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Otterbourne
Otterbourne maps
Historic maps of Otterbourne and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Otterbourne maps
Otterbourne photos
We have no photos of Otterbourne, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Twyford| Chandlers Ford| Hursley| Bishopstoke| Eastleigh| Fair Oak| Winchester| Weeke| West End| Headbourne Worthy| Romsey| Southampton| Abbots Worthy| Bishops Waltham| Botley| Kings Somborne| Itchen Abbas
Otterbourne area books
Displaying 1 of 22 books about Otterbourne and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Otterbourne
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Otterbourne.
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A Visit to The Old Forge
Returning to England for a visit after being in Canada for seventeen years, I was anxious to find old friends and retrace steps I had taken years before when I called this my home. I arranged to meet up with my mother who had been visiting England for a few months before I got there. Together we took public transport to Otterbourne to visit the part owners of the lovely old-world resturant The Old Forge. They made us very welcome and we enjoyed a pleasant vist. My reason to visit them was personal as I was once engaged to the lady of the house, her name was Thelma. Now it's almost sixty years later and I still cherish my memory of her but that, as they say, is History! They do not own the Old Forge now, they retired some years ago and live not far away in Hampshire
Hampshire memories
Brambridge House
My great-grand parents were head gardener and house keeper at Brambridge House in its hey day, my great uncles also worked as footman, and gardeners and planted the original beginnings of what is now Brambridge Nurseries and Garden Centre. My grandmother and her siblings were born in the gardens house. After the house closed down my great-grandparents took over the Dog and Crook pub from around 1900 - 1915 and my great aunt was born in the pub, the family then moved to Winchester where we still live today.
My Memories
I remember the year of 1968 well, as it is when I left the village of Colden Common, although my Grandfather and Grandmother still lived there (On Main Road) up until their deaths. Colden Common in my time had no Scout Troop, so I had to go to Twyford to attend Scouts. Often the other boys in 'Common' would laugh at us, as we had still to wear short trousers. My other memory of 'Common' is when the Parish Hall (now demolished) used show the very latest pictures, due in part to the link with the picture house in Winchester (Theatre Royal). Other than that in my time in 'Common' we used to have to go to the school which was nearer Fishers Pond. To cross the road at the School for lunch (the dinner hall is now a private house) we required the Lollipop Lady Mrs Spratt to help us. To find out the very latest about Colden Common Football Club go to: http://coldencommon.proboards61.com
Although the committee... Read more
Colden Common School
My memory of Colden Common School, is mainly around the teachers. Mr Wilkie the Head, and Mrs Gundrie (Spelling). Also in my day the toilets were outside (and still standing when I last went by). There was no playing field for the school, we had to go to Colden Common 'Rec on Sports Day. The 'houses' were split on colour lines, as far as I remember Red, Yellow Green, and Blue. I seem to remember I was in Red. The School had no dinner hall with it this required crossing the Main Road, (See my other memory). I remember Benny Hill walking past the school, as his family owned a store on Fisher's Pond (now demolished), and causing great excitement. Such simple memories from a far off age!
2008
Although I have often E Mailed, and written to the committee of the Football Club I have not had a reply. Therefore I assume they are uninterested in my attempts.
My last memory of Colden Common is going through the village on the way to visit my mother (who lived at Shirrell Heath at the time).
I stopped and had lunch at the Fisher's Pond restuarant, and then passed through the village on the way back.
The Village Hall had been pulled down and houses were being built. The 'Rec had a nice new Club House built on it, where once there had been a children's playground. The village Post Office was no longer in 'Scott's Shop' which had closed. The Butcher's shop was now a dentist. Even my grandmother's house had changed.
Memories of Colden Common
I have never heard of this person, although he makes reference to some people, and places in Colden Common I knew. So if anyone who knows him ever comes across this then I have been some help!
COLDEN COMMON?
Oh, yes - I remember it well!
As we get older I guess we must all suffer from nostalgic mental trips - I know I do. At least twice a year I find myself staring at your map of Colden Common and re-living a great part of my childhood - the time when I lived in this fondly remembered village - the nineteen-fifties. I sit here and I wonder: where today are all those wonderful people that I then knew? And: whatever happened to all those young and tender friendships of yesteryear? Then we believed they were forever; they were bonds that nothing could, or would, ever destroy. We thought they were immortal. But alas, they were not. Sadly, as all too often happens, time and circumstances take... Read more
Oh, Yes! I Remember It Well!
My memories of Colden Common were written some time ago. Unforunately they could not easily be condensed into the 1,000 word limit here, so if linking is allowed they may be found here:
http://www.michaelknell.com/Colden\%20Common.htm
