Sundridge memories
Here are memories of Sundridge and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Sundridge or a Sundridge photo.
Farleycroft
I was in Farleycroft in the late 1950s. I agree it was a beautiful house with a lovely winding wooden staircase. I didn't go to school in Westerham as I left there when I was 5 to be fostered out, moving to Bromley. I went there once hoping to see the house, but apparently it no longer stands. But I did acquire a photo from Barnardos later. I remember Mrs Gunn too. Kami
Manor Road
I was 8 yreas old when my father was killed in London and my mum, brother David, and sister Margaret came to live in Sundridge to live with my dad's brother's family in Manor Road. We all attended Brasted School. In my final year (age 14 years) I won a scholarship to Tunbridge Wells Technical College, and as there were no freebies or handouts then, my mother being a widow could not afford to send me! Married and with a daughter we were allocated a new flat in Chapmans Road, to cut a long story short we made a swop with our flat, to guess where! 5 Manor Road where I used to live. Eventually we were able to buy the house, I remarried and moved to Edinburgh for 7 years. After two minor heart attacks and 2 mini strokes we thought it better to move back south and thus finished up at Boscastle, just in time to experience the floods. I now live in Bude. As the saying goes,... Read more
Early Years
From birth until I joined the Royal Navy, at 15 years of age, I lived in a very rural area about a mile outside of Sundridge. The cottage we lived in was about 1/2 way between Sundridge and Ide Hill, very near Sundridge Hospital. It had the, almost, unbelievable name of New Batney Brooms. We were surrounded by open farmland and woodland so I spent the school summer holidays running around these ideal play grounds. Ah what memories!
Memories of Kent
Our First Home Was in Robyns Way, Riverhead
Elizabeth and I married in 1971 and moved into our first home which we bought together at 21 Robyns Way. From our house we could walk round Pontoise Close and along a path at the edge of a sandpit, past a ramshackle village hall and into this church which we attended frequently. We lived in Riverhead for more than four years and loved the town of Sevenoaks, the local Scout Troop and Cub Pack where we were both leaders, and the Bradbourne Lakes at the end of our back garden. Evntually business took us away from this lovely place and we went to live and work near Glasgow in 1975.
My Best Years
I was born in Tunbridge Wells, but my parents had a flat in Riverhead and we moved to London Road, Riverhead when I was a baby. My grandparents lived at the Heights, next to the church. I remember the steps the way they are in the photograph, but also I remember when there was only the one road through Riverhead and there was a row of houses opposite us which were all pulled down when I was very young and the new through road was built. I went to Amhurst School as did my dad and aunties and my grandfather was a caretaker at the school but sadly he died in 1968. I'm now 53 but love going through Riverhead and seeing the places that were all familiar to me. I remember Mr Tye the butcher and Mr and Mrs Nightingale who had the shoe shop. My own great-grandparents came from Dunton Green where they had a cobblers, they are mentioned in another book about locals and he was known... Read more
Interesting
I lived in Riverhead from when I was 2 until we moved to Sundridge when I was 12. Our house was the one next to the church but hidden by the bus shelter in one of the pictures. Arthur Tye the butcher was my godfather. I also remember the steps up to 'The Heights' - when I was little, I used to watch the dustbins 'walk' up the wall of our back yard. I went to Amherst Primary School too! Does anyone remember the pageant "Under the Greenwood Tree" in about 1958 or so?
My Grandfather Was The Butcher in Riverhead in Late 30's Onward
I was born in 1941 after the death of my father Percy Challis, his father was George Challis who owned the butcher shop for many years. The photo of the church (St Mary's I think) brings back many memories as the father I never knew is buried there, as is his mother. I now live in Australia and have done so for 43 years. I have no contact with my father's family and would dearly love to hear from someone who is able to either remember my father and grandfather or shed light on the family. My father was a great golfer and partnered Sam King in the Red Cross matches at Knole.
Iris
Was there ever a a children's home in Riverhead or near by? My husband's family use to have a little girl to tea called Iris, can anybody remember a place?
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- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
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