Banstead Village

I remember sitting in the seat and admiring it, but where was it?

Mike Shackel writes:

The bench seems to be placed on a wide pathway with grass in-between – possibly facing a roadway.

The gable-end in view, looks very like some houses that were in Court Road, but the ground seems to have fallen away there, so my first thought that it was in De Burgh Park may not hold. Probably, with the engraved subject being connected with the church, it may have been sited nearby – which added to my thoughts about De Burgh Park.

. . . then after further consideration including consulting local plans, Mike concluded that the De Burgh Park site is the most probable one. The house in the background (in Court Rd) is at a lower level as the pathway across from the entrance to the cricket field slopes down as it leaves Avenue Road.

This is the best suggestion we have to date but you may know otherwise. If so add your own comment below.

Noel Phillips, son of the Mr E Phillips has confirmed that the bench was near the corner of Salisbury Road/High Street and opposite the Woolpack Pub. This was because of the carving on the back of the seat which shows a woolpack being transported as in days of yore.

Remember vividly sitting on the bench whilst waiting for a bus to Sutton

It seems the bench had a relatively short life. I notice an image from 1965 and the bench has gone presumably not enough room or finance to reposition after adjacent road improvements

I too remember sitting on it waiting for a bus to Sutton opposite the Woolpack it seemed large to me at the time. It was not there for very long as Peter says. It was about the time the conifers had recently been planted. Which on my recent visit were still in evidence.

The bench was damaged when a motorbike ran into it. I don't know if there were any casualties, but the bench was presumably damaged beyond repair. It was a great shame.

Mystery solved at last, what a terrible ending after all that craftsmanship to make it. I used to call it my bench and was most put out if the elderly with their shopping were using it.

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