Shamley Green memories
Here are memories of Shamley Green and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Shamley Green or a Shamley Green photo.
MY CHILDHOOD GARDED - PART IV
If I remember correctly, a white climbing rose grew up one side of the arch and a red on the other. The path continued straight through the archway, and led up the garden to the two wooden sheds at the top of the garden. To the right immediately after the archway, another path led behind the rose-covered trellis, which then turned left and led up alongside a hedge, which divided my parents' property from our neighbours. I spent many hours learning to roller-skate along these paths using the metal washing-line pole as my break or the garden broom! The washing-line stretched from just behind the trellised archway right up to the top of the garden, stopping just before the sheds. Each weekend my mother would wash the family linen in the gas-boiler sited on the red quarry-tiled kitchen floor, and after wringing out the excess water using a mangle, would then peg the whites along the line to blow dry. The lighting of the gas-boiler was somewhat of an art involving... Read more
My Childhood Garden - Part I
My mother has often said to me "You don't appreciate what you've got until you lose it". She is wrong, for I will never forget the wonderful garden of my childhood and write below the memories that I will hold for all time. It all began when I was five years old and my parents first drove from where we lived in London southwards to a small village called Shamley Green which is 5 miles outside of the town Guildford, Surrey. The day was overcast and chilly and it had been raining. Everything was wet and shiny. Jewel-like droplets of rain still hung from leaves and nestled within clumps of grass along the roadside. Occasionally I saw rainbow coloured slicks of oil glistening on the surface of some of the many puddles that had collected in small pools along the edges of the roads and lanes as we drove by. As I sat in the back of the specially rented car for that journey, hearing the sound of the... Read more
MY CHILDHOOD GARDEN - PART II
Some months later, how long I cannot remember for the passing of time means little to a child, except that it always seemed so long for things to happen; but I found myself again seated in the back seat of another rented car being driven again by my father with my mother sat beside him smiling and happy. This time the weather had changed and was warm and sunny. It was so warm that the windows of the car were open allowing the birdsong and tantalising smells of nature to flood in. This time the trees were covered in leaves that rustled softly in the late summer breeze. We drove past scented gardens that simply overflowed with a profusion of many flowers in all colours of the rainbow. All of a sudden something flew in through the window and started buzzing furiously round my face, which frightened me. My mother turned round and shooshed out whatever insect it was, all I remember was that it was green! My father... Read more
MY CHILDHOOD GARDEN - PART III
When we first moved into The Croft, as the house was called, access to the front door was gained by walking up a narrow slopping path up and along the grassy bank towards the wooden gate. The property along with others along Hullbrook Lane had been built back from the roadside on a raised bank. In time, my father decided this was not ideal and set about the enormous task of digging out a driveway leading down to the lane. The excess earth he used to build up the bank at the front into which were grown soil-retaining shrubs and conifers. This was a labour of love, as every shovelful of earth was dug by hand and transported in the wheelbarrow to various sites around the garden as well as onto the front bank. The retaining brick walls each side of the driveway eventually became covered with trailing plants which produced an abundance of white flowers in the early summer. A beautiful white magnolia tree grew at the top of... Read more
MY CHILDHOOD GARDEN - PART V
Beside the strawberry bed grew a large cooking apple tree that produced enormous green apples. We had a variety of both eating and cooking apple trees in the garden, the fruit from which was harvested and then stored in the autumn. We then enjoyed the fruit well into the winter months cooked or eaten in a variety of ways. My mother could bake an apple pie to die for and this was frequently our dessert, following our traditional Sunday roast, complete with large jug of perfectly made thick yellow creamy custard - and never a lump in sight! When the seasons permitted, the pies or tarts she made varied according to which fruit was ready for picking. e had a Victoria plum, pear and peach trees too, from which the fruit was either made into pies or eaten as picked. Coming back to the large area of the upper back garden that was our vegetable plot, as well as the potatoes, a variety of fruit bushes were also grown ie... Read more
The Blacksmiths
Having moved to the village with my family in 1965 I rememeber this to be the old forge and watching the blacksmith shoeing horses. Next door was the post office with a small telephone exchange and a phone box that would cost 2p to make a call.
Warn's Garage
My family moved here next to the garage in 1965, I would have been only a year old.
We lived at Chestnut Cottage until about 1977 or 78. I remember the long hot summer of 1976 and work being done on the Malt House. My dad sometimes worked behind the bar in the pub next door as well as the garage. I used to walk the dog, Jason, that lived in the pub. We used to go for miles. The fun fair used to come in the summer and my sisters and I would spend most of our pocket money there. There is a house now where the garage stood but I had a wonderful childhood there and some lovely memories.
The Hallams
The Hallams belonged to my family (my father's line - Charles Arthur Champneys Hodgson) for many years, until the 1950s l believe. l would dearly love to know any information about the Hodgson family who lived there, pre-second world war and 19th century. Any memories, photos or connections would be very much appreciated. My email is eviemaidenscroft@hotmail.co.uk
Shamley Green School
My father Fred, went to this school many years ago. He remembers the swimming pool that was at the far end of the playing field (now coverd by weeds and trees), the boys would swim in the summer months. Sadly there was a boy who died in the pool. The dinner hall was then the toilets that would freeze up in the winter, along with the pool! I also went to the school in the 1960s, I remember ringing the school bell and getting a bloody nose from boys fighting. Swinging on the bars. Mr Walker was very scary! I had a very happy time there, and went back for a look around last year. It is still a dear little school and I feel very lucky to have been there.
MY CHILDHOOD GARDEN - PART IV
If I remember correctly, a white climbing rose grew up one side of the arch and a red on the other. The path continued straight through the archway, and led up the garden to the two wooden sheds at the top of the garden. To the right immediately after the archway, another path led behind the rose-covered trellis, which then turned left and led up alongside a hedge, which divided my parents property from our neighbours. I spent many hours learning to roller-skate along these paths using the metal washing-line pole as my break or the garden broom! The washing-line stretched from just behind the trellised archway right up to the top of the garden, stopping just before the sheds. Each weekend my Mother would wash the family linen in the gas-boiler sited on the red quarry-tiled kitchen floor, and after wringing out the excess water using a mangle, would then peg the whites along the line to blow dry.
The lighting of the... Read more
Memories of Surrey
Eastwood Road Bramley And my Family
My family have been in Eastwood Road Bramley for almost 100 years and some are still there. I grew up in Eastwood road; most of my family have lived there. My Great Great Grandmother,my Great Grand Mother and my Grandmother and my two great Aunts lived in the house on the corner of the picture (73) and that is my two Great Aunts Hilda and Nelly in the picture with (I think) their friend May. Auntie Hilda lived there untill 2006. The house on the other side of the road (No 48) that you can just see in the picture is where my Mother and her brothers and sisters were born. My Auntie and Uncle live next door still and my father lives round the corner. My two cousins grew up in Eastwood Rd and my sister was born there. I left in 1975 but I have stayed there a few times since. I have many happy memories of the road when I was small there were grass verges on... Read more
Bramly Church And 'The Jolly'
My parent got married here in 1955 at the church and then they all crossed the road to 'The Jolly' for the reception.
Bramley Grange
My grandfather was the Head Gardener at the Grange and my father was his Under Gardener prior to the Second World War. I am not sure of the years but remember visiting my grandparents around 1950. I have a vague memory that they lived opposite a Boys Home in the village. In later years my grandmother lived in a cul de sac of bungalows just outside the village. Both my grandfather and my father were called John but my father was better known as Jack. Does anyone have memories of my family?
Bramley Grange
My father, Dudley Darrell was born at Bramley Grange 13th November 1909. He was the youngest son of fred and Jennie Darrell who had bought the estate a couple of years prior only to lose the property in 1911 during the recession at that timevand the loss of his diamond mining interests in South Africa, due in part to his opposition to Cecil Rhodes. they moved to Henley on Thames where my father grew up. We have copious correspondence relating to the foreclosure and also photos of the property, we still retain most of the furniture and contents.
More on Eastwood Road.
My grandfather James Head and his wife Mary were the first owners of Arreton and my father told me he used to play in the meadows at the rear of the house. He told me there was a river there where he caught roach, perch and pike. From early family photos it appeared that Arreton stood alone but when we visited the area a few years ago there were houses on both sides and opposite. It appears from family history that my family originated in the Wonersh/Blackheath area and were employed on an Estate at Albury.
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