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St Leonards

St Leonards photos

Displaying the first of 3 old photos of St Leonards.   View all St Leonards photos

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St Leonards maps

Historic maps of St Leonards and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all St Leonards maps

St Leonards area books

Displaying 1 of 16 books about St Leonards and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of St Leonards

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Devon memories

Though Tis Dorset, I Thought Twere Devon

Broad Street c1905
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When I was a child, I lived at Axminster. My favourite seaside resort was Lyme Regis, about 6 miles away from home. Even though I was told, on countless occasions, that Lyme lay in Dorset, I would not accept that fact and insisted it was a Devonshire resort. It was MY seaside town, and I lived in Devon - therefore Lyme Regis was in Devon - that's infant child logic for you. Before I could cycle, we used to travel to Lyme by 'Lyme Billy', a little steam engine that ran from Axminster to Lyme, then we had to walk down Broad Street before reaching the beach. Now, Broad Street would have been better named Steep Street. It was a long and very steep hill that led down from the station to the beach. It was the climb back up that made my little legs ache, but the trudge down that made many an elderly knee creak - so I'm told. That will not have changed, I'm sure. When I was old enough... Read more

Childhood Memories.

The Promenade c1960
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I noticed with some surprise a photo of myself aged about 12 years. I am the girl on the left with the ponytail the year being about 1960. I don't recall the boys name but it looks as if we are standing by the machine that used to print letters of the alphabet. I think it cost one old penny for 20/25 letters. There was a metal dial with a brass pointer like the hour hand on a clock and when it was pointing to the letter you required you pulled down a lever on the side (a bit like a one armed bandit) and the letters were embossed on a strip of metal.

Greenham's The Butchers & Brewer's The Grocers

Broad Street c1955
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In 1954, as a 17 year old cashier bookkeeper, I started work for Mr Greenham, whose butcher's shop was near the top of Broad Street.
Some years later (in 1958), I went to work at Brewer's, the grocers, further down Broad Street. My boss there was a Mr Vaughn, who I think later returned to Torquay. I enjoyed my job at the grocers; at first I worked behind the counter, and when the cashier left I took over her job. I had been born just outside Lyme, and during my working days there, I met many nice people and had some happy times.

Greenhams, Broad Street

Broad Street c1955
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What a nice surprise to see your post, Charles Greenham was my Grandfather and I spent many a good holiday there in the 60s

Thanks

Haunted House

Summer Hill 1909
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my name is ray hallett and i lived here in 1969. our flat was on the first floor , on the left. I remember hearing an owl hooting in the large tree at night and was convinced that the place was haunted .The house was then owned by herbie hallett ,no relation. It was infested with mice , my mother once opened the oven door to see a mouse sitting there cleaning his whiskers .I think it is such a shame that it was not saved and only photos remain.

High Spring Tide Lyme Regis Cobb 10th March 2008

The End of The Cobb c1910
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I stood at the end of the Cobb on the day of the worst storm this winter and both saw and felt the sea spray as the waves hit the top of the sea wall. It was just as exciting as shown in this view of 1910 !

I was visiting for the day while sight-seeing with our friends Julian and Janice Dent who were staying with my wife Elizabeth and me in Tiverton.  Julian took photos of the angry sea - it came almost to the top of the shingle bank where the fishing boats were laid up.  We went on to the shingle and threw a few pebbles in the sea getting our socks and trousers wet in the process but it was fun and a lovely memory of a great day out!

Fossil Depot

Bridge Street 1909
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My Great Great Great Grandfather, William Moore lived here in 1861 with his wife Sarah, he also sold music, pianofortes and oak carvings.

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