"Links Edge“,
3&7, Victoria Drive,

   Eastbourne,

East Sussex. BN20 8XR.
g.\‘.'>l3 7129!‘?
Dear Mr, Cornfield,
Bridge & District History Society's Millennium Proiect.

My wife and I are members of the above Society. I left Bridge
at the age of #2 years in 1936. I have received the form requesting House/site
information and that I am not able to help in this specific connection.
ﬂowever I do have some recollections which might be of some value. Mindful of
my age on leaving the village and the time distance between then and now you
might feel obliged to check some of the details.

I remember some of the horse drawn vehicles around at the time.
The milk delivery from Mr. Jones farm (I believe it was callea Brickfield Farm)
was by horse and float. The milk would be bailed out from the churn in a
measuring scoop straight into the jugs which would be brought out by the
customers. I seem to recall that we paid him weekly. The coalman (a Mr. Hollands
who lived I think in Union Road) had a flat truck and he would deliver coal to
the houses. We livea in one of the smell terraced cottages opposite the Union.

I seem to remember the coal being kept in the cupboard under the stairs. Another
hose drawn vehicle, which as boys we called the soup cart was 1 barrel shaped
container on wheels into which the toilet buckets were emptied. Incidently our
toilets were located at the far end of the communal back yard in a terrsce of

loos. Also in the yard was the pump, fed from a well, from which all the cottages i
drew their water. Another horse drawn vehicle was the ambulance in which I was
transported to the fever hospital in Bekesbourne when I had scarlet fever. The
ambulance was 'garaged' within the union grounds located between the main

buildings and the gardens which extended to the end of Union Road. I think

the gardens were tended by some of the ‘permanent’ male residents.

At the top of Union Road on the left (leaving the village) was a
wind mill (which I can never remember working) with some out buildings one of
which was a stable. Somewhere in the village there was a riding stable and there
was a forge near the-White Horse Inn.

Between the Wars the village had a ﬁranch of the British Legion
(pre Royal) which had a number of local members. My father was one of these
and he was also a member of the Canterbury Branch of the Old Contemptibles
Association. The badge of this Association is on my father's gravestone in
Bridge churchyard.

I attended The Bridge and Patrixbourne Schoolhnd of interest to
us lads was the large brewery lorry which was steam driven toyping up its
water supply from the River Nailbourns right opposite the school.

In retrospect I realise just how close we were to nature in


2.
those days. I am horrified to think tilt after school we would
sometimes 'ea1l in‘ to one of the two slaughter houses (which in those days

Vwere part of the butcher: chops) just to see what was going on. The thought

of doing that today would ‘turn me up‘ but it its in may ways a fairly
basic life. Hanﬁ of the sea in the village eculd go 'rabbiting'- it was a
cheap meal and my mother.vith some of her friends would go 'vooding' in the
woods to collect ‘chips’ (small pieces of wood that were left behind vhen
trees were chopped down).

My father was gassed in the First World War and was frequently
‘on the pane1$._He was a baker by trade and when he was able he voald work
in Mr. Caetleis bakehouae (opposite the Red Lion) but at other times he would
seek casual jobs. I remember him working as a night watchman on road works,
doing stone breaking for road construction and work as a heater during the
shooting season. At home in our small kitchen and on a par4%in stove he
would make doughnuts and on his bicycle would take them to sell in the hop

gardens.
The Master and Matron of the Union were Ir. and Mrs; Honey. I would

imagine them to have had a supportive staff but they also employed a number of
local ladies who would have jobs in various departments of the establishment.
My mother, Betty O'Connell was one such lady. She was in charge of what she
called the needle room in which some of the female ‘permanent're5idents would
repair linen and clothing. I recallﬁanother lady, Ada Wilson who worked in
the laundry. I would imagine there were others who worked in other departments

when I have read of the harsh regime of The poor Law I have been
reminded of the poor ‘tramps’ (as they were referred to) making their way to
The Union to secure a bed for the night. As young people we were a bit afraid
of these men and generally kept out of their way.

one final memory Ihave is of excitment and adventure created
whom elrctric light came to the village. This was about 1935/6 . I cantt
roaember anyone talking o£ poweraniithvas electric ligﬁt that was important
up tv now some houses had gas lighting and others wererdependant on oil lamps.
That reminds me, we had an oil man, I think he came from Canterbury and I
think he may have had a house and cart as well.

This has been a ‘memory joging ’ experience for me. I'm sorry
about the standard of typing but I think it might be more legible than my
writing might have been.

I hope this letter might be of epme value. My thanks and good
wishes to you and all concerned in this project. i

Yours sincerely, / V
/ .
1

WL. J Z411’

Vic O'Connell.