Micheldever, Church Street 1951

Photo ref: M177006

My Aunt Clarice and Uncle Keith Symes live in Micheldever in the early 1960s, I used to go there on holiday, I remember going to the river and collecting cress off the water, there was tons of it. I believe they lived in the Forge, I believe Keith's father and brother worked in the smithy.

The cottage in Church St was my nan's, Mrs Elsie Collins, she died about 1969. I remember staying with her when I was little. I haven't been back since she died. I believe a neighbour bought it and converted it into one cottage. I remember the old black range and 2 kettles, little john and big john, and the front door key was about 6 inches long, and granddad going out the back field and collecting mushrooms for breakfast.

The Micheldever cottage with the steps facing the camera is where my mother Evelyn Rogers (nee Chalk) grew up with her brothers Alfred and Charles, and sisters Maude, Ivy, Kate (Kit) and later Ruby Hansford. Henry Arthur Gale Chalk was my mother's father who died in 1908, the year she was born. My granny, Elizabeth, remarried to Arthur Hansford in 1912. We believe that the cottage was originally called Tudor ...see more