Chessington Memories

"I was born in 1939 in Kingston Hospital. My parents had bought a new home in Chantry Road with a loan of £500. It was surrounded by countryside until a large estate of rented housing was built.

I went to Buckland Road Infants and Moor Lane. With my two older brothers we played in the surrounding countryside, making camps.

My brothers were evacuated to Devon and, in 1944, my mother and I also went to Devon. The bombing had finished in Plymouth but was still going on in London. When we returned home, the windows of the house had been blown out. This had been caused by a Doodlebug which had landed in an open field near Chantry Road. After the war we played around the wreckage. My dad was an aircraft mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm and did not come home until 1945. Before he went off to war, he built an Anderson Shelter in the garden. When the sirens rang, we went to the shelter. Somehow my mother coped with 3 boys and the worry of war.

I lived in Chantry Road until I married in 1966. We stayed in the area before moving to Devon in 1975."

Michael

“The photo shows my mum, dad and sisters Margaret (9 years), Patricia (4 years) and Rosemary (2 years) at Chessington Zoo with large slides in the background. I did have a fourth sister, Ann, who sadly died at the age of eight in 1940. They were living in West Molesey.

My dad went to France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1939 and was taken off the beaches at Dunkirk 1940. We think this photo was taken at Chessington Zoo around 1942, before he was sent to Egypt with the Royal Engineers as a Sapper. He did not return till late 1945. My mum must have been pleased to see him as I was the result in September 1946.”

Rob, CDRA executive committee member

“This photo is from June 2024 of a green RTL double-decker doing the 406 run. I picked it up at Epsom and jumped off on Tolworth Broadway. Not exactly historic but a look back to the past. The London Bus Museum is doing a similar run on the 418 bus route on 8th June 2025.”

Peter, Chessington resident

“I’m nearly 87 and moved into my house in Gilders Road at the age of 3 months! I was educated in Chessington, did my National Service, married and farmed the land behind Gilders Road. My father was awarded the Military Medal in WW1, and my mother was a wartime nurse. I remember the underground air raid shelter on Copt Gilders. I am a member of the Royal British Legion and still attend annual reunions of his regiment, the East Surrey’s.”

– Dennis, Chessington resident

The above photo was provided by Helen Cain. It was taken in the 1980s and shows the staff of Eliot Godfrey Chemist, Hook Parade, including Helen’s grandmother, June, on the right.

The above photo was taken by Julie Turner during the final week of Woolworths on Hook Parade being open. It was store number 898 and opened in 1955, closed in 2008.

“I moved to Chantry Road, Chessington when I was six. That house had views to Epsom Downs. Every year, we’d gather to watch the fireworks light up the horizon. Behind those houses was a hidden world of alleyways and garages where my friends and I would cycle, race and explore. It felt like our own little network of secret paths. You knew when the street lights came on, it’s home time.

I went to Buckland Infants, Moor Lane Junior School and Chessington Community College. Each school played a huge part in growing up here. Chessington is a place I’m proud to call home. It shaped who I am, and it still holds a sense of belonging that’s hard to replace.”

– Councillor Sharukh Mirza, Liberal Democrat councillor for Chessington South & Malden Rushett

“In 2011, I moved from Devon, where I had spent 54 years of my life, to Chessington to be with my husband, Jas, who worked in the area.

We moved into a repossessed house. The contents of the previous occupants had been left behind, making it feel more like a time capsule than a new beginning. It was overwhelming at first, but we slowly turned it into a home. What helped us was the kindness of our new neighbours. They were marvellously supportive. One of our rituals while settling in was visiting Letitia’s café. It’s long gone, but back then it was a cosy spot. I had left behind a lifetime in Devon, but the warm welcome we received in Chessington helped me feel at home again.”

– Councillor Sue Ansari, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hook & Chessington North

I remember Chessington North station becoming Brighton North station for the day in 1961. It was used for the making of the comedy farce ‘The Night We Got The Bird‘ starring Brian Rix and Dora Bryan about a parrot given to the Brian Rix character as a wedding present.

– Graham, Chessington resident

“I grew up in north Kingston and remember visiting my grandparents who lived on Hook Road. We would go shopping at Sainsbury’s at Ace Parade. I remember thinking it was a grand shop. When I married in the 1980s, our wedding cake was from Manuels at the Ace. We carefully transported it to the wedding reception venue in Richmond. In 1996, we moved from Surbiton into a new home on the Mansfield Park development. Being on the edge of the green belt, it felt like we had moved to the country!”

– Louise S, Chessington resident

“I remember when the water main burst in Hook Road and created chaos. It was in April 2016. The cellar of the Lucky Rover pub was very nearly full of water and had to be pumped out. Residents of Cecil Close, which is in a slight dip, woke to find water up to knee level, pouring down the road at about 1.30 in the morning. A woman who lived at the far end of Cecil Close went into labour and firefighters had to collect her in an inflatable boat. Luckily, nobody was hurt.”

– Diane, Chessington resident

“I have lived in the borough all my life. I went to Moor Lane, Gosbury Hill and Fleetwood schools which may be the reason for my interest in transport as all three schools were adjacent to the railway. I spent 15 years driving buses from Kingston and Norbiton garages. I often went spotting trains, buses and planes using red and green rover tickets. Having held a PCV licence for fifty years, I still drive buses for the London Bus Museum where I volunteer driving, stewarding and miscellaneous workshop duties. My photo shows Kingston Bus’s 71 by the Blackamoors Head pub, now the Chessington Oak.”

– Graham, Chessington resident

“I remember my first visit to Chessington as a child (maybe 5 years old) when it was still the zoo, with a ride on the miniature railway, and again when it had the suspended monorail. As an adult, I started my working life as a field service engineer based on the Chessington industrial estate, sometimes visiting UK military administration offices across the southeast. One of those calls was to RAF Chessington when it was still the RAF regional payroll processing site to repair one of their computers. Incidentally, the contemporary regional army payroll office was up in Tolworth Tower.”

– Gulraj R

“I don’t know how many residents would remember the pig farm in Chessington. It was on the ground I now believe is Woodland Walk, just past the William Bourne (Bonesgate). When I was a child in the 50s, my dad and I used to go on a Sunday morning to feed the pigs. Then they opened a shop on that site which sold pork and sausages known as Porky Whites. My own children would stand at the back door and watch the butcher making the sausages. Many happy memories of the good old days.”

– Wendy, Chessington resident

“Having moved to Chessington as a teenager in 1959, I started work at Hinchley Wood in 1962. I opened my first bank account at Barclays Bank, Ace Parade. I struggled to work through the harsh winter of 1962/63 with snow on the ground for 3 months.

Having started a family, my wife walked over a mile each way with the pram and a tray underneath for the shopping to Sainsbury’s with their marble counters. Also stopping at Boots in the parade.

Oh, great times and happy memories.”

– Terry, Chessington resident

“My greatest memory of Chessington was before I became a Councillor, and that was when the Olympic Torch was carried through Chessington and Hook in July 2012.

Walking to Hook from Chessington Industrial Estate early in the morning with my daughter and her friends and with the crowds of other residents, up through Gosbury Hill and Elm Road. Once we got to the Hook Centre and seeing how many people were there took my breath away, it was incredible. We walked up towards the junction of Hawkhurst Gardens, where we watched James Cracknell hand over the torch to Joe Smale. James then walked straight over to us and let us take a photo of the children.

It was a real occasion for all Chessington and Hook residents who came together to watch something we will probably never see again, certainly not in my lifetime, I loved all the smiles, the cheers and the feeling of being an entire community.”

– Councillor Lorraine Dunstone, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hook & Chessington North

“We moved to Hook in 1976 and once our children reached school age, they attended St Paul’s school, which is associated with St Paul’s Church. At that time, Mr Giles was the vicar and Bill Mullinger the rector. From memory, Bill was a regular patron of the North Star. For a few years, on bonfire night, Mr Giles and Bill arranged a bonfire party for local people in the garden of the church, plus a burger stall.

Although not churchgoers, when she got married, our daughter, who was living in Morden, insisted that she was married at St Paul’s.”

– Brian, CDRA Executive Committee member

“At its peak in 1933 the once glorious Ace of Spades Roadhouse boasted an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, ballroom dancing to famous cabaret performers.

Unfortunately, there was a serious fire in 1955. Although the building was repaired, it no longer enjoyed the popularity of previous years.

It was in the 1970s when it was in its lesser glamorous state that I regularly went there with my friends. On the lower floor, there was a dance floor and a bar. The restaurant was on an upper level. After dinner, we would dance the night away. It is a lovely memory.

It is such a shame that it has now been turned into nothing more than a retail site and gym.”

– Diane, Chessington resident

“My three children went to Buckland Primary School from 1984 to 1999. My four grandchildren also went to Buckland. My youngest grandchild is still there and thoroughly enjoys it. Buckland Road was always chaotic at school times with cars, but now the Council has made it a school street. The lollipop person has served the Moor Lane junction for many years. In 2015 the school changed its name to Castle Hill Primary School. Castle Hill is a local nature reserve owned by Merton College, Oxford. Originally being on the edge of a deer park, there is likely to have been a hunting lodge there in medieval times.”

– Ken, Chessington resident

“Catherine of Sienna RC Church on Leatherhead Road holds many memories for me. It was my grandmother’s church. She lived in Stormont Way, then in Frimley Road. In 1961, I was christened at St Catherine’s. Two of my children were christened at the church in the early 1980s and both got married there too, one in 2005 and the other one in 2012. It’s a beautiful, small local church.”

– Louise R, Chessington resident

"I recall attending the public meeting of the founding of the Association. My recollection of the Association’s beginnings is of some young men meeting up in a local pub, the White Hart (now long defunct) and deciding to form a group where Hook and Chessington residents could meet to exchange opinions and propose ideas for better local community planning. The group also wanted to help create more opportune, ready contact between residents and local authorities. Its advocate, Mr Gardiner, a keen leader, alongside local resident supporters.

I was aware of this activity as a staff member at Hook Public Library. The library was not only the hub of general information and a ready source of bestseller entertainment, but it was the known lynch pin for budding news, a council contact point and the local gossipings.

Mark Davison, then a cub newspaper reporter, occasionally paid a visit, maybe hoping to pick up likely titbits from the flow of the area’s interesting colourful tapestry. Snippets such as the young Hook readers’ days at the BBC’s wardrobe department, who could draw inspiration from the library’s first-rate collection of volumes detailing varied fashion and costume design over the decades. Also, the outbursts of a local prima donna, a self-declared offspring of Edward VII, announcing her regal bastardisation to those who thought to listen.

Throughout a number of years, the outstanding character who led with foresight and courage within the Association was Jim Taylor. Jim took on various battles on behalf of residents. His retirement then a severe loss. It was Jim who foresaw Chessington’s future traffic chaos with the proposed Junction 9 of the M25 and organised the lobbying of Parliament.

It is heartening to know the Association continues with lively spirit and enterprise. This is thanks to all past and present individuals who determine to uphold the quest for pride and democracy in maintaining rightful and harmonious residential living conditions locally for Hook and Chessington.

Due congratulations and appreciation."

– Jean, Chessington resident