Earlswood, Horley Road c.1955
Photo ref: E1029
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South of the Redhill/Reigate built- up areas are the Earlswood Lakes, which lie in the midst of the grassy heathland of Earlswood Common. I remember swimming there in the 1950s, and learning to ride motor-cycles with the ACU in the early 1960s on the roads of the Earlswood sewage farm to the south of the lakes. Nowadays the diving tower has gone, fishermen line the banks, and there are notices along the edge of the lake warning of the dangers of deep water!

Memories of Earlswood, Horley Road c1955

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. These memories are of Earlswood, Horley Road c.1955

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We had many picnics at the lakes, Parking was good with lots of places to sit and enjoy the lakes. There was a small wooded area to the left of the bottom lake and I remember running around in there with my brother until we were joined our parents for a walk around the lake and hopefully get to go on one of the boats on the upper lake. There were banks of ferns which were excellent places for my ...see more
The photographs of people swimming and playing in the then turgid waters of the Earlswood bottom lake in in the 1950s instantly took me back to my own childhood of those times and carefree summer days spent learning to swim in the lake. I recall the presence of fresh water mussels on the floor of the lake which, to the unwary, could cause cuts to the feet of those unfortunate enough to tread on one. There was ...see more
The car on the opposite side of the road to the Clearview garage was my dad's Triumph Renown. And I can't quite see what the signs say on the cafe next door but one to my house but I remember it as Molly's Cafe - a transport cafe. My neighbour Mrs Nice used to put some of the lorry drivers up in her spare bedroom when the cafe was full. I remember seeing lorries parked at the back of the cafe from my bedroom window when they stopped overnight.