Peter Shuttler, Doug Clews, and Martin Napier have contributed some interesting posts about their childhood experiences of Chandler’s Ford between the 1930s and 1960s.
I thought I would complement these by writing about some of my memories from more recent times and see how much has changed – and how much has stayed the same.
This is written pretty much from memory – I’ve even lost most of my photographs from the period – so apologies if I have missed out anything important or got my memories a bit confused.
In this first episode, I will look at the general layout of the area. In later episodes I will give some memories of transport and shopping.
Moving to Chandler’s Ford in 1980s
I moved to Chandler’s Ford as a young adult in the late 1980s to take up a job with Hampshire County Council in Winchester. This wasn’t, however, my first visit to Chandler’s Ford.
As a student at Southampton University, my housemates and I bought a chest freezer from a house in the section of Bournemouth Road between Leigh Road and Chestnut Avenue. I’d also been part of a different group of students who had visited the guide group at Ramalley to provide something for an “activities night”.
I first lived in a house at the top of Chestnut Avenue. There weren’t many buildings there then – just a few former farmhouses on the south side – Common Barn Farm and Stoney Croft Farm (hence Stoney Croft Rise). The farmland by then was restricted to a few fields that were mostly grazed by horses – and, I think, owned separately to the houses. There were a few ramshackle buildings alongside Common Barn Farm which provided accommodation for some light engineering firms – a motor mechanics, and a garden machinery store, amongst others.
All this now lies under the B&Q offices. I wouldn’t like to say this was a long time ago, but the original replacement building on that site (a Co-Op distribution warehouse) was subsequently demolished to make way for the current office block.
Chestnut Avenue c. 1988. The original Common Barn Farmhouse in the foreground, and its more modern replacement behind.The view from approximately the same position in 2016.The second building to be built on what was Common Barn Farm.
Tollbar Way didn’t exist – Warner Lambert occupied a fair bit of that site. The junction with Falkland Road was a T-junction, and the retail park (where Homebase used to be) was a disused building – “Forecourt Services – FCS”. I remember the contractor’s signs around the site when that site was cleared: “Demolition by Graham Greene”, as if this were a new book by the well-known author.
Incidentally, it wasn’t Homebase at first – Chippy Bonus points to the first person to correctly give the name of the original occupier of that site.
Was an empty building in 1988, and in 2016 it’s … . er … hang on. Apparently it is to become an Aldi – but what was it before Homebase?
Some of Valley Park had been built, but most was still a glint in a developer’s eye. I visited a show home on one occasion to enquire how much a small one or two-bedroom house would cost. It was well beyond my expectation – and budget. “You might find something cheaper on the second-hand market”, the salesman said with ill-disguised disdain.
Knightwood Road followed its original line (which is now a foot and cycle path) but very few of the roads leading off it had been built. There were still woods and fields alongside the road at the Flexford end. The Cleveland Bay pub was there, as were the neighbouring shops. The Tesco was either Misselbrook and Weston or Circle K – the two predominant chains in the local convenience store chain.
That pretty much concludes my memories of the general area. Please comment with any of your own – they may jog my memory too.
I've lived in Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh for most of my working life, with interspersed with a few years in north-west Hampshire (though remaining a regular visitor to the area).
I work in IT, and my hobbies include bell ringing, walking and cycling. I am also a self-confessed “born-again runner” having discovered parkrun in 2015.
I enjoy live theatre and music, and try to watch many of the shows that are performed in the Eastleigh area.
I spent many evenings practising parking at the Homebase car park about 15 years ago. I passed my driving test on my second attempt, so I have Homebase to thank for.
These days many learners learn parking at St. Boniface Church car park on Hursley Road. I see many of them regularly.
I don’t seem to understand the road markings on the second picture (with a bus stop) of yours. What do the two short lines do? Why is there a little gap?
I first visited Chandler’s Ford in 1966 when house hunting. We agreed to buy a new house, still under construction, in Charnwood Close. After 3 months I came to check progress and there had been none.
“You said it would be ready in August.” I reminded them. “We didn’t mean August this year, Sir.” was the response. So we lived elsewhere for almost 30 years.
I was working in Vancouver when I received an urgent phone call from my wife. “There’s a house in Lakewood Road. I have told the owners we will buy it.”
“How much? Can’t possibly afford that.”
“I’ll pick you up at the airport and we will go straight there and have a look.”
It was a Misselbrook & Weston in Valley Park; more affectionately referrer to as “M&Ws” by the locals. Eventually became a Dillons, as did the place along Bournemouth Rd and, I think. the place in the central precinct next door to the chip shop (Vic’s?) – don’t think it’s a newsagents any longer. Who remembers Video Solent along Bournemouth Rd (now a beauty salon, I think)? – Scott (once a local, since moved on, but visits from time to time)
Hi Scott …
I imagine the ‘M&W’ store you refer to along Bournemouth Road was the shop on the Eastleigh side, between Shaftesbury Ave and Leigh Road, in which case, yet another change, because that was Lankester & Crook in my day.
Not Chandler’s Ford, but in nearby Hedge End, Tanhouse Lane, there was an M&Ws (I discover now that this chain was officially known as Misselbrook and Weston, although I’m very confident the sign on the store was ‘M&Ws’) as a child in the ’90s.
Was a great little store, even stocked some videogames (PS1, that I remember) and had a VHS rental wall – new releases, some old. Really fantastic.
Not sure at present how long it had been there beforehand, but presumably as long as the build itself, with the flats above; perhaps the ’80s, perhaps the late ’70s. Would love to know.
But, following your line – which is why I’m commenting, in case any one else happens to dig for the history of M&Ws stores in the local area – ours was the same, it changed to Dillons (or Dillon’s), probably the latter end of the nineties; and after that it became One Stop, probably early to mid-2000s; and around, I think, 2006, 2007, maybe as early as 2005, it was taken over by Tesco Express.
I cannot express enough, beyond nostalgia, how superior M&Ws – even Dillons, even One Stop – was, over the large corporation that came and took over base!
Aside from this, I love Chandler’s Ford, the little expeditionary ambles I’ve made out that way.
Yes, I remember Misselbrook & Weston. I think they may have had a branch in Burgess Road, Southampton, and the store that is now Tesco(?) at Valley Park may have been M&W originally.
One or both of these may have become a Circle K for a short time.
Sperrings was another local chain of convenience stores.
It’s amazing how little information there is – photos, artefacts, directories, logo, shop sign, anything – about these stores, pre-internet! I know Peter Facey has some good images across the years, but nothing of these that I’ve seen, unfortunately. Almost like they were never there. Learning of the full name, now, is the closest I’ve come to affirming this trader existed, beyond my subjective experience and memory. Thanks!
I spent many evenings practising parking at the Homebase car park about 15 years ago. I passed my driving test on my second attempt, so I have Homebase to thank for.
These days many learners learn parking at St. Boniface Church car park on Hursley Road. I see many of them regularly.
I don’t seem to understand the road markings on the second picture (with a bus stop) of yours. What do the two short lines do? Why is there a little gap?
They mark the end of the zigzag zone leading to a pedestrian crossing. You’re not allowed to overtake or park or load/unload in this area.
There wasn’t a pedestrian crossing there in 1988!
Is this in the Highway Code? Time to revise……
Rule 191
Using the road (159 to 203) – The Highway Code – Guidance – GOV.UK
I first visited Chandler’s Ford in 1966 when house hunting. We agreed to buy a new house, still under construction, in Charnwood Close. After 3 months I came to check progress and there had been none.
“You said it would be ready in August.” I reminded them. “We didn’t mean August this year, Sir.” was the response. So we lived elsewhere for almost 30 years.
I was working in Vancouver when I received an urgent phone call from my wife. “There’s a house in Lakewood Road. I have told the owners we will buy it.”
“How much? Can’t possibly afford that.”
“I’ll pick you up at the airport and we will go straight there and have a look.”
So we did, and here we are.
It was a Misselbrook & Weston in Valley Park; more affectionately referrer to as “M&Ws” by the locals. Eventually became a Dillons, as did the place along Bournemouth Rd and, I think. the place in the central precinct next door to the chip shop (Vic’s?) – don’t think it’s a newsagents any longer. Who remembers Video Solent along Bournemouth Rd (now a beauty salon, I think)? – Scott (once a local, since moved on, but visits from time to time)
Hi Scott …
I imagine the ‘M&W’ store you refer to along Bournemouth Road was the shop on the Eastleigh side, between Shaftesbury Ave and Leigh Road, in which case, yet another change, because that was Lankester & Crook in my day.
Not Chandler’s Ford, but in nearby Hedge End, Tanhouse Lane, there was an M&Ws (I discover now that this chain was officially known as Misselbrook and Weston, although I’m very confident the sign on the store was ‘M&Ws’) as a child in the ’90s.
Was a great little store, even stocked some videogames (PS1, that I remember) and had a VHS rental wall – new releases, some old. Really fantastic.
Not sure at present how long it had been there beforehand, but presumably as long as the build itself, with the flats above; perhaps the ’80s, perhaps the late ’70s. Would love to know.
But, following your line – which is why I’m commenting, in case any one else happens to dig for the history of M&Ws stores in the local area – ours was the same, it changed to Dillons (or Dillon’s), probably the latter end of the nineties; and after that it became One Stop, probably early to mid-2000s; and around, I think, 2006, 2007, maybe as early as 2005, it was taken over by Tesco Express.
I cannot express enough, beyond nostalgia, how superior M&Ws – even Dillons, even One Stop – was, over the large corporation that came and took over base!
Aside from this, I love Chandler’s Ford, the little expeditionary ambles I’ve made out that way.
Yes, I remember Misselbrook & Weston. I think they may have had a branch in Burgess Road, Southampton, and the store that is now Tesco(?) at Valley Park may have been M&W originally.
One or both of these may have become a Circle K for a short time.
Sperrings was another local chain of convenience stores.
It’s amazing how little information there is – photos, artefacts, directories, logo, shop sign, anything – about these stores, pre-internet! I know Peter Facey has some good images across the years, but nothing of these that I’ve seen, unfortunately. Almost like they were never there. Learning of the full name, now, is the closest I’ve come to affirming this trader existed, beyond my subjective experience and memory. Thanks!