Windlesham memories
Here are memories of Windlesham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Windlesham or a Windlesham photo.
Nothing to Do.
As a child growing up in Windlesham village I was frustrated because there was so little to do. I went to the local school which backed onto our house at the bottom of Poplar Avenue which joined Up Down hill. When I had grown up and married I moved back to the village because it provided the tranquil refuge I craved! I knew the 'battling farmer' Glanfield. He fought the authorities for compensation when the electricity pylons were constructed and then, later, when the M3 Motorway was put through his land. He became a nationally famous figure and put Windlesham on the map!
My Great Grandparents
Hello from Canada - My great-grandparents, James Elliott and Ann Collyer, were married in Windlesham on July 8th 1865. It is great to see the photos what with me being so far away. I was hoping there would be a photo of the church. They were C of E. Still it is wonderful to see photos of the town. Thank you.
Best regards.
Barbara
Memories of Surrey
Holidays in Lightwater
As a very young child coming from Berkshire, I with a brother have spent many years of enjoyment staying with relatives in Grassmere Road in the house where my mother along with other members grew up, The house seemed large and the garden was massive, stretching down towards an orchard where a hole in the hedge allowed us to sneak through and pinch apples and all other fruits, despite having two apple trees in the garden. In hot days us kids would picnic in the garden sometimes under a blanket thrown over the washing line forming a tent. In the garden was once a Wendy house converted into a chicken run, pigeon loft and finally a place to keep rabbits in. An old shed built by our grandfather (Richard Moyle) was pulled down by my uncle who replaced this with a new one and us kids we were allowed with painting a picture upon its inside walls though the bike shed at one side was kept and remained standing. The... Read more
1955 & Prior - The Cricketers Etc
I was born in 1947 (a home birth) in Grove End cottage which was, and still is, located pretty much across the London Road and railway line from the Cricketers pub. Although I've never been inside the pub, I have on occasion as a child, watched cricket with my Dad at the weekends. I notice on the satellite map that the cricket pitches are still there - the photo must have been taken on a day of play as ant-like figures are clearly visible, dotted all around the grounds.
Many things have changed over the years - Grove End was once surrounded by dairy farms run by Arthur Knight and Jack Wooldrige. These farms are now gone - one a golf course, the other an industrial estate. The woods near the railway station which in spring were strewn with blue bells, today play host to a housing development and major roads now criss-cross the old farm landscape.
The Pantiles Tea Rooms which once existed further along the London Road from... Read more
Clipping The Hedge at St Annes
My dad, Eric Berry, used to clip this hedge - BY HAND!
When we're little, things always seem bigger than they really are, but my recollections of watching my Dad clip this hedge on the days he did the gardening at St Anne's church, were pretty accurate. It really is as big as I remember!
I also recall going to St Anne's Hall ( a bit further back down the hill?) with my Mum, to collect our ration books. At the bottom of the hill was Fortuna's Ice Cream Parlour - I can still remember the lucious creamy taste! Yum!
Pinewood, Bagshot
The house in the background is Pinewood, built by my great grandfather, Sir Howard Elphinstone, VC, KGB etc. He was one of the first soldiers in the Crimean War to win a VC. His VC is now in the Imperial War Museum. He was born near Riga, Latvia (then Livonia) in 1829. He was educated in Germany, before the family moved to Sidmouth. He joined the Royal Engineers and after the Crimean War, he was asked by Queen Victoria to become Prince Arthur (later the Duke of Connaught)'s Comptroller. A Comptroller was a person who was in lieu of parents. They lived at The Ranger's House, Greenwich. He stayed in this post until the Prince reached adulthood. He then wanted to go back into the Army, but the Queen sent 3 letters in one day asking him to stay. He managed to get back into the Army and stay on with the Prince.
He was married at 40 to Miss Annie Cole who... Read more
Mid Eighties
From early 1984 to March 1987 I had the pleasure of being the Landlady of this public house. Many good times (some bad), many lovely customers, some of whom became friends and not forgetting all the people who came to work there to help behind the bar, in the kitchen etc. We celebrated the 40th anniversary of 'D Day' there with fancy dress in period costume, and received a lot of help from the military who as a 'training exercise' put sandbags & camouflage netting around the front of the pub, also held a 'Burns Night' party with a piper in full dress to pipe in the haggis, again a local military man, all great fun. Went back about 4 years ago & was sad to see half the garden now had houses built on. Times they are a changin (always). We nicknamed it 'the Inn on the green' as it faces onto what years ago, probably prior to the 1939-45 war, was the village... Read more
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