Memories Of Kingswood Caravan Site/Saltfleet

A Memory of Saltfleet.

I spent many happy years at Kingswood Caravan Site (now Tuxworth Holiday Park). My nanna & granddad (Henry "Sailor" & Nellie Toyne) started using the site in the 1960's until the 1990's, althrough my granddad died in 1988, my nanna continued until her mobility let her down. Facilities at Kingswood would have been considered "primitive" today. No electricity, other than the lights on the toilet block, having to collect water from a stand pipe. We had gas mantles in the caravans. I think electricity was connected in early 1980's. Most caravans in the 1970's had no bathroom facilities and you had to use the toilet block for showers and toilets. Kingswood was originally run by Tom & Doris Carter & then George Tuxworth. I was born in December 1966 and my earliest memory was standing with my nanna when I was around 2 years old at the top of Sea Lane overlooking the beach. I remember my nanna giving me sixpence (2.5 pence) to go to the site shop & buy some Smarties. Doris & Tom used to have a peacock called Peter. A mobile butcher used to visit the site until a shop was built on Sea Lane. There used to be a fish & chip shop on Sandy Fields. We used to go to Sunningdale Club at night for a drink or two. It was originally a wooden hut run by brothers Don & Jim, I can't remember their surname. At the top of Sea Lane there was a shop/café and a bingo/amusement hall. We spent many hours walking along the beach to Donna Nook. My granddad with his shepherd's crook type stick and his cairn terrier Sandy used to walk to the sea collecting sapphire and cockles. There was a bakery in the village that sold delicious home made bread & sausage rolls. Many happy hours were spent at The New Inn & Crown pubs. Many happy memories spent in Saltfleet.