Tales of Catherington Lith

There are periods during one's life that are special. One such period for me were the Hollybank years. Dad bought Hollybank, a bungalow situated in what is now called Catherington Lith, Horndean, in 1951.(Catherington Lith and Stubbins Down form a wooden scarp rising steeply above the village of Horndean. Over 30 acres in area, much of the Lith is Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (i.e. continually wooded since at least 1600 AD)). Hollybank was our weekend and holiday retreat. The bungalow had no mains electricity, gas,or water supply. Sanitation was provided by a chemical toilet located outside. Lighting was provided by paraffin lamps, heating from a coal fire and rain water was collected and purified. Our neighbours, the Hopkins family, had a diesel generator suppling electricity and can remember watching television in their bungalow.

The bungalow and grounds sat in a clearing in the woods and looked across to the A3 (about a mile away) and in the distance could be seen Windmill Hill. Hollybank, in its elevated position, could be clearly seen from the A3 and the white paintwork made it stand out so well.

There were a number of ways to access our bungalow. About half a mile beyond Horndean village centre on the A3 in the Petersfield direction was a turning to the left by the Bettawork timber works (no longer there). This unkept road lead up a steep hill and into the woods. The gradient meant that Mum and I would have to get out of the van so Dad could get it to the top. Once aboard at the top it was along the track to Hollybank. Another way was to take the South Road fork off the A3 (another half mile along the A3)and leave the van almost at the end where there was a track that ran along the bottom of the hill. A path up the hill took us to Hollybank. We were also known to use the Southdown bus service (these green coloured buses have long since gone): my favourite was to get off at The Farmer pub (then known as the "Jolly Farmer") in Catherington and walk across the fields.

The woods and its pathways were a great place to explore and play. Nearby was a small clearing that would be full of bluebells in April.

Several dwellings could be found along the wood's main path; most were not permanently occupied and a few had been left to ruin. I had made a friend Les whose family had a small bungalow towards the Horndean end of the path. If we were staying for the weekend, I would walk along to his place hoping they had also come to stay. There was a tree house in his garden that added to the fun.

There was a period when we stayed permanently for six months (1952 or 1953 it was). Dad had just bought the shop in Lake Road and for this period he made the move from Highland Road and got the new shop and living accommodation ready for us. For my education during this time I went to Catherington Infants School, a 15 minute walk across the fields that connected the woods to the lovely village of Catherington. It was 1953 that the residents of Catherington gathered in the field by All Saints Church to celebrate the Queen's Coronation. I still have the Coronation Mug that was given to me on that day. All Saints Church, Catherington, is where some of my friends (from that time) and I attended Sunday School. I remember the
Parson was the Reverend Sheppard. According to "The Village News for Horndean and Clanfield - The Old Village of Catherington", "He was, it seems, a rather fearsome fire and brimstone type of vicar."

Hollybank from the front lawn. Dad later added a small conservatory to the front.

Me, Dad, Mum and Uncle Albert(the tallest). Taken at the bottom of the front lawn with the A3 and hills in the background.

Catherington Lith in the background taken from the field adjacent Catherington Church.