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Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest maps
Historic maps of Wyre Forest and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Wyre Forest maps
Wyre Forest area books
Displaying 1 of 12 books about Wyre Forest and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Wyre Forest
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Worcestershire memories
An Adventure
My sister and I, Pam and Pat Haworth, were at Arley untill it closed in 1952. This happened due to water pipes supplying the Castle burst, and it was too expensive to re place them. I do remember after this happened we were set the task of getting water from the stream in front of the Castle! I am sure my love of the countryside was fostered here. The smell of the Arbouretum in Autumn, the trees "ship" and "puddles", the later from which, was a beautiful view down to the River Severn. The sound of crows and rooks in the trees. Inside the Castle was another adventure, midnight feasts in the tower, imagining prisoners in the cellar, checking out the bats in the stables, which were strictley out of bounds. I am sure I must have done some work here, but I can't remember. My first Dormatory was "Worldsend", above the Gym, Then "York". Night times were always full of chatter, until we froze in... Read more
Schooldays at Arley Castle
I went to Arley Castle as a boarder in 1943/44. It made a lasting impression on me. The Arboretum was my favourite place and we had names for many of the trees which we would climb from time to time. Miss Kell and Miss Whitehouse were the two Headmistresses. Rules were strict and if we were naughty (talking after lights out etc) we could be given the task of peeling onions or pulling up stinging nettles in the vast grounds. I always kept a penny under my pillow to give to the Ferryman in case I wanted to run away! My dormitory was called 'Valentia' and there was also the Valential Hotel where I went for half term lunch with my parents.
My name was Pat Horwitch and I used to become homesick quite frequently. I learned the piano and because of regular practice times (outside Miss Kell's study). I actually did get a distinction of which I was very proud. I made a nostalgic visit back to Arley a... Read more
School Days at Arley Castle
I was only at Arley for 2 years but they were very happy years despite all the deprivations etc. It was the only tme in my life I suffered from chilblains! I overlapped with Marylin and I have a photo (somewhere) of her and several others standing in front of the 'Semior Rec' windows with hockey sticks. I think it must have been after an inter-house match. I also remember Beth Pope, Sheila Fillery & Janet Mills. I seem to remember that Beth also had a lovely singing voice. I remember that the 1946/47 winter was also memborable for us using all the tin trays as sledges in the snow. Joan Ward & Myrtle Williams & Ann Dennis I also remember. Joan Ward was my first Dorm Captain. They were very happy days & I was sorry to leave but life moved on. My maidne name was Atkinson.
Stew
I was amazed to see this website!I was at Arley for the whole of the Second World War. The memories that I have are happy ones and I was looking for the prospectus that I was sure I had when I thought of going online. The names leapt out at me.I too kept in touch with Millie for several years, but lost touch when she moved south. The staff that I remember were: Miss Kell and Miss Whitehouse and Misses Jones, Short, Rust, Phillis Jones, Nichols, Rosenblatt, Long. I walk too because of those early Arboretum runs or Sunday crocodile walks. I remember siestas under the lime trees, and gardening in the walled garden, climbing trees and lying under the Seven Sister beech trees to revise for exams. The tough times too.....Hot water bottles that froze on cold winter nights, then getting up to wash in freezing water in the dorm next morning. I remember sweeping classrooms before breakfast and peeling mountains of potatoes or washing up a never ending pile... Read more
Cont.
We played tic off ground all over the school and grounds. The tree named the ship was a fallen beech tree on the right of the left hand path round the arbouretum. It was ideal for chasing and leaping. Not so ideal was the dormitory furniture after lights out! One night I leapt from the bed to the washstand, hit the wash bowl which broke and sliced my knee, which needed six stiches! I don't remember a trip to a doctor or a hospital and my mother never mentioned a hefty bill. I have wonderful memories of learning a musical version of 'The Pied Piper of Hamlin', does anyone remember whether it was taught by Phylis Jones or a Miss Nichols? We also performed dances through the ages in which I wore a crinoline and was partnered by someone wearing handsome dark red britches. I wonder who it was. We toasted chestnuts on the common room fire which was surounded by a guard that we sat on when we were cold (which... Read more
Button Oak
I lived in Button Oak during 1942/43 and worked in the Wyre Forest for 'Bob' Harris who was the Forester. Along with two of my mates, Denis Mills and Hubert Till, I made frequent trips into Bewdley to go to the pictures or get my hair cut. The cinema was just over the bridge (is it still there?) and we left our bikes for safe-keeping chained outside the chip shop for a penny. Denis still lives in Bewdley but Hubert unfortunately died several years ago. Tommy Batchford ran a lorry in those days and used to collect the pit-props we produced on the Cadbury estate and we'd go with the load and transfer it to open trucks in the railway sidings. On one trip we were flagged down by the local postman who'd found a dead deer trapped in the roadside fence (or snare?). We delivered it quietly to a butcher in Bewdley. In Button Oak I lodged first with Hubert's mother and later with Alf and Mrs Wilkes and... Read more
Home to my Huxley Ancestors
Many of my 'Huxley' ancestors were 'hatched, matched and dispatched' here. A most beautiful church in a very special place. Well worth a visit.
