You are here:
West Chiltington
West Chiltington photos
Displaying the first of 1 old photos of West Chiltington. View all West Chiltington photos
West Chiltington maps
Historic maps of West Chiltington and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all West Chiltington maps
West Chiltington area books
Displaying 1 of 24 books about West Chiltington and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of West Chiltington
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of West Chiltington.
Add your memory of West Chiltington
or of a photo of West Chiltington.
Oh!!! What A Shame
Today, whilst visiting my mother who lives in the village I decided to park my car and walk through the village, a trip down memory lane. I was disappointed to see that many familar places no longer looked the same, there was a distinct lack of love and care to a number of places. The most prominent change was walking down Church Street, Church House had been altered and although I realise that modernisation has to take place, some alterations seemed out of place. Probably the biggest eyesore that met me at the bottom of Church Hill was the closure of the Elephant and Castle public house, two gates of differing sizes had been erected half way up the hill and tied together with a chain. How out of character for a village that has twice won the best kept village competition. The driveway was overgown and at first glance the image conjured up a memory of a part of London that I visited sometime ago. If the Pub is... Read more
Smock Alley And The Five Bells Public House
I used to visit my aunt and uncle in the middle to late fifties. They used to live at the bottom of Smock Alley in a large bungalow. I remember walking up to the post office and cross roads. Smock Alley was just like a cart track. When I last went back a few years ago, to my amazement it was like millionaires row. How things change from your early childhood. We used to go around the corner to the Five Bells, run by a man called Roy. My aunt and uncle's name was Attoe, Stan and Hetty, two children Mary and John. I also remember sisters who lived just above my uncle's. Their surname was I believe Strudwick. Later my aunt and her family moved to Hurstan Warren. My uncle worked for Miss Gardener and Miss Protheroe.
My Childhood
My memory of West Chiltington as a child is of a sleepy little village where everyone knew each other. As a child I could wander with friends and not be afraid as all the village people knew everyone else. A pleasant stroll up Church Hill on a summers evening is one memory that springs to mind with Mr Gumbrell who lived at the top of Church Hill wandering across to the church to lock-up. Yes, the church was left unlocked then. The village then had two shops, the Post Office and the Spar shop. The Queen's Head pub was run by a Freda Nash. When Mrs Saunders-Jacobs wrote her book on West Chiltington she allowed me to spend time with her researching at Chichester records office as part of a school project. I learned a lot about the village and to this day remember a lot of the history that is not mentioned in later books. Alas since I married and moved away from the village many changes have taken... Read more
West Sussex memories
The Water Cress Beds
My relatives ran the water cress beds (do they still exist?) & I clearly recall there house had a small pond outside, & I used to watch sand flees jumping when I poked them. The day I rememember most vividly was the day a worker shot his mad? dog! My relatives had a blind dog that knew every plank over every water bed, and the next year we went his dog had drowned as a worker had moved a plank, the dog fell in & drowned!. But most of all I recall the friendly relatives and the teas we had with yummy cakes to satisfy a hungry boy. But who were they, that I shall probably never know.
Boring History!
I attended Storrington Primary School in Spierbridge Road, and we all looked forward to our last year at the school, because during the summer seniors were taken to Church Street as part of a local history lesson. Of course, we all thought it would be a great excuse to lark about and pop into the sweet shop which used to be on the corner of Church Street going into the High Street. How disappointed we were when we realised we would have to work! After the shock realisation we were actually having a history lesson it became quite fun, learning about the monastery and the old buildings - but I daren't tell my mates that!!!!
1961 to 1966
Hello to anyone who may be interested. It was delightfull to chance upon this site. I lived in Storrington from approx 1952 until 1968. The first picture of Storrington shows the cottages which my parents bought in the early 1960s. At that time we moved from the corner sweet shop in Church Street to what was known as 31- 35 Church Street. My maiden name was Murphy. Parents were Michael and Pauline Murphy. The cottages were bought by us for approx £2800.00. Some joke in this day and age!! I went to the Convent which was St Joseph's Dominican Convent in Greyfriars Lane from the age of 10 through to age 16+. I'm still in contact with some of the people from those days, particullarly Sister DeLORIS who corresponds with me regularly at Christmas. Happy days were spent in Storrington and I attended Our Lady of England Catholic Church which although changed now was a lovely Church. Happy memories of Father Cassidy, also the altar boys and choir of... Read more
Storrington in General
I was born and raised in Storrington. I left when I was 18, in 1990, but come back every week to visit my mother. My sister and mother still live in Storrington and my brother is the joint co-manager of the Swans, Eamonn Searle.
My best memories of Storrington are singing in the church choir of St. Mary's when the late great Rev. Norman was there. Also, the small sweet shop in Church Street which became a fabric shop! What you could buy for 10p was amazing.
Plus, who could forget Roy's discos in the Chinese of a Friday and Saturday night!! Now they are what I call memories!!!!
