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Steeple Ashton
Steeple Ashton photos
Displaying the first of 1 old photos of Steeple Ashton. View all Steeple Ashton photos
Steeple Ashton maps
Historic maps of Steeple Ashton and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Steeple Ashton maps
Steeple Ashton area books
Displaying 1 of 12 books about Steeple Ashton and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Steeple Ashton
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To Market in The Pony Cart in The 1950s
If it was Tuesday and school holiday my sister Carolyn and I would go with Grampy Smith the village blacksmith to Trowbridge market. Having helped harness the pony, Peggy, to the old milk float, we'd climb in to Grampy's command "Jumpy up, then". A quick stop to check with Granny that the shopping list was correct, then as the church clock struck nine we'd set off. There was always a nip in the air and if it rained we would sit on the floor of the cart under a taupoline. On the way to town we would call at this farm or that to collect a calf or two or maybe hens or eggs which Grampy would hand to the auctioneers to be sold for the farmer. How well I remember the sweet smell of those calves! Next stop would be Sainsbury's (not the grocers) for bags of foodstuffs for the various farms. Then it was time to park up. Peggy was taken from the shafts and rested beside the cart and... Read more
War Memorial
I remember as a young boy sitting on the war memorial with my grandparents Elwin (Jim) Andrews and Mable (Olive) Andrews, watching the gliders from Keevil and talking to passersby on long sunny evenings. People would stop and talk for ages and it was fascinating to hear the village gossip. I remember in particular Mrs Scarborough would often stop for a chat.
Wiltshire memories
HIBBARD of Hilperton
My wife Lynne and I visited the Anglican Church to search the headstones for my ancestors.
On the day we visited, there was a Christening that had just been completed and the Vicar was chatting to the christening party.
Lynne got to chatting with the Vicar's lady assistant, while I went to the front of the Church where there were several headstones.
What a surprise ! I located my G-Grandfather's twin sister's headstone Dorcas HALL (nee HIBBARD) 27 July 1908, along with Thomas 5 March 1886 and a child Walter John 26 November 1877.
Hilperton is the town where my G-G-Grandfather Charles HIBBARD resided during the 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 Census, with 2 daughters' Sarah Ann and Louisa Mary.
In the 1891 Census Charles is in the Hilperton Rectory and listed as a pauper, which I find very unusual !.
G-G-Grandfather Charles is buried in the nearby town of Trowbridge.
G-Grandfather William's home in Aickmans Road, Christchurch, New Zealand was... Read more
Summer Days
My Sister Carolynn and I practically lived at the pool in summer even before it was heated and was often a bit chilly. Walking through the park & over the waste ground with our costume rolled in a towel under our arm. Entering the gate and hearing the fountain splashing, children screaming with laughter and the smell of chlorine in our noses, it was magic.
A quick change & walk through the disinfectant pool and we were there with everyone else having fun. When after many happy hours of swimming and jumping in it was time to leave we would put our costume throught the mangle and head home exausted but happy and keen for the next day so we could do it all again.
The Pool has long gone and I am no longer living near Trowbridge myself but the noises, sights and smells remain with me to this day and I am sure I am not the only one who misses those halcyon days of the... Read more
Faraway Castles
As a child playing on the allotments behind the Fire station in Trowbridge I used to see the white buildings gleaming in the sun of the Manor on the far hills. It was always so beautiful sitting majestically in the distance I longed to see it up close. My father once took us around the estate and lake when access was allowed and I was intrigued by the romance and wildness of the house and garden. Years later after time and destruction had taken their toll I did see it again but sadly it had lost much of the original beauty as well as size. I still think about it today even though I am far away. Whenever I am in England I always go back to West Ashton to have a look at Rood Ashton Manor. Still beautiful in its own way.
Wigfield Rd
This is a picture of the Roman Catholic Church in Wingfield Rd, facing towards the town. The road on the left is Westbourne Gardens. I used to live opposite this in Westbourne Road for five years in the early 1970s.
Trowbridge High School For Girls
My first day at Trowbridge High School was early September 1949. Our class was form 3 - Miss Metheringham was Form Teacher, Miss Dawes was Headmistress. I travelled by train each day with other pupils from Warminster, where I lived at the time. We had assembly every morning in the Hall. The School Song began with 'Near the Rolling Wiltshire Downs and the Old White Horse'. We had sewing lessons in a wooden hut. Miss Hazel and Miss Quine taught domestic science. My maiden name was Heard. I remember Susan Wickham, Cherry Hobbs,Margaret Newbury, Joan Marks, Paddy Haller and many others.
