Memories
| There are memories about specific places
or events on other pages, including:
Half
Moon Street |
This page is a collection of memories of Bagshot in the past contributed by visitors to the web site.
I also have a separate page about changes that have occured in the village.and another for questions and answers.
Regular correspondent and expat Robert Allen writing from Canada : When I was 15 my sister Gillian and I use to work in the flower gardens in Bagshot Park, run by a Mr Matcham. My mother, Elizabeth, use to work for the Little Chef so we use to stop for a pop before going to work across the road at the park. It seemed a long walk up the drive but it was realy quite a beautifull - walk both sides of the road were like a archway of trees. We felt quite proud walking through those large iron gates with gold flake leaves painted on them. Every time I write I still feel that I'm back home with you all - I will be one day. Many thanks, Robert. [Jun 06]
I remember one of the village Bobbies, Jock Reaper, who always use to stop in at Christmas when my grandfather had his removal and green grocery business. Dick Powell was the station master . I can go on and on .... [604.406]
To which Norman Elkins added ... Reading of the villiage bobby, Jock Reaper, reminded me of the times he used to tell us to go home and shut up after a rowdy chucking out time at the CIU club in Lightwater. He was known by us youngsters as the Grim Reaper. [Dec 09]Dave writes : My father was in service to the Duke of Connaught at Bagshot Park for many years. I lived in Coachmans House in the Park for some 25 years. The "Big House" where Prince Edward now resides is very well known to me as is the surrounding parkland. [458.404]And Simon Whiteley added: Jock Reaper worked from the Police Station near Pantiles. He was a great copper and used to look out for us boys - he was fair. His wife worked in the newsagents in Lightwaer next to what was Lathams Yard and the transport cafe other side. [Jun 13]
From John Coombs : Reading Robert's letter on Bagshot Park bought back wonderful memories of me doing my paper round for Godwin's Newsagents before school and at weekends. I used to deliver to some well established 'celebs' in their day too ... Sir Billy Butlin (always good for a Christmas tip of a fiver - a lot of cash in the '60's), Lady Belle, Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Mr and Mrs. Lipton of Lipton's Tea fame, Ami MacDonald, the TV and Film Star whose extremely long driveway I had to walk, not ride, along. Then I had the highlight of my mornings (especially in the early morning sunshine of the Summer) of cycling thru' the most beautiful parkland with its hundreds of trees from all over the world and well maintained lawns, absolutely no traffic, pure peace and quiet, delivering papers to the Army Padres College in the Park and then to Drennon's Farm also in the Park. John Drennon used to be in my class at Bagshot Secondary School...if you are reading this John, happy memories. Yes, I have never forgotten the paper round and did it until I left Secondary school and then started College. Thanks again Robert for the wonderful memories. [Oct 14 xxx]
To which Bob
Weller has responded :
I remember being John's holiday stand in. I was always completely
knackered after doing ther round. It was nice when dry and sunny, but
in the rain and wind , those hills seemed even steeper and longer!
Dad
was the boilerman for the Army Chaplains at Bagshot Park, I used to go
up with him in the winter for the night stoking, it was pretty creepy
in the cellars, which were poorly lit. While Dad was working I would
wander around and scare myself and scoot back to Dad. [Dec
14]
From Yvonne : during the time I lived in Bagshot, 1947 - l960 I remember that we used to shop at a Grocers in the High St, called Burrows, it had board floors, chairs to sit on, and the provisions were weighed up freshly i.e.sugar in blue cones, and rice in bags etc., There was always a lovely smell, from all the varied ingredients and to a child seemed the source of great delights. No shrink wrapped, packaged to death items then.
I also remember, two members of the Berry family. Peter who was a mechanic and Wally who worked for Morris Bros (an old Bagshot firm) I also worked for Morris Bros. in Camberley, as did my friend Mary Sanders, and her father Gilbert. They lived in a house called Waverley. Mary married one of her neighbour's sons, they were the Beck family, wonder if anybody out there has information on any of them. Would love to hear. [555.505] [7020.307] Ann has written in to offer some information and I have been able to put her and Yvonne in contact. [Dec 10]
Roger Craven writes: I remember with fond memories going to Saturday morning Princes Cinema (Hopalong Cassidy a favourite) and the Saturday evening British Legion film nights (including Calamity Jane with Doris Day), and the Fish and Chip Shop. [Dec 06]
I enjoyed the 50s in Bagshot as a Cub Scout, Boxing/Youth Club member and a choir boy/alter server at St. Anne's Church together with my time at Bagshot Primary and Secondary Schools. I always enjoyed the summer holidays when I help the farmer near my home in Park View to gather in the harvest and pulling out the "chickweed" in the fields (especially as I got paid!). There always seemed plenty to do in those days with friends i.e. biking, fishing, shooting, playing war games and cowboys and indians - and we usually managed to "keep out of trouble!"
Liz Schultz (nee Berry) writes from Australia:
I also have happy memories of going with my Dad to St Anne's church when he did gardening there and to the church hall (I think) to get Ration Coupons with my Mum, then calling into Fortuna's Cafe for an ice cream - a rare treat.Then there was the Ross's paper shop - I stayed with them when my Mum had to go into hospital - Wyn (?) Ross - a big lady with an even bigger heart. I recall they left and took over a pub - had two sons John and Richard and a daughter Sue(?). John was a good friend of my brother Malcolm and both joined the Navy on leaving school.
Does anyone also remember fetes being held in Bagshot Park and is the A30 still lined with a mass of colour from the blooming rhododendrons each year?
I used to live across the railway line and A30 from the the Cricketers Hotel (at Grove End Cottage where I was born). My best friends were Peter Knight from Lutine Farm and Sue Vince from Bagshot Green. Spud picking each year at either the Wooldridge's or Lutine Farms meant more of Fortuna's ice creams...ah such sweet memories!
Margaret Hill writes:
I, too, was fostered by Mrs Ross who owned the paper shop. This was for a short while whilst my Mother had to go into hospital. I was about 5 years old and went to Bagshot school. Mrs Ross was a very loving and kind lady. After my evening bath she would carry me into her shop where they sold toys etc. She would let me play with the toy till, then she would take one of the Noddy books and read one every night before bed, such joy and delight for me. I also remember playing in the garden with John and Richard and hiding in the dog kennel. My father had to work away and my brother was looked after by our granny Dinallo who lived next door to Lambs the greengrocer. [Dec 17]
Peter Summerton writes : [May 08]
I used to visit the Jolly Tea Rooms on Sunday mornings, and discuss, with two of my brothers, if it's true that there will be a round-a-bout built there, what will happen to the Jolly Farmer pub? On Saturdays, when I was about nine or ten, I helped the Milk delivery men, 'Nobby' Clark or Henry, from Cliffords Dairies in Sunningdale, the big treat for me was visiting the Dolly Varden for a cup of tea, I remember Mr. Bowler and two assistants, one of whom was called 'Bunny, He always asked Henry, "I's the boy having a heavy- weight"? This was my favourite, I learned later that it was a Banbury cake, delicious! Suttons at Chobham still serve them, but they know them as Eccles cakes. People from Yorkshire and Lancashire would not agree!I was a newspaper delivery boy for Godwins, from 1955 to December 1957. [Do other contributors remember the shoe shop to one side of Godwins called Johnson and Spooner, and a clock and watch shop on the other side?] I delivered to the 'Big House' in Bagshot Park and was amazed at the ornate decor, although I saw only the entrance hall where I left the papers on a very highly polished table.. Almost forty years later, I met a Chaplain who trained there around this time. Was David, who lived in the Park grounds, and elsewhere on the website talks of Dr. Issbister treating Him when He injured a finger in the school gate, the same David that I remember being brought back to school after seeing the Doctor,[ no 'elf and safety then!] to spend the rest of the day lieing on the classroom floor wrapped in the green piano cover! I think it was Miss Hodgesons class, surely it couldn't have been another David!
To which David has replied: Peter Summerton is quite right in that it was me, David Ghost, that laid on the floor of Miss Hodgsons class! Still bearing the scar of that event i.e the loss of the finger tip! [Jul 15]
In the 1940's, there were kennels that were reached by a lane that was opposite the building that was The Fire Station on which the Broadmoor repeater siren was located. About a hundred yards up this lane, from the then Guilford road, on the left, was McCarthys Farm House, I understand this became the Council Offices and has been replaced by a suite of offices. What is now an estate, was McCarthys farm. Further up from the House, on the left, were farm buildings, cow sheds and a milking parlour, further up still, on the right, was a large wooden barn that was destroyed by a fire circa 1950? The cow-herder was a Man named Freddy Salt, we often 'helped' Him move the cows along the lanes back to the byre.
There is a detached house in Manor Way that is different to the others. For many years the shepherd lived here, it was occupied later on, by Mr. Ron Collins, who, I believe, was a plough-man employed by Waterers. The ploughs and carts were pulled by two horses, a brown one and a grey named 'Blossom', that were often kept in a field where there are now more houses, next to the railway bridge, in the lane that leads to the 'old' school. With my elder brothers and sister and my twin brother, we spent many Saturday nights 'camping' in the sheep huts that were situated in the field where the 'new' school is now. The lane continued through fields where the sheep were kept, which later became overrun with gorse and broom, and eventually led to the Kennels. Beyond this was Black Pond, and The Water Tower, this was such a prominent part of the sky-line for so many years. Does anyone remember and/or have any photos of it? Similar structures that I have seen since are miniscule compared to this huge edifice.
There was a Civil Defence camp on what is now Manor Way and Green Farm Road Estate. Its entrance was located almost exactly where the entrance road to Manor Way is now. My father was 'demobbed' from the army in late 1945 very soon after V.J. Day, and was immediately evicted from our house, No. 6, Catena Rise, Lightwater, after some twenty years in the Tank Regiment. He was a survivor of the Lancastria disaster. There was no compassion then it seems, we were 'on the street'. We, along with many other families, moved into the Civil Defence camp and were known as 'squatters'. This 'estate' became known officially as "The Huts", ours was number three. I still have my war-time identity card with this adress on it! We had one cold tap and didn't pay rent for six months until electric light was installed. As Billy Connoly has often replied when asked "Did you have a deprived child-hood" "If I did, I didn't know it until I was told I had much later on in my life". We were eventually re-housed in Bagshot Green and my younger sister still lives in the same house we moved into in May 1949.
My mother often told me that she and my father were the first couple to be married in "The Mission Hall", on December 26th. 1930! I think that Mr. Saunders[sic] who preached there, and Mary Sanders,[sic] who lived in Waverley House at the bottom of Waverley road, were actually of the same family. I also remember Mrs. Morris' hats! Who remembers Mr. and Mrs. Albert Webb who were the owners of General Store on the opposite corner? Liz Schultz (nee Berry) mentions her brother Malcom, and John Ross, both class mates of mine. I also remember other colleagues of Tom Tilbury who were retained firemen with him, John Vince, Billy Harding, as was Tom Tilbury's work mate at Underwoods Mr Welton, husband of school teacher, Mrs. Welton. I have gone on long enough I think, I hope my memories evoke pleasant thoughts in other ex-residents of Bagshot.
Ron Frost mentions Dr. Graham, he was father to twin boys. There was also a lady Doctor whose name was Milton, I remember particularly her dark skin. Ron also mentions the Food Office, this became Vic Page's TV and radio shop. Was Mason and Stennets managed by a very competent and staid gentleman named Mr. Drake? After it became Duncan Hamiltons, it was managed by an R.A.F. type gentleman called Nigel, often seen driving round the village in open top sports cars, a perk of the job no doubt. Just round the corner, down the High Street, past Underwoods (I beleive Mrs. Underwood was Tom Tilburys sister) was a cake shop called Cornishes, what a feast a penny's worth of 'stale cakes' was to us kids! The shop was on the left of the very narrow road that leads down to the Windle Brook, always known to me as The Bourne, until I began reading the Bagshot web-site. Further down still, on the left, where the High meets Bridge Street, was another cafe called 'CONNIES'. In between Barclays Bank and Chapmans Shoe shop, managed by Fred Adams, a maternal uncle, was another T.V. and radio shop. 'Dick' Compton was the proprieter, and a fruit and veg shop, a friend called Tina Coker lived there.
This prompted James Legge to write about Bridge Street cafe
I was interested to read Pete Somerton's reflection on Ron Collins. I knew him, he always rode a bike and used to visit my family in Bagshot Green a lot, I remember the horses and as kids we used to go with the horse and carts back to the nursery and help brush them then ride them back to the field. We used to go back later and feed them bread. The cafe he refers too was actually Bridge Street cafe, but it was owned by Connie and her husband Fred who served the best salad sandwiches in the county. They also had the most popular pin ball which took three penny coins and if you won it was normal to get a credit behind the counter to use for food and drink. The couple could always be seen walking there two dogs. Sadly Fred died and Connie sold the cafe. [Jan 11]
From Sue Lambourne (nee Hastings) about the Mission Hall and the Brook
I remember Bagshot Mission Hall / church. You had an attendance card that was ticked every week and if you attended so many Sunday's, you were awarded a bible. With 7 kids I think my parents were glad of the peace. Also the outings to Burnham Beeches were enjoyed by all. Can you imagine what the police would say to a load of kids packed in the back of a furniture lorry these days. Also I attended, I think it was Thursday evenings, craft evenings, I remember making a foam fish with a bar of soap inside. I was so proud of it. [Aug 15]
Does anyone remember the Brook in Bagshot, I assume it's still there. My cousin Andy & I, used to go in the garage beside the stream for Esso plastic men that were to go on a key ring. I think they did several plastic men if I remember rightly. Then on to the brook to catch tiny fish, we kept them in a bucket but they died, we didn't realise that they had to stay in running water. My cousin cut his foot badly & need stitches - my Uncle Arthur was not amused. Then we would go over to the drink/soup maker in another garage although this might have been a later memory. [Aug 15]
From John Evans : Here are some more shops for readers to try and remember ; Godwin's paper shop-York's tobacconists- Granny Comer's fruit and veg shop -Foster's the Jewellers-Robinson's dry cleaners -Bush's paper shop - Ross's paper shop and Copus's bakery. [Aug 08]
Having read John Evans piece about shops that were in Bagshot years ago...does anyone remember the old Ironmongers in Bridge Street - Think it was called Underwoods? I can still vividly recall this shop with its rickety old dusty floorboards and virtually no lighting, with the aroma of Paraffin filling the air? Also, does anyone recall the secondhand clothes shop also in Bridge Street called 'Gearchange'? I used to frequent this shop in the late '60's to get all my trendy clothes to wear at Art School...old school blazers, waistcoats, white golfing caps ect!!! This was a fantastic shop and SO cheap...I bought a Harrow School blazer from here for only 6 pence (old money) and wore it throughout my College years and beyond!!! [Jul 15 xx]
To which Bob Weller has added : I remember visiting the night club there with John Coombs and he was wearing his college blazer as he described. What a cool dude! [Dec 15]
More from John : Looking back at some of the old shops and suppliers mentioned in various posts on this web site, does anyone remember KEMPS the coal merchants that was situated at the bottom of Bagshot Green? I recall lorries going in and out of the yard frequently and all the coal sacks and lorries were caked in coal dust. Indeed, you could see all the activities going on in the yard from across the road - Bagshot Green side. Also I can recall there being a small 'shop' just inside the main gate where you could buy small bags of coal and coke and kindling for your fires. In the '60's we lived in Bagshot Green and Mum used to have our coal delivered by Kemps - whose name happened to be Ron Kemp.Does anyone remember Barnard's Fish and Chip shop opposite the The Three Mariners just before you got into the Square in Bagshot? Barnard's was a regular haunt for all the teenagers back in the '60's particularly on a Friday night after Youth Club or Dance at St.Annes Parish Hall in Bagshot - you could get one hell of a lot of grub for a shilling in those days and I vividly remember Mr. Barnard happy to give you the crispy batter scrapings in a bag for free if you asked him. His son, Eric used to help out in the shop in the evenings and I always felt 'sorry' for him as we were in the same class together at Bagshot Secondary School and most of the class would tease him about the fact he continually smelt of fish and chips no matter how much he cleaned himself!! Bob Wellar replies to my odd bits and pieces to this web page and would like to say how wonderful it is to hear from my old Mucker from 'Way Back When'....Thanks Bob [Dec 15 xxx]
From Angus Kennedy [May 09]
I lived in The Cottage Jenkins Hill opposite the Bird In Hand Pub. My parents, Sqdn Leader 'Bush' and Grania Kennedy, bought it when he retired from the Air Force. We knew David Waskett and his family who lived in the Spinney. Rosie Waskett and I played together and we were contemporaries at Bagshot Primary. I remember the walk along Chapel Lane off the A30 by the phone box into Lambourne Drive down to the school. Lambourne Drive was built on the site of a big house that must have been demolished in the early 60's. My mother,, Grania Kennedy started a Nursery School in The Cottage in 1964 which we had in our front room for a while then it moved to the rear of the Chapel on Jenkins Hill on the corner of Lambourne Drive. It was known as Bagshot Nursery School.I remember the Carter family lived in the last house on the right in Lambourne Drive on the corner with Jenkins Hill. I used to knock about with their daughter Sharon and some of the kids from school who lived in that road. I was at school with the son of the family who ran the newsagents next to the Dry Cleaners. I think they were called Burfield. I remember the Post Office had racks of wool balls in a lattice shelf arrangement on one side opposite the post office counter. There was another newsagent, toy shop on that side almost next door. There was a barbers opposite where I would get my hair cut. I remember Duncan Hamiltons car showroom on the square where for years there was a Ford GT in the shop we used to look at. I remember the supermarket Gateways being built off the square demolishing a small row of shops on that corner at the far end of the pub car park. I remember the old grocers Moores Stores where the staff still wore white aprons.
We used to swim at the Blue Pool Camberley and go to the cinema in Camberely. My brother helped build the new shopping center in Camberely on what was a big open air car park off the High Street. On Saturday mornings I sometimes went to the hardware store in Lightwater called Burton Parkers which used to sell model kits. I remember fighting a heath fire with my brother Andrew around the Black Pond - now under the M3. We used to walk up on High Curley Hill from where we could see our house and often my friends and I would go up to Surrey Heath at the top of College Ride, past the high holly hedge, as we called it, past the back of Pennyhill Park where we would play in the old wartime concrete bunkers near the Post Office relay tower.
Sometimes I played Pooh sticks with my mum down a lane at the end of Vicarage Road where a stream went under a culvert under the lane. Opposite our house on Jenkins Hill was a path that went down around the Waterers Nursery Gardens fields it came out alongside a stream at the bottom of Higgs Lane. Its all now under houses called Yaverland Drive, though the path is still there. I used to play on my bike in an area called The Bumps, at the bottom of School Lane and Chapel Lane by the railway tunnel. There were more Waterers Nursery fields down there.
From John Wooders {Dec 10}
I left Bagshot in 1965 having lived at Crown Cottages. Always up to mischeif with the Gosdens, Watts, Williams and many others all over Bagshot and Lightwater. I played football for Bagshot in goal, but I cannot remember what team. We played at Pennyhill Park, which I used to sneak through to get to the field without being caught by the Head Gardener. Same at the lake there - fishing hiding in the bushes and hoping not to get caught. Is the lake still there with the bridge? Football was also played at a new pitch near the Secondary School alongside the railway line. Very stoney as my knees still bear testament to. Is that still there?Fortunas Cafe for coke and ice cream after a match. The best ice cream ever. Also good food and very friendly family.
For a time while my mother was ill I and my brother Robert lived at the house next to the Lupin Cafe. I think it was either a greyhound kennels or next door to the kennels. Ate at the Lupin regularly.
What started this reminice was the College Ride Holly Hedge page. That was the most magnificent hedge I have ever seen and rightly Mr Heywood was very proud of it. It was always admired as we made our way from home to College Ride. I also helped the milkman on his rounds for a while. He used to live in College Ride as well, but I cannot remember his name.
From Rosemary [Oct 15 xxx]
Reading this page has brought back so many memories. We moved to Bagshot in 1965. My dad was Sergeant Eric Shields, we lived in the police house on the A30 (currently the archeological society), and later moved to Millfield.
My sisters Julia and Lynette and I went to Bagshot Primary school, Bagshot Secondary school and later Collingwood Comprehensive. We all did paper rounds for Burfields, I think we inherited the round from each other; College Ride to the big house which is now Pennyhill Park.
We were involved with St Anne's church, in fact one blogger mentions Julia helping miss Stillwell with the Sunday School. Fond memories of the 1977 Jubilee celebrations singing with Christine Moscrop and friends on the Youth Fellowship float. Aaah happy days.
Secondary Modern School, now Connaught Junior School
This school is at the end of Manor Way.
From David Benbow [Jul 12] I lived in Lightwater from 1952 to 1981 and went ot Bagshot secondary school ... where do I start...?? I had a great secondary education with good memories of many teachers - Mrs.Welton of course .. we went together with a few others to the Crecendo Concerts at the New Festival Hall in London ..Twice as I recall .. fantastic.. Mr.Abbott (hairy) , Mrs Steel ..who, as I vividly remember, taught us human biology at 8 1/2 months pregnant ...I did see her many years later and we did laugh... Mr.Jones .PE teacher and a welsh harddriver (big house in Lightwater).. I will go on I hope.. more to follow..
From John Coombs [Aug 16 xx] On reading my old school chum Dave Benbow's account of the teachers that were at Bagshot County Secondary school in the '60's, I would like to add a few more worthy of a mention. Does anyone remember the woodwork teacher Mr Lee? His 'party piece' was to lob a piece of wood at you if you weren't paying attention! Then we have my old form master - Frank Walls who taught us English. Suffice to say, he took a dislike to me for some reason, but I got my own back by passing English Language and Literature at GCE 'O' level...revenge was sweet!! Then we had the Maths teacher, Mr Coote. This one certainly had his favourites and the rest of the class had to fall in whether they understood the maths problem or not. Miss Stillwell was Deputy Head and taught us RE. Not to everyone's taste as I recall only one pupil went on to 'O'level RE out of a class of 30. She was also a strong disaplinarian and didn't suffer fools gladly! I owe my career to Miss Thompson - she taught us Art. She encouraged me to go to Art College and take up Graphic Design and Illustration. I got in to Art College on attaining the right amount of GCE's and the quality of my work. On leaving College I went on to have a successful career in Advertising, Graphic Design and Illustration...I owe this all to Miss Thompson who saw something in me no other teacher did. Lastly for now we had Mrs. Ford who taught the girls Needlework and Sewing...didn't have much to say about her as she also 'doubled' up as Geography teacher and boy, if you didn't do your homework...there are other teachers that came and went - Mr Steele, Miss Welton, Mr Clarke, all of which I remember with some respect and affection.
Robert Allen : Does anyone remember our secondary school song writen by Miss Welton? I think it was "the torch of learning bright, hand it on, hand it on" I cannot quite remember it all. Are there any pictures of. the school at the top of Manor Way? I remember when we moved into the school, walking down School Lane and under the railway to the new building carrying all our books etc. Has any one pictures of this move? [604.1007]
Sonia Cording does "I remember Mrs Welton's school song, "The Torch of Learning is handed on, it's torch for ever glowing". I can also remember most of the words, I wonder if it is still sung. I also clearly remember the day moving from the old school to the new (near Manor Way). We carried our books and walked the short distance, it was all very exciting at the time. Comparing schools then and now makes me realise what little country bumpkins we were then, but we all knew each other and I don't recall any bullying." [Dec 12]
Connie Gilpin writing from the USA : I'm so happy to read all the personal accounts of the area. I attended Bagshot Secondary Modern 1966-68. Does anyone have information about the school -- and hopefully some photos?? [Oct15]
Peter Yeomans and Jennifer (nee Spong) : We both went to the old school and know Dave
and Norman
and other names mentioned on the page. I remember all the old
teachers names. I started when Chas was head followed by
Edmondson. We would both like to get in touch with old friends.
[Apr 23]
|
What is most puzzling is why there should be a memorial to the Collisons in Bagshot as they had no known connection to the village. More on this here. |
Cows in the High Street
From Ann Roberson (nee Kircher) : I remember cows being herded through the High Street twice a day to be milked, the little traffic there was stopped and respected this twice daily activity. There used to be three fields opposite the Fighting Cocks pub where the Cedar Close estate is now, the cows went from these to the Dairy which was situated off Park Street at the back of Chapmans shoe shop, where I believe there are now toilets and a Fish and Chip shop. On route to milking and back to the fields the cows would drink from the stone trough then placed at the top of the High Street (relocated in 1956 to the bottom of Church Road). [Sep 06]
Another contributor was able to provide even more detail : The cows that went up and down Bagshot High Street used to belong to my Grandfather, Mr.Edward Wallis, and they were kept in cowsheds at the rear of the family butchers shop (Wallis and Hammond) which was next door to Burrows grocers shop. They used to rent the fields (where Cedar Close is now) that ran from the rear of the Kings Arms up and then at the back of the Schools and down as far as the railway line and this is where the cows grazed. On the other side of the butchers the family also had a fresh fish shop. This was before electric refridgeration and when I was a child I can remember the ice lorry delivering huge blocks of ice for the ice box which was a large walk in store that stored the meat etc. At the rear of the property was an alley and across this alley the cows were kept along with pigs and chickens, etc . There was also a slaughter house where the animals were slaughtered. I believe that before the war my mother's family used to deliver the milk around the area by horse and cart and the milk was served up by jug - this was before bottles. I know when I was a child the milk used to be put through a cooler then put into churns and rolled up the alley for collection by Jobs Dairies. Down this alley there was a small wooden shed in which Mr.Stan Burrows used to sit I think in his wheel chair, and he used to charge the accumulators which in those days provided the power the radios etc. You used to take one or two in for recharge and bring replacements out. [6130.11.06]
On the subject of the cows in the High Street, Marilyn came across this delightful poem which turns out to have been written by another of this site's readers! . [6124.1106 6128.207]
"Yesterdays village".The cows came down the street for tea
past the giant cedar tree.
Hurst's horse and cart brought milk by can,
Godwins and Bushes our paper man,
Burrows for our daily needs,
Underwoods hardware and for seeds.
Albie and Edna serve our meat,
pluck the chickens nice and neat.
Chapman's shoes for healthy feet,
riding the rocking horse was a treat.
Johnsons for our soles and heels,
Dollery's for fish and chip meals.
Robinsons they cleaned our clothes,
go to Nashes if Underwoods closed.
Morris and Kemps coal we won't be cold,
Parkers piles of wood to be sold.
Princess House our cinema,
'Blue Lamp', 'King Kong', and tales from afar.
The Pantiles pool what fun we had,
a simple treat for lass and lad,
the Mission Hall for one and all,
the message then, still is, God welcomes all.
Ann Roberson continues: On the Festival of Britain, 1951, a huge party with dancing and all sorts of fun was held in the High Street, traffic was stopped and hundreds of people laughed and socialised. [ix06]
I was married on the 29th March 1958 by the Rev Meluish, the vicar of that time. As a child my father always said that his grandfather helped to build the spire of Bagshot church, I am trying to verify this with an Aunt, the last member of the original Kircher family. My grandmother and grandfather lived on Jenkins Hill in the small terraced house which lay between the public house and Yaverland house, almost opposite the old nursing home where I was born. Due to my grandfather sustaining severe spinal injuries, gran Mrs. Ellen Philbrook Kircher opened up her front room as a general little shop, she made and sold homemade ice cream and supported eleven children, in case anyone should remember the names of the children from eldest down was Herbert, killed in action in France at the age of 19, buried in Bethune cemetry. Gilbert, Tom, Glady, Gertie, Winifred, Nellie, Jim (my dad) and Frank.
There were also two little girls who sadly died from measles when an epidemic swept the village, my grandmother said that many children died within weeks. We do not know the names of these little girls but think they must have been buried in Bagshot cemetary. [ix06]
Yaverland
Yaverland, on Jenkins Hill, was one of the village's "big houses". It was demolished prior to the building in the 1970s of the Yaverland Road housing estate which takes its name.
This picture of the building has been provided by June who thinks it was once owned and occupied by the Waterer family. [Dec07] (former location)
Norman Elkins tells us "There is a
photograph in the Francis Frith Collection, taken in 1903 and available on line, that shows the
nursing home on the right and what I believe is Yaverland on the left.
I think that June`s photograph of Yaverland must have been taken at a
later date because much of its front garden is missing, perhaps due to
widening of the A30". [Dec09]
We seem to end up with no end to the debate about just what house is
shown in old pictures and this one looks like it is going to be no
exception. June thinks, and I agree, that the building on the extreem
left of Frith's photo is more likely to be Little Yews , Yaverland
being much further along the road.. June adds that a 1913 directory
shows Yaverland as being occupied by Mrs Waterer. [Oct 12]
Al Holmes write "The Yaverland "Big House" was indeed owned by the Waterer family (John Waterer the 2nd and his wife Kate Godefroy James) my 2nd great Uncle. If anyone knows of old pictures of this estate that can be scanned and or emailed to me, I would certainly appreciate them. John's brother Frederick was my 3rd Great Grandfather (owner of the nursery). [Sep 12]
A Molony writes "The photo of Yaverlands certainly is Yaverlands. At some point in the house's history it was divided up into a number of living units and we as a family lived in the part of the house on the right hand side of the picture. As I remember it, after going in through the front door there was what was used as my parents bedroom on the left, a bathroom and a childrens bedroom on the right. After a short hallway there was another room on the right, then after a turn to the left, a door led to a very large room with a gigantic fireplace (this was possible the old kitchen, we used it as a living room. In the right hand corner of the room, there was a door that led to what was probably the old scullery, we used it as a kitchen. The back door led out into an enormous garden that was of course full of rhododendrons. If my memory serves me right there was also a sunken garden to the right of the back door. We lived in Yaverlands for about a year, around 1960/1961, before moving to Little Sandhurst." [Aug 15]The 1945 register of electors reveals that Yaverland had been divided into flats by that date.
Phil Hamppstead asks "does anyone have any knowledge or photos of Yaverland Tea Rooms circa 1932?". See more here. [Mar 19]
Higgs Lane
One of my readers has provided this description of Higgs Lane in the 1960's before the development of the Yaverland estate. [6140.1206]
I walked to school along Higgs Lane (we always referred to it as Higges Lane) in the 1960's. Starting from College Ride then on down Higges Lane. I recall properties being built on the top left hand corner of Higges Lane. One was owned by the Parnells. There was an entrance to Penny Hill Park and the football pitch on the right hand corner.
Once we past the edge of Penny Hill Park the land on the right hand side as we went down the hill was all field where Waterers Nursery grew azalea. When in flower these were glorious blocks of colour, yellow, pink, orange, purple and the smell was unforgetable. Opposite was a bungalow and then the entrance to a largish detatched house set well back from the road. The gardens of this property were bounded by the lane all the way to the bottom of the hill.
At the bottom of the hill the road turned sharply left and to the right was a muddy lane (I only remember it being muddy) which cut through to almost opposite Waterers Nursery on the A30. Bamboo grew in the ditches on this corner. Higges Lane had a property on this corner on the right hand side and from there until it reached the A30 there were no further houses that I can recall. Then just one detached house on the left hand corner as we joined the main road. Waterers produced plants/shrubs on the remaining land along the lane, as best I can remember, but as there were hedges along the lane I have no strong memory of what they might have been.
As noted elsewhere, Ruth Miles writes: I have been tracing my ancestor, Eliza Higgs b.1821 (my great-great-great grandmother), and I believe that Higgs Lane in Bagshot may have been named after her Higgs family as it seems that they were the only family living there from possibly some time after 1743 for at least the next 100 years. They were agricultural labourers so I am guessing that if it was named after them it was the local knowledge of 'the lane where all the Higgs live'! But I would be interested to know if anyone has any more information about the history of Higgs Lane. I have also found a map of the area from 1888-1900 which clearly shows the field behind Higgs Lane as belonging to Bagshot Mill, presumably why Lower Millfield road was named. I would be happy to share information if anyone else is interested. [Jan 22]
June confirms: "Higgs Lane gets its name from the Higgs family who used to inhabit an ivy covered hovel nearby. John and Edward Higgs are mentioned in the Enclosure Award of 1813 and later Jim Higgs used to dig graves and do odd jobs." [Dec 22]
These sketch maps show Higgs Lane and adjoining roads as they are now and as they were in the early 1900s. Church Road has also been named as Potato Row, Mill Lane and, prior to the church being built, College Ride. A mid 19th century map interchanges the names of Frys Lane and Higgs Lane. Go back long enough and Vicarage Road was called Oakingham Road.
St Anne's Church
Catherine write : I well remember St Annes Church as a Chorister there for quite some years circa late 1960s/early 1970's I think, when the late Rev John Smith was there. I was proud to be there at the St Anne's Parish Church centenary when the Queen Mother visited - a wonderful day. John's predecessor was someone by the name of Guy. Guy later moved to a Parish in Woking I believe, then possibly went to retirement. I was also a member of the youth group there. There was a good Sunday school there. A lovely lady called Mrs Stilwell used to run it, and then later someone called Julia. All in all some good times had there. There was some talk about St Anne's Parish Hall being haunted I believe! [Dec 12]
There are a series of historic descriptions of the Church here
Mission Hall
Another reader wrote fondly of her memories of the Mission Hall: I attended Sunday School there as did my cousins and friends. Along with the teaching of the Bible we enjoyed trips out to Burnham Beeches - we all piled in Morris's removal lorry and went our for the day which included sports and a picnic. Mr Saunders took Sunday School which was broken into groups according to age. We had our own choir and went out and sang in various competitions. We had prize giving once a year, and a savings club for Christmas. Mrs Morris played the piano for us - she always wore the most wonderful hats. On Wednesdays they had Womens Own, my mother often sang the solo that day. Simple things but happy memories. [6128.207]
Jennifer Norman writes: My family all attended the Mission Hall. Mr Sidney Morris played the organ and trained the choir. My Grandfather sang as a bass in the choir and my father was a tenor. The Sunday School outing was always great fun especially travelling in a removal van. We used to sing and does anybody else remember Timmy Ghey playing his mouth organ. In later years May Morris and my mother Hilda Gosden started the Girls Fellowship and I used to help as well. Does anybody else remember the Scripture Exams. We used to go to Bracknell or Ascot to get our prizes. This was as well as the Music and Craft festival which we entered again in Bracknell or Ascot. [May9]
The Gospel Mission was founded in 1925 on the site it still occupies off The Square. It changed its name to Bagshot Evangelical Church 50 years later, and then more recently to The Brook Church.
Miss Monger's School
David Waskett writes : I went to Miss Monger's School on Church Road in the 1950s. The only way to describe this is a Dames School. The class room was a room at the back of the house. The house was called Hope Cottage and was the last of the row of houses on the right before the fields and the church. The house may of been a semi as it had two gates - we used the lower one. I still have some of my old school reports. There were two Miss Mongers, Birdie and Mabel but I cannot be sure which one taught us, I think it was Birdie. I was told by her that in the Cemetary the good people who went to heaven had humps on their graves. As my way home to the top of Jenkins Hill was often via the cemetary I used to look at the graves and admire the humps. However, some graves were sunken so I was left to wonder their occupants fate!! The Miss Monger who was a teacher died in her 80's in a nursing home about 1971.
I went to Christ the King Church and was an altar server when Father Arthur Porter was there. He was the finest most down to earth priest I have ever met, ex navy chaplain.
I lived at The Spinney, Jenkins Hill opposite the Bird in Hand, my parents Joan and Arthur. My grandfather, Julian Leathart, lived next door at The Cottage. He had agreement with Waterers Nurseries to walk their land and I spent a lot of my childhhod roaming all over the nurseries. There was Black Pond too which is now under the M3. Progress? [Jul07]
I think Rev Meluish was Vicar in my day. The Misses Monger went every Sunday and complained if he used the sermon from a year previously! My mother felt they had learned them all by heart! Funny how memories come back!
Remember the summer Sats traffic jams between the Jolly Farmer and The Cricketers? One day, a car stopped, but the luggage rack didn't, as a boy I found it very amusing! [Oct07]
From Frances : In the 1940s I used to walk up Church road to a piano lesson with Miss Monger (on the Right hand side going up) afterwards my mother would treat me to an ice cream at Fortuna's on the corner. I was very curious about Miss Monger's lights because she only had gas and one day I touched a mantle and it fell apart - much to my dismay! {Dec10}
From Jennifer Norman : I had piano lessons with Miss Monger in the 50s. The piano was on the same room that she used as a school room. I think that it was Birdie who taught and Mabel who looked after the house. {Apr 11}
Waterers Nursery
Ron Frost tells us : My father, George Frost, worked at Waterers 1927 to 1932. He was born in Hadleigh, Suffolf. 1927 was a time of slump, in those days if you did not work you did not eat so you got work where you could. He had a school day friend, George Seager, who heard that there was work to be had in Bagshot so he and several Hadleigh Boys (they were all 20 years of age) came to work at Waterers. Names that I remember were Jack and Stan Nice, Bill Wilson. They lived in a "bothey" a house opposite the "Bird in Hand"pub. They were employed on a "piecework" basis, paid a few pennies per rod, depending on the type of work. They worked very hard indeed and would earn about 35 shillings per week. My mother was in service and would earn 10 shillings a week. They got married on that money and lived in a flat in Corbets yard near the railway viaduct. I was born 2 years later. [Oct08]
And from John Veldhuizen: I worked at Waterers nursery from Aug 1952 till August '53. My landlady was a Mrs Vince and she lived in one of the Myrtle cottages. The one in the middle. There were two other boarders and her son, we had gaslight downstairs and a candle upstairs, no hot water and the loo was outside and yet it was the best year of my life. I fondly remember blokes like Bill Goody and Bill Brown and also a young fellow by the name of Bob Brown. I emigrated to Australia where I lived for forty years and now reside in The Netherlands. One of these days I will make that trip down memory lane and try to recapture some of the fond memories that I have of Bagshot. [Dec09]
Curley View Cottages
From Sylvia Eastwood : I lived at 2 Curley View Cottages which I think is now No.21. My father Charlie Champion and my mother Zena (formely Zena Daniels) moved into the cottage in 1949 and my dad remained there until he died in 1990. Dad worked for Mr Whittal and Mr Sutton who had a transport business behind the Lupin Cafe. The houses were originally owned by them and Dad paid rent. When these gentlemen died the houses were left in trust to Vera Whittal. As to the age of the property I have no idea except to say that when we moved there there was only gas lights, no bathroom and an outside toilet. What luxury we live in now compared to those days! {Dec10}
Papworth's and Page's
Liz Schultz (nee Berry) writes from Australia: Does anyone remember Papworths electrical shop? I recall as a 5 year old going to their place with my Mum to watch the Queen's Coronation in 1953.
From Chris : As a boy I remember the old Papworth Electrical shop. The shop had been closed for many years, but if I can remember rightly, we stumbled across the old building. Looking through windows we saw old electrical equipment, including an HMV record player with horn! [Feb 12]
More about the Papworth family here.
Of Page's TV shop Dave writes "I was born in Windlesham in 1957, but lived and brought up in Bagshot, first in Bagshot Green then moved to Green Lane, after leaving school I worked in a television/electrical shop at the bottom of Bagshot Green called V.E.Page. [8087xi08]From June Eaton (nee Hoggart) " Incredible memories I have just been reading Papworths , Cutts , Pages where I used to buy my records from and the best sweet shop ever (can't remember the name of it). I used to shop in there with my mum (Jean Hoggart ) who worked in the Chemist for years. Bagshot Village has changed immensely but holds a million happy memories. [Jul 15]
Compton's or Crompton's?
Tim Wild : I seem to remember a third TV and Radio shop in Bagshot called Comptons. I think it was close to Streeters butchers shop, somewhere in that area of the High Street anyway. I also believe they may have lived in the house close to the viaduct in Guildford Road and had sheds actually under the viaduct where they charged accumualator batteries for radios back in the day (way before my time I add). If anyone can remember this please post it on the site. [Mar 16]
Gordon has replied
: I knew Dick Compton well. His radio
and later
TV Shop was right in the square in Bagshot directly across from the
Kings Arms. He was something of a local character. I understand he
later expanded his business and had another similar shop in Camberley.
[Aug 16]
Chapman's
Bob
Chapman has sent this photo of Bagshot Square circa 1950 which includes
the family's shoe shop with their van outside.
Bob has also send a fascinating script of a reminiscences talk
his father, Leon, gave at some time in the 1980. You can read it here.
Miscellany
From the late Don Bradbury .. Fascinating stuff! May I add a few memories of my trip down "Nostalgia Lane". I was a lad in Bagshot throughout the Forties, living in my Grandfather (Mr. C.A.Canner)'s pub, The Hero of Inkerman. I worked my way through the classrooms of Miss Hodgeson, "Ma Davis", Miss L.Crouch and Miss Ennals; other members of Chas Clements team I remember were called Ford, Stillwell and Beasley. "Old Stowey", the school janitor, pushed a very strange green handcart! I remember the milkman, Stan Hurst, a splendid fellow and fine singer. He allowed some of us lads to help him on his round and to hang on to the milk churn in the back of his "chariot"! I was with him in Pennyhill Park, helping get the cows in, that morning that the doodlebug went over, exploding up behind the church. I remember the tragic incident involving the Canadian soldier (were there two?) and the V-E night bonfire in the Mariner's car park. I also remember Papworth's; I watched my first TV there, the Cup Final of 1946 I think it was. Derek Papworth, too, was a fine Scoutmaster. Some of my happiest memories of the time included scouting with the 1st Bagshot. I do recall Ron Frost also being in the troop. I learned to swim in The Pantiles and to ride a bicycle in "Higgses" Lane. My grandfather used to give me sixpence to buy a fish and two pennorth of chips from Dollery's. I remember motor cycle scrambles ("The Bagshot Grand National"!) up on High Curley by the Water Tower, famous names like Bessant and Archer riding. They were good times. [Mar 12 xx]
I recall, too, in those days negotiating my way through the blacked-out double doors of Dollery's Fish & Chip shop, clutching a sixpence, in eager anticipation of a fish and two penn'orth! Who else can still remember the welcome warmth and splendid smell of that place?
From Sonia Cording How lovely it is to recognise some names and photographs from my childhood. Just to add to the memories, Papworths Electrical, The International, Webbs Grocers, John Hine Garage (where my sister Diane and father, Douglas worked part time on the pumps for "pin money"), Cokers fruit and veg and a Drapers/Habberdashery shop by The Square. I can recall going in the drapers shop and being allowed to sit on a high chair whilst my Mum chose her purchases. I also remember, very clearly, meeting up in The Square with other familes going on the St Anne's Sunday School annual outing, awaiting the coach. I do have a photo somewhere of us, in Bognor with the Rev Melluish and the Alexander boys (from Bagshot Green). One of the highlights of the outing was going up Bury Hill and only just making it in the old bus. My sisters, Angela and Diane and I were cadets of the St John's Ambulance in Bagshot situated next to the Fire Station. Miss Salt was our leader and she would instruct us with medical information and as a special treat we were allowed to clean and re-stock the ambulance! She was a very kind and helpful lady. At the age of about 13 and 14, I attended Miss Monger's Bible Classes, either at her home or in the village hall. I recall, Jane Grove, Rosemary Dinallo, Carol Brown and myself attending. She would allow us to take a portable record player with us and dance to the very few records we had at that time. I remember we all loved "In the Mood". Again, what a lovely generous lady she was. Bagshot was a very small village in the 50's with very little entertainment but we were all happy and very friendly. I also remember the Village Dances held in St Anne's village hall. We had live bands playing and teenagers from Bagshot, Lightwater, Windlesham, Chobham etc. would all congregate and dance the night away. I was never aware of any fighting or alcohol related problems, we all had a wonderful time. I wonder how many people remember Miss Stillwell, Mrs Welton, Miss Ford and the Headmaster at Bagshot School, Mr Edmondson. [Jan 13]
The shoe shop Johnson & Spooner, in the sqare, was run by a Mr Spooner, he was also a cobbler, and my best friend, Rosemary Dinallo worked there until it was closed down in the mid 60's. I remember buying several pairs of shoes from the shop, for the price of approx £3.00 each, it was quite an expensive shop. . [Jan 13]
From Karen : My Grandfather (Dick) Millard was the Manager at the International Stores in Bagshot High Street. He and my Grandmother lived in the flat about the store and we visited them most weekends and as a child in the 60's, would spend time with them. They had a little garden area behind the shops which they used to tend and was very sweet. I remember the shoeshop (Chapmans) on the corner, they had a beautiful rocking horse in there and I would always pester to go inside just to ride it. I can't remember what the shop was but in Park Street there was a delivery window on the first floor of a building which always seemed to be open and a beautiful big dog with a round face was always sitting there looking out. My Grandparents had a lovely collie dog called Bob. Even though my Grandfather had poor sight towards the end of his life, he would walk Bob most days from Bagshot to the church in Windlesham near the Half Moon Pub. I have very fond childhood memories of that time. [Jul 17]
From JohnTaylor : I remember Dickie Compton he used to be a drinking partner with Bob Phipps and a few others who I can't remember the names of. We used to go to the Inkerman PH on a Friday night before the dance at St Annes Hall around the corner from the pub, they were certainly happy days!! the 50's.
Photos
Steve has brough to my attention that Lee McComish of Camberley has posted several photos of Bagshot circa 1980 on www.flickr.com [Apr 12]
This prompted John Coombs : I looked up Lee McComish's photo's of Bagshot and seeing the photo of the Shell(?) garage on the old Bagshot bypass bought back wonderful memories of leisurely Sunday afternoon gatherings of local teenagers hanging out in a Diner that was to the right of this garage. Looking back, my heart went out to the Staff that ran this little establishment - there was always mayhem and non- violent trouble going on in there...eg. Ketchup 'fights', frozen chips being lobbed at a rival teenage gang, putting sugar in the salt containers, etc, then we would all meet up outside for a kick about with a football...it all was so innocent and absolutely great fun. After all this activity we would then make our way to Camberley or Aldershot to see the latest Blockbuster film release....this is how we spent those formative years, all fun and definitely NO violence!! Where are you now...Alan Clue, Dave Sleet, Norman Herridge, Trevor Annals, Pete Ling, Malcolm Wright, Colin Burfield, Dave Salmon to name but a few?!!! [Oct 16 xx]
Book recommendation
Brian Marlow has written recommending the book 'Wopses in the Laylocks' written by Richard Lucock Wilson and published by Surrey Heath Museum in 2006. This is described as Memories of Bagshot and West End 1849-1929. Brian says he found it of interest especially as his mother Annie was a Lucock born in Chobham (1897-1965). [Jun07]
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