Purley On Thames
Purley On Thames photos (6 available)
Purley On Thames maps (2 available)
Map of Berkshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Purley On Thames books (13 available)
Purley On Thames memories
Read and share memories of Purley On Thames and Berkshire inspired by Frith photos
Reedham orphanage
My father died just before I was born and my mother had to put my brother and I into Reedham orphanage. I was still on a potty as I remember complaining that I was now old enough to go on the toilet and have some privacy. I remember a row of potties along a wall oposite the tiny 'grown up' toilets that had curtains not doors. I remember a little baby called Paula being shown to us. She was a black girl and so sweet and pretty.
I was at the orphanage for 2 or 3 years and then my mother (against the odds) got a council house in Plymouth and we joined her and my older sister.
I ...read more here
Contributed by Kathryn Jackson
Royal Family travelling through Reedham Train Station
I remember standing on the station platform to see the Royal Family pass through on the Royal Train. I have no recollection of where they were travelling to and I'm a bit hazy on the year.
We all wore our best clothes and stood waving. The train slowed down as it passed through the station. Then about 3 or 4 days later we did the same on the other side.
Myself and my two sisters, Janet and Eileen Hall were all at Reedham Orphanage. We were at Reedham from 1935 to about 1947/48.
Contributed by Chris Wallis
Swimming at Reedham Orphanage
I went to Whyteleafe Grammar school. At the time it was an all girls grammar school. We used to go on a coach to swim at Reedham Orphanage. I didn't know how to swim and I can remember to this day, telling Miss Edwards, the phys ed. teacher who was very strict, that I had read in a book that if you put your shoulders under the water, you would be able to swim and I asked if this was true! She said why didn't I try it and see! I can't remember if it worked. All I can remember is that it was an indoor pool but it had leaves and stuff in the ...read more here
Contributed by Liz Williams
Growing up in Purley
When I lived in Purley, there weren't many stores. I can remember when Sainsbury's opened across from Purley Fountain. There was a toy shop in the High Street called Morgan's. I stole a whistle from there when I was not very old. I can remember it to this day. It was yellow plastic with one of those pea things in that made the whistling noice. I must have taken it home but I was soon on my way back to Morgan's to return the whistle and apologise for stealing it!
We lived in Dale Road and there was a row of shops along the Godstone Road. A greengrocer's, Mr King's the grocers, Mr Nicholls newsagents, Mr Burrough's the tobacconist and ...read more here
Contributed by Liz Williams
Extracts From Purley On Thames & Berkshire books
According to Nikolaus Pevsner in his book ‘The Buildings of England - Berkshire’, St Mary’s is ‘reached along a
regrettable bungalowscape’. The imposing lychgate opens onto the spacious burial ground. Design and materials
would be mostly 1870 by Street, and Pevsner claims it is not a church that could contribute to his fame.
An extract from from"Berkshire Churches Photographic Memories".
In June 1909 this memorial cross, seen here
soon after unveiling, its granite pristine, was
erected to commemorate Henry I, the abbey’s
founder, who was buried before the high altar in
January 1136. Beyond is St James’s Roman
Catholic church of 1840, built in Norman style
by Pugin, later a passionate advocate of Gothic
architecture.
An extract from from"Reading Pocket Album".
From a point further north-east, this view looks towards the
gatehouse past the elaborate fountain which still remains
today and the entrance gates beyond the thatched bothy, now
replaced. The chimneyed building to the right of the gate-
house was demolished by 1904 to make way for the Shire
Hall seen in later views.
An extract from from"Reading Pocket Album".
In 1912 the college was an extension college of London University,
which is how most of the ‘red brick’ universities started; it achieved
independent status in 1926. Partly utilizing existing early 19th-
century terraces and villas and building anew behind them, the
university was soon bursting at the seams and acquired the
Whiteknights site in 1947.
An extract from from"Reading Pocket Album".
Taken on the old Caversham bridge, this view
looks into Caversham’s Bridge Street with
on the left the double gabled Taylor’s Hotel
of 1891; by 1908 it had been renamed the
Thames Valley Hotel. The Crown Hotel on
the right was rebuilt probably after the new
bridge was erected in the 1930s. The tramway
had not yet crossed the bridge in 1908.
An extract from from"Reading Pocket Album".