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Compton

Compton photos (4 available)

Old photo of Compton

Compton maps (2 available)

Old map of Compton

Compton books (12 available)

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Compton memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in Berkshire below.

Berkshire memories

My dad the police officer

I was born in the 1980s and my father was Alan Prior. He used to work with Jim(or James ) Heath. We lived in the 'police' house with my mother Dawn. I remember being snowed in at one point and a lovely lady in the village let a whole coach full of us (we were supposed to go to school) invade her house and gave us cups of tea. I also remember my mum used to be a horse judge, I think, and we used to go to the stables a lot, and my mother ran the village shop at one point. My dad also was very close to the late 'Mr Chips' who also lived in the village, I cannot ...read more here
A memory of East Ilsley contributed by claire louise prior

I lived in Hampstead Norris from 1945 to 1962

Hampstead Norreys, Forge Hill 1950

I lived in Hampstead Norris as it was known in those days from 1945 to 1962 when I departed for greener pastures(I thought). I have had this longing for a while now to get in touch with people I went to school with in the village and at Compton. If you know my history you may or may not want to contact me. I would really like to hear from anyone who lived in the village at those times. I remember John Smith, Michael Wheeler, Chris Cannings, Angela Jefferys, Frank Ballard, the Simmons family, the Painter family, John, Reg, Roy and Anne Wheeler, Violet Marshall, I think the list is endless when I think about those days and of course my ...read more here
A memory of Hampstead Norreys contributed by David Street

fear of wells

Yattendon, the Royal Oak and Old Well c1965

The well incident at yattendon scared my father. We had heard about it through relatives and we lived in east tytherley at the time. I remember my father spending a weekend tapping floors and trying to lift flag stones in our kitchen because he was convinced that there was a well under our home- there wasnt.
A memory of Yattendon contributed by joy milligan

The Royal Oak

Yattendon, the Royal Oak and Old Well c1965

'The Oak' is the only pub and hotel in the village and in the fifties our next door neighbour was the cleaner there. She would cycle to the village from the farm on a heavy green bicycle in a slow and ponderous manner that has stayed with me to this day. I must have been about nine when the awful event happened that haunted me for years.  Police came to the village school one day to ask our neighbour's daughter where her mum was going that morning as she was not at work.  The doors in the porch of the pub had been sticking for some months and the cleaner had complained and asked for something to be done, to no ...read more here
A memory of Yattendon contributed by Maggi Stamp-Loshak

Extracts From Compton & Berkshire books

Newbury, Northbrook Street c1965

This general view of Northbrook Street shows the gable end to the left of a shop front, above which is a clock. This is all that remains of cloth- maker John Winchcombe’s house. On the left is Richard Shops and to the left of it is an advert for Rentaset – 9 shillings weekly for a 19-inch television.
An extract from from"Newbury Living Memories".

Newbury, Northbrook Street c1955

One of the striking features of this photograph is that many of the shops have awnings to keep their wares cool and shaded in summer – a rare sight today. Though rather cluttered, this photograph of the street does allow you a distant glimpse of the clock tower at the far end.
An extract from from"Newbury Living Memories".

Newbury, view from Victoria Park Bridge c1955

The view from this bridge has changed significantly in the last 50 years. Much of the greenery has gone and the scene on the right is dominated by Camp Hopson’s furniture store as well as several other modern buildings. The canal is in constant use today so the towpath to the right of it is broad and clear. The tower of the old Town Hall can still be seen.
An extract from from"Newbury Living Memories".

Newbury, Victoria Park c1955

Victoria Park lies to the east of Newbury town centre and covers an area of seventeen acres. The park includes a statue of Queen Victoria (see photograph N61083, above), guarded by two terracotta lions, which originally stood in the Market Place.
An extract from from"Newbury Living Memories".

Thatcham, Crown Mead c1955

This familiar parade of shops on the A4 was quite new when this photograph was taken. The scene is much busier today, with much more traffic and many more pedestrians. A set of lights enables people to cross the road in safety between the Health Centre and the chemist, second shop from the end on the left of the picture.
An extract from from"Newbury Living Memories".