1) Where was this shop in Chandler’s Ford (in the 1950s)?
Do you have a story to share about this image?
According to Doug Clews, the photo was kindly supplied to him by a former Chandler’s Ford resident, Peter Smith, now deceased, who used to live over the shop with his wife Muriel.
2) Where were these buildings in Chandler’s Ford? Do you recognise the area?
3) Do you know the famous speaker in this photo? Do you know the people behind the speaker?
There was an important event in Chandler’s Ford last Sunday when this photo was taken. Share with us if you know the details of the event and the location.
Put your answers in the comment below. Thank you.
Credit: Many thanks for Doug Clews (now in Australia) for supplying us with two precious old photos of Chandler’s Ford. Thanks to Debbie Pearce Photography for the event photograph.
A clue to No:2 … the name plaque above the doors has a ‘Touch Of Oz’ to it …
Doug
No 1 Mrs Cowley’s shop I believe was on Bournemouth Road right opposite The Hut Hotel and next door to my old school days girl friend’s house.
No 2 terrace houses possibly up Fryen Hill along Winchester Road before Oakmount Rd.
No 3 I would guess is in The Methodist Church Hall at Fryern Hill but not a clue who the speakers are.
Hi Roger …
Re No.1 … Indeed, Mrs Cowley’s shop was at 84 Bournemouth Road, as you say, opposite the Hut Hotel (now reverted to a house I believe) … on another site, it was suggested it used to be the Post Office, but, to the best of my knowledge, although it was a ‘Parcel Agent’ (In conjunction with Hants & Dorset buses) it was never the Post Office …
Re No. 2 … not correct I’m afraid …
Doug Clews
Roger,
The 3rd picture about the speaker (and the people around) – you can read this article today to find the clues (at the end of the article). Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance
Clue – The speaker in the picture is one of the most famous writers about Chandler’s Ford history.
No.3 Is Barbara Hillier, who has written several books & articles on the history of Chandler’s Ford.
No.2 might be the houses on Winchester Rd., between The Half Way inn & the alley to Waitrose, adj to Jonathan Rees estate agents, otherwise the terrace of houses on Hursley Road, just up from the parish church car-park.
No. 1 – sorry – no idea.
Hi Martin,
Yes indeed. It was Barbara Hillier. At the book launch of Margeret Doores’ book last Sunday, Barbara shared a moving story about her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier, who died on the 7th of October 1916 in action in France, aged only 30.
We’ll write another post about the book launch soon.
Hi Martin … sorry, but No.2 not correct I’m afraid
Doug Clews
Hi Doug,
Not sure exactly the year Mrs Cowley’s shop closed. The shop part was being used as living space probably after Mrs Cowley passed away, shop window remained for years but closed off now as you rightly say converted properly to a house. Hut Hotel still in business Beefeater restaurant/pub. Used to get off the bus outside Mrs Cowley’s from North end school every day.
Hi Roger … the photo of 84 was taken in 1957 … not quite sure when it happened, but Mr. Smith. the greengrocer at 5, Hursley Road, opposite the original station, bought the shop and his son Peter and wife Muriel (nee Elliott) lived there for a while after they married … next door, I think, was round about where the Biddlecombes lived … I remember Betty …
By the way, did you see the photo of Jean Cole, one of the five ‘Odd Bods’ on the bridge in last week’s puzzle pictures?
Doug Clews
Gosh, this blog is bringing back all manner of memories! I knew all of the Elliotts – Michael, Ray, and Muriel. I want to say their dad’s name was George; I don’t recall their mum’s name, though.
Pic No. 2 is top of Brownhill Road opposite entrance to the Co-Op. I know this as I used to live next door to the house in the pic!
Quite correct Paul … well done … we used to live in No.8 (Now Peter Robinsons’s) …
The name plaque over the doors says ‘Melbourne Terrace’ … when were you there, if you don’t mind me asking ? … The Hiscock’s were in No.10 when we left in 1966.
Hi Ray Mansell … your name rings a bell with me, but I cannot place you at the moment … where did you slot in to the scene ? … I was in Meadow Grove
Hello Doug,
If you were in Meadow Grove, then we really ought to have known one another, since we lived at 303 Leigh Road (about 100 yards down from Meadow Grove), and I remember playing with Rodney Higman, Rex (?) Barford, and various Lawrence boys, together with Derek Fry who lived on Leigh Road right across from Meadow Grove.
I went to Kings Road Primary from about 1951 until we moved to the new school at Merdon Avenue. From there I eventually made it to Barton Peveril, where I failed spectacularly (though I made up for it later). I was in cubs and scouts (1st C/Ford), and sang in St Boniface choir for many years, so I’m sure our paths *must* have crossed, unless there’s a significant difference in our ages (I was born in 1946).
Have I rung any bells for you yet?
Ray
Hi again Ray … I am actually 12 years older than you, but I do remember some of the people you mention, particularly the Higmans and the Lawrences, both from the Grove, and Derek Fry … Derek’s father was George Fry, and along with the Lawrence boys father, Bob Lawrence, and Derek Gribble from No.1 The Grove, all the dads worked at the Eastleigh Garage/Depot of the Hants and Dorset Buses from memory … I cannot exactly place/visualise 303 Leigh Road, but I guess you were somewhere near Allen Webster … do you remember (George) Fox’s Nursery on the other side of Leigh Road, closer to Chalvington Road (formerly North End Avenue) … as a young lad going there with my mother he seemed to have hundreds of greenhouses all filled with tomatoes … I can still smell them ! …
I imagine it was Mr Mann and Miss Jean Wingate by the time you got to Merdon Avenue … my first wife, Diane Wilmott and Jean Wingate both taught at the ‘Camp School’ in Hiltingbury, and were very good friends…
I remember going to Cubs in Park Road as a nipper … run by a Miss Bainbridge at that time if I remember correctly, but I never did progress to Scouts, but rather chose to become a BRCS Cadet at the top of Otterbourne Hill (British Red Cross Society) …
Enough of all that …
Keep smiling
Doug
On reflection, it could have been Ron Fox at the Nursery