I wasn't actually born in this house, but it's the first real family home that I remember. I do remember living in one house before this one, but my memories are scanty. I can actually remember this one being built.
The house is a bit bigger now than when Father built it. The new owners have added bits here and there.
It was built in the early 50's, when post-war austerity was still an influence on the way people lived. We were still growing our own vegs, raising fowl, and planting fruit trees. Houses that had enough land became mini-farms, as did we at 'Lane End'. It was a way of life that had a great influence on me.
The house was in the village of Lingfield, Surrey, just south of London. A very friendly village where everyone knew everyone else, and you were greeted by name in the street.
I had a small red bike and would freely cycle all over the place. Down to the Cricket pitch to watch the village team, to the Wheelwright's yard to watch him at work, or to go fishing in Farmer Bell's pond. I had the run of the village, and feared nothing. In many ways it was the perfect childhood.
I sang in the church choir, I played cornet (v briefly) in the village Silver Band, and contributed to the village Horticultural Show. As children we participated in as much as possible, and loved it.
Sadly these days the village is a very different place. Due to its proximity to Gatwick there is now an almost constant noise of aircraft; the last time I visited it became a permanent annoyance. It has also become a 'dormitory village' for wealthy city workers, and there are now Italian, Indian, and Thai restaurants around every corner.
I spent the first 14 years of my life in Lingfield (school holidays only), and loved every moment. With all the changes over the past 63 years, I really wouldn't want to live there now. Sad!
You should write more about your early life experiences. What treasures your memories are!
ReplyDeleteI think most people would find them a bit tedious.
DeleteIt looks like a big and spacious house, I like old houses with their own memories.
ReplyDeleteEven though the house is only 70 years old, it was designed to look like an old local style farmhouse. It was a very comfortable house, with a lovely garden. Perfect for children.
DeleteWhere were you born?
ReplyDeleteHorley. A nursing home I presume.
DeleteMy mum and dad waited for 4 years to get their brand new council house( 1952) it was a large 3 bedroom at the end of the street with a large garden, back and front. I remember moving in , in the snow, in February. I was 4. We had to live with my grandad before that as there were no houses available. He came to live with us when he got old. My dad had a veg garden where he grew a variety of things including fruit. I lived there till I got married . My mum was still living there until she died 8 months ago, aged 96. She was cared for at home. She always said they would have to carry her out feet first before she would ever leave. My brother and 2 sisters and I were with her that day. Seems strange to think of other people living in " our house " now. Wonder how long before they cut down the hedge and pave over the front garden for car parking.
ReplyDeleteAfter my people died I found all sorts of things relating to the house being built. Architects plans, lists of fruit trees, and other bits and pieces. I sent them all to 'The Present Owner' saying that he should pin them to a beam somewhere. I hope he did.
DeleteIt's like that in a lot of places now, they change and not for the better I think. My mum always had a saying 'never go back'. I didn't agree at the time, as it always fascinated me to see places from my past, but now I see what she meant. No place that I've been back to has ever looked the same or any better, only worse.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real shame with Lingfield. It was such an ideal village, but it's totally changed now.
DeleteA picture of the ideal village life. I lived in brand new suburbia in a city ravaged by WW2. But there was still great camaraderie amongst the children and friendship and help amongst the neighbours. There are no children in my 'township' of 20 houses now but there is the ever present help and friendship if needed.
ReplyDeleteOur village in France was always like that; we all helped each other. We went through a short period of unpleasantness, but the people who caused it have now moved away and it's returning to how it was. Thank goodness.
DeleteI was born in a house in the countryside that my grandfather had built. My father had also been born there in 1913. It's still there, and I still miss it. The pull of childhood memories.
ReplyDeleteI loved this house (above) but we moved to the South Coast when I was 14. It was nicer than the house we moved to, but I had no say in the matter.
DeleteStrange that you should post about your childhood home as yesterday I went on Google Street View to look at the house I grew up in! It was built in 1946, backed on to the central railway line that is long gone. I used to love watching the steam trains going past in the dark, with sparks flying from the chimney. I was amazed to see that the tall metal post ( probably a sewer vent.....as tall as the houses) ,that we used to play " Pod" on, was still there, albeit very rusty looking! I once tripped as I ran up to it and threw my forehead at it. Briefly knocked out I think and had a lump the size of an egg for a while. The area around the small estate of houses has changed beyond recognition....new roads and very industrial looking.
ReplyDeleteI still have a huge scar on my knee from where I did something stupid in connection with a large nail whilst the house was being built.
DeleteI've seen the house in a previous post you made some years ago.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the first house I lived in when a child, as I spent much of the time living with my grandmother in the country, on the outskirts of a small village in Worcestershire. That was great fun with fields and lanes to explore and no worries about passing traffic. The second house my parents lived in had fields all around. After they had moved on a large retail park was built on the land. All the favourites including a Marks and Spencer with an excellent foodhall. The house is still there, and my mother used to to say it would have been so much easier to do her shopping if they hadn't moved. She could have nipped out through the gate at the bottom of the garden!
We were on the edge of the village with nothing but fields, etc, behind us. It was idyllic.
DeleteThe population of Lingfield is now 4,467. And this is the website of Lingfield parish council:-
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lingfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk/The_Village_23152.aspx
More of a town that village these days. My father was (of course) on the Parish, and County, Councils. He loved to do his bit.
DeleteYour childhood was a lot like mine growing up in rural NZ. My children were lucky too growing up on a greek island in the 80s. Times have changed everywhere.
ReplyDeleteMy father never wanted to return to see old places, houses he had lived in. I would if I could. It's fascinating to see the difference even if I don't like it
It was for the same reason that I moved to France, so the children could have that perfect rural home, and the freedom to roam.
DeletePopulation growing all the time, over crowding.
ReplyDeleteNothing can possibly be the same. Heads in social media, bad vibes about village life spreading via Face Book "community sites" which spread rumours and untruths, phones for messaging, no speaking, just adds to it all never being the same.
It's sad to watch it happen, even if it is inevitable. Especially when it's your native home.
DeleteThe little house I grew up in, is still 1.5 miles from the nearest paved road. I wouldn't live there again.
ReplyDeleteGosh, that sounds remote. We used to have a cottage in Wales like that, but it was only a few hundred yards from a road.
DeleteI was born in the house that my father built in the late '30's and lived there until I went to London as a student. I had the sort of childhood that you describe, free to roam, or to play in the large garden. I have returned only once although I sometimes dream that I am there, walking about in the orchard. I've got the plans of the house and of the fruit trees in the orchard. I used to worry about the idea of having to leave when I was small, but flew the nest without a care as a teenager!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds very similar to my childhood. A wonderful start to life.
DeleteThis sounds like an ideal place to raise children. You were fortunate to have a wonderful early youth living in a home your father built for his family. Today, children have scheduled activities and many do not roam freely, riding bikes, fishing and exploring the village.
ReplyDeleteMy lifestyle as a young child would be frowned-on today. People these days don't let their children out of their sight.
DeleteIt would be a little odd if everything stayed the same wouldn't it ? I can remember so much of my childhood and the houses we lived in and the things we got up to ! I might do a little post on it myself ! Your childhood home looked a lovely place to grow up in and gave you many fond memories. XXXX
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice house, and the big garden gave every opportunity for adventure.
DeleteMaybe not there, but there are places still like it.
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember a small houselet in France to be quite the small village.
Yes, where we live in France is even smaller than a hamlet, it's called a 'settlement' (lieu dit).
DeleteFrom the photo the house looks more twice the size of the original. I can remember living at Mt. Pleasant Road, above the shop at East Grinstead and prior to that above the shop in Lingfield. I was surprised to read that you were born in Horley - that must have been about 10 miles away.
ReplyDeleteI remember Gazely briefly, but we must have left there when I was very small. I remember the garden more than the house.
DeleteI have lots of memories there.
DeleteIt looks to be a huge house now. I have early memories too that are quite vague. I remember eating meals in a huge dining hall, probably from the days in the migrant camp where children had the first meal sitting, then the adults had the hall for their meal.
ReplyDeleteIt must be 50% bigger now than when we lived there, and it was quite a big house when built.
Delete