North Baddesley Village Website-Recollections Dibble page

VILLAGERS RECOLLECTIONS

These recollections have been supplied by villagers who have lived or worked in the village during the past. Some of them are are still living here. The earliest recollection is from a Mr. V.A. Dibble, who was the son of the first schoolmaster of Baddesley School and he was born in 1889.
We believe they provide a fascinating glimpse of what village life was really like in the past and I hope you will find them to be as interesting a read as I most certainly did.

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Please Note: As some of the recollections are quite long you will need to scroll the bar on the right hand side to access all the content.

MEMORIES OF MISS PAT FARMER

Chat with miss Pat Farmer, 24 Six Oaks Road, Oct 1992.

Pat was born at Nursling in 1925. She moved to North Baddesley in 1931and lived in Middle Road until 1948. The bungalow style home was built of asbestos sheets by Mr. Foot, a local builder. It had 3 rooms across the front, and 2 across the back, a tiled roof, and a door at each side. This was in 1-1/2 acres of ground, but the building fronted the road. It was built well before 1931, perhaps just after the First World War Mr. Foot (the builder) lived in it, then a Mr. Parsons, who had a poultry farm in the garden, this was carried on by the Farmers.
Next door lived the HIGHMORE family.
Pat's home was immediately opposite the turning for Six Oaks Road The neighbour on the other side was Mr. Henbest, a retired Blacksmith, his home had been the forge. Middle Road in the 1930's consisted of single storey homes, built of either, asbestos, wood planks, or covered in pebble-dash.

SCHOOL
1931-SYMES MEMORIAL HALL, at the back of the Baptist Church, was the Infants School (now only the concrete standing left ?) Headmistres Mrs. McCall, Pat's form mistress Mrs. Dowding, other teachers: Miss Bettridge and Miss Mitchell. There were 3 classes, divided by a curtain. Previous Head was a Miss Dibble who came from Chilworth. Pat moved to the Junior School when the new extension was added to the village school - just before the Second World War(1939).

SHOPS
Nightingale Restaurant, was a shop in 1940, called BROOKS, a grocery. Pat worked here for a while, then went to Romsey; after that, to BADDESLEY AIRCRAFT CO. which had moved from Borden site to opposite REEMA. When this factory slowed down, Pat went to Pirelli in Southampton, as an industrial machinist, travelling in by bus for 8d. workman's return. Rownhams Bedding in 1930's was a general store, run by Mrs. Solomon. Scammell and Smith was a grocery shop. Blatch and Co. (solicitors) was a butchers - after the war Co-op butchers Bobs D.I.Y. was a P.O. and grocery shop.
NNS Newsagents was a drapers shop, run by Mrs Taylor. Lloyds Bank parade - built after the war. The village's first Council Houses, (late 1930's) are in Church Close. The houses in Botley Road, near to Six Oaks Road, were built by Charlie Osmon (pronounced OSEMAN).

MILKMAN - up to his enlistment in 1939 - was Mr.Parkin, who came twice a day with a horse and cart - a milkfloat - with churns. Then Mr. Gradidge from Bady Farm took over with bottles.
At Scragg Hill down a lane was Smiths general store. In the 1930's Mrs. Bundy who owned the Common ? where Borden is, would burn off the scrub without notice, this caused panic to people nearby, who would rush to protect their gates and fences in Middle Road.
The Red Barn, in Nutburn Road was a Men’s Club and Dance Hall during the war; it was lit by 'Tilly Lamps' and Pat's mother used to help run the dances.
Six Oaks and Middle Roads, were unmade at this time.
Pat moved away in 1948, but returned in 1973 to live at 24 Six Oaks Road There had been six oak trees in a clump about half way down on the E. side - pulled down in the 50’s or 60’s.
'Middle Road' was middle of the Common.
A sister of MARY GRADIDGE married a 'FOOT' and for a time lived at 4, Chamberlayne Court, before moving to Gainsborough Court.