Nostalgic memories of Crawley's local history
Share your own memories of Crawley and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 27 in total
In the 1950's The Old Punch Bowle became the Crawley Branch of National Provincial Bank. I worked there from 1970 - 1973, a lovely place to work. In due course, as a result of the 1970 merger with Westminster Bank, the accounts were moved to the former Westminster Bank branch in the Boulevard. About 1994 the venue reverted to being a place of hospitality as a pub owned by Greene King. The photo has to be pre-1955 (the date shown) as I think the NP Bank bought it in 1952.
The picture shows the Junior School assembly hall which also doubled for PE with neatly stowed ceiling ropes and wall ladders. The headmaster was Mr Dennis who I believe lived in nearby Smalls Mead. I remember Mrs Gowings and Miss Parr who taught three generations of my family.
The Infants school building adjoined the main school and the headmistress was Miss Howes. I only remember one teacher; Mrs ...see more
I attended the small village school which was located a bit behind the George Hotel. The school was on a corner with a small park across the road. A vaguely victorian stone building .... and an incongruous copy of a Bernini sculpture in the little park.
Could not locate it on any maps and it looks as if later roads have been pushed through the site. Many happy memories of my childhood and of ...see more
PETER BUTTERWORTH; He was married to Janet Brown, the comedianne; They moved later to a large property in Old Ifield village, near to where there was a Doctor Barnados home;
I too remember playing by the River Mole; great excitement when we found what we thought was a dead scorpion on the riverbank. When they we building the Three Bridges estate, they had a narrow gauge railway for moving stuff around. We used to ride on this evening & weekends after the builders had gone home!
My Parents ran the Fox Hotel close to the river.
I used to live in the Coach House (now park offices) of Tilgate Mansion, when I was a very little boy. I went to school at Desmond Anderson. The Coach House and courtyard made up four dwellings. The groundsman lived in one, his name was Francis, with his wife and little boy - they later moved to Holmbury St Mary in Surrey. In those days, the lake was almost surrounded by rhododendrons. Mr Francis used to take ...see more
As a small boy, my father-in-law Derek Munson was evacuated with his siblings to Crawley. They stayed at a farm house (which was later owned by Peter Butterworth - any further info on this would be much appreciated) but used to go to Tillgate Mansion for their baths once a week. He was very sad to hear that it had been demolished.
The Coach Station had a cafe (or restaurant) backing a large parking area for London to Brighton Southdown Coaches. It was sited 100 yards south of the County border opposite "Overton's" Beehive workshop on the main Brighton Road.
Unfortunately accidents did occur involving coaches turning right into the park when travelling south, mostly due to drivers not seeing the coach signal ...see more
I was born in the cottage that was named Morning Dawn in 1937. The house is now a Muslim mosque. I remember the recreation area very well. We played there often. My dad had an allotment nearby. I remember the Covey and Brown farms that were just across London Road from my home. My aunt, Joan Brown, was married to my mother's brother, Major Stewart Collett, and I remember the Brown family. It sticks in my ...see more
Tushmore Lane and either side of the main A23 had properties forming the catchment area for club members, also another general store and petrol station.
County Oak boasted a recreation ground with one swingboat and a six by five foot pavilion. Many an enjoyable "Stoolball" match was played out on the grass mowed by Mr Barratt, a local bus driver. Although cycling was not ...see more