The Francis Frith Collection.
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Ashtead, the Street c1955

Ashtead's local area

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Ashtead, The Fish Pond 1904 (ref: 52587)
Year: 1900s Mac May
I lived in a cottage by the pond some 20 odd years ago. My neighbour, well into her 90's was Mac May (a version of her true name garbled by other neighbours' kids) who, every day, was out in her wellies digging in the garden. We had this photo &, knowing Mac May had lived in the cottage all her life, asked if she knew the children.
She did & remembered the photo being taken.
The boy & the girl in the middle are Mac May's elder brother & sister; the little girl is Mac May & her brother has just thrown the milk jug at her.
(small white object in middle foreground)

Posted: 03/11/2008 21:24

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Ashtead, the Fish Pond c1950 (ref: A72011)
Year: 2007 Breakfast at Ashtead
Having breakfast and the sight of a fishing pond with a woman I once loved.

Posted: 26/07/2008 05:52 by Phelim Gollogly  

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Ashtead, The Fish Pond 1904 (ref: 52587)
Ashtead resident finds herself in 1925 Caterham bus photo
The above photo is the pond which is close to Dorothy Connor's current home in Glebe Road, Ashtead. This area has not changed so very much since the time the Frith photo was taken in 1904.

Interestingly, Dorothy Connor (nee Step) is actually pictured in the Caterham Frith photo ref 78135V accompanied by her late Mother Elizabeth Step (aged 46) and her Sister, Florence Step (aged 21) having alighted from the 159a Bus which brought them from their home in Clerkenwell, London, pictured Outside the Old Surrey Hounds Public House, Croydon Road, Caterham Surrey on a Day Out to Caterham in 1925. They were on their way to the Barracks Hospital to see Dorothy's, Uncle Charlie (her Father's Brother) who was in the army hospital.

Wearing a pull-down bonnet and a typical twenties dropped-waist shift, the young Dorothy and her family had no idea they had been caught on camera. It was not until Dorothy was looking through a copy of Helen Livingstone's book some eighty years on that the exciting discovery was made.

Dorothy said "My Son, Dave, knows I like old books and pictures and as an early Birthday present he bought me the Surrey Photographic memories. I looked through it and was absolutely flabbergasted; I really couldn't believe my eyes. I showed the photo to my three nieces (Florence's children), who are now in their late seventies, and they were absolutely delighted. We have our own photos of Mum and Florence wearing the same outfits as they were in the Frith photo - it is amazing!"

On Dorothy's 90th Birthday, there was an article about her in all the local Surrey papers which showed her as she is today alongside the Frith 1925 photo. In fact, Dorothy has become somewhat of a local celebrity in Ashtead with fans in all the local shops. She is frequently recognised, following the newspaper articles and enjoys her newly-found celebrity status! Even the landlord of the Woodman Public House in Ashtead has hung the picture on the pub wall!

Dorothy, is now 91 and lives happily in Ashtead, Surrey with her Son, David and Daughter-in-law, Libby. Dorothy was recently taken back to the Old Surrey Hounds Pub, which has not changed its outward appearance much in all these years. The Landlord of The Old Surrey Hounds happily displays the Frith photo on the pub wall. The East Surrey Museum also has a copy of the photo in their archives as does the Surrey History Centre at Woking.

Posted: 02/07/2006 11:03 by Elisabeth Connor  

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  Year: 1958 Happy days
A memory of Horton Hospital, Surrey

Spent 3 very happy years on the nursing staff, made many friends, who I lost contact with.

Last edited: 11/09/2008 10:44 by Derek Simmons  

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Fetcham, the River Mole 1928 (ref: 80801)
Trips to the blacksmiths
A memory of Fetcham, Surrey

In the 1950's I used to ride my pony from the Leatherhead Road in Gt. Bookham through Fetcham to Leatherhead to get to the blacksmiths.  The blackmsiths was a proper big old forge at Prewetts Dairy off Randals Road. I used to have to lead my pony over this rickety little bridge. It had wobbly planks and there was one missing one time I crossed it. It was probably a 9 mile round trip just to get the pony re-shod. It didn't cost much though, I think it was about 7/6d. The blacksmiths were father and son - I can't remember their names. The old man used to work the bellows mainly and shoe the quieter horses - like my old pony. Wish I had a picture of that too. It was a lovely sight with the fire going and the smoke. It is in my head though.

Last edited: 26/01/2007 20:14 by Paula Clements Nee Absalom  

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