You are here:

Toy's Hill memories

Here are memories of Toy's Hill and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Toy's Hill or a Toy's Hill photo.

There are no Memories posted yet for Toy's Hill - why not be the first!

Memories of Kent

Early Years

c1965
| More about this photo

My father was born in Ide Hill and, when he left school, worked as delivery boy for Pierce's shop. That's how he met my mother, delivery goods to the large house Emmets, where she was a housemaid. When, eventually, I was born we lived about a mile outside the village, beside Sundridge Hospital, or The Union as it was known as then. In the autumn of 1945 I took my first, faltering, steps in my education at Ide Hill C of E school. Stayed there until moving to Westerham Secondary Modern School in 1951. After that I joined the Navy, then in 1967 came to Northern Ireland where I have lived since. It has been many years since I was home but the memories of growing up in that lovely area of Kent stay with me.

A memory of Ide Hill, shared by Aubrey Wood.

Add your own Memory Add a comment Add to your Album

Early And Later.

"Come on children, all in the shelter." The air raid siren was the initiator of this quiet but determined order. It meant an enjoyable singing session with (I believe it was) Miss Smith on the old upright. Collecting empty aircraft bullet cases, which had been distributed over Four Elms by the aircraft from Biggen Hill was another wartime occupation. The only serious occurrence was the Doodle Bug that blew the side out of the cricket pavilion, I believe this was on a Saturday morning, because it frightened the two girls that were feeding the school rabbits to death. Born in the village in 1939, the son of Francis and Jack Cole, who lived in Brookfield, I had the luck to be raised in Four Elms, in the most, a one big family village. The cricket field was our teenage growing up club. We learnt to smoke, tell jokes, how to mow a table, and of course how to play cricket. And later when we had reached the correct age, we were introduced... Read more

A memory of Four Elms, shared by John Cole.

Add your own Memory Add a comment Add to your Album

Dr Barnardos

The Village 1925
| More about this photo

I was one of the children at the home from 1950 to 1952 and remember Mrs Gunn the matron. It was a beautiful house with lovely gardens. We had quilts on our beds and every night I would go round the room and pick up all the teddies that had fallen out of the other children's beds, and put them under my quilt so they wouldn't get cold. I started school in Westerham but don't remember the name of it. I do remember singing 'All Things Bright and Beautiful' there though. There was a mulberry bush in the garden which we used to climb. I have some photos of some of the children, myself and my brother Ken and staff, walking up the drive. Our surname was Mccalder.

A memory of Westerham, shared by Margaret Cadger.

Add your own Memory Add a comment Add to your Album

Pitts Cottage

Pitts Cottage c1955
| More about this photo

About 1963 - I was a waitress at Pitts Cottage when it became an exclusive restaurant. The owner was a race driver ???? Parker, and the manager was Bernard Audergon from Switzerland. I also worked after school and weekends before that at the Old Way, across the street, which was a boarding house. Would love to know what Pitts Cottage is used for now. It was a magnificent house with some incredible antiques. I am now 65 and live in the U.S.

A memory of Westerham, shared by Marion DelFavero.

Add your own Memory Add/View 1 Comment Add to your Album

Growing up

i loved growing up in westerham

A memory of Westerham, shared by Bryony Burt.

Add your own Memory Add a comment Add to your Album

Memorybank total

We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.

You've shared 28,909 memories of 5,955 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!

Find Memories

Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.

Start by searching for your favourite places

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:

How does it feature in your personal history?

What are your best memories of this place?

How has it changed over the years?

How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?

Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?

Start now!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.

Places this week

Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:

Your memories

To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here

I Remember When...

This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.

A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.