Category: HD Village Trust Memories and Anecdotes

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Hadlow Down Village Trust

In forming the Hadlow Down Village Trust the aim was to record the memories of the village and its people in sound, vision and print for future generations, and to preserve vital oral history and accounts of village life in the twentieth and twenty first century.

The original idea came from Eddie Westfield who felt strongly that we record this type of social history, and retain interesting documents and photographs for future village generations. The first task was to secure the wonderful archive of Peter Gillies, author of the excellent Hadlow Down: An Autobiography.
We welcome any donations of photos, documents and of course personal memories and anecdotes to add to the collection or loaned  to us so that we can scan them and retain a copy.
Please contact hadlowdowntrust@gmail.com if you can help,

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History of Hadlow Down Village Hall

HADLOW DOWN’S VILLAGE HALL: PAST AND THE FUTURE?
Hadlow Down’s first village hall, although not named as such, was a large hut obtained from the YMCA and erected on land donated by the Eridge Estate; it was always known as ‘the Hut’ or ‘the Red Triangle Hut’ after its previous owners’ symbol.  Opened on June 8th 1921 by Princess Marie Louise, Queen Victoria’s last grandchild, it immediately became the focal point for many of the village’s activities. The Hut hosted many social occasions, classes, Horticultural Society meetings, the Organ Club, British Legion (male and female branches) the Happy Circle for older members of the village, the Jazz Club, the Pied Pipers drama group, and the Bowls Club. It was also used for more formal meetings such as the Church Parochial Council and the Parish Council. Continue reading “History of Hadlow Down Village Hall”

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Ford, Margaret Ann

Mrs Edward Ford (Margaret Ann Watson), 48, was the daughter of William and Catherine Margaret (née McGregor) Watson of Bracadale, Isle of Skye.
She married Edward Ford, an Englishman, at Hadlow Down, Sussex, on 17th June, 1890.
They had five children Frances, Dollina, Edward, William and Maggie. Following the birth of the couple’s fifth child, Robina Maggie, on 25th April 1904, Edward had deserted the family and Margaret was left to eke out an existence as a poultry farmer. Her eldest daughter, Frances, was already in the United States working as a domestic servant, and so impressed the family with tales of a better life that Margaret decided to leave their home in Sussex for America. Travelling with them was Margaret’s sister Eliza with her family and a friend of Frances’, Phoebe Alice Harknett. Margaret bought ticket no. W./C. 6608 (£34 7s 6d) for her and her children, they boarded the Titanic at Southampton.
The entire party of ten were lost in the sinking. None of their bodies were identified amongst those recovered after the sinking. Edward Ford later filed a claim for the loss of his family and was awarded five shillings per week.

© Hadlow Down Village Trust 2023