Smallfield, Surrey

WW2

When I was about 5 years old I remember my mum picking me up from Smallfield school on her bike, I was in the back on a little seat when a doodlebug roared overhead, and the engine switched off ... My mum panicked, and pushed me off the bike behind a wall, we heard the bang towards Gatwick airport. We then... [more]

The Smallfield Brickyard

I was born at 1 Kings Cottages in April 1931. I have two brothers, and as young boys we were close friends of the late Gerald Mitchel. Gerald's mum, nee Doris King, lived with her husband (Syd, who served with the RAF) in what was then called Brickyard Cottages. Their next door neighbours were the Gunn family. I have so many... [more]

Kingsmead

I was born in Horne but we moved into Smallfield when I was about 10 years old. The first two bungalows we lived in were built by my dad - Peter Pocock. They were called 'Pandora' and 'Saran'.
In Smallfield we lived at 10 Kingsmead. I remember that the shops shut at 5 o'clock and on Wednesday afternoons and that the... [more]

Brickmakers Factory - New Road?

I don't suppose anybody knows anything of the Brickmakers Factory and the brickmakers' cottages in New Rd c1930, the cottages were built around 1929 I believe? I was told this about 10 years ago and I have not yet met anyone that can confirm this info. I was told that there was a factory at the end of the road and... [more]

Kings builders

I started school in Smallfield in 1934. In those days there were bucket lavatories. The sewer was laid in 1938 and then most of Smallfield was able to do away with the buckets. There were 3 teachers, Miss Kempshall who came from Betchworth on a 250cc Panther, Miss Cottle who had attended the school and became a teacher (she ran the... [more]

Smallfield

Does anyone remember the mobile library that was parked near the parade of shops? I think there is a house on the land where it used to park.
I have memories of hanging my beret up on my named peg; my double-breasted dark blue rain coat two times bigger then me; the boys trying to pull me over the yellow line... [more]

Childhood bliss

I lived at Triddles Farm and rode my bicycle all the way to school at Redhall Road.  At lunchtime we all had to walk all the way back to the village hall for lunch and all the way back again after. We played marbles in the drains in the playground and slides on the snow in the winter (all against Health... [more]

Boyhood memories

I lived here, Woodside Crescent, from 1958 when I was 2 yrs old to 1967 when our family wanted to see more of the world...so we moved to Horley...oh yes, we got around! Went to school near the village centre and further down Redehall Road. We had walk down to the church hall to have our school dinner. Hartnell's the sweet... [more]

Villages of Surrey Photographic Memories

The village takes it name from Smallfield Place, an estate given to John de Burstow in the reign of Edward III for services rendered during the French wars. A lawyer, Edward Bysshe, enlarged the house in the 17th century, and admitted that the money came from 'fees of foolish clients'. Since this photograph was taken, the first-floor frontage of the Plough public house has been... [more]

Coulsdon, Chipstead and Woodmansterne Photographic Memories

The Corner Shop and Station Parade Post Office still provides an invaluable service to residents and passers-by, but an extension has been built on to the end wall for Saab who also trade from the garage premises shown here. George Jones commenced running The Corner Shop in 1966 with his wife, Pat.

Coulsdon, Chipstead and Woodmansterne Photographic Memories

Woodmansterne Station, situated in Coulsdon, did not arrive until 1932 and, although some distance from the old village, it was an impor- tant factor in the development of new roads off Rectory Lane as well as the profusion of roads in west Coulsdon. The photographic record importantly shows the villages at different stages of their expansion and repays careful study in understanding the way they have evolved. This record can... [more]