Historical Images
Bridge Cottage, c.1893. Source: Private collection. The person standing in the garden is either Emily Hillier or Fanny Phillips depending on the exact date of the photo. Bridge Cottage was the Post Office in 1901 with Emily as the Postmistress but in 1895 Fanny was Postmistress.
Grateley Windmill. Source: Private collection. The windmill gradually fell into a state of disrepair and was used for a variety of farm storage purposes. Once again we request that if anyone can date this photo they get in touch.
Grateley Windmill, c.1900. Source: Private collection. Yes Grateley had a windmill! It was located near to Highlands on the site now occupied by Grateley Business Park. We are working on a date for this photo, but we do know that the sweeps were removed from the mill in 1899, so the best we can do so far is early 1900s. From Stan Angell: The 1883 Ordnance Survey shows “….one house on the main road and a windmill (corn)”. Kelly’s Directory 1889 states “Local traders with premises at the station include Albert Shearer, ‘miller (steam), corn, hay, straw and coal merchant'” This virtually confirms our surmise that originally, milling was done by power of a windmill and then replaced by a steam engine with boiler, the chimney for which appears in this photo. The changeover took place sometime between 1883 and 1889.
Railway Hotel Group, c.1939. Source: Chris Talbot. Here is an interesting photo outside the Railway Hotel. It is thought to have been taken around 1939. Please contact us if you recognise anyone in this photo. The Railway Hotel became the Shire Horse Pub, and was later demolished to build Station Cottages.
Group at Grateley station, c.1944. Source: Michael Longyear, supplied by Douglas Hunt. A photograph from Douglas Hunt who lived in Grateley many years ago and became a master mariner and sailed the world. We know where the photograph was taken but who are the children and when (1944?). Does anybody remember posing for this. The Australians were here at Grateley Camp prior to D Day when loads of troops were dispersed over the south of England. The photo is a photocopy of the original, which was quite damaged. Bill and Lyn Martin, former owners of the Shire Horse pub (now demolished) speculate: “We think that the little girl, bottom left, is Mary Wilson, (later Mary Davis now Mary Caines) the wife of Reg who had the coal round 20 years ago. We think she would only have been allowed down here with her mothers much younger brother (her uncle), who is one of the older boys, Ken Crosswell”.
Grateley Station, c.1901. Source: Bill Martin. A very interesting photo (taken from a scan of a photograph). It shows the branch line that went to Amesbury being built. The metal road bridge is being converted to accommodate the new line. Those who know better have informed us that the crosses on the signals on the main line indicate that the line is closed, possibly while construction is in progress. This branch line has long since gone and is now the upline platform and rail maintenance access track.
Grateley Station, c.1920. Source: Private collection. This photo was taken on the same day as the previous photo of the station in this collection. Particular points of interest are, the Railway Hotel (on the right, and the sheer size of the site compared to how it looks today. The Railway Hotel became the Shire Horse Pub, and was later demolished to build Station Cottages.
Grateley Station, c.1920. Source: Middleton Press. We are not exactly sure of the date for this picture but think it was taken some time during the period late 1910’s to early 1920’s. The train on the left side of the photo appears to be carrying gun carriages. The signal box on the left, The Station Masters Cottage on the right, and the wooden footbridge have all now gone. From Stan Angell “The wooden footbridge over the line was replaced by a standard concrete bridge in the 1920’s so gives some approx date for the photo. Also, the windmill appearing in this and other photos of the station itself was of all-metal construction and used to pump water from a well to a tank serving several taps around the station. It was not used to provide water for locomotives and there were not any facilities for doing so at Grateley”.
Grateley Station. Source: Private collection. An old photo of Grateley Station. We have no further details for this picture and would appreciate any further information.
Grateley Jazz Band. Source: Chris Talbot. Grateley Jazz Band? Or maybe the assembled group were part of a fancy dress party or some other celebration? Please contact us if you can elaborate on this photo.
Highlands c.1905. Source: Private collection. This photo was taken early last century it is thought that the younger woman is Mrs Crook (nee Shearing). It looks as though they are playing rounders.
Manor Farm. Source: Private collection. Manor Farm adjacent to Grateley Church.
High Street, c.1901. Source: Private collection. We scanned this image from an old postcard belonging to a resident of the village, the view has not changed that much from how it appears today.
The Plough. Source: Private collection. An old photo of the Plough Inn. Can you help us to date it and even identify the man working on the roadside? The tree in front of the pub looks very small in contrast to how it looks today. The tree was one of three planted to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. (Many thanks to Rob Tierney for this extra info!)
Highlands c.1905. Source: Private collection. This picture has been dated to around 1905, it was taken soon after Highlands was built as the house looks ‘new’. Today the house is surrounded by mature trees.
Swefling, c.1905. Source: Private collection. As with Highlands this picture has been dated to 1905, the similarities between the two houses is not a coincidence, each house was built by brothers.
The Railway Hotel, c.1922. Source: Private collection. A copy of a scanned photo shows the Railway Hotel, which became the Shire Horse pub, and is now Station Cottages. The Lady by the front door is Mrs Dear who was the landlady at this time. It is known that she left the Railway Hotel in 1933 and bought the Boot Inn at Shipton.
Westend Cottages, c.1901. Source: Hampshire Library. This is quite an extraordinary picture as the tree in the centre of the photo appears to be in the middle of the road, whereas now this tree is fully grown and is on the corner of the junction. This tree was one of three planted to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee (many thanks to Rob Tierney for this extra info!).
Hope Cottage, c.1893. Source: Private collection. This picture is dated as 1893 and shows the High Street with Hope Cottage on the right. The chap in the picture is probably Follet the shopkeeper and baker. He was the shopkeeper over the period up to and after 1901. At the time of the photograph we think that he was getting on for 60 years old.
Grateley Village Shop. Source: Private collection. An interesting old photo that we are trying to date. Hope Cottage can be seen along with the shop/bakery. Can anyone identify the chap by the gate? The tree was one of three planted to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. The other two are still going strong, but Rob Tierney tells of why the tree in this picture is no longer there. “The one by the shop was, I am told, removed because American Tank Transporters in WW2 could not manoeuvre around it – probably one of them felled it!!”
Grateley House 1893. Source: Private collection. This old photo of the front of Grateley House is dated as 1893. It was a private residence then owned by the Boutcher family.
First car in Grateley, c.1915. Source: Bill Boutcher. This interesting photo dated about 1915 is reported as being the first car in Grateley. We think that it is a model T (Ford) registration number AA4845, which was a Wiltshire registration. The car belonged to the Boutcher family who bought it as a replacement when the horse the family used to pull their carriage was requisitioned for the war effort! The driver is a man called Alfred Spreadbury.
Glebelands. Source – Janet Clarke. This is an early photograph of Glebelands taken from the road beside the pond. We are working on a date for it and if you can help then please get in touch.
Grateley House, c.1901. Source: Hampshire Library. This is when Grateley House was a private residence. The beautifully manicured lawn in the foreground is now a car park for Grateley House School.
St Leonards Church, c.1901. Source: Hampshire Library. When this photo was taken the Church can actually be seen here! Since then the trees in the foreground have grown significantly and obscure this view.
Chapel Lane c.1900. Source: Private collection. This is Chapel Lane taken at the turn of the last century. We are attempting to identify the man in the picture so if you have any ideas please contact us.