Banstead, High Street c.1955

Photo ref: B391013

The 164a bus used to go behind the war memorial on its return journey to Tattenham corner, and if you were sitting upstairs you could view the lovely house and garden behind the brick wall. On the way to Morden on the outward journey and on the opposite side corner stood a grocers shop and the bus always had to mount the curb to get round. We then travelled on to the roundabout near Greenacres School and Banstead Downs. then on to Sutton.

There was a pet shop/iron mongers there as well as the wool shop and sweet shop

I played here from 1970 onwards. Behind the building were the public loos. To the left of the building, and to the left of the entrance off Avenue Road was a hump, about 4 feet high with a double skin brick wall along the front. I was told it used to be a public air raid shelter? The padding pool hadn't been built then (next to the tennis courts) - that came in the mid 70s??? There was a big ...see more

My brother Alec (12) and I (11) were at Beecholme from January to December 1956 we were orphans our parents died 7 months apart in 1955. We were in myrtle cottage changed to Willow cottage by the childrens vote I choose Willow and was very excited they picked it. We had 2 house Mothers that we called Auntie. We went to school outside the home. We have mostly very good memories, but a few bad. The children I remember ...see more