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Eastland Family in Woodmansterne

Hi! My name is Richard and my paternal grandmother was Ethel Maud Eastland residing at Old School House Rectory Lane, Woodmansterne. She became a Bishopp after marrying Robert Henry Bishopp. My father was Walter Edward Bishopp. Many of the Eastlands and Bishopps are in St Peter's Churchyard in the village. My great great great grandmother was Elizabeth Hoffman, mother of Reynold Eastland who was a local chimney sweep. Elizabeth Hoffman was born in Germany around 1801-1803. I'm looking for photos and/or information on her birth or death. I can see she was on the census on 1861 but after that, she disappears and I can find no further info. If anyone knows more, I'd be happy to know something.
Added by Richard Bishopp on 28 January 2024 - add reply
Elizabeth was born around the year 1801 in Germany. Her marriage record (dated 28 January 1833) says that she was born in Brandovendorf, near Frankfurt-on-the Maine. We were unable to locate this town/village. A German colleague has suggested this is more likely to be Brandoberndorf, which since 1971 has been part of a community called Waldsolms. It's in Southern Hesse, not too far from Frankfurt. It is the only matching hit when searching for a name via the postcode "Postleitzahlen" search facility. Elizabeth signed with an X so is unlikely to have been able to spot a spelling mistake in the address. The marriage to Thomas Eastland shows that he was a Batchelor however Elizabeth is recorded as a widow. Her surname is shown as Hoffmann but we cannot be certain that this was her maiden name as it may well have been her first husband’s surname. A visit to the Woodmansterne churchyard confirmed that there is no headstone or grave for Elizabeth. Her mother-in-law is there, another Elizabeth Eastland 1780-1874. Our Elizabeth can be found on the 1841, 1851 and 1861 census. The last was taken in April 1861. We believe she died in Sept 1861 five months after the census. Detail of death registration: Q3, Croydon Surrey, Vol. 2a Page 106 Richard, If you can contact us, we can provide copies of documentation. Research by Janice Chapple and Lewis Wood of Banstead History
Added by Lewis N Wood on 03 February 2024 - add reply

Park Road Surgical House 1901

I believe my Great Uncle Daniel Collins as a Note from LNW: Sarah, we appear to have a part completed comment. If you can write another one, I can edit them together.
Added by Sarah Colwell on 07 September 2023 - add reply

St Mary’s School Burgh Heath

Hi I went to St Mary’s School, over the road from the church. I cannot find any information or history of the school. I was there from 1957-62/63 I would love to hear from anybody with any information .
Added by Lynn Baxter on 10 January 2021 - add reply

Leonard Wileman at Banstead April 1922-1929

Hi, My dad was at Banstead Residential School during this time. I have a photograph of him playing cricket which I believe is from his time at Banstead. On the back it states 'Len at School'. As he was 7 when he entered the school and 14 when he left I think it must be the right place. He is wearing white trousers and white shoes and a blazer and cap in a darker colour. Does anyone recognise this please. There is also another boy behind the stumps wearing the same outfit. This photo came to light when my dad died.
Added by Linda Holland on 21 February 2020 - add reply
Hi Linda, I have seen many photos of Beechholme kids but that description does not sound at all familiar. I also have an admissions register record which covers a few years around that period yet he is not listed. I wonder if he was at Banstead Hall as they were very keen on Cricket. Is there anything in the background that might give us a clue?
Added by Lewis Wood on 23 February 2020 - add reply

Aspley Cottages

Hi, my great Grandfather was born and lived in Aspley cottages in 1904. Does anyone have any old pics of the cottages as I've not been able to find any so far? Note from LNW.- Stuart I thought that I had one in my postcard collection but the cottages I have a picture of are on the opposite side of Park Road. The Apsley cottages frontages have not changed very much at all in the last hundred years so a search on Google will show you what they look like if you are not local. I will look out for a picture of them and mail you if I come across one. In the meantime do add another post with a bit more on your grandfather and his time at the cottages.
Added by Stuart on 13 March 2016 - add reply
Thanks Lewis - My Great Great Grandad, John Henry Risdon Bond, had been born in Devon and travelled across to Essex with his parents by the age of 15. By 1891 he was a gamekeeper in Banstead where he would marry and have several kids over the next few years. By 1901 they were at Apsley cottages where my Great Grandad, Charles Risdon Bond, was born in 1904. John H R was a gardener at the Asylum by this time. By 1911 the family were at Field House cottages in Woodmansterne. John and Charles would later have a sweet shop and refreshment house in Chipstead valley road where my Grandma was born. Beyond 1939 Charles is a mystery as his kids were taken into care and he disappeared - there is talk of mental health problems and time in hospital but nothing firm unfortunately.
Added by Stuart on 15 March 2016 - add reply
Hello Stuart, my name is Christine Kent and I am a member of the Banstead History Research Group. Am I correct in saying that their last child born was Christine A Bond in 1946? I see from the family trees on Ancestry that he died in 1986 Thanet Kent;do you have his death certificate? Does it give an address where he passed away and is there a name of the person who registered the death. If you have any other info about him I will see what I can find for you. Kind regards Christine
Added by Christine Kent on 19 March 2016 - add reply
Hi Christine, That's the correct family although Christine and Eric weren't Charles' kids but Nan was still using his surname. He died in a care home in Birchington and a member of staff registered his death. We believe there was another short marriage but don't know when or where. If you find anything that's great but please don't go to any trouble! Stuart
Added by Stuart on 01 April 2016 - add reply
My mother spent most of her childhood living at No.1 Apsley Cottages, having moved there from No. 1 Mint Cottages. Her father was Arthur James Muggeridge and his wife Mary. There were eight children. I have a photograph of the family taken outside Apsley cottage sometime in the 1920s, judging from my mothers age. I can vaguely remember visiting my Grandfather on only one occasion, he died in early 1940. He was a leather worker/saddler by trade. I was born in Nork, Warren Road before moving to Roundwood Way. Having attended Nork Primary and Picquets Way Schools I left Banstead in 1950 to join the Royal Air Force, however that's another story.
Added by Derek Hoskin on 19 December 2020 - add reply
Derek, Any chance of adding the photo to our archive? LNW
Added by LNW on 19 December 2020 - add reply

Chequers Close Banstead 1939

This road seems to have vanished. Any ideas? Tracking down my father who was raised in a children's home in Shirley, and then possibly in Banstead. There is a record of him in 1939 at Chequers Close Banstead. He was with a family called Foster. Any help would be very welcome. Note from LNW: I have not come across Chequers Close in Banstead but the most likely place your father may have ended up would be Beechholme, formerly Kensington and Chelsea District School. We have quite a few memories dating back to the 1930s/40s at http://www.bansteadhistory.com/beechholme_feature_pre%201950.html. Most often kids went from Beechholme to Shirley and I cannot recollect anyone coming the other way, but I have no reason to believe that it could not have happened. I will follow up on Chequers and see what I can find. Could it have been Chequers House instead of Close - not heard of that either but it's a possibility. UPDATE: There is a Chequers Close in Walton-On-The-Hill which falls within the local geographical area. It might be worth trying the Walton-on-The-Hill History Group.
Added by Aged P on 08 January 2016 - add reply
Was your father living at number 9 Chequers Close in 1939 and living with an Edward and Ruby Foster?
Added by Christine Kent on 09 January 2016 - add reply
This message received via the Banstead History Centre: I grew up with Wendy Barnes who married the late John Foster. His parents lived for many years at 9, Chequers Close. Wendy thinks that at one point they did have "a lodger "together with their own two children. Sadly, both parents and both children are now dead. I hope that this will be of help.
Added by Lewis Wood on 14 January 2016 - add reply
The mystery was why he was in Banstead in 1939? I hadn't heard of Beechholme! Possible that it was a reverse transfer, because he was in Shirley Oaks aged 6 in 1911. In 1935 he had married a lady who was then promptly sent to a Mental Hospital So it could be that his connections to Institutions in Banstead led him back. As a child I was taken each year from North London to Banstead to pick Blackberries! By
Added by Aged P on 14 April 2016 - add reply

hand made wooden box

I have a hand made wooden box that reads Master Roswell D Mcclelland Rose Hill School Banstead, Sumay R D Mc C with a stamped number 29 on the lid and inside the box with a wooden chip with Mc on it.about this box I'm seeking information information about this box Thank You
Added by Rebecca Wolf on 13 November 2015 - add reply
Hi Rebecca, I have the original school magazines from 1912 through to 1914 and having scanned through, I can find no mention of Master Roswell. I live just a few hundred yards from where the school was and I have many old pictures of the grounds and the rooms but I have not come across anything that shows numbered boxes. Maybe our genealogist can help find descendants of Master Roswell. Have you tried that route? LNW
Added by Lewis N Wood on 14 November 2015 - add reply
Hello Rebecca my name is Christine Kent and I am a member of the Banstead History Research Group.I have had a look re the above named and found that he was born on the 25th January 1914 in the county of Santa Clara America.His full name was Roswell Dunlop Mcclelland and he was the son of Ross J Mcclelland and Alice Mcclelland nee Mitchell.The first record I found him on was on a passenger list going from Southampton to New York,he is listed as being 11 years old and is a student,he has given his last UK address as 22 Ryde Street ? and is traveling 1st class,as far as I could see he was traveling by himself.There are 3 people registered on the website Ancestry.co.uk who have Roswell in their family trees,if you would like me to try and make contact with them I would be happy to do so.Kind regards Christine
Added by Christine King on 15 November 2015 - add reply
I found this box in my sister's belongings after her death last year. Please continue to research and maybe find family menbers. Thank You, Rebecca
Added by Rebecca Wolf on 18 November 2015 - add reply
Rebecca,I have sent 3 messages to the tree holders on the Ancestry website as mentioned above.Will let you know the outcome as and when I hear back from them.Also have a look on the internet,just put in his name and you should find some more details about him which maybe of interest to you.Christine
Added by Christine King on 22 November 2015 - add reply

Banstead Woods

Was there ever a cafe where the car park now stands on Holly Lane? My husband says yes but I'm not convinced. Note from LNW: Hi Emma, I don't know the answer to that one but some one will. Does your husband have a date in mind? Note 2 from LNW: Emma, I think we need a more accurate location for this car park. Is it the car park for Banstead Woods part way along Holly lane or is it the car park at the very bottom of Holly Lane?
Added by Emma Wilgoss on 11 July 2015 - add reply
It may depend on what period we are in. I do not remember any café there pre-war or early postwar. However there was, during the war, within a couple of hundred yards, a pillbox close to the Outwood Lane roadside. It was disguised to look like a cafe with a large 'Café' – Ice Creams' sign on top of it. Any Panzer unit couldn't have resisted stopping for a 'cuppa'. Mike
Added by Mike S on 30 July 2015 - add reply
Presumably this refers to Banstead Woods car park. I can’t speak for any period before 1968 but I've been going there since then without ever seeing a café there. There was a public convenience but this was demolished 10-15 years ago.
Added by Tony G on 30 July 2015 - add reply
I don't know of one, and we've used Banstead Woods for walks since the 1960s. Audrey
Added by Audrey C on 30 July 2015 - add reply
Can't remember such a café, though my 1950s walks in Banstead Woods sometimes finished at Dene's Farm (in Chipstead Valley Road) which in those days served coffees and teas. Philip
Added by Philip S on 30 July 2015 - add reply
When I lived in Stagbury Avenue around 15 years ago. There was a hut just a few yards from the car park towards Outwood lane, which sold teas and snacks. I believe that the lady who ran it had to give up when her husband had an accident and she had to stay home to look after him. Also I seem to recall that there was a problem with the Council putting the rent up.
Added by Roger on 30 July 2015 - add reply
Thanks for all the responses. It was the car park at the bottom of Holly Lane we meant but perhaps it was a public toilet after all....would have been a nice idea to have a tea hut there now though...thank you all again
Added by Emma on 31 July 2015 - add reply
Hi, I can remember a tea hut there
Added by Chris Stott on 19 December 2019 - add reply
I have found a newspaper which reports that a sole license has been granted to a Mr Jackson to sell refreshments with an option to renew annually until 1957. Mr Jackson asked to be granted a contract for three years in view of his proposal to erect a temporary timber structure in place of the caravan. I can certainly remember one being there in the mid 50s. The report mentions running an electricity cable from Stagbury Cottage to the structure so that should help with placement.
Added by Janice Chapple on 03 February 2024 - add reply

Beecholm children's home

There were four of us who lived at Beechholme circa 1970- until it closed when we were transferred to Falcon Grove, Battersea. Myself, Roseann Kilvington, and my older Brother Bill Kilvington were in Larch house, my younger brother and sister, Robert and Terrie Kilvington were in Laburnaum house. Bill McGreedy was house master of Larch, and Aunt Grace was house mother in Laburnum ... When we eventually moved to Falcon Grove, they put these two houses together because of the four of us. Any photos or memories of that era would be lovely. Reply from LNW: Don't forget to check out our main website for the sixties section of the Beechholme memories. (http://www.bansteadhistory.com/beechholme_feature_1960s.html)
Added by Roseann Ransome (Kilvington) on 24 June 2014 - add reply

Banstead 1940s

I'm a pensioner living in Cheshire. I was brought up in Banstead, we lived in Sandersfield Road. I slept in our Anderson shelter in the garden for a year until 1944. I recall Dunmore's hardwear store, Tesco (!) British Restaurant... As boys my brother and I would walk to the downs to collect shrapnel after the bombing raids.......... My infant school lessons were usually taught in the air raid shelter in the school yard. My dad was a well known musician, he ran a band
Added by Michael Harn on 13 November 2013 - add reply

'Banstead childrens home'

My father who sadly passed away a couple of months ago attended Banstead Childrens home with his sister who sadly passed away two months before my father. They attended this home in 1944. I would love to try find out more about this home and go and see where it was. I would really appreciate any feed back. REPLY FROM LNW: Terri, I assume you mean Beechholme, was by the way was a completely different place to Banstead Hall. BHRG have produced a book on the school which is available under Publications at www.bansteadhistory.com. The school was demolished many years ago and replaced with a housing estate.
Added by Terri LeBeau on 09 September 2012 - add reply
My Grandad,Walter Field, was a master bricklayer and was involved in the building of Beecholme. As a school child and a member of the Piquets Way School, we would walk to Beecholme to perform. My brother often brought friends from the home to have tea with our family, I just wish I could remember their names.
Added by Pat Newell nee Bromley on 18 September 2014 - add reply

BANSTEAD junior school

Outdoor swimming pool, if anyone can tell me how old it is, or when it was built, and who by, or even any old photographs of the building works, any info would be great, thanks very much ! Reply from webmaster - I have added a photograph of the Swimming Baths at Banstead School, from a postcard dated 1905. Use the search box above to locate image 305. LNW.
Added by DAVID COULSON on 24 January 2012 - add reply

Aird family

My grandfather went to the Kensington Chelsea District School in 1905 with his brothers Harry and Alfred. He then went off to the Great War later . His name was William John Aird. He was born Feb 12 1897. I read his diary of his life . It was amazing. Just wondering about any info on the school or his family.Had also sisters Millie, Florrie and Bessie. Fathers name was Henry William.
Added by Robert Aird on 01 May 2011 - add reply
Hi Robert, Nice to hear from my namesake although our families are not related as far as I know. Not sure how much you have on your family but I have a spreadsheet giving the reference details of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Aird for all England from 1837 to 1950 (1990 for deaths). These look like your family births but couldn't find Millie or Mildred in Kensington. 1892 Jun Aird Henry William Kensington 1a 133 1895 Sep Aird Alfred Arthur Kensington 1a 111 1897 Mar Aird William John Kensington 1a 153 1898 Dec Aird Florence Kensington 1a 104 1901 Sep Aird Bessie Kensington 1a 156
Added by Bob Aird on 30 January 2013 - add reply

Banstead childrens home

I was in a childrens' home in Banstead in 1952-1955.I would be gratful if anyone has any details of this home or has any photos or the name of the childrens' home.
Added by Stephen J Venes on 04 March 2010 - add reply
Note from Webmaster - The children's home was Beechholme and we have mailed Steven details of the home, and how to apply for his records from the London Metropolitan Archives.
Added by Lewis Wood on 05 March 2010 - add reply
Hi I was in a childrens home in Banstead in 1975 it's name was squirrells, looking for info my self including my files not a lot of luck so far, do you think squirrells was the same home you were in?
Added by Caroline Flynn on 17 November 2011 - add reply
I was in a childrens home just outside Banstead on Fir Tree Road called Beechholme. Could this be the home? Note from LNW : Yes Christine, Beechholme was the name. It is the subject of a publication by the Banstead History Research Group
Added by Christine on 17 April 2012 - add reply
I have seen a few renditions of the beecholme song on your website here follows the one I learnt when I was there in the 60's There is a mouldy dump down Beechholme way, where we get bossed about sixty times a day. Egg and bacon we don't see, we get sawdust in our tea; thats why we're gradually fading away. The aunties smash the windows, we get the blame, especially old pop Banner, he's just the same. Six o'clock in the morning, you hear the aunties shout, get out of bed get out of bed, before you get a clout.
Added by Christine on 18 April 2012 - add reply
Hi,I was in Squirrells for three years from 1977- 1980. A woman called Eileen was running it. My friends who were there before me were Anthony King and Kevin Page amongst others. RESPONSE FROM LNW - Thanks for your comment Chris but what was Squirrels and where was it in Banstead. I have not come across it in Beechholme which was the local childrens' home.
Added by Chris Tisdall on 18 June 2012 - add reply
Hi my name is Linda Morey I was in the childrens home for 10 years from 1952 to 1962 I have a photo of my self and another little girl in hastings holiday camp.The last house I lived in was Kerria next to the gym. Note from LNW; Hi Linda, if you can send me a scan of the photo and a few memories/stories etc, to webmaster@bansteadhistory.com, i would be delighted to add them to our main website.
Added by Linda Morey on 02 October 2012 - add reply
Squirrells was near the day center on the edge of Banstead, it's now Social Services Offices, I would like to get intouch with anyone who was there in 1975 including a house mother called Christine De'mears (I think that's how it's spelt).
Added by Caroline Flynn on 21 March 2013 - add reply
Hi I was in Beechholme with family for years can I get records? Reply from LNW; Hello Rosemary, all surviving records for Beechholme are held at the London Metropolitan Archives and we have a bit more information on this subject on our main website at http://www.bansteadhistory.com/beechholme_feature_pre%201950.html#GETREC The LMA hold surviving records for the period between 1930 and 1965. You can ring them on 020 7332 3820 and they can tell you whether they hold a file for you. For further information you will need to write to them and include proof of identity. Please be aware that the contents of any surviving files vary considerably but sometimes one small piece of information turns out to be more significant than a pile of documents.
Added by Rosemary Symonds on 30 November 2013 - add reply
All the childrens homes on Beechholme were named after flowers or trees, I was in Lavender House from about 1971 to 1974. A few other house names were-Acacia, Beech, Lime etc. I think some of the roads they have built there now are named after trees and plants. Reply from LNW; Yes quite right Eugene. All the names are in our book on the school.
Added by Eugene Garvey on 25 January 2014 - add reply
I believe The Squirrels was in The Horseshoe off Bolters Lane ?
Added by David Isted on 18 May 2015 - add reply
Yes it was. I worked in the large home for the elderly, Ridgemount 78-82 and the Squirrels was opposite .
Added by Fiona Maxwell-Stewart on 21 November 2018 - add reply

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