CHAPEL STREET IN THE 1960s

Now here's a scene that brings back a few memories. Dick Howells Cobblers Shop; Feltnesess Store; Methodist Church in the background. I actually went to the Infants School on the right. Got a feeling the Bedford doormobile driving towards the camera belonged to Cowleys Bakery which was sited in Woolgars Passage...

Sorry Bill... the Cobblers on the corner opposite the school was the Capons. Howell's was in the next Street next to "The Book and Bacca".

What a lovely photo, and I remember this shop well. My mum used to buy her cheese from Alec and Lily. (Alec and Lily lived next door to Eve and Harry Woolford, my husband's aunt and uncle). I too went to the Meeching School here (Infant and Junior). I particularly like the bay windows above the shop, as a child I didn't see this view!!

It was Dick Howell's. He was Tim Capon's Grandad. Perhaps that threw you a curved ball. I also went to that Infant's School. I seem to remember Miss Hatwell as Headmistress.

If you look closely next to the tree is the rear half of the hut in which we used to have the Christ Church Socials, always the highlight of the week in the early/mid sixties, under the watchful eye of the Rev Stevenette and Bob Sandford.

My Nan owned and ran the sweet shop in Sussex Place where the surgery car park is now.
If the Tree is where the police station is, then the little turning is opposite there.

If you go to the "Message Board", there are a number of comments about the sweetshop under the heading "Holmans sweet shop"

I went to the school in the picture and I also spent a lot of time in the sweet shop where I used to buy bubble gum with football cards in the packet. My Dad was born in Sussex Place, just up from it.

I was born at 66 Chapel St opposite Hill's Bakery, so remember this area well, my grandparents Jim & liza Fitzroy lived at 70 the Nightingale's next door,the Thorpe's the Nye's and Ashdown's also lived near by. I went to the school in the picture and remember the sweet shop well, also Dell White the barber and Howell's the cobblers.

I remember that in the 1950s the PDSA used to have a weekly vet's surgery in a large van in that car-park on the right. The dog was often threatened with "going down the van" when she misbehaved.

I too went to the Infants School, I was scared stiff of Miss Hunt who used to have a black ebony stick with silver ends on her desk. Also fond memories of the bakery (Hill's) where I bought 2 shillings worth of jam donuts, I didn't know you could get change and had never had that much money before, I'd never had that many donuts before either! 24.

Remember going to Dell Whites barbers shop, Dad used to stay with me, Kev Martin has a picture of him in his barbers. Dell used to have 'tea breath'.

My grandmother Lydia Winder nee Hills had Mrs Landers name written in one of her books. I think it was a list of wedding presents so would have been 1918. She later lived at number 47 Chapel Street next to Hill's the baker, we were familiar with Holemans shop, the cobblers and Dales barbers

I lived at 93 Chapel St till the late seventies. I can allways remember Chapel St being flooded when there was a spring tide. All the local kids used to deliver the milk for the milkman and the letters for the postman. And another thing mum always sent to Devereux for fresh warm bread and I used to nibble the warm bread on the way home. I got a whack for it but it was worth it.

I also remember this area. I went to the infants school. I have a photo of my class mates and teachers from 1946, using a train we all made. My aunty lived in the Woolgers Passage almost next to the Jolly Sailor pub. Dick Howell's shop was once a sweet and tobacco shop. I used to buy sweets with ration coupons. They would sell things on a Sunday which was against the trading laws then.

David. I remember that train made from Orange Boxes. I was pictured in it as was Les Templeman, David Palfrey and many others. The picture unfortunately got lost over the years.

William, Search the site for "NEWHAVEN INFANTS SCHOOL c 1949 By John Hills". Is that the Orange Box Train you refer to??

Richard, Editor

Thats the one, many thanks for the link to the page John.  I have saved it to a folder. When my wife stops laughing at it I might have another look ha ha.

Vernon [Arthur] Cowley thinks that this was probably his dormobile as they were very difficult to obtain - he managed to get his via Mr Newman from Caffyns Garage in Lewes. Amy's garage in Newhaven couldn't get one for him and he was quite put out when Vernon rode his into Newhaven.

Lovely to read about all the articles above, I can remember them all. And also remember buying the first coloured drink (Cherry) I had seen, (apart from orange juice) decanted from big glass bell type jars upside down. Don't remember if they were fizzy or not. From Holman's Sweet shop on the corner.

Just discovered this web site. Saw the post by Pat Bain which raised the hairs! My name is John Dray I am now 78 and we lived next door to the Nightingales too. Their daughter used to take me for walks in a pushchair! Dad was in the Royal Artillery and there were 4 of us boys.

I was actually delivered by a Canadian Army doctor (1941) and well remember D Day when all, the soldiers had disappeared. Then on D Day itself all the aircraft flying overhead.