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Winterbourne Down
Winterbourne Down maps
Historic maps of Winterbourne Down and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Winterbourne Down maps
Winterbourne Down photos
We have no photos of Winterbourne Down, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Frenchay| Frampton Cotterell| Filton| Almondsbury| Yate| Chipping Sodbury| Westbury-On-Trym| Bristol| Alveston| Henbury| Olveston| Dodington| Bitton| Clifton| Aust
Winterbourne Down area books
Displaying 1 of 6 books about Winterbourne Down and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Winterbourne Down
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Avon memories
Frenchay Hospital, Bristol - Built by The American Army
Frenchay Hospital in Bristol was built by the American Army during the Second World War. Frenchay Hospital is a large hospital situated in Frenchay, South Gloucestershire, on the (NE) outskirts of Bristol, England. The hospital, situated in the grounds of a Georgian mansion, Frenchay Park, started life as a TB hospital (Frenchay Park Sanatorium) in 1921, when Bristol Corporation acquired the land. In 1931, five purpose-built buildings were constructed to extend the hospital beyond the original house. Concerns about the possibility of heavy bombing casualties led to the hospital being greatly expanded between 1938 and early 1942. Although Bristol was severely bombed, the new facilities remained unused. When US forces arrived in 1942, the city handed the new hospital facilities over to the Americans, as a sort of reverse Lend-Lease. Further expansion to the facilities occurred in late 1942. Initially, the Americans used the hospital mainly as training facility for their medical staff. After D-Day, however, the hospital was used in earnest, the processing of casualties becoming a very slick... Read more
Pig Sty Peache Road
I'm not sure of the year, but a pig sty used to stand where there are now flats on the left hand side of Peache Road on the corner going towards Downend. I used to hear the pigs squealing when I was quite young and did not like walking past. Does anyone else remember this?
I used to live in Burley Grove from the age of about five and moved away at fifteen to Cornwall. Happy days at both Downend Primary and Stockwell Hill, I also remember disco's at Badminton Road Youth Club.
Remembering Downend
Yes, I too remember the pig sty slaughter house that was there on the corner. It seems a long time ago. I too went to Downend County and I lived in Burley Grove 1953 to 1968. I was with the church lads' brigade in Downend. We would march through Downend to Christ Church. Downend cricket club was one of the best looking cricket grounds in the country. I live in Davenport in Florida now. I miss home but life here is good.
Annual Visit
My parents, Fred & Marjorie La Touche, always took us to visit our great aunt & uncle Curtis,who lived at Cottage of Content in Harris Barton.At one time this was a pub, (perhaps someone has a photo of it ) but then it was a smallholding. Coming from the town of Swindon, it was marvellous to be able to go & pick plums from the orchard & tomatoes from the greenhouses. We used to arrive by train at Coalpit heath & walk from there under the viaduct & across the fields, which were always full of cows. Now there is a housing estate on the field. There were always gypsies camping at the back of the smallholding, down by the brook. They were always very friendly families & never caused any trouble. It was lovely to see them cooking round their fire.
My great uncle's home only had paraffin lamps, which gave a lovely atmosphere, slightly better than the old hole in the ground toilet in the back garden. It... Read more
Early Days in Filton
Although originally from Manchester my parents were living in Filton when I was born in Cheltenham in December 1941. My father, like the majority of men in that area worked at what was then the BAC. He worked at the Rodney Works as a sheet-metal worker and fitter. We lived in Mackie Road and I attended Shields Road School betwen 1946 and 1953 when I went on to Thornbury Grammar School before going to Teacher Training College in 1960.
I vaguely remember the last months of the war but have very clear memories of the parties held on both VE and VJ Day. The first was held at the top of our road in nearby Shellard Road, which at that time was adjacent fields and farm land whilst the latter was held in Station Road which is now a busy dual carriage way. Most of the children at the VJ party were in fancy dress with myself dressed as a gypsy. My skirt was made out of an old... Read more
Growing up in Filton
I was born in Plymouth of Welsh parents, there was no work in Newport Wales when my Father got out of the Navy, so, we moved to my Grandparents house in 50 Wallscourt Rd Filton, until our house 13 Canberra Grove Filton became available. My Father along with my Grandfather worked for the BAC, my Dad was a Blacksmith, I remember sometimes on summer nights walking up to meet him from work. I remember my first visit to get my hair cut at the hairdresser's above the corner shop in Filton (sweet & newsagents) I remember running up the road at night in the winter to the off licence with the pretty pink lights to buy my Dad's senior service fags. I remember endless summer days over the railway lines near are house or up the playing fields near my Nan's. I remember running past St Peters grave yard (up the hill) some nights, if I was alone I would be scared stiff. I remember walking... Read more
Whitethorn Morris Dance at The Iron Acton Folk Festival
The village of Iron Acton had both a Folk Club and a Folk Festival in the 1980's.
I remember a beautiful summer weekend - probably 1983 - when Whitethorn Morris were invited to the Festival. We camped in a field at the back of the village pub which may have been The Lamb Inn. The dancers and musicians took over all the field in our tents and vans! We made the pub the centre of our weekend's activities. It was hot and sunny and we needed the pub not just for a cool beer but also for washing facilities for all of us campers!
Whitethorn Morris looked good in their scarlet and blue kit and the Whitethorn Band sounded great with accordians, melodeons, drums and even a trombone and a penny whistle!
My memories of this are happy ones as I really enjoyed playing my Hohner piano accordian and leading the band. Even the local paper must have liked us as they ran... Read more
