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Penton Hook
Penton Hook maps
Historic maps of Penton Hook and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Penton Hook maps
Penton Hook area books
Displaying 1 of 16 books about Penton Hook and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Penton Hook
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Penton Hook.
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Penton Camp Club
The Penton Camp Club started in about 1903. Its members included the Manager of Martin's Bank, London, the manager of the Drury Lane Theatre and many other rich men. They would come by train to Staines, the old station at the entrance to Two Rivers Shopping Centre, walk to the bridge and be taken from there by the owner of the large hotel that stood on the left bank opposite the Swan to the weir - the right bank opposite Penton Hook Lock Island.
One weekend there was a disaster, the camp was flooded and the local residents came to the aid of the stranded campers. In July 1903 it was suggested by the campers that a local association was formed, which stretched from the Fishing Temple to the camp. This club lasted for many years. Each year there would be a magnificent ball in London and in the summer a regatta at Silver Sands including punting and diving. The last regatta was advertised for 1914 but had to... Read more
The Weir
Not exactly sure of date, but as a child growing up in the 60s, a few houses upstream of Penton Hook Lock, I recall walking "round the Island" on many weekends. The most memorable bit, looking back, was the wooden weir crossing. You crossed the lock gates - and I can remember them being the large wooden sort - then walked towards the Island over this remarkable wooden structure. It had a roof, which made it so distinctive, and I could just about look over the sides at the water rushing over the weir. I distinctly recall the scary but exhilarating feeling I got when I looked through the FLOOR (between the wooden slats) at the fast-flowing water below. The wooden weir was demolished - I can't recall when - but it was one of those things that I really missed when it went, and this was well before I had any sense of "heritage". At least the Island is still there, and still something of a haven of peace,... Read more
Surrey memories
Laleham Abbey Convent School
Is there anyone out there who was at Laleham Abbey Convent School around 1953?
Good Times
When I was 4 years old my mother used to work for the nuns at Laleham abbey, she used to take me with her, what fun I used to have. I used to roam all over the grounds and also inside the buildings, all the nuns were wonderful. l remember Sister Mary Phillipa, Sister Flora Mary and Sister Mary Gertrude, I think the best event I used to attend was Corpus Christi. I also remember at lunchtimes tramps used to come to the abbey kitchen door to get food and often they gave me a sixpence. It was a sad day when I had to start school but I looked forward to the holidays. I moved away from Laleham in 1976 but often go back to Laleham. I only wish I could go back being 4 again.
I was Rita Jarvis back then.
Laleham Abbey School
I was at Laleham Abbey School from 1955-7 I remember the name Tania Morley. I think I may have been in her class. Sister Constancia was the head when I went there and Mother Sarah was Superior. She was succeeded by Mother Marie Louise. Sister Marianna was head when I left in 1957. It would be good to hear from other ex-puils, somewhere I have photos, including some of Corpus Christi processions. I have an old B&W school brochure.
Laleham Abbey
My sister Kathleen Taylor (former name) was cook in the kitchen for the retired old ladies. I was always staying with her during school holidays. Her husband then (now deceased) was Barry Taylor and they had two children, Sarah born 1966 and Michael, her younger (not sure of his age) brother, who went to the village school in Laleham. Barry was a sort of joint caretaker. Sister Flora Mary was in charge of Nazareth House and very close to my sister and Sister Francis Anne worked in the main Abbey House kitchens and was the youngest of the nuns as far as I remember but great fun. Corpus Christi was sacred yet fun as I remember making the bags of goodies up to give out. My sister lived in the corner of the main cloisters next to the small chapel. I remember the big square fish pond in the centre of the cloister gardens. I liked to play in the woods and I recall a type of bamboo tent house... Read more
Laleham Abbey
I was at the school from 1945 to 1947. Names which spring to mind, on the spur of the moment, are Shirley Anne Blyth, Maitland Bond, Penelope Bovill, Hilary Cunningham, Anne Elliot, Faith Fabian, Jennifer Jeffries, Brigid Baverstock-Moran, Angela Pierce, Mary Riches, Sylvia Ryland, Britt Walker, Catherine White, Julia and Margaret Winterbottom, and Rowena (I still have the cards which she gave me on my birthday in 1946). Also Sister Bride and Margaret Butler. We had to drink senna pods every week - the trick was to stand at the open side of the cloister and tip it over the low wall! There was a tortoise in a house in the centre of the cloistered area. Britt was only about 3 years old and had been left there during the Second World War. My mother had to work at an aircraft factory during the war and lived at Colnbrook Hostel. She had a lot of Irish friends, at least from Lambourn, hence my arrival at the convent. Many of the... Read more
