You are here:
Redhill
Redhill maps
Historic maps of Redhill and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Redhill maps
Redhill area books
Displaying 1 of 18 books about Redhill and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Redhill
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Redhill.
There are 29 shared memories to read.
Add your memory of Redhill
or of a photo of Redhill.
High Street at Redhill
As a 16 year old, I was a boarder from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia at Saint Joseph's Convent, 122 Ladbroke Road. With me there were around 25 girls ranging from the ages of 4 to 17 years old and at least from 10 different countries from around the world. As far a Kenya, the Sood sisters, from Hong Kong the Leung and Ho sisters. And Jackie Lemaitre and Beatrice Velez, both from Cartagena de Indias and childhood friends. I would call our little boarding girl group a small NATO. In my first year at St Joseph's I was in 4th form. Coming from Cartagena de Indias, a very tropical and warm city, my first winter clothes were purchased at High Street. My friends Jackie Lemaitre and Beatrice Velez, both childhood friends and studying at St Joseph's with me, were my "personal shoppers". My first ever winter warm boots and gloves, etc. I remember going to the Post Office, to send letters and pictures home. I remember... Read more
Saturday Nights Out in The Market Hall
This is the place where I went to watch bands from about 1958 until they stopped in the 60's. First Saw Johnny Kidd & The Pirates here, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent and later The Searchers, The Hollies, Brian Poole & The Tremoloes, Freddie & The Dreamers. Many of the local Bands used to play here as well. I lived for music then & still do, playing some Bass now and running Jam sessions up in Norfolk where I live now. Went to Reigate Priory School and later Redhill Tech. Used to spend my dinner hours when I was at the Tech in the snooker rooms above Burtons The Taylors. Great times!!
Swimming With The Fish
I would go swimming In this lower lake at Earlswood Common from about the age of 8 with a few friends. No adults were present or needed, we had all been taught how to take care of ourselves and help our friends. Even so, parts of the lake were about 8 feet deep in places so the rule was "stay in the shallows if you can't swim". We didn't take a towel just stripped off to our underpants and dived in and when we came out just waited for the wind and sun to dry us off. In the big freeze up of '63 we used have slides of about 50 metres on this Lake!!
Saturday Nights
What memories this building holds. It gave the opportunity for a lot of teenagers to have their first Saturday night outs. It usually cost 1s 6d entrance fee unless there was a fairly well known group appearing that night then it was 2s 6d. I attended Redhill Tech (my surname then was Watts) and worked on a Saturday in Woolies on the sweet counter and most of the day was spent chatting to various friends who used to come in and there would be great excitement in waiting for the evening to arrive.
I would rush home, wolf down some tea and then spend about 2 hours trying on outfits, usually wearing the first dress that I had put on. It was such an exciting time, minis were just coming in and there were clothes that were actually designed for teenagers and not trying to make them look like mini adults. One of my favourite dresses was a mustard coloured dress with black buttons and mock drop collars, oh I... Read more
Redhill Swimming Baths And Town
Does anyone remember the old swimming baths at Redhill? I started swimming there in the 1970s when it was still a Victorian building. The steps in the pool were of stone and the changing rooms were around the poolsides with wooden doors. You could pay to have a slipper bath! There was a young lady who gave you a box to put your clothes in and you had to remember the number on it to get it back after your swim. Sometimes we saw cockroaches scuttling on the floor. I joined the swimming club 'The Marlins' and trained every Thursday with Mrs Ditzel. She seemed rather fierce at the time but she was just trying to get the best out of us. I also remember certain little shops along Station Road, a lovely old-fashioned chemist and a children's clothes shop called Hancock and Bean. There was a nice boutique near there which sold Mary Quant clothes which my mother used to love. I was really sad when Redhill changed so... Read more
First Typing Lessons
As a 16 year old, I was a boarder from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia at Saint Joseph's Convent, 122 Ladbroke Road. With me there were around 25 girls ranging from the ages of 4 to 17 years old and at least from 10 different countries from around the world. As far as Kenya, the Sood sisters, from Hong Kong the Leung and Ho sisters. I would call it a small NATO. In my first year at St Joseph's I was in 4th form. At the Technical Institute the boarders used to take some of the subjects taught there. One of the preferred lessons were typing lessons. On Saturdays and some evenings, we would take typing lessons. I remember walking to the Institute with my friends Christine Ngobi and Jackie Lemaitre. I do not remember the address of the Institute or if it was within walking distance from St Joseph's. A few days ago and looking at old Redhill pictures, where I spent two years, I found this... Read more
Redhill Childhood And Beyond
I was born in Colesmead Road Redhill, one of seven children. I had a wonderful childhood with fantastic parents, relatives and friends and even the school teachers from Merstham Primary and Bishop Simpson C/E. I am Helen and my maiden name was Coombs, born in 1952. Dad worked at Fullers Earth and he and mum and us were all involved with the British Legion in Redhill. Lovely dances, all age groups together, so much fun and laughter and talent on the stage! I would love to hear from anyone out there that recalls me or my family. Mum still lives in the house that I was born in, and we often talk of all the old memories, we usually end up laughing. As a family we spent lots of time on the reck opposite our house, or in the bluebell wood at Gatton. Earlswood lakes was always a great place to go for a picnic and a boat ride, to meet neighbours and... Read more
Co-Op
If I remember correctly, the buildings on the right hand of this photo was the Co-op, somewhere there was a butcher, there was always sawdust on the floor, they had the tubes that used to take the money away shooting around the shop it made a strange noise. I think next door was the clothes and furniture, you could walk around glass windows in a square without actually going into the shop. Further down the road I think that then became Brighton Road was La Trobes on the left hand side, I think you used to step down into it, an amazing place for young children, toys of all sorts and sizes. I have so many fond memories of Redhill in the fifties and sixties, these photos have just made me remember so many of them, wonderful, fantastic photos, thankyou
