The Limpsfield Blog

Limpsfield’s new agony aunt column! Lonely on Valentine’s Day…

We all have problems, some small and some large. And often it’s hard to talk about them. Every month we’ll be featuring an Agony Aunt column with me, Sarah Kane, a qualified psychotherapist and counsellor.

Our first Limpsfield Agony Aunt column deals with a much anticipated, but, for some, a much dreaded and lonely time of year – Valentine’s Day. Continue reading “Limpsfield’s new agony aunt column! Lonely on Valentine’s Day…”

Limpsfield’s Two Queen Bees show bags of initiative

Two Limpsfield mums, sisters, Kerry Cook and Nicky Spikesman are the creative duo behind Two Queen Bees, a thriving bag label that specialises in practical, colourful, robust and incredibly useful bags.  Kerry and Nicky talk about what its like to work with your sibling and how they conceived and developed their successful business idea.    Continue reading “Limpsfield’s Two Queen Bees show bags of initiative”

Flashback Friday: The Forge and Forge Cottages Limpsfield

The Forge and Forge Cottages on Limpsfield High Street (not to be confused with Forge Cottage on Limpsfield Chart – Stoneleigh Road) were built in the late 1600s. The Forge itself (pictured) stood on the end of the cottages on the corner of Priest Hill by Memorial Stores until the 1930s, when it was finally demolished. The four tiny timber and brick/rubble cottages still stand, now painted white and black. Continue reading “Flashback Friday: The Forge and Forge Cottages Limpsfield”

Get merry this Saturday at the Limpsfield Community Orchard’s Wassail Party!

 

This weekend the Limpsfield Community Orchard is holding its famed annual Wassail Party in the orchards by Grub Street – Saturday 28 January from 5PM. The fun family event celebrates the apple harvest with apple cider, singing, hot dogs and general merry-making around a big bonfire with drums and rattles.

“So what’s wassail?” we hear you ask… Well…wassail is a hot, mulled punch, drunk from a ‘wassailing bowl’ during winter time to celebrate a successful apple harvest.

Originally, ‘wassailers’ dropped roasted crab apples into hot mead, in which they burst forming a potent cider. Since then it’s become more of a mulled cider made with sugar and spices (cinnamon, nutmeg etc) and topped with slices of toast. It can also include wine, fruit juice or mulled ale, sometimes with brandy or sherry added.

Old apple tree we wassail thee
And hoping thou will bear
For the Lord doth know where we shall be
‘Til apples come another year

For to bear well and to bloom well
So merry let us be
Let every man take off his hat
And shout to the old apple tree

Old apple tree we wassail thee
And hoping thou will bear
Hat fulls, cap fulls, three bushel bag fulls
And a little heap under the stairs

Anyway… if you like the idea of a bit of singalong around the fire with the Chart Singers and fancy trying a bit of this medieval and often very potent tipple (don’t worry, there’s apple juice for kids), then assemble at the British Legion on Grub Street at 5ish for a procession through the woods to the orchards at 6pm.

Donations of £2 a head to cover costs would be most welcome. Wear warm, waterproof and colourful gear and bring along torches, rattles, drums and bells if you want! All the family is welcome.

To find out more about the Limpsfield Community Orchard’s work, follow their blog HERE.

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Furzedown, a lost Hospital

A hundred years ago, there were several hospitals and convalescent homes around Limpsfield, including St Michaels, Charing Cross (Trevereux Hill), Caxton House and Furzedown.  Below, David Claridge’s writes a short history of, Furzedown, A Lost Hospital, as published in the Limpsfield Parish News magazine.

Continue reading “Furzedown, a lost Hospital”

Flashback Friday: Limpsfield Village in the snow?

Actually we’re not entirely sure if this is Limpsfield in the snow or not – it could be the age of the print – it looks pretty wintry though!  It’s taken from outside what was then The White Hart pub (Lord Rodney/Rodney House) looking down the high street.
 
The photo is stamped J Brasier, who was J Brasier of the Brasier & Sons family, Builders & Undertakers, based at Brasier’s Cottage, next to what is now Ebbutt & Sons Funerals. They were carpenters and journeymen by trade, so presumably made the coffins as well as undertook the burial?
J Brasier played cricket for Limpsfield into his 70s (in the 1920s) and is, according to this article, directly related to our very own PM, Theresa May (nee Theresa Mary Brasier)!!  Click here to see how they’re related: Find My Past/Theresa May
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PS. Sorry for the lateness of this Flashback Friday – I was held up by the snow…and Southern Trains ;) …

Hazelwood opens its Baily Building with Gala Concert

Hazelwood School in Limpsfield officially opened the Baily Building at the end of last term with a Gala Concert, performed in The Bawtree Hall, featuring over 200 of the school’s most talented musicians performing alongside friends, family and the acapella singing sensation Voces8. Continue reading “Hazelwood opens its Baily Building with Gala Concert”

Flashback Friday: Henry Radcliffe Convalescent Home, Trevereux Hill

Now Trevereux Hill’s Chart Ridge, Limpsfield Chart, the Henry Radcliffe Convalescent Home, formerly Charing Cross Auxiliary Hospital was one of several auxiliary hospitals and convalescent homes around Limpsfield and Oxted. Continue reading “Flashback Friday: Henry Radcliffe Convalescent Home, Trevereux Hill”

A special visitor for Oxted fire crew

Oxted’s firefighters had a special visitor before Christmas, bearing gifts of sweet delight… but it wasn’t Santa!  It was eight year old Jasmine Baber of Limpsfield, who has just about finished her 24 Random Acts Of Kindness, which began on December 1 and will end on Christmas Eve. Continue reading “A special visitor for Oxted fire crew”

Thanks & Merry Christmas to all in Limpsfield!

Before we all close up shop for Christmas, a little note to say thanks very much for all the support for the Limpsfield website since its launch in October.

The aim of the Limpsfield website and related social media is to help maintain a sense of the lovely community of the Limpsfield parish area; to provide useful information for people who live in the parish; to promote Limpsfield’s businesses and attractions; sing about all the amazing people who contribute to the community and generally provide a little bit of insight into Limpsfield life!

The site, FB, Twitter etc is completely voluntary and managed in “spare” time and relies on Limpsfield residents and business owners for information, news and general goings-on in the area.  If you want to be included, please email your business, organisation or events info, photos, what’s on and Flashback Friday photos to hello@limpsfieldsurrey.com. Everything is greatly appreciated, and as long as it’s relevant and appropriate, it will be included!

Constructive feedback is more than welcome, so let me know what you think about the site and if you have any suggestions for content!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year.