Ashtead Swimming Pool

A Memory of Ashtead.

My Grandfather Henry Weller ran his rose nursery here and brought up his eight children. As a young boy in the 1940’s I used to go and fish in the lake and play in the brickworks behind the house.
The path leading to the house I remember being red from crushed bricks with an archway of roses and roses all around on both sides, it really was a beautiful sight. If I was good I was given some sweets from the shop that was just in front of the house.
My Grandfather told me that the lake was formed when the clay was being dug out and as they went deeper they would encounter a layer of clay and then a layer of gravel. Each time they encountered a layer of gravel water would seep in.
The clay was put into a sort of truck and wheeled along on rails. Finally they encountered another layer of gravel and the water poured in. The labourers had to get out quickly leaving the truck and rails at the bottom of the now pond. Apparently they are still there now.
At times my Grandfather told me that special trains would come from London and passengers head to the nursery. There they would swim, dive from the diving boards, boat and picnic on the large grass area behind steps which led into the lake on the far side from the house.
Christopher Weller (Grandson)