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Thursley, c1955
Thursley, c1955 Ref: t43002
Memories of Thursley
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Thursley & local memories
Read and share memories of Thursley and Surrey inspired by Frith photos
I lived in The Red Lion Inn, Thursley (Bridle Cottage) from the day I was born for approximately 22 years. I was born in June 1961 and I am the oldest child of four. I lived with my parents and grandparents. My grandfather, Tom Briscoe, bought the old pub in 1959 (after it had been closed down, I do not know why the pub stopped trading?) - and he converted the place to a private house. I have such happy memories of an idyllic childhood spent in the big old rambling house with several gardens and surrounded by beautiful fields, trees and common land. The story (in postcards) surrounding the Red Lion Inn about the unknown sailor's death in the Punch Bowl is absolutely true and he is buried at Thursley Church - apparently his murderers were last seen in what became our lounge! We had many visitors over the years - ex-Canadian soldiers came back to show their families where they had stayed and drunk beer during the Second World War! We also had a visit from the previous landlord's daughter (mentioned in memoirs) who recited some stories about how as a child she watched drunken fights from her bedroom window! Bridle Cottage in Thursley was a wonderful, magical place to live in and what prompts me to add this memoir is the sad and sudden death of my father who always loved the old house.
Shared on 26 December 2009
Whilst going through my mother's things I came across a postcard of a gravestone 'In Memory of' then goes on to show the poem that was written which at the end says it was given by the generous public, on the back where you would put your stamp it says 'please affix halfpenny stamp'. It appears that a love engraving of the villains fighting the sailor at the top of the gravestone then the verse. I wondered if the gravestone was still there today and if the inscription was still readable.
Shared on 16 August 2009
Thursley, the Red Lion Inn 1925
Ref: 78093A
My uncle, Frank Millard, was landlord and lived there in the 40's with his wife, Linda and their adopted daughter.
Frank had an artificial leg owing to a motor bike accident when he was 18 years of age and living in Ash with his parents and siblings. He was born around the turn of the century.
Maybe some-one remembers him?
Shared on 06 February 2009
I've come across a set of 6 postcards that tell the tale of a young sailor who was murdered by 3 other sailors that he met up with in the, 'Red Lion' at Thursley. Apparently the other 3 sailors accompanied him up to 'the Hindhead Hills' and murdered him and dumped his body in the Punch Bowl. Is this a well known story in local folklore?
Shared on 14 August 2008
Witley, the Village 1927
Ref: 79479
Jasmine Cottage, Petworth Road
In 1956, my family moved into Jasmine Cottage which stands behind the wall on the left of this picture. It was (is) the centre cottage of 3 in one old building. There was a family that lived in the house on the right, where I got my first sight of a television. The program that was on TV when I first saw it was a Test Match, (cricket). The White Heart pub was just up the road on the right and if you turned left, opposite the White Heart, the church was on the right and the village school was on the left. I went to that village school before becoming a boarder at KES. I now live in Kentucky, USA
Shared on 17 December 2009
