South Weald memories
Here are memories of South Weald and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of South Weald or a South Weald photo.
Happy Memories of my Time at South Weald
I started at St. Peters School South Weald in the Infants class with Miss Clough in 1950. She was a lovely lady. My first few months were very worrying as I was a shy only child and I cried a lot as everything was so new. However, I was soon made welcome and found a friend who was a bit older and she took care of me! Yes, having read other people's memories, I also recall the toilets and the old fires and the school dinners of mince and mash and a chocolate biscuit like pudding and thick creamy custard made and served by Mrs Taylor who lived on the premises, Mrs Caley and Mrs Wright. I remember our teachers, Mrs Waite, Mrs Fox and of course Mrs Rogerson, Pottles shop and post office in the village and the chestnut tree. Also Mrs Davies a teacher who was a sweet lady who left to have a baby and kissed all her class goodbye! ....probably unheard of nowadays!? I... Read more
St Peters About 1958
I went to St Peters in about 1958, my brother must have been there 2 years before me. I joined Mrs Fox's class in the old school and remember the chalk and slates. Mrs Rogerson was the head teacher and I moved on via Mrs Hurlestons class to Miss Christies class. We farmed in Navestock, and my mother, aunt , uncle and cousin lived in High House and all went to St Peter before me, my sister followed.
The caretaker was called Mr Harris and Pottles was a regular haunt. Col and Mrs Laurie hosted the local fete and gymkana. I sat next to Susan Bennet whose family farmed in South Weald.
St Peter's C O fE Junior School
I started at St Peter's in South Weald at the age of four in 1955. This was in the old school which is no longer there. Our teacher was Mrs Fox and we were taught to write on slates. When we became proficient we were allowed to use thick black pencils on paper. I will always remember the carbolic soap in the sinks and the outside toilets with spiders and shiny Izal toilet paper. Mrs Waite's classroom next door had a big stove with railings round it. I lived in Brentwood and arrived at school courtesy of Mr Tiffin's taxi, later replaced by a Tiffin's coach as numbers rose. I think the Mivvi ice lolly was invented while I was a pupil at St Peter's and I can remember purchasing Mivvis and assorted sweets from Mr Pottle's post office in South Weald village. The conker tree was just outside the shop and there was great competition to get the best conkers. The new school was completed before I left and... Read more
Memories of Essex
The Ursline Girls School
Does anyone remember during the '40s when the Ursline Girls School got bombed and caught fire. I think it was the same night the Brentwood Senior Boys School got bombed and we all had three months off school. I put my time to good use - I used to go out blackberry picking and sell them sixpence a basket. I made half a crown per day, Jim Chalkley.
The Parade & Swimming Baths
Hi, I was an evacuee & I lived in Cresent Road. I used to go to Brentwood Senior Boys School at Doddinghurst Road. On Fridays we always went to the fish and chip shop - chips and crackling! I would always go to the swimming baths after school - it cost one penny. I remember when the school got bombed during the war - and so did Myrtle Road near the station. I also spent many hours playing at Brentwood Common near the pond. Does anybody else remember the war years at Brentwood? I also got to know 2 girls who helped me with my paper round, Rose and Grace Hyde, they lived near Hartswood Road and Woodmans Road. All the best, Jim.
Social Life at The Pool!
I was five years old when this photograph was taken and would have occasionally been taken to the pool by my mother. My older sister would have come too. As we got older it was a great place to hang out as teenagers and we would often go for a swim after school and then walk home to Shenfield (saving the bus fare to buy a bag of chips at the fish and chip shop opposite the Green Dragon in Shenfield). We went to the Ursuline Preparatory School (The Grange) and then on to the secondary part at 11. The swimming pool was always cold but as teenagers we were more interested in posing and looking for boys than doing much swimming! The boys used to show off by diving, jumping etc off the boards so we always tried to sit on the area near the boards. When we were ready to go home or too cold to sit there any more we often bought a hot chocolate to drink... Read more
Family Drinks
I used to live near this lovely pub which had a gorgeous garden. I was only a little girl when I used to come here with my Grandad and he had his whisky while I had my orangeade and a packet of Smith's crisps with the little blue salt bag inside where we sat in the garden. There was a pond in the garden, I used to watch the fish and there were also ducks. This was a favourite pub of my Dad who was a regular every Sunday lunch with a neighbour and friend. Quite a lot we would come to the Black Horse as a family and sit in that lovely garden. Dad with his pint, Mum with her Babycham with a cherry and me with my orangeade and crisps. This pub has many happy memories for me. It was quite a few years we used to come here, from the mid 1950's until 1966 when we moved away. I have always... Read more
I Remember This as st Faith's Hospital For Epileptics
i remember this not as brentwood hackney schools but as st faith's hospital for women and children with epilepsy and other mental disorders. my father worked in the administration offices until he died in 1959 and my mother worked there as a nursing auxiliary after that. i remember going to children's parties (both for the patients and staff's children and have photos of my brother and I and parents at these functions. I remember one Matron, a Miss Hopkins, who was a lovely kindly lady and friend to my parents. She gave me a gold cross and chain which i still have to this day. it was her own cross and chain and i can remember feeling so touched that she should give it to me. she probably had very little money so it was a lovely thing to do. Although a massive place with huge long dayroomsl which today would not be allowed, the atmosphere was happy and the staff gave a lot... Read more
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