Knaphill, The Old Smithy 1911

Photo ref: 63140

I lived at 27 Victoria Rd, Knaphill and went to the school at Star Hill then the school down the lane at St Johns, past the barracks and cookhouse. When the soldiers were demobbed we used to be given sweets, chocolate and fags which we took them home. I must have been about 8 or 9. I can remember when going home after school, passing the cookhouse where they used to leave cakes out to cool and we used to nick some. ...see more

Wow. The pictures bring back so many memories. I was born and bred in Woking and my family owned The Shoe Box in Knaphill. Originally my grandfather Albert Cook gifted the shop to his friend Phyl (my siblings and I affectionately called her auntie Phyl). I have memories of getting all our shoes there, although it was very old fashioned. It also serviced Brookwood Hospital until Tesco arrived! In the late 80's and ...see more

I too left Oswestry after two weeks and also stood outside the main gate after being unloaded from the lorries, whilst a pass out parade was taking place - and we all said the same thing, we will never be as smart as that lot. But Sgt MacIntosh shouted at us "you will do as I say, you will win every competition I enter you horrible little things in and you will be the best squad I have ever had". ...see more

I have enjoyed reading the 'Memories of Knaphill' contributions, and though I have not lived there myself, my Payne family did, so thought I might share a few of their memories! In the 1890's, Captain George Payne and his wife Eliza, lived in Victoria House, 1 Victoria Terrace, near the Inkerman Barracks. George was a master grocer and baker. He later became a Lieutenant in HM Army. He was one of the ...see more