Pictures of People and Events from Bygone Days

This is a photo of Hillside Café that used to be at the end of Top Street opposite the entrance to Cherry Orchard. It opened soon after 1946 and operated during the 1950s, closing in the very early 1960s when it was replaced by the present two semi-detached houses. It was very popular with local transport drivers and villagers. To the right of the café was a small shop which was attached to what is now Jars Cottage where the owners lived. From the shop was a serving hatch where sweets, ice cream and tobacco were served with fish and chips available on Saturdays. The café was run by Phyllis Fryer (pictured) and Robert Morgan. Phyllis's husband Fred had died shortly after the war and is buried in the war grave in Charlton cemetery. The Fryers were a long-standing Charlton family, Fred's father Allen being the farm bailiff for JM Stokes at Whitehouse Farm.

There are a number of stories related to ghosts in the old manor house. One is that Sir John used to haunt the cellars and the servants were scared to go down there as "Sir John will blow your candle out". Allegedly it took 12 priests to exorcise his spirit which was ultimately driven into a wine barrel which was then bricked up behind the cellar wall.

Of course, the barrel is still there underneath one of the houses in the Dovecote!

There was also a story about a white lady who haunted the staircase, there is someone in the village today who actually saw her.

This may be her looking out of the attic window!

One of the first tractors to be used in the fields around Charlton, probably some time during the 1930s

Cherry trees on land off Top Street, opposite Jars Cottage and Honeysuckle Cottage. The Cherry Orchard housing development now stands on the site.

To the left of Jars Cottage, on what used to called "Cafe Corner", there used to be a cafe. Two semi-detached houses now stand on the site.

Bridge over Merry Brook at Canada Bank, early 20th century

View from the early 20th century along Canada Bank with Charlton Manor House  just visible in the distance

A view of the ford at Stocky Brook in Brook Lane, with Donald and Arthur Crowley in the background

Sheep wash pool on the village green, using water diverted from Merry Brook

Daffodil picking amidst plum blossom

Merry Brook in flood. Much work has been carried out in recent years in conjunction with the Environment Agency to reduce the risk of serious flooding affecting the village in the future.

Merry Brook in flood in earlier times

Charlton village football team 1909

Charlton church choir c.1910

Charlton village football team 1912/13 season

Charlton village football team 1921/22

Charlton village football team on ballast hole ground with Charlton signalbox in

the background

Outside the Gardeners Arms,

early 20th century

Bonfire in The Bight to celebrate the coronation of

King George V in 1911

The Habbits family market gardeners

Copy of certificate presented to Harry Fryer in recognition of his services as secretary of Charlton Working Men's Club in 1920s

Washing onions in the remains of the old sheep dip on The Green c.1930s

May Day celebrations during the 1930's with Charlton church and

Mr Cook's house in the background

Inside the Gardeners Arms c.1930's

Pea picking in the fields around Charlton c.1930's

Party in the village to celebrate the coronation of King George VI and

Queen Elizabeth in 1937

Women's Land Army girls, 1941 - 1942

Walter Douglas Faulkner, son of last resident squire

of Charlton. Later Lt Col Faulkner MC, Irish Guards,

killed during the invasion of Norway in 1940.

Sold Charlton estate in 1930s

"Salute the Soldier" exhibits in the window of the Old Bakery in 1944

Donald and Arthur Crowley

and Graham Ballard

delivering the bread

Workers in the packing house at Whitehouse Farm, c.1950s, possibly sorting and packing damsons or Brussels sprouts.

If anyone can clarify this, please let us know

Charlton children at Cropthorne School in 1950s

Does anyone recognise themself? If so, please get in touch

Whitehouse farm workers c.1950's

Party in the village to celebrate the coronation

of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

Another party for children of the village in

the 1950s

Charlton Summer Fayre in the grounds of

the Manor House in 1960's

Another view of Charlton Summer Fayre in 1960s

Rosemary Swift and Geoff Righton plant the first

tree on the newly cleared village green in 1966

Children on the footbridge over Merry Brook. 

This is still a popular location for local children for the game of "Pooh Sticks"

Another view of the footbridge over Merry Brook with cattle grazing on the village green in the background