumbers in the 3000sq ft of glass & I sold some on the side of Ombersley Road week-ends. 1 acre had 6 gardeners in the old days, so it was hard work for us! But it was a great place to be a teenager - football in the farmer's field behind us with Ronnie Bunce, Church and Youth Club at Hampton Lovett with the Sykes girls, and cinema in town - the Salters? - with double seats at the back upstairs! My parents sold the house and garden for £3700 in 1961 - I have seen the house spl;it into 2 halves and being sold at asking prices of £500,000 + each at one stage - though I believe the latest prices are £100,000 less. The garden was being sold separately recently at £60,000! But it would be difficult to match the fun we had there.
Shared on 27 January 2009
