ATTEMPTED RECONSTRUCTION OF WISBOROUGH LODGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL GROUNDS CA. 1947 & 48
See landscape in the fields where sports were held in photo here and here
See the Small sports ground looking south towards road here
and in this photo (note the Churchman cottage -as also seen here)
The entrance to the Lodge (where the slips cradle was near the Scots pines is seen here
See the so-called 'white house' or bungalow (looking northwards) on the left in this photo
Dear all, I am forwarding this reply from Shaun to a map of the whole school I made. Shaun has added his corrections in purple. I think he is mostly correct, but I feel that there was a subsidiary bit of the field on the Bungalow side near to the hedges where I learned to play football. Anyone who can remember, please say what you would change. If you want to amend the map graphic, please use a new colour. I shall edit the whole when we have the best solution. Cheers, Robert
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Dear Rob, Excellent! Dear Fellow, Excellent! Everything is perfect except the playing field and don't change anything south of your designated sports area. The sports field was a relatively small area leased off the farmer who owned the adjacent land to the school. The land leased was the flattest portion within its surrounds. Take a look at the photo of you winning the hurdles and you will see the barley growing back to the hedgerow that you bounded the southern side of the playing field on your map.Don't you remember walking through the tall stalks of barley to play cricket? The stalks appeared to be tall as we were mere midgets still growing. The size of your designated football pitch was monstrous in area and would have covered an acre or two, no way fella! However, I must say that what I say is not necessarily correct but it is only as I remember it. How about submit your plan, as is, to the others and make your corrections after receiving further input, then take averages. South of the border, mate, no worries, leave alone as you have done an excellent job. No way I would have done it so well. Take Care! Shaun
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Perhaps the grain was bearded wheat!! Seriously you have done an amazing reconstruction job, I do remember nets in the lower cricket ground, they ran parallel to the Main Rd in the general area of the Elm, I thought Sports events also took place in this same field? Keep up the good work. Pem
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Well you two have certainly got remarkable memories. I thought mine was good but between you you've remembered a lot of detail that I don't. As for what I would change or question, nothing personal Shaun but the only things I feel less certain about are those in purple. I'm as near certain as I could be that the school sports in '47/'48 were held on the southernmost field, not up at the top in the area marked on the plan for athletics. And I couldn't be sure about barley. I'd have plumped for wheat, at least in the field the pathway goes through. But that detail hardly matters. Stephen
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(Note: The main sports field was beside the main road. But football was never played there, nor did the 100, 220, 440 yards, the relay or any of the hurdles events. They were in the upper field. (Rob)
David Pennington wrote (June 10 2003) :- Grounds and Buildings The last plan of the main building is how I remember it. The addition above the changing room, dining room area was in use when I was there and had table tennis.
On Robert's map the path turned North and went to a gateway in the top hedge that opened on the playing field which to my memory was vast, half of it was usually in wheat or whatever and there was a path through to get to the part of the field we used, to the right for cricket and to the left for football. McD also put in an obstacle course alongside and to the south of the football pitches, which I found almost impossible to get around.
The Hedge though was the northern boundry of the kitchen garden, the lower hedge( still with Robert's plan) eventually turned NW and nearly met the top hedge and at the apex where they nearly met were shooting butts, which I believe Eve's father would of used. The ground in between was very rough and fenced off where McD kept a small flock of chinese geese which had a very vicious Gander.
In the corner of the classroom and the wall running alongside the steps McD built a small boating pond, where we all put model boats, but I think the concrete liner leaked and it was not much of a success.
Going the other way I think the Gym was separated from the classroom and a path ran down from the play ground north of the classroom before turning south to run between the two. It was in this area that much of the rubbish and waste was kept, when he stared to try and farm anyway.
Going west from the Gym, there was a small black/grey wooden hut probably against the west wall of the gym and past that to the north of the path to the bungalow was a fairly large chicken run. Sussex Whites I think he kept. All interestng stuff!
The path went on to the bungalow, the sports/ cricket ground that ran alogside the main road ended before the bungalow where there was a high wire netting fence. Between the bungalow and the road was some unmade ground I remember the Guy Fawkes bonfire been built there. In front of the bungalow there was an open entrance to the main road. Once there was a bad accident, a MG sports car probably a TA or TC, cream I think was left there fairly badly smahed up, I believe both the occupants were killed, I think they must have turned it over.
The big field (the same in which was the cricket and soccer pitches) continued a short way past the back of the bungalow going west. On the western boundary of the field about level with the bungalow was a small round pond, quite deep, it was in that area the threshing mechine was put to use, presumably at the start of the Autumn term.