One of our older residents, Mr Chandler has kindly agreed to share his memories with us. The first part of his interview can be found here

I have had a number of contributions of memories about Bilbrook and will add them as soon as possible. Unfortunately I don't have as much time as I would like at the moment to update the site, but I will do what I can. Below are some of the contributions which are full of wonderful details

Mick, remembers the demise of Bilbrook Manor

In your history of the village, you say the manor house was demolished in 1945. More likely it was demolished 10 years later around 1955, I think you will find this to be much closer, as it was on my paper round which I started in 1950 aged 10years, Both the Twentymans and colonel Shaws next house down, also the riding stables were standing at this time.Myself I was born in the village, now live in Joeys Lane, lots of changes but sadly not all in keeping with village life.Anyone interested in the 1940 to 55 if I can help please ask.

M Edwards

Thanks Mick, please share as much as you can remember - Webmaster

John Westwood, a former Bilbrook resident now living in Australia sends us the following:

(In response to a question about the Greyhound Pub)...
"I dont remember it but I think it was the last house on the left . I think a family called Horden owned it or lived in it.. I remember the elm hedge that ran from their place down to what we called the Brambles just opposite Brookfield Grove. Behind that elm hedge was a field with huge pear trees on the boundary . The trees were huge not the pears. I used to be able to climb upthe first elm tree and climb from tree to tree for about 40 or 50 yards of hedge at the top, some 20ft off the ground.

In those days I was in the Bilbrook scouts and at night on the way home Lane Green road was a very dark road so I used to walk down the middle of the bitumen. Not much chance of being run down by a car in those days.

Opposite there was "chandlers orchard" which had damson trees that were neglected . We used to go there and "scrump". Old Ted quite often used to chase us away

I remember when they knocked the old farm house down .It was a great play area in the bales of hay that were left behind.

Behind what used to be Dillons was on old house , probably originally a farm house for the land that became the primary school. A family called Hickey used to live there. as I recall there were many Hickeys.

I can remember the house that was on the left hand side of the Woodman being vacant for some time before it was incorporated into the pub but cant remember any details. We called it he Haunted house". About that time Fred Caine ( I think that was his name ) and his Teddy Boy mates used to congregate wearing their luminous green socks.

Names from the past . Constable Reynolds who used to be the Village bobby who lived in the police house in duck lane..Sgt Cassidy .I cant remember any detail. I do remember duck lane flooding before the shops In ducklane were built as I recall the junction of Wesley rd and ( not Ringhills rd but the other road that loops around the back of the estate ) also flooded.. I hope you dont live there..because it was about 2 ft deep . Julian Cleary and his family moved into the house onthe corner where the flood was.

Ask my mother about the groceries that were delivered in converted furniture van prior to super markets etc"

Peter Watkins remembers the changes to the shops:

"I note that you are uncertain of the origin of the shops along Bilbrook Road, and I'm sure by now you must have been bombarded with answers, but here for what it's worth is mine.

I moved to Bilbrook as a five year old in 1953. My parents still live in Homefield Road. I attended Lane Green County Primary School as it was then known, and seem to remember as a very young child being taken on a nature ramble on the area where the shops now stand. I would imagine therefore that the shops would have been built around 1954-5. The dental workshop was then two units, Weston's (sweets & tobacco) on the left, and Whitehouse and Siviter (household goods) on the right. The "One Stop" was also two units, a grocers and a fruit shop I seem to recall. The other two shops were a shoe repairer (Pye) on the right, and (possibly) a clothing store of some kind.

On the subject of shops, the two at the other end of Withers Road were Madeley's (sweets, groceries etc) and Dunn's(?). Challenors (?) took over Dunn's in about 1955 and extended the shop to incorporate a Chippie.

Ah. memories!!!"

The Webmaster 26/01/2002