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Long Cross Hill, about 1900 |
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Looking down Long Cross Hill from its junction with Curtis Lane, c.1900
Various members of the Gamblen family lived on Long Cross Hill at this time, from Ivy Bank down to Long Cross Farm.
The Rectory Field is behind the hedge on the right (see next picture). In 1987 the parishioners of Headley staged a successful march through London to deliver a petition to the Archbishop of Canterbury against plans by the Diocese of Guildford to sell the 10-acre site for housing development. |
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Cows grazing on the Rectory Field by Long Cross Hill, c.1908
On Long Cross Hill, across the road from the field, we can see Ivy Bank (redeveloped 2003) and the side of the Post Office. The Congregational Chapel to its right is partly hidden by a tree, and the Manse to its right (with the white gate) borders onto the 'Brae' footpath to Arford Road. This name was given to the footpath by the American author Brett Harte when he stayed at Arford House.
The cows almost certainly belonged to the Gamblen family, who ran a milk round from Long Cross Farm at this time. |
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Rectory Field, about 1908 |
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Post Office in Long Cross Hill, 1908 |
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Post Office in Long Cross Hill from the Chapel gate, 1908
This picture and the next one show Long Cross Hill between Headley High Street (uphill to the left) and Arford (downhill to the right).
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| William Gamblen (1856-1942) was Postmaster here for more than 60 years-also Parish Clerk for 45 years and a chorister at All Saints for 75 years. After he died, his daughter, Ethel Carter, carried on the business. There was also a Bank here, entered by the door on the left.
Around 1956 the Post Office moved from here to Church Gate House in the High Street, until closing there in March 2002. |
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Post Office and Congregational Chapel, Long Cross Hill, about 1908 |
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Long Cross Hill showing Post Office and Congregational Chapel, c.1908
A recreation room ('The Institute') was later added to the Chapel at the far end, and used as a school room. The Chapel was active until after the Second World War, when rising costs forced it to be sold. The chapel was then used as Dr Williamson's surgery until he retired, after which the building was demolished. |
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| Long Cross House can be seen in the distance where the road bends-the words Headley Restaurant being painted on its gable end. Later, its ground floor was a greengrocer's shop run by Sid Tidey and his sister. |
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Headley Restaurant, Long Cross Hill
Long Cross House with the words Headley Restaurant painted on its gable end (see also previous picture). Its ground floor was a greengrocer's shop run by Sid Tidey and his sister.
The man in the picture has not been identified. |
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Headley Restaurant, Long Cross Hill probably in the 1930s |
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Chapel steps, Long Cross Hill, about 1908 |
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Chapel steps, Long Cross Hill
These steps from the road were built to give access to the recreation room at the back of the chapel. The pillars and left-hand wall can still be seen today, though the steps have now been covered up. Frederick Oscar Parfect is the foreman on the right-he was also a well-digger.
The next picture, a view of Long Cross Farm, was taken from a high position to the left of this picture. |
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Long Cross Farm from the Chapel, c.1908
Long Cross Farm is reputedly haunted by a very benevolent spirit.
During the Second World War it was requisitioned to house officers of the Canadian Army, and Bob Grant of the Fort Garry Horse regiment tells us that they kept their beer supply cool at the bottom of the well. One day the pail tipped over and they lost two dozen very scarce and precious bottles. In trying to retrieve them, he ended up in the water himself. What really hurt, he says, was that the South Alberta Regiment which came to Headley a short time later successfully recovered the beer. |
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Long Cross Farm, about 1908 |
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Introduction
Long Cross Hill
