BYC Café

[whoop whoop]

I was going through my fathers papers to find the deeds to the house and I came across some fascinating facts. It seems that this cottage was originally built in the early 1700's and was one of a very few in area owned by 'Broomsquires' - that used to collect the broom from the common land and make 'brooms' obviously and sell them to the rich in London. It was a very remote area in those times and inhabited only by poor peasants and Highway Men. To the back of the cottage is a Bridle Path (its over grown now) but it seems to me, the Highwaymen would hold up the coaches on the A3 a turnpike road and the only direct road from London to the main Naval Base in Portsmouth - and then make their way from the Devils Punch Bowl to the Golden Valley where our cottage is via the Bridle Paths.I wonder if this cottage was their watering hole as it still has the original fire place. All sounds very romantic but I am sure they were quite cut throat. There is even a cross on Gibbet Hill where they used to hang and tar any Highwaymen they caught.

When the Enclosure Act came into place most of the peasants lost their living and these small cottages were left abandoned, and it was only in the 1880's when Prof John Tyndall decided that Hindhead was the 'Switzerland of England' and persuaded his cronies,two of whom were Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and also Tennyson but he wasn't a Lord then, to build weekend retreats here.

Consequently big houses were built up everywhere. This cottage was included in a huge parcel of land sold to one of the rich 'London' types' and a great Manor was built about 2 miles away. The owner wanted to knock down the cottage and build an orchard, but it seems that a Gypsy (then called a witch) had moved in with her family and they had great difficulty evicting her. According to the records father has, she put a curse on the house and for all those who would live in it in the future.

It says that they got the local priest to come and do a ceremony with holy water - well the house still stands and there was an orchard.

If you are still reading lol - brings me to the point. Last night I was woken up by something being killed, I am used to this in Africa but there it is quick kills. Whatever it was, did not die quietly there was an awful screeching and went on for a long time - Felix (cat) looked at me and said well I'm not going out there and I totally agreed with him. I opened the window to check and see anything and instantly felt a 'malevolent' presence it was very scary. Well as you know 2 -4pm at night you are at your lowest ebb and if you have a vivid imagination like me, all sorts of things went through my head, from imaginary diseases to panic regarding mother and so on. Well I was very glad when dawn broke, I loved to say the sun came up. but it doesn't do that here!!

Felix and I went downstairs, me for a good cup of tea and he for his biccies. We went outside and looked for some sign of whatever went on in the night but there was nothing. He left to go on his morning rounds and turned to me with a parting look saying 'you should really be more cat, human' I have to admit he has a point.

As I turned to go inside I spotted this chap, (Fox) not a good photo but I am sure he was the culprit of last nights kill sleeping it off no doubt.

@3goodeggs I know the feeling of being lost without family you feel so bereft and wander round wondering what to do. I started to trace back my family history and so much info came up and I got quite involved in all the past generations it was quite fun (some of it quite scandalous) and you can do it on the 'pute - just an idea

Well have a supa day guys xxxx hope haven't bored you all too much...

 

[WVduckchick]

Interesting stuff WW. Do you live in that house now?

 

[3goodeggs]

As I turned to go inside I spotted this chap, (Fox) not a good photo but I am sure he was the culprit of last nights kill sleeping it off no doubt.

@3goodeggs I know the feeling of being lost without family you feel so bereft and wander round wondering what to do. I started to trace back my family history and so much info came up and I got quite involved in all the past generations it was quite fun (some of it quite scandalous) and you can do it on the 'pute - just an idea

Well have a supa day guys xxxx hope haven't bored you all too much...

Rabbits will scream murder when they are being murdered. Makes one wonder where they store all that noise.
Your parent's home sounds so cool. That would make a good mystery story. Opening with the rabbit murder, and the next day finding a tared highway man.
Get started on that, I'll give a few years because I know you are kind of busy at the moment.

My family is a bit to dark for me to want to dig around in their past. I gravitate to the light.
I decided that I am going to use up all the yarn I have making reversible hats. My son can hand them out to people who look cold and miserable.

 

[N F C]

That sounds like a nice idea 3GE! And with every hat your son gives out, he'll meet someone new. How's he doing up there, have classes started?

 

[Mtn Margie]

Whoop, that is an amazing history on the cottage. 1700's is hard to process out here in the Wild West.
I love the hat idea, Eggie!
Have a wonderful day everyone!

 

[3goodeggs]

I got a call yesterday asking for advice. that made me feel good.
They have three boys in a room for two, and he had an opportunity to apply to a room for one.
I told him that he is too far from home and he will need to see people talk to people and I would prefer he not become the hermit.
He needs people to keep an eye out for him and he needs to keep an eye out on other people. These high pressure high stake school can push kids into depression and worse.
They have mental health advisers to try to prevent anything from becoming and issue, but if no one knows you are out of sorts, they can't help you.

His classes started Monday.

He was going to go to a used bike shop with a roommate and see about getting some bikes, but he said he has so much to carry he might need a three wheeled trike.
I can see it. That is one confident kid who would ride a tricycle to college classes.

 

[drumstick diva]

Whoop my brother would love your story - he watches all the "ghost" reality(????) shows and even bought a spirit box to pick up their sounds - doesn't work. I tell him I don't want to watch or hear about the episodes, so he feels compelled to tell me anyway.

and repeatedly.

 

[drumstick diva]

Eggsy, three guys in one room must look like a hamster cage with no woman to pick up after them.

 

[N F C]

3GE, the 3-wheelers were all the rage when I lived in Key West...almost a status symbol because they cost more than 2-wheelers. And too, there wasn't much room for cars on the roads (forget about parking) so grocery trips, hauling things for a job, getting to work, etc. was done by bike. Sometimes the bikes had hitches to pull wagons behind and I even saw a couple with hoods attached to keep rain and sun off the rider. He could be a real trend setter with a trike!

 

[3goodeggs]

Hitch and trailer.. sounds like that would work. Freshmen are not allowed cars, so none of his friends have one either.
Do they come with snow tires?