Wannock Tea Gardens

A Memory of Polegate.

I worked at Wannock Tea Gardens during the school holidays.
I remember all the slices of Bread we had to butter and I still make sure that it reaches out to each corner.
We really had to work hard carrying heavy crockery to the many out-building where the parties were fed.
I remember that all the workers would sit down after the gardens closed and clear up the food - and how much us youngest looked forward to a meal of ham and salad and bread and butter and if we very lucky there might be some fancy cakes left over!!
I don't think the 'tips' were handed out very fairly - we would get a shilling sometimes while the older people often got more, as we were all expected to put any 'tips' into a jar, but we soon got to realise that we didn't have to put every penny in the jar!!
It was a shame when the gardens closed for ever but our memories remain.
Jeanne Fry (nee Levett).