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Memories of Godstone

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Shared Memories of Godstone

  My Godstone
I lived in Godstone from 1947-1975 when I moved to Dorset. In those days I was Wendy Knight. At one time my father worked at the bakers, Broad's it was called, it was two doors down from the shop on the green, his brother Sidney had R G Knight's the butcher, R G being their father. I spent a lot of time down the stables, first at Barretts, then Stangrave Hall. We also had great times at Leigh mill stream or Diana's fountain as we knew. Lots of memories came flooding back when I found this site.  Like skating on the Bay pond or playing down the bog, looking for newts in the hilly fields in very smelly ponds. My father-in-law was Frank Coombe who had Foster Down Farm when it was a dog kennels.

Last edited: 14/10/2008 08:58 by Wendy Coombe  

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  My childhood in Godstone 1944 - 1959
I was born in Eastbourne Road, in a house opposite the sand pits and the common.  My name was Wendy Mitchell.  With my sisters and brother I would spend hours picking bluebells and primroses and climbing trees there.  At the bottom of our garden across a small field was Leigh woods which had a stream running through it.  We would cross the stream via a fallen tree and we would play in the stream on hot summer days and collect chestnuts there later in the year.  I'm sure that it is probably there and that the same things are done by children today.

I walked up Church Lane to school each day and sometimes after school I would walk down The Bay to the village to buy sweets or a comic in Fitters opposite The Green or in Bookers the newsagent.  Next door to Barnards, who I think also delivered coal, was a fish and chip shop where 4d would buy a large portion of chips with scraps.

On Saturdays I walked into the village to collect my gran's pension and to do her shopping for which she gave me a shilling.  Eventually I progressed to a bike which made the journey much easier.

The photos of St Nicholas' church brought back a lot of emotion for me as in 1948, when I was just 4 years old, my father died and he is buried in the cemetery there.

There is a lot I could write about Godstone and the people that I knew there and I hope that other people add their comments to this site and keep the memories of 'Glorious Godstone' alive.

I live in the Canary Islands now and love my life here but I will never foget the village where my life began.

Last edited: 31/07/2007 10:32 by Wendy Soall  

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  Living in Godstone 54 -74
I was born in Godstone in Ivy Mill Close, just the other side of the Green.  I walked to the primary school along the Bay Path.  My Gran lived in St Mary's Almhouses right opposite the school and I would go there for lunch.  The chapel attached to the almhouses is beautiful.  I was married in St Nicholas' Church adjacent to the almhouses. The village has now changed a lot.  I remember going to Sylvie Barnard's shop for my sweets on the way to school and to Ken the butchers opposite the pond on the green.  Addison's the bakers had lovely cakes.  My Mum worked in the post office for many years and I would go there after school and stamp the letters!  The pictures brought back lots of memories.

Last edited: 31/07/2007 10:57 by Joy Hearn  

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