Earlswood, Common Road 1906

Photo ref: 56192

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 ...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 ...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.

This most likely stood in my family's New Pond Brickyard. The family firm was W Brown and Sons. The New Pond yard existed from 1813 to about 1938.