Knitted postbox toppers are appearing around Chandler’s Ford. Have you seen them? These have brought a lot of smiles.
Chandler’s Ford u3a is celebrating its 25th Anniversary by erecting 25 toppers in Chandler’s Ford. Thank you Jill Mayes for sharing these photos.
[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford u3a Celebrating 25th Anniversary
There has been quite a lot of changes at Fryern Hill. Banks have disappeared, shops are closing, businesses are moving elsewhere……Here are just a few examples.
Card Gallery
The former Barclays Bank
Belief in angels is common to many religions, and some recent research also shows some atheists admitting to believing in them. They are important in the Islamic tradition as well as Jewish and Christian faiths. Angels feature in popular culture, films, songs, and street art including works of Banksy. Some people believe in ‘guardian angels’ and others think of them more as messengers from God.
At this time of year Christians think of the angels who brought messages to Mary and to Joseph, and those witnessed by shepherds; first a single angel bringing the good news of the birth of Jesus and then many, singing of peace on earth.
In these unsettled times, news of joy and peace are much needed and so Churches Together in Chandler’s Ford have combined to bring a little joy into our community this Christmas through the knitted angels that you will find popping up around the streets and public places in mid-December. [Read more…] about Christmas Angels – Churches Together in Chandler‘s Ford
By Pawel Basisty
My name is Pawel Basisty and I’m member of Friends of Polish Veterans Association in Southampton. Our organisation is trying to make sure that our army veterans and important history dates are not forgotten but celebrated. Often we take part in the same events as British Legion.
This time we will celebrate the unveiling of the commemorative plaque for 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel in Chandler’s Ford.
[Read more…] about Hiltingbury Polish Dependants’ Hostel in Chandler’s Ford
Local people in Chandler’s Ford have come together to honour those who served and to remember their sacrifice. Debbie Pearce from Debbie Pearce Photography has kindly shared some photographs of the Remembrance Service at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial with the community. She has captured pictures of the parade on Hursley Road and the service at St. Boniface Church. Thank you Debbie.
[Read more…] about PHOTOS: Remembrance Sunday Tribute in Chandler’s Ford 2022
On Remembrance Sunday, many people gathered to remember those who have given their lives to protect our freedom.
Representatives from Scout groups across Chandler’s Ford, together with other local community groups, laid wreaths and attended a service of remembrance today at the parish church of Chandler’s Ford.
The service was held in conjunction with the Royal British Legion and the Borough of Eastleigh. It was led by the Rev Hayley Richens and the Rev Penny Thatcher.
[Read more…] about Remembrance Day Service at the Parish Church of Chandler’s Ford 2022
Chandler’s Ford Produce & Craft Market will be back again on Saturday the 5th of November, from 10 am to 1pm.
Location: Age Concern Centre, Brownhill Road
Fryern Arcade, Chandler’s Ford
Behind the Co-op
Here are some photos from the October market. It’s a small and lovely market with a variety of stalls – selling books, calendars, hand-made jewellery, cards, jam, candles…. and gifts for your dogs too.
Please come to support and enjoy this very lovely market.
[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford Produce & Craft Market – Saturday 5th November
Free on Saturday morning? Why not pop in to the produce and craft market in Chandler’s Ford?
It’s open on Saturday, 1st of October, from 10 am to 1pm.
Location: Age Concern Hall
Fryern Arcade, Chandler’s Ford
Behind Co-op
Did you know there is a Community Food Larder in Chandler’s Ford? It is located by the front door to the Hall of the Methodist Church facing Winchester Road. There are basic food and toiletries for anyone who just need a bit of help.
The cupboard is unlocked, and is open 24/7. If you need anything, or if you know of anyone who may need some help, please come to the larder and help yourself.
This morning I saw several church members fill up the larder, so I took a few photographs to show you what’s inside.
[Read more…] about Chandler’s Ford – Community Food Larder is Open to All
From the 23rd of July, Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church will be hosting a Food Larder at the front of the building.
This will provide basic food and toiletries in an emergency to anyone who needs them, 24/7.
[Read more…] about Community Food Larder at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church from 23 July
Did you go and see the Platinum Jubilee Flower Festival at St Martin in the Wood Church last week? I’m glad I did. I went there at the weekend and was amazed by the talent in our parish. Members from the parish church have taken such a lot of effort to create a memorable, beautiful week, and have spread joy in the community.
Roy Lancaster and his wife Sue officially opened the event on the 21st of June.
Update: The market on 02.04.2022 has been cancelled.
Chandler’s Ford Market is back – Saturday 19.03 at the Age Concern Hall, next to Fryern Arcade, (behind Co-Op), from 10am to 1pm. Well done for Steve Allen for organising the local market in the past few years.
Come and meet the local crafters of Chandler’s Ford and the local areas.
You’ll find all kinds of homemade crafts and produce made by local crafters.
It won’t come as a surprise to any local gardener that brickmaking was a big industry round here 100-150 years ago. Our heavy clay soil, as well as the local chalk downland, made this area an obvious site for several brickfields over the centuries. In fact, in the late nineteenth century in Hampshire there were 100-150 works producing clay products such as bricks, tiles and pipes.
It was in around 1870 that it was discovered that our clay soil was particularly suitable for brickmaking. There were three brickfields in Chandler’s Ford. The biggest, which was also one of the largest in the country, was Bell’s, which occupied the land now taken by Chandler’s Ford industrial estate. The position of the railway no doubt helped its success as this was the main means of transporting the finished bricks. A short single-track branch line ran through the brickfield, joining the Eastleigh-Romsey line at the station near the signal box. The whole process of clay extraction, moulding to shape and firing was done on site. This last was not always popular with local residents due to the fumes emanating from the kilns. This brickfield had the honour of providing 35,000 bricks for the construction of the Royal Courts of Justice in the 1870s.
It is June 30th 1991, four days after Jane’s funeral. Gran writes:
I rang Beverly to ask how she is and she said she had recovered from her exhaustion and was very touched and proud that Jane had asked her to be with her during her illness. I thanked her for being with Jane at the last and for her support for me in the Church at Jane’s Funeral Service.
The following day Gran receives a heartfelt and uplifting letter from Julian, based with the RAF in Germany, praising Jane and her “spirit, her values and her bravery”, adding, “… I’d be really proud if I were her Mum”. And with Julian’s communication is a letter from his son, Sam, saying, Gran writes, “Dear Great Gran – we were very sad too”.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 183, the last)
On September 10th 1987 Gran’s gas supply is being upgraded, and she writes at the end of the day:
There was still no gas and the men dug up the top part of the drive and drilled a hole through the wall and from the cupboard under the stairs into the garage where the new meter is to be installed. The mess everywhere has to be seen to be believed… The gas was restored at 4.45 and the last man told me that men would return in a day or two to re-lay the drive and level the ground outside the gateway.
Chandler’s Ford Christmas Market day is tomorrow – Saturday the 4th of December, at the Age Concern Hall, next to Fryern Arcade, (behind Co-Op), from 10am to 1pm. Well done for Steve Allen for organising the local market in the past few years.
All the stallholders are ready and hand gel will be on the door. Face masks need to be worn.
Come and meet the local crafters of Chandler’s Ford and the local areas.
In the market in November, 135 people visited supporting our friendly stallholders.
In the market on Saturday, you’ll find many high quality items produced by the local people.
Chloe, a jewellery maker from Southamptom, makes gorgeous items. She will be at the market tomorrow as well.
I wonder how much you know about hospitals in Chandler’s Ford past? We know of the private Nuffield Hospital in Winchester Road. Many will remember Leigh House Hospital that is gone now, to make way for housing. But there was another, long gone …
In 1835 the Hursley Poor Law Union was officially formed to cover the parishes of Hursley, Compton, Farley Chamberlayne, North Baddesley and Otterbourne. Ampfield and Chandler’s Ford were added to the list in 1894. By 1867 the Hursley parish workhouse, built in 1828, was criticised for its inadequate building (disgusting water closets and a cesspool under the windows of the lying-in and infectious wards, which had been unemptied for twelve years!). [Read more…] about Past Hospitals in Chandler’s Ford
January 4th 1987, Gran writes, is “a dreary and dull day starting overcast after night rain and soon pouring for the rest of the day” but we feel that after a long period of stressful and unhappy events, she has managed to regain some of her equilibrium, as she continues:
… and I have seen no-one, and the front door has not been unlocked. Yet I have been contented and at rest. A thrush was singing when I went to take the temperatures soon after eight o’clock this morning.
The middle of the month is bitterly cold and family and neighbours worry about her keeping warm enough in The Ridge, a house, like many others at that time, with no central heating or double-glazing, and just a gas fire in each of the main living rooms. Barry offers to bring a sleeping bag for his Mother to use when sitting in her chair, and recommends she buy some cling-film to rig up some primitive double-glazing on the windows.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 181)
Difficulties at home continue for Gran. Grampa is increasingly frail and unwell, more or less confined to bed and needing daily nursing care, and, Gran says on November 1st 1986 , “The plumber came and cleared the airlock in the downstairs hot water tap and is coming to deal with the overflow pipe in the toilet and the leak under the sink”. Jane Elizabeth has been a wonderful support for Gran, her Mother-in-law, at this time but she needs to return to Bushey on the 2nd and Gran is sorry to see her go, writing also:
She meant to leave me half of the large brown loaf she bought yesterday but forgot. She phoned from Winchester Station to say she had left it in the grit bin by the Hiltingbury Road bus stop and luckily, Cousin Bill Worsfold came at 11 a.m. so I was able to go and get it while he was here with Bill.
Gran has mentioned several of her husband’s relatives or friends lately, as they visit Grampa at The Ridge, but we are not always enlightened as to their relationships to him. There is not only Bill Worsfold, but also Cousin Ray, who has often provided transport for Grampa; Anthony (a nephew) and his wife Hazel; Joan and Ken Birch (“Bill’s half-sister and her husband”, Gran writes), and Joan and Alastair McKenzie (“Joan is his Cousin”, Gran tells us).
“I made a bad beginning with tummy ache after I had taken Bill his breakfast and was sick just as nurse came to the front door”, she writes on November 4th, continuing:
I called that I was coming but I look so ghastly when this happens, she was very concerned and made me sit down and made me a cup of tea. I assured her that I do this occasionally but soon feel perfectly alright. After attending to Bill she took my pulse and blood pressure, both of which were perfectly normal, which is reassuring! Ruth came in, with a stick, because she saw me looking to see if she were about. She has broken and chipped ribs!
Joan and Alastair came early this afternoon and whilst they were talking to me, we heard a thump and Bill had fallen. Alastair picked him up and got him back into bed!
The following day sees Grampa taken by ambulance to the South Hants Hospital in Southampton, because he has lost all feeling from the waist down. There is much concern throughout the Family and amongst close friends. Bob Fowler and his daughter Jill visit Gran to give moral support, and Gran is delighted to receive from them, “… some very gorgeous red Maple leaves from Tommy’s favourite tree”. She presses them within the journal. Further support is provided by Barry on the 6th, who, given the beauty of the day, suggests a drive up to Farley Mount, where Gran delights in the beautiful colours, especially of the fruiting Spindles there.
[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 180)
