Addlestone

Childhood in Addlestone

I have many memories of Addlestone having lived there from 1940 to 1964. My family lived in Bourneside Road, at the far end was Coxes Lock Mill and the mill pond. We knew almost everybody that lived on Bois Hall estate. I attended St. Augustines Infant School and then St. Pauls Girls School. There were lots of factories in and around Addlestone, Weymanns, Sheermetalcraft, Airscrew, Peto Scotts, Rival Lamps, Coombelands Printing to name but a few. When the factories finished for the day there were many cylists lining up at Addlestone Station waiting for the gates to open. During the Coronation Year many local events were held. We had sports on the Green in Bourneside Road where Alec & Eric Bedser ...read more here
Contributed by Jacqueline Parsons

Martha Ward

Hi Rosemary,
Once again I found you very heplful, you sent me info on Princess Mary Homes. I followed it up and found them very helpful, only trouble is other people on same page (not covered by freedom of information) will have to wait for another couple of years until the next census to find out where she went when leaving the home.
Thanking you once again for taking trouble to answer.
Regards, Shirley (Ken Epps)
Contributed by First name Last name

Girls Names

I am looking for information on my grandmother who is listed as being at Princess Mary Village in Addlestone in the 1901 census. We have been able to ascertain she left there in March 1908. Does anyone have a list of the names of the girls in this particular image.
Contributed by June Matheson

Addlestone Crossing

After getting off the bus from New Haw we would walk to Nan & Grandad's house. Passing over the crossing there was Wells Boot Stores on the right just before Alexandra Road. Down here, over the river, the Laundry and Taylor & Pentons on the left. I think Taylor & Penton made furniture for John Lewis, I do know my Aunt Elsie and my Grandfather (Walter Godfrey) worked there, Auntie in the office and Grandad as Night Watchman. Now on to 37 Byron Road for tea and pocket money.
Contributed by Michael Ponting

New gates

We used to love watching the trains come through and were sad when they brought in the barriers. I used to travel from Addlestone Station to Egham to attend Strode's College on the old trains which had corridors and compartments! Sounds ancient but was only 1977-79! From the train we could see the new line being built to accomodate the train once the M25 was completed!
Contributed by Karen Rogers

White Hart Lock

I believe this to be the White Hart Lock at New Haw situated at the junction of Woodham Lane and the turning off over the White Hart bridge which led to Byfleet station. I do believe also that the cottage featured in a film, which I think was War Of The Worlds. As youngsters we often took a short cut off the Byfleet Road to cut through to what we called the Nine Arches, passing under this structure we would in the summer go swimming and hopefully meet girls. This area was also close to the banked corners of Brooklands Race Track.
Contributed by Michael Ponting

The new lock

This looks like the bridge over the canal at the Addlestone / New Haw border but I can't be sure. If it is I remember my parents taking us there (early 70's) to watch them put in new lock gates. The gates have the year engraved into them. I also believe that the lock keepers cottage, which I think is the house on the left, was used as a location for a film (about time travellers?).
Contributed by Karen Rogers

Saturday Jobs

My first job as a Saturday girl (1974) was working at a newsagents called Jarman's on the right of this photo on the corner of the road which led to the police station and infants school Darley Dene. I remember having to weigh snuff and having to use an old-fashioned till where you had to add up the items and press down the correct keys to show the total in the top window. I worked for a lady called Molly - she was still there in the 1980's. I think I earned about 60p for a Saturday afternoon.
Contributed by Karen Rogers

Trips to Co-op

The bus ride into Addlestone from New Haw took about 15 minutes. We were taken on a regular basis either to see our Grandparents who lived in Byron Road or shop at the Co-op, which took up a large part of the High Street. In order for us to be kitted out with clothes and shoes mum would have taken out a Provident Loan. Later in the early 60s I purchased a new racing bike I was very excited as it was a hand built Reg Harris racer with alloy wheels, centre pull brakes and a wad of gears. I had only been riding it a couple of days when I hit a drain and the front wheel folded.

Sunday ...read more here
Contributed by Michael Ponting