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Mickleton, the Church c1960
Mickleton, the Church c1960 Ref: M250009
Memories of Mickleton, the Church
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Year: 1944
My Fourteenth Birthday Year
Our journey to Mickleton started when we arrived at Chipping Campdon, there was no one to meet us, we, my mother, an aunt and I were taken to the local police station where we stayed the night. Next morning we boarded a dear little bus, complete with little curtains at the windows, this took us to Mickleton, where my mother and aunt had positions with the Land Army. The houses occupied were Medford House and the one next door, the name escapes me, I was allowed to stay with them for a short time, but then boarded in the village. I found work at The Three Ways Hotel, I think it has changed names now. I, with another young girl, did most of the housework, cleaning etc. We also prepared the veggies for the meals. There was a retired naval officer staying there, he complained I had not cleaned the floor to his satisfaction in the entrance hall, Mrs Sims was called and I showed her my poor old mop, with hardly any 'mop' left, I had also used too much soda and left white streaks, this was, after all, war time. Being the person that I am, I made it clear to Mrs Sims that I had cleaned the floor, before the wood had been brought in for the fire, this was in the entrance hall. Mrs: Sims was a very understanding employer, she bought me a new mop. I think the naval officer would have had me 'Walk the Plank'. These were very happy days for me, away from London and the bombing. I would cycle into Stratford-on- Avon, also cycle around the village and buy fruit from the local farmers. Most Saturday nights there was a dance somewhere in the village. We also spent some time under canvas, there was a manager there, also a number of Italian P.O.Ws. they would have liked to buy hair creme, but, alas, there was none to be had, so they used fragrant toilet soap, on their hair. I then moved to Littledean, but, that's another story. I did visit Mickleton in the year 2000, The Three Ways Hotel was under another name and the front door had been moved, as the fireplace is now on the left hand side of the entrance, where as it had been on the right. Many happy memories, thank you. Last edited: 26/08/2008 08:53 by Mavis Upchurch |
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 Chipping Campden, The Eight Bells 1958 (ref: C335041) |
Year: 1997
Uk Honeymoon A memory of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire We'd been married some four years before we could afford to take our honeymoon trip; our little daughter was just a year old. I'd never been "east of Boston", and air travel with a toddler was a challenge. Nevertheless, this was a trip I'd dreamed about since childhood. To a native of the flat midwest prairie, the Cotswolds seemed like a fairyland. I was an Illinois farm girl, but I'd never smelled air so soft and fresh as this! Our intent was to drive from Heathrow to Airdrie, Scotland to stay with relatives, and our first night was spent in Moreton-In-Marsh. Next day we drove to Chipping Campden and stayed for a week - I never wanted to leave. In fact, we found ourselves peering into estate agents' windows and inquiring about job opportunities, and I think the locals were getting a little tired of our gentle prying ("What's the weather like, in winter? How far do you drive to work?"). Our hosts at the Eight Bells were charming, lovely people - it was my first stay in a pub, and I'd been worried about my little girl (this was before smoking bans, remember) but we felt completely at home, safe and welcomed. My baby took her first steps on the smooth ancient floorboards of the Eight Bells. This photograph reminds me of those beautiful days. Posted: 28/10/2008 13:53 by Jill Murtagh |
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Lower Swell In The 1930s A memory of Lower Swell, Gloucestershire My Dad and his family lived in Lower Swell between about 1928 and 1940. They must have been quite unusual in those days - arriving in the village from London. My grandmother married a Canadian soldier after the First World War and went to live in Canada where she had 4 children. But it didn't work out and she brought them home, first to London and soon afterwards to Lower Swell. Their name was Allen - the children were Yvonne, William (known as Rigby) Wilfrid and Norman. My Dad liked to remember his childhood spent in Lower Swell and often talked about the people there - Hathaway, Taylor, Temple, Illes, King, Clarke and Harris. I wonder if anyone still remembers them? Or the Allens? Eve Magee Posted: 30/12/2008 21:44 by Eve Magee |
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Lower Swell Forge A memory of Lower Swell, Gloucestershire I first came to Lower Swell as a 16 year old boy; that would have been 1967. I had attended Wilsons Grammar School in Camberwell London. Austen Nichols had worked at the school teaching metal work. He told me that he lived in Lower Swell and had a forge there. He and I got on really well. He was a good teacher and became a good friend. When he left Wilsons he invited me to visit him and that summer I did. I had family friends not far away and combined my visit to him with a short stay in nearby Malmesbury. Austen showed me the forge and his beautiful little cottage. I stayed for most of the day and before leaving promised to visit again. To my eternal sorrow I didn't actually visit him again until about 1986. I had driven by over the years but felt I'd left it too long to rekindle our friendship. Now, however I was married and had a son and a daughter I wanted him to meet. I plucked up the courage and walked through the gate leading to the forge. My son Tom was with me and I could see Austen working on an anvil outside the forge, talking to an old chap whose name I think was Sid. Anyway, as I approached Austen looked up and I told him who I was. His immediate response was: "I was just talking to Sid about you". It was great to find Austen as I'd left him. I went a couple more times to see him before we returned home that year. This time I kept my promise and the following year we returned. We stayed up the road at Stow-on-the-Wold for about a week. I worked in the forge with Austen making, amongst other things, a fine pair of wrought iron lanterns for outside my house. I still have them to this day although I've moved many times since then. I visited pretty well every year after that and there were phone calls and letters. Sadly, over the years Austen's health declined, but before that he came up to Hastings and stayed with us on the occasion of my 40th birthday. I can remember him playing the grand piano, he was an accomplished player, at the party we had in a local hotel. We continued to keep in touch but it got a bit irregular and his healthe deteriorated and although we spoke on the phone I didn't see him for a few years before he died. I shall never forget my visits to the forge at lower swell. I went back 3 years ago, long after he died. The little cottage (travellers joy) was still there of course and the forge although both seemed empty, the latter clearly no longer operated as such. I had lunch in the Golden Ball, as I had done so many times before with Austen. I expect I'll be down again one day. Posted: 16/01/2008 15:20 by Ian Ashley-Smith |
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Greet A memory of Greet, Gloucestershire There is an old tumbled down cottage off Market Lane in Greet. It is listed on the 1815 Sudeley Tenements map. We know the Wixey Family lived there until about 1957 and then before them the Fisher fanily from the mid 1930's. We would love to find photos of this old house and the local area. Posted: 01/11/2008 15:30 |
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