Pyecombe memories
Here are memories of Pyecombe and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Pyecombe or a Pyecombe photo.
Wayfield Cottages
As a child I lived in the cottages opposite the Post Office, we moved when I was around 9 years old and the houses were later pulled down. My memories of living there were very happy and I remember every year standing out front watching the Old Crocs go by. I now live in Hove and work in Crawley so drive past twice a day, and often try to work out exactly where the houses were. Now both my parents have passed on its lovely to see a picture showing the houses, even if it's not close up. We always went to the Post Office to buy our sweets and I remember once a week getting a heart ice cream, a real treat.
Memories of East Sussex
Memory of Clayton
My parents, Alan & Jennifer Ross, moved to Clayton in 1954 when I was one year old and lived there for the next twenty five years. For most of that period Jack & Jill were owned by Henry Longhurst, a celebrated golf journalist of his time and, since my father was writing about cricket in those days, they knew each other as fellow sports journalists. I remember visiting the windmills as a child and, later in life, when I drove down to Clayton for the weekend, the sight of Jack and Jill on top of the Downs always made my heart lift as I approached the end of the journey. The Longhursts lived in Jack, the black mill and in an attached cottage, as far as I remember, while Jill was pretty much in its original working condition. As you can see from the photograph, Jack did not have sails in those days but in the 1970s a movie called The Black Windmill, starring Michael... Read more
Hassocks Primary School in The 1950s
I was at the school from 1948 until 1955, at which point the 11+ sent me to Hove County Grammar. Starting in 1948 in Miss Wood's class I ended with two years in the top class with Miss Nichols. In between I was taught by Miss Lamper, Mr Kilby, Mr Bennett and Miss Bolter. Mrs Lake was headmistress. There was playground segregation in those days, the front playground in the picture being the junior boys playground. Girls and infants had the two back playgrounds. The picture shows the school after some work has been done to the central frontage. Up to the fifties the two side arches to the main front arch had concrete 'ballastrades' which have been replaced by bricks, which above the main entrance the school name 'Clayton and Keymer CP School' was etched in stone, but in the picture has been replaced by a brick topping to the entrance. Inside, in keeping with the design of victorian schools, those... Read more
1861 - 1891 Hilgay, Keymer Road
Clearly not my memories! My ancestors, Frederick and Charlotte CHAMPION and their nine children lived at Hilgay, Keymer Road, Keymer which I read is now a Nursing Home. Frederick Shepherd CHAMPION was a Solicitor. He is my first cousin four times removed.
Are there any decendants of Frederick CHAMPION still in Keymer? Any Champions at all? Please, are there any photos of Hilgay? Does anyone have any knowledge of this family or the Solicitor's Practice he worked for?
Many thanks.
Keymer
I lived in Keymer from birth (1950) to 1954 then from 1966-1974. I lived in my early years at the "Old Thatch", Lodge Lane. My aunt and uncle, plus cousins, lived at the cottages to the north of us, formerly the local workhouse, then moved further down Lodge Lane to the large Victorian houses near the fire station, my uncle was in the fire service at that time. The shop pictured on the left in the photograph of Keymer Road belonged to the local greengrocer, Mr Hodges, his son Micheal was a friend of my two cousins. The Greyhound pub at that time had on its internal beams coins nailed to them by troops from all over the empire who were stationed in this area during the Second World War, I was saddened to find they had all been removed in a recent refurbishment. We spent many jolly evenings there, my dad was a founder member of the Hassocks and district angling club and meetings were held at the Greyhound... Read more
Keymer in The 1960's & 70's
I lived in Keymer from birth (1958) to 1975 and remember the Collins Electrical shop mentioned by Pauline. I have very fond memories of a happy carefree childhood living in the village. We lived in Church Mead and I remember attending a pre-school playgroup in the church hall run by a Miss Andrews. Like Pauline, I too got married in Keymer Church (in 1983 and to the girl next door, Melanie Dossett).
I may be mistaken but I seem to recall that the grocers next to The Greyhound was called Grinsteads and they had a delivery "boy" aged around 60 who brought shopping to the house if my mother couldn't carry it. I think the post office was run by Mrs Grinstead.
I have two boys in primary school and I so wish that they could enjoy the freedom that I and my best friend Paul Webb enjoyed as we rode our bikes across the fields to Ditchling Pond and built hides out of hay bales.... Read more
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