Entries are in date order, most recent first. Information provided by readers will be added so that the progress of enquiries can be seen.
Another way of seeking help is of course to put a short article in our Newsletter.
Derek Renn 24 June 2016: A Missing Milestone from Fetcham
The milestone outside Harroway Manor is a scheduled Ancient Monument but what has happened to the next one, near Bocketts Farm at the top of Hawk's Hill?
The old milestone was spotted in a Mid Holmwood garden by Peter Tarplee, but it (and a concrete imitation) have both now disappeared.
Derek Renn 15th May 2016: Local footpaths - swinging gates in a frame
I am writing an article on local footpaths. Two footpaths on the Great/Little Bookham boundary each had a swinging gate in a frame to prevent riders of bicycles or horses from using the path.
Were (or are) there any others in the district ?
When were they installed?
From our May 2016 Newsletter, p 40
The tiny flint building next to the Letherhead Institute may be that described in George Gwilt’s survey book as Turnpike Road Tollhouse. However, his map shows the Epsom to Horsham turnpike road following Church Street, passing some 30 yards away from the tollhouse.
Why?
Potted Histories No 86: Fetcham Memories 1911-1920 - first published in the Ashtead & Leatherhead Local
A WWI Private House, shown on a local postcard, used as a Military Hospital WW1 AND FETCHAM – LOCAL HISTORY GROUP 1
Fetcham U3A Local History Group 1 is researching the impact of WW1 on the Fetcham community. The 1911 Fetcham census was linked to censuses going back to 1841, providing an ancestral trail of the 400 odd adults in the village. Having identified by age the men and young boys who could have served in WW1 the British Army WW1 Medal Roll Index Cards were searched. These refer to the medals awarded to each serviceman giving their name, regimental name and number and sometimes sadly the words "Killed in Action". Just by the sheer number of men involved, there are many possibilities and identical names, hampered by men signing up and giving the more familiar family nicknames, second names or false age, with no particular checks being made. Each of these options is checked – a lengthy process – in the hope that a service or pension record may be found. These can provide the original enlistment details, name, age, address, height, weight, chest expansion, hair colour and eyes, next of kin, occupation and postings and can be several pages or more of digital images of the originals and are paramount to substantiating a more definite identification.
Some fascinating and deeply sad facts have been uncovered – brothers both being killed in action, a prisoner of war for 9 months, men serving in the East Surrey Regiment, Queen's Royal West Surrey, Royal Field Artillery, East Kent, Royal Army Medical Corp, a Royal Engineer who stated he was unmarried only for a marriage licence to be forthcoming, men returning home, injured or unfit for duty, a young woman born in 1899 and found in Fetcham School Log Books in 1912 and 1913, serving in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and Red Cross records for hospital orderlies in Leatherhead.
If you can help us with our research please contact Lyn Rozier via the editor (see top of page).
Do you remember "Leatherhead Compost"?
18 Mar 2016: Hugh Baker writes: Back in the 1930s, Leatherhead
council was a pioneer in making compost from refuse and sewage
sludge which was highly rated by gardeners.
And later, in the 1960s, a new mechanised plant was built which
ran until 1974 when SCC closed it down.
I am doing some research on the compost plant which was at Randalls Road and would be very interested to hear from anyone with recollections or information about the plant or using the compost.
Please contact me via the editor (see top of page).
7/4/16 Derek Renn: From 1964, we were part of the scheme. Waste then was all placed in dustbins (no plastic sacks or wheelie-bins, no segregation of recyclables or garden waste). Presumably the metal and paper were separated, and soil was added to the rest which were ground down and sold back to local gardeners. Eventually the process was condemned by Merrist Wood Agricultural College on health and safety grounds - lethal elements were left in the mixture, which also contained glass splinters.
Potted Histories No 85: Where in Ashtead is this Housing Estate c:1938? - first published in the Ashtead & Leatherhead Local
Goff Powell writes: For many years now I have compiled Potted
Histories on Places, People and Companies, and I hope they have
given readers of the Ashtead & Leatherhead Local much
pleasure.
Now it is time for readers to help me in identifying the Housing
Estate below. A scribbled note on the back of the postcard just
says ‘Ashtead from the air 1938’.
It should be easy to spot with its very unusual houses but I have had this postcard for many years and have had no joy in discovering its whereabouts. Both I and John Rowley our Archivist for Ashtead would love to get this mystery resolved. Please contact us via the editor (see top of page).
It was suggested that it may be Langley Vale – but John Rowley our Ashtead Archivist thinks not.
Frank Haslam, the
L&DLHS website editor, suggests that attention be paid to
the two pairs of facing cul-de-sacs when looking at maps.
Derek Renn 7/4/16: Might this be a mistake for ASHFORD (either Kent or Middx)? The wide straight road running right across the picture [at least, I think it's a road and not a railway!] looks something like the Colnbrook Bypass
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Potted
Histories No 84: Do you recognise the RAF Officer? Goff Powell writes: For many years now I have compiled Potted Histories on Places, People and Companies, and I hope they have given readers of the Ashtead & Leatherhead Local much pleasure. Now it is time for readers to help me in my quest to find an answer to whom this young man is. Like many photographs of this period they have Post Card backs for the message and address - unfortunately this one bears no message or address. The photograph was probably taken in the early 1940s in the studios of Albert Warren, The Crescent, Leatherhead. It would be nice to know if this young man survived World War II. If this was your son, husband or even a relative and would like to have this postcard, please contact me via the editor (see top of page). |
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Potted Histories No 83: Where in Fetcham? - first published in the Ashtead & Leatherhead Local
Goff Powell writes: For many years now I have compiled Potted Histories on Places, People and Companies, and I hope they have given readers of the Ashtead & Leatherhead Local much pleasure. Now it is time for readers to help me in identifying some houses in Fetcham.
The house above is a postcard; postmarked Fetcham and counter stamped Leatherhead and dated 7th October 1905. It is addressed to a Mrs. Spackman, Kentish Town, London. The writer confirms it is from Fetcham by stating so before saying my dear Lizzie – What do you think of this postcard. You will see it is Annie, Grace and I. It is signed yours sincerely Lil.
The above postcard is unused but bears a message ‘reported to be Fetcham, Surrey’. If you can identify this one, I will be amazed. I have researched all possibilities in the area and have drawn a complete blank. It only cost me 50 pence – a bargain – if only it could be identified. Please contact me via the editor (see top of page).
Several people thought it
might be Randall's Park. However John Morris, an authority on
Randalls, thinks not.
Woodlands Park was another theory.
Potted
Histories No 82: Where in Ashtead? - first
published in the Ashtead
& Leatherhead Local
Goff Powell writes: For many years now I have compiled Potted
Histories on Places, People and Companies, and I hope they have
given readers of the Ashtead & Leatherhead Local much
pleasure. Now it is time for readers to help me in identifying
some buildings in Ashtead.
The house above is a postcard, postmarked Ashtead and dated
12th May 1908. It is addressed to a Miss. J. Smith, Sevenoaks,
Kent. Unfortunately there is no sender’s name.
Another house I would like to identify is shown below. The postcard is again postmarked Ashtead and dated 12th December 1914. It is addressed to Mrs. R Clegg, Heyewood, Lancashire and it is from her son Percy and it tells her this is where I am billeted. Percy would have been a member of 21st Battalion of The Royal Fusiliers, one of the young men drawn from English Public Schools and Universities, to serve in WWI. In March 1915 the 21st moved to Woodcote Park Camp, Epsom. Someone with good eyesight may be able to read the name on the gate.
This house has now been identified as Highfield House, Skinners Lane, Ashtead, by the owner Jakob Reilly.
2nd Lt Percy Clegg died aged 21 on 1st July 1916, which was also the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He was [by then] serving with 1Bn, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment). His next of kin were listed as Robert and Margaret A. Clegg, of Higher Lomax, Heywood, Lancs. Grave Reference: I. H. 3. Cemetery: SUCRERIE MILITARY CEMETERY, COLINCAMPS, FRANCE.
Percy's postcard therefore now appears to have been addressed to his father Robert.
Also do you have any information on Howard House, Parkers Hill, Ashtead? If so John Rowley our Ashtead Archivist would like to know.
Please contact me via the editor (see top of page).
Potted
Histories No 81: Where in Leatherhead? - first
published in the Ashtead
& Leatherhead Local
Goff Powell writes: For many years now I have compiled Potted
Histories on Places, People and Companies, and I hope they have
given readers of the Ashtead & Leatherhead Local much
pleasure. Now it is time for readers to help me in identifying
some buildings in Leatherhead.
The house below is a postcard, postmarked Leatherhead and dated 28th August 1913. It is addressed to a Miss Avery in Ulverston, Lancs. and just signed M.L.S.
Yet another house I would like to identify is shown below. The postcard although not used it bears an embossed postmark, probably the card was placed in an envelope. It reads 14th April 1914 and bears the name of the photographer H. Penny of Fairfield, Leatherhead.
This photograph has now been identified by Rosemary and Mike Slee as Little Orchard, Skinners Lane, Ashtead.
If you have any further information about these houses please contact me via the editor (see top of page).
page created 16 Mar 2016: last modified 8 Feb 19