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local history

The Grand Houses of Chandler’s Ford

August 31, 2020 By Robbie Sprague 19 Comments

No 77 Brownhill Road, Chandler's Ford

It’s an afternoon in August and, after the morning’s continuous rain, my wife and I have been out for a brisk walk around the wooded roads of Brownhill, Merdon, Lake and Lakewood. It’s warm and the overpowering sweet smell of Scots pine and Douglas fir pervades the landscape. There are still large numbers of conifers among the mature oak trees where they were once a dominant species.

I first moved into Lakewood Road in 1955 when the woodlands prevailed; the area to the west of the Lake was a pine forest through which I regularly went horse-riding. It is now, tragically, an inaccessible tangle of overgrown species – but that’s another story!

At that time, in the rectangle of land formed by Hiltingbury, Hocombe, Lakewood and Hursley Roads, there was little development, the oldest house being our neighbours’ house,The White House, the land for which had been acquired in 1908. The area was woodland and heathland. I galloped across this land frequently and, like many other boys, rode my bike aerobatically over ‘the bumps’ behind the present Ashdown Road.

As a young boy, I had that wonderful sense of freedom, space and adventure. The land was ripe to be plundered and developed and, from the 1890s, the land from Ford to Brownhill, and Hiltingbury to Hocombe was destined to fall under the woodman’s axe to make way, initially, for exclusive houses.

Kings Court - Imagine a sweeping gravel driveway and gardens where there is now a car park!
Kings Court – Imagine a sweeping gravel driveway and gardens where there is now a car park!

[Read more…] about The Grand Houses of Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: architecture, Chandler's Ford, Chandler’s Ford community, local history, local interest, memory, storytelling

Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 3

August 23, 2020 By Peter Hammerton 4 Comments

In 1902 Levi was presented with a beautiful oak carved swivelled chair.

In 1963 I met Mandy Fry, a girl who lived with her parents and sisters in their family farm in Bramdean. Mandy was lodging during the week with my Aunt while she was attending Eastleigh College and that’s how we met when visiting one day.

Peter Hammerton: in 1963, I met Mandy Fry.
Peter Hammerton: in 1963, I met Mandy Fry.

Malcolm Road

In October 1966 Mandy and I bought a plot of land in Malcolm Road. We had plans for a house drawn up. Although passed by the local authority, we still had to take the drawings to Scammel & Smith, the local estate agents, to have the drawings approved by them for the Hiltingbury Estates before we could start building. [Read more…] about Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 3

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, local history, memory, storytelling

Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 2

August 22, 2020 By Peter Hammerton 26 Comments

In 1902 Levi was presented with a beautiful oak carved swivelled chair.

In October 1960 in Chandler’s Ford, the Monks Brook river that ran behind our house burst its banks and many of the houses in Mead Road were flooded, some up to 18” of water inside, but I remember our house staying dry inside because the ground floor was built higher than those around it and stayed just below the floorboards.

October 1960, the Monks Brook river burst its banks
October 1960, the Monks Brook river burst its banks.
October 1960, the Monks Brook river that ran behind our house burst its banks, in Chandler's Ford.
October 1960, the Monks Brook river that ran behind our house burst its banks, in Chandler’s Ford.
Peter Aged 18 holding firemans boat waiting to rescue people from flooded bungalows in Chandler's Ford.
Peter Aged 18 holding firemans boat waiting to rescue people from flooded bungalows in Chandler’s Ford.

In the 1950’s during my teens I had a paper round working for the newsagents on the corner of Mead Road and Park Road. On Saturdays I used to take a tea chest full of old newspapers to the waste land opposite the newsagents and burn them on a bonfire. [Read more…] about Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 2

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, local history, memory, storytelling

Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 1

August 20, 2020 By Peter Hammerton 3 Comments

In 1902 Levi was presented with a beautiful oak carved swivelled chair.

My family came to live in Chandler’s Ford in the 1880’s when my great grandfather Levi Hammerton and his family moved here from the Bournemouth area. Levi worked as a builder building houses in and around Chandler’s Ford.

In 1902 Levi was presented with a beautiful oak carved swivelled chair with a plaque that reads: Presented to Mr Levi Hammerton by the Inhabitants of Chandler’s Ford as a mark of their appreciation of the many services rendered to the Parish 1902.

In 1902 Levi was presented with a beautiful oak carved swivelled chair.
In 1902 Levi was presented with a beautiful oak carved swivelled chair.
Presented to Mr Levi Hammerton by the Inhabitants of Chandler’s Ford
Presented to Mr Levi Hammerton by the Inhabitants of Chandler’s Ford

[Read more…] about Peter Hammerton: My Family, My Life Living in Chandler’s Ford – Part 1

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, family, history, local history, memory, storytelling

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 3

November 23, 2019 By Peter Russell Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Hook Road Hutments and My Family

Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit: All images were supplied by Peter Russell

Hello again. I am Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road hutments from June 1950 to Summer 1955. This is Part 3 of my series on The Hutments and, this week, I will be looking at my recollections of hutment life. I will also share my recollections of the other families there.

Once again, if there are further memories/information people would like to share, I would love to hear from you via the comments section. It would be nice to fill in the gaps wherever possible.

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

[Read more…] about Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 3

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Tags: local history, memories, storytelling, The Hutments

Why I Love History

November 22, 2019 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Feature Image - Why I Love History

I set a word count for my CFT posts. For this one it was vital. Why? Because I can go on at length about this topic!

Many an author loves history because history IS a story (of a nation, of individuals who changed a nation’s fate etc) and it can come into their stories too.

I also believe there is truth in the phrase if a nation forgets its history, it is destined to re-live it. I can think of several episodes in British history which are best kept to the pages of a history book!

And, of course, it is why we have Remembrance/Armistice Day. It is important to remember. We should learn the lessons of history. Sadly we so often don’t. But that’s not history’s fault. It is ours.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

[Read more…] about Why I Love History

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Tags: character histories, creative writing, history, local history, remembrance, stories

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 2

November 16, 2019 By Peter Russell 2 Comments

Feature Image - Hook Road Hutments and My Family

Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit: All images were supplied by Peter Russell

Introduction

I am Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road Hutments for the first five years of my life – June 1950 to Summer 1955. This is Part 2 of my series on The Hutments and, this week, I will be looking at my family background and how we came to be at there at all.

It would be lovely if memories could be shared and if there is further information that people have, please do send in your comments. It would be nice to fill in the “gaps” especially on hutment numbers and family surnames.

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

[Read more…] about Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 2

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Tags: Information, local history, memories, storytelling, The Hutments

Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 1

November 9, 2019 By Peter Russell 3 Comments

Feature Image - Hook Road Hutments and My Family

Edited by Allison Symes
Image Credit:   All images were supplied by Peter Russell

INTRODUCTION

My name is Peter Brent Russell and I was a child of the Hook Road hutments for the first five years of my life – June 1950 to Summer 1955. I’ve been following and contributing to the main discussion thread on this website since Spring 2016 and noticed the ‘related posts’ by John Rolfe and Liz Stothard/Dee, where photos have been uploaded.

(Editor’s Note: The links to all of the previous posts on The Hutments will follow at the end of this post and throughout the series).

I’ve arranged with Janet Williams to share my posts on The Hutments here, where I can present the results of my research from 2016 onwards and, more personally, upload my family’s recollections and photos for others to share.

Peter Russell
Peter Russell

Many of my findings are based directly on the clear recollections of my mother, Claudia Ruth Russell. I can no longer ask her any questions, as she sadly passed away, aged 97, in October 2018.

Jack, Peter, Ruth; Winchester, 1952-1
Jack, Peter, Ruth; Winchester, 1952

This web page is a tribute to her and my father. [Read more…] about Hook Road Hutments and My Family by Peter Russell – Part 1

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Tags: Information, local history, storytelling, The Hutments

Mr Kipling – Exceedingly Good Memories

September 26, 2019 By SO53 News 2 Comments

Channel 5 has recently shown the “Secrets of the Mr Kipling Factory” programme. This has triggered many people’s memories, especially those who used to work at Manor Bakeries in Eastleigh.

Our reader Jill Mayes shared her memories of Mr Kipling with us:

Watching Mr Kipling cakes. Both my parents, myself and lots of friends worked for them at Manor Bakeries at some time or other in Eastleigh. I worked off of cupcake alley and they even made my wedding cake. The test bakery cakes were lovely. My mum got a free box of cakes every Christmas until she died. 🧁🍰 exceedingly good memories.

[Read more…] about Mr Kipling – Exceedingly Good Memories

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, Eastleigh, history, local history, local interest, memories, storytelling

Pine Road Cemetery (part 2)

May 7, 2019 By chippy minton 15 Comments

Sign for Pine Road Cemetery

Armed with the research I’d already undertaken, I set off on my bike to see what I could see at the Pine Road Cemetery. [Read more…] about Pine Road Cemetery (part 2)

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Pine Road Cemetery (part 1)

May 6, 2019 By chippy minton 15 Comments

Sign for Pine Road Cemetery

A letter came into the Chandler’s Ford Today office recently asking abut the graveyard in Pine Road, near the junction with Hursley Road.  I’d never noticed this before, and neither had the editor.  “You like local history”, said the editor, “and you’ve got a long weekend coming up.  Go and find out about it”.  OK, that may not actually be how she said it, but it is how I heard it. [Read more…] about Pine Road Cemetery (part 1)

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Charles Baynham in Chandler’s Ford

February 16, 2019 By Janet Williams 6 Comments

Last weekend I bought some minced pork and local eggs from Charles Baynham, our finest butchers in Chandler’s ford.

I used the minced pork to make some Chinese dumplings for the Chinese New Year (yes it’s the Year of the Pig, as I heard you asked!)

Charles Baynham has run this friendly, traditional butcher for 40 years in Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Charles Baynham in Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Bournemouth Road, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, local businesses, local history, local interest, news

The Importance of Memories

November 9, 2018 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Feature Image - The Importance of Memories

This is an appropriate topic as we approach Remembrance Day and Armistice Day and also after my review last week of The Chameleon Theatre Group’s excellent performance of Blackadder Goes Forth.

Why do we need to remember? To be grateful to those who made so many sacrifices, in too many cases the ultimate one, so we can live as we do now. To be grateful to these unknowns who gave up their fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, wives, sisters, daughters and other family so we do not have to give up ours. [Read more…] about The Importance of Memories

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Tags: history, local history

As Autumn Approaches

August 31, 2018 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

Feature Image - As Autumn Approaches - Pixabay

The acorns have started dropping off the oaks around Chandler’s Ford, almost certainly earlier than normal due to the heatwave, but for me, that is the start of autumn. I don’t mind that. As I’ve mentioned before, I like autumn. (Though I try to avoid being hit on the head by said acorns, they can come down with some force, and a number of times as I hear them hit the car roof, I’m glad the car took the impact rather than me!). [Read more…] about As Autumn Approaches

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Tags: local history

Eastleigh Works Reunion: Friday 10th August 2018

August 4, 2018 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Do you know any former Eastleigh Works workers in the area? There is a reunion for them and they are all welcome to attend.

Here is an article by Steve Allen about the reunion: the reunion will be on Friday 10th August 2018 at the Eastleigh Railway Institute. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Works Reunion: Friday 10th August 2018

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Tags: community, Eastleigh, event, local history, memory

Days Out – Fort Nelson

May 29, 2018 By chippy minton 2 Comments

Fort Nelson - front view

Where can you see a dolphin near Portsmouth?

Well, I suppose “looking out to sea” is a possibility, but Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill is more likely.  The handles on a cannon barrel are also called dolphins – because of their resemblance to swimming dolphins arching out of the water.

Cannon Dolphin With Ring [Read more…] about Days Out – Fort Nelson

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Tags: days out, history, local history, World War One, World War Two

Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong Part 2 – Friends and Neighbours

December 6, 2017 By Graham MacLean 1 Comment

Feature Image - Friends and Neighbours - Graham MacLean History Series

Edited by Allison Symes

Hello again. I am Graham McLean, aged 78 years and a long retired former Chartered Surveyor who has spent much of his adult life in the Far East and Canada but I lived in Chandler’s Ford.

My posts are my attempt to share some memories, which I hope trigger other memories in some of you.  My first post last week shared some of my wartime memories.  This week’s post shares some memories of friends and neighbours. [Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Memories from Hong Kong Part 2 – Friends and Neighbours

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, local history

Re-opening of the Dovetail Centre: to Engage and Share, and Fight Loneliness

September 23, 2017 By Janet Williams 1 Comment

Yesterday morning, a few of us from Chandler’s Ford Today attended the unique ribbon-less re-opening ceremony of the Dovetail Centre at the Methodist Church. It was a warm and friendly place as usual, buzzing with excitement.

It was certainly a day of celebration, and also a day of reflection on the problem of loneliness in our community, and how we could all reach out to support one another. [Read more…] about Re-opening of the Dovetail Centre: to Engage and Share, and Fight Loneliness

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford Good Neighbours, Christianity, church, coffee shop, community, Dovetail Centre, event, history, local history, local interest, Methodist Church, news, review, Winchester Road

Velmore Centre: The Big Event – 20th August to 3 September 2017

August 18, 2017 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Velmore Church is launching a fortnight of events from Sunday 20th August to Sunday 3rd September 2017, at Velmore Centre.

The Big Event (actually it’s a series of interesting events) seems comprehensive, covering music, craft, talks, African experience, holiday club, family fun day, magic show and others. The location is: Velmore Centre, Falkland Road SO53 3GY Chandler’s Ford. [Read more…] about Velmore Centre: The Big Event – 20th August to 3 September 2017

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Tags: Barbara Hillier, Chandler's Ford, Chandler’s Ford community, community, crafts, entertainment, event, local history, local interest, music, Velmore, Velmore Church

Medieval Weekend – 15th and 16th July 2017

July 7, 2017 By Allison Symes 3 Comments

MEDIEVAL WEEKEND FEATURE IMAGE

AGINCOURT MEDIEVAL WEEKEND: JULY 15TH AND 16TH 2017

Why am I interested in history? I suppose it is because I love stories of all kinds and history in many ways is the ultimate tale.

When all is said and done, history reveals, only too clearly at times, who we are, where we came from, what horrible mistakes we’ve made in the past (and sometimes what things we did right!). [Read more…] about Medieval Weekend – 15th and 16th July 2017

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Tags: event, Information, local history, Road to Agincourt Project
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Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

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