Polegate memories
Here are memories of Polegate and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Polegate or a Polegate photo.
Wannock Tea Gardens in The 1950,S & Early 60,S.
I remember catching the charabanc from Brighton seafront on a Sunday afternoon with my Nanna and invarably choosing the Wannock Tea Gardens coach outing. I used to love going there, it was a real treat for me as a youngster. We came for a good few years in the 50's and early 60's. Being a pensioner myself now, I have the privilege of living in Polegate. but sad that the Wannock Tea Gardens are no more.
The Windmill
The windmill shown in the Willingdon photos was always known to me as the Polegate windmill. I remember it when it was in working order and watching the mill stones grinding the grain. This was in the 1950s when the Council houses were starting to be built there. Later the mill closed and went into decline for some years until it was decided to restore it. I knew the gentleman who was given the job of cleaning out the resident pigeon population and so secured quite a few very plump pigeons which were delicious, they having been so well fed on the grain that had been left stored in the mill.
Polegate, like Willingdon, has grown considerably since those early days as when I used to walk to Polegate from Lower Willingdon there were few house between the two villages, whereas now they are practically continuous.
Also, I was very familiar with Wannock Tea Gardens as I used to walk through them on my way to The Glen... Read more
Memories of East Sussex
Willingdon Childhood
I was born and raised in Willingdon and lived two doors away from the previous correspondent Ian Friend. I also attended the school referred to as Willingdon Church Hall before a new school was built in Rapsons(?) Road, Lower Willingdon. I have very fond memories of my childhood days there and spent many hours playing and exploring the Downs nearby. The Chalk Pit above Willingdon was a favourite area where I explored for fossils and iron pyrites. One of the unique features of the Downs (I think) was the dew ponds. These were round concave excavations created at appropriate positions at or near the bottom of long slopes. These ponds were created for sheep to drink and accumulated water from dew that condensed when cold air moved down the slopes at night and formed droplets when it drifted over these ponding areas which had retained warmth from the daytime sun. These seemed a very effective idea with no running costs and I used to catch newts and tadpoles in these... Read more
Willingdon Church Hall
Referring to the photograph ref: W446012 I used to attend Sunday School in the pictured church hall from the mid 1950's to 1960 the teacher being Miss Parris. I also went to Cubs at the Memorial hall opposite the church hall (out of picture to the left) at the same time. I remember the A22 being the main road between Eastbourne and London and pre speed limit days there were many fatal accidents on this road, mostly at Lower Willingdon where I lived at 77 Eastbourne Road. I now live in Brisbane, Australia.
Willingdon
My grandparents lived near the British Queen on Eastbourne Road near the tiny grocers store and I have happy memories of spending summer holidays on the downs and Donkeys Hollow picking bluebells. I would love to hear from anyone who can recall the name of the store please. I also used to visit Mr Holter's sweet emporium! What fun.
Mr Holter's Sweet Emporium!
Mr Holter was my grandad! I have great memories of the shop at the triangle but no pictures, can anyone help?
Wannock Gardens
I had no idea Mr Wootton could be so fierce! I worked at Wannock Gardens during my summer holidays fifty-odd years ago, along with a very interesting mix of people, old and young. Roger Tanner
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,893 memories of 5,952 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire
- Conicavel, Morayshire
- Selham, West Sussex
- Eamont Bridge, Cumbria
- Delamere, Cheshire
- Kings Sutton, Oxfordshire
- Newcastle, County Down
- Cefn Fforest, Gwent
- Brentford, Middlesex
- Forest Row, East Sussex
- Hampton Wick, Surrey
- Bexleyheath, Kent
- Taunton, Somerset
- Severn Stoke, Worcestershire
- Collyhurst, Lancashire
- Lumphinnans, Fife
- Romford, Essex
- Neath, West Glamorgan
- Raby, Merseyside
- Bootle, Merseyside
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
