Nostalgic memories of Small Dole's local history

Share your own memories of Small Dole 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 all 8 Memories

Hi, I Tina My mum is Rosemary Fish we lived on Shoreham Road in Smaldole, Just wondered if anyone remembers the name of a house that was knocked down to build Silver Birches Estate?
The post office in Small Dole (which was next door to the current one) was run by my mothers family the Sheppards. My grandfather Bertram Jenkins met my Gran Amelia Ruth when he was working as post boy, my Gran was living their with her sister Violet, her Dad and his sister Alice (her Mum died in childbirth). Violet ran the post office later, I remember visiting her as a child after the place had been ...see more
I was born in Small Dole in 1956, Oh what a happy care-free childhood we had. All the kids played together, old & young, looking out for each other. We played in the woods, building camps & cooking sausages & beans on open fires, went to the river, made rafts & swam, went to the chalk pits & swam in the "blue lagoon". My Nanny Tucker was a Fish, sister to Albert Fish. I remember the Baptist ...see more
My great-grandfather ran the pub in Small Dole in the early 1900s, probably 1930s. My father who lived in Henfield says he used to be collected with the rest of his family on Christmas Day by horse and cart and taken to the pub, where they had a wonderful Christmas.
My grandfather was Albert Fish. He lived in Small Dole all of his life. He ran a haulage business with his brother Jim. He had eight children, one of whom (JIM) was killed in Italy in the war. My mother, brother and I walked from Beeding to see my grand father every Sunday. My grandmother died when I was a few months old. In the early fifties Granddad married Violet. In the forties virtually everyone in Small ...see more
Hi, Val and Sid Newman live in Lancing now. My nan and grandad lived in Sands Lane and I loved going there and helping Charlie in the woods cutting bean sticks. It was magical. A lot of the old characters have gone now but in the 1970s and 1980s the Fishes, Grettons and Wellsteads ruled the roost.
My family lived in Tooting, London but my mum's brother Charlie Layland was married to Josie who lived in a house called 'Jonada' with sons John, Tony, Trevor,and Andrew in Small Dole. We used to cycle the 42 miles down to Small Dole and stay there. Josie was fantastic and used to take us to Steyning Market, up to Chanctonbury Ring etc etc all on our bikes. We were all ...see more
My memory is of going to my granny and grandad Fish, it was a big family of them, I know I have an aunt still there called Valerie Newman (I think) and my aunt Rosemary who had 3 daughters. I would love it if anyone knows them or knew my dad, Richard John Fish. Do get in touch with me as whilst I remember going there it is a very hazy memory.