Memories

One of my earliest memories is moving into the flat above the Garage , now returned to its original purpose as stables. I was about two and a half and we moved from a cottage at Loxhore Cott where we went when Dad, George Morrish was employed as Estate lorry driver. Then the chauffeur left and Dad was promoted to Chauffeur, a job he had previously done for other families .He was driving a big old Dennis and I remember "helping" clean the big brass bound lamps. In those days Miss Chichester used to allow some charabanc parties to visit her gardens and the Rhododendron walk,;her father had started a collection of beautiful hybrid shrubs and she added to them They were grown in the Nursery (alongside the head gardeners cottage) These visitors were never allowed near the court, but were a source of pocket money for me as I often got a three-penny bit or even sixpence for opening the gates !.My playground was all round the area, I can`t pass our local D.I.Y. shop when they are cutting or shaving wood without a picture of the Estate saw-mills which were above the stable yard I can still hear the whine of the huge saw-blade slicing the trees into planks to be stored outside to be seasoned and eventually used for work on the estate. I used to go up the wooden staircase where Mr.Bushen and Mr. Metheral were working as carpenters, they used to give me off-cuts which Ron & I used as building blocks. When he was old enough to roam Ron used to spend hours playing with Dinky cars in the saw-dust heap and the sand-heap (always kept for building repairs etc.)When he lived in Kennel cottage although younger Ron Bowden used to play with him.Another favourite play ground was the estate laundry which was between our house and the church. My mother used to help Florrie Bowden with the ironing I remember the huge copper boilers used to boil the "whites " and heat water for the coloured washing. Then there were the stoves.They were specially shaped so that about six flat irons fitted round the sides and the gophering irons went into the hot coals. George Bowden used to bring the washing in big hampers on a handcart from the CourtWhen we got older Ron & I went further afield knowing when it was safe to explore as we knew when the " old Lady" as she was known was away; our Dad was driving her wasn`t he ? We found the old boathouse down by or in the lake with a punt inside which we thought about trying out until we found it had rotted !When Miss C . and Miss Peters went on holiday, Dad used to drive them, she sent me a photo of Dad by the Rufus stone in the New Forest when they were in Bournemouth Then it was time for Spring-cleaning and all the indoor staff were roped in My mother among them so the Court became a whole new playground It must have been hard work for the domestic staff but I remember the fun. The stair-rods were pulled out and the carpet stretched out for brushing and the house-maids ,led by Mrs.Bushen (Val Piper`s gran) sliding down the carpet on trays; music boxes were set playing and a good time was had by all and the work got finished in time. Joan Cornish

ARLINGTON PARISH

Then and Now