Growing Up In Handley

A Memory of Sixpenny Handley.

My family moved to Handley in 1947 and I spent the rest of my childhood there. Our family name is Harris and my parents were Drs Paul and Zoe , they had five children. We lived off the road to Deanland. I never could work out all the Day family, there were an awful lot of them! A Mr
Violet Day and a Mrs Elsie Churchill, helped Mum. I agree all the Frith photos shown seem some what earlier than the 50's. Frogmore Pond by that stage was much smaller and was behind a hedge. No horse could have drunk from it standing on the roadside. A Mr Sheasby farmed Frogmore Farm then. The only cart horses I knew were owned by the Dibben's at Upwood, Tom Cuff was their carter. I remember taking my pony to be shod at Mr Keats, his forge was at the last house in the village on the Salisbury Road. Granny Sheen from Deanland still drove her pony to market days in Salisbury. I was surprised to see the cottages opposite the War Memorial called the Post Office. I always knew the PO as being in Goddard's shop. There was Budden's the Bakers and Frouds, the grocer. There was a fish shop, I think run by a Mr Day at the bottom of the street and a butchers, Clark's just above Frouds. I remember the silver band. They always came to play carols at our house. We would watch for the Tilly lamps that showed us that they were on their way. Mr Dougie Judd was the bandmaster then I think, Harry Tucker took over later. (My step daughter bought one of their trumpets when the band ended). I remember the families in the village so well. The surgery was in our house and we got to know the patients as they came and went. I was so pleased to find the photos and read some of the comments.
Nicky (Harris) Campbell


Added 08 February 2013

#240036

Comments & Feedback

I think that I got cut off from the previous comment. My family moved into Sixpenny Handley in 1963ish. The memories of the village resonated with me. I recognised the names from my childhood. I am the youngest O'Brien from the White House in the High Street. My parents were Paddy and Jo and my older brothers were Martin and Chris.
I was three when we arrived and I have many childhood memories of the village. I remember Tony Budden and/or Barry New arriving with hot bread in a basket. The stock bought at market being unloaded at Clarkes. The post office at Goddards. I loved walking in the woods at Deanland and Garston and speaking to the hurdlers - specifically Walter and Jackie Chown (of the bus).
The Doctors' Harris were a very important part of the community.
I am rambling as a came across this by accident and could easily fill pages of nostalgic memories. Thank you for evoking them.
Claire Brentnall nee. O'Brien now in Shropshire

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