Maynard's Shop on Box Hill
Anne Butts' question asking if anyone remembered Mr Maynard's Shop which existed on Box Hill for a number of years brought back memories for several of our readers who sent these answers. We would love to have photos of the people or the shop. Please let us know if you can help us find out more. November 2015 Photograph right at Box Hill (courtesy Box Parish Council) |
Anne Butts' Question
Anne wrote to us a little while ago asking:
Does anyone remember Maynards Shop that was a little bit below the Rising Sun on the opposite side. I used to go there when I visited my Gran and Grandad (Manby). The Sumner family lived next door to the shop. I remember he used to take snuff off of the back of his hand. I always think of the shop when I drive past.
Thanks to everyone who responded and we would still like to hear more (see below).
Anne wrote to us a little while ago asking:
Does anyone remember Maynards Shop that was a little bit below the Rising Sun on the opposite side. I used to go there when I visited my Gran and Grandad (Manby). The Sumner family lived next door to the shop. I remember he used to take snuff off of the back of his hand. I always think of the shop when I drive past.
Thanks to everyone who responded and we would still like to hear more (see below).
Helen Marsili Wrote from Italy
Regarding Maynard's Shop, I grew up on Boxhill, and lived in Alma Cottage until 1967 when I left Box to go to live and work in Washington, DC, USA. I went to Box School, remember a teacher called Mrs Bulkowski (spelling by memory). I was supposed to take my 11+ examination on the day the Rising Sun blew up, but of course we were all evacuated and there was no school for me that day. I suppose the rest of the children took the exam? Any memories there? I later took the exam in the vicarage dining room - there was another child there as well - wonder who? To cut a long story short, I had never ever seen an exam paper before - no test papers were given previously - and I failed miserably and consequently went to Shurnhold Secondary Modern school.
I remember Maynard's shop very well but does anyone else remember the sign on his gate, Nil Sine Labor (Nil Sine Labore it should have been I think, perhaps the "e" fell off!). It was later changed to Magna. Mr Maynard wore a brown overall and definitely had signs of snuff ! As a child I remember Mr Maynard as a rather grumpy elderly man. We crossed swords over something he thought I said, when I was still very young, regarding the price of something. I can't remember saying anything unpleasant and I can't believe I would have said anything but he told my mother. I said You're a liar to him. I remember him lifting the hinged bit of his counter and angrily coming towards me.
The occasion sticks in my mind because I never went into his shop again until it was taken over by a lady and I did a paper round for her. Does anyone remember her? Another shop on Box Hill was further up the hill on the same side, run for a time by the Law family, if I'm not mistaken.
Regarding Maynard's Shop, I grew up on Boxhill, and lived in Alma Cottage until 1967 when I left Box to go to live and work in Washington, DC, USA. I went to Box School, remember a teacher called Mrs Bulkowski (spelling by memory). I was supposed to take my 11+ examination on the day the Rising Sun blew up, but of course we were all evacuated and there was no school for me that day. I suppose the rest of the children took the exam? Any memories there? I later took the exam in the vicarage dining room - there was another child there as well - wonder who? To cut a long story short, I had never ever seen an exam paper before - no test papers were given previously - and I failed miserably and consequently went to Shurnhold Secondary Modern school.
I remember Maynard's shop very well but does anyone else remember the sign on his gate, Nil Sine Labor (Nil Sine Labore it should have been I think, perhaps the "e" fell off!). It was later changed to Magna. Mr Maynard wore a brown overall and definitely had signs of snuff ! As a child I remember Mr Maynard as a rather grumpy elderly man. We crossed swords over something he thought I said, when I was still very young, regarding the price of something. I can't remember saying anything unpleasant and I can't believe I would have said anything but he told my mother. I said You're a liar to him. I remember him lifting the hinged bit of his counter and angrily coming towards me.
The occasion sticks in my mind because I never went into his shop again until it was taken over by a lady and I did a paper round for her. Does anyone remember her? Another shop on Box Hill was further up the hill on the same side, run for a time by the Law family, if I'm not mistaken.
Norman Rick Smith Remembered
Yes, I remember Mr Maynard. I think he was called Frank and he had a son called Gordon. He was sometimes a bit bad-tempered and frightened me a bit when I was about 10 years old but you could buy most things in his shop there. He was a big man and his wife was tiny. The Sumner family did live next door. There was Helen, John, Roger and Julie (who died young). Julie was my age. Lovely memories of Box in the old days.
Regarding the other shop, it was the Law family who owned it. Steve Law, the son of the owners, was a in a local pop group, The Group Four.
Yes, I remember Mr Maynard. I think he was called Frank and he had a son called Gordon. He was sometimes a bit bad-tempered and frightened me a bit when I was about 10 years old but you could buy most things in his shop there. He was a big man and his wife was tiny. The Sumner family did live next door. There was Helen, John, Roger and Julie (who died young). Julie was my age. Lovely memories of Box in the old days.
Regarding the other shop, it was the Law family who owned it. Steve Law, the son of the owners, was a in a local pop group, The Group Four.
Brian Palmer Spoke about Mr Maynard
I remember Mr Maynard as a large gentleman in the 1950s and early 1960s. I remember that he used to take snuff but what was remarkable about the shop is that it seemed to sell everything. You could buy things there from a pickaxe to a pound of tomatoes. Talk about Arkwright's Corner Shop in Open All Hours.
I remember Mr Maynard as a large gentleman in the 1950s and early 1960s. I remember that he used to take snuff but what was remarkable about the shop is that it seemed to sell everything. You could buy things there from a pickaxe to a pound of tomatoes. Talk about Arkwright's Corner Shop in Open All Hours.
Anne Butts Added to the Memory
My mum Vera Hallett (nee Baker) was adopted in 1920s by Fred and Maggie Manby of Hillside Cottage. When she was 9 or 10 coming home from box school she decided to climb over the road bridge over the railway line at box tunnel and climb from one side to the other over the railway lines. The postman saw her but was too scared to haul her back over to the road in case she saw him and fell on to the lines. Needless to say when she got home gran and grandad Manby were waiting to give her a good telling off after the postman warned them of what she had done. I always remember her telling me about it.
My wife's grandfather lived in Box and went to war in WW1. His name was Fredrick Manby. He was Private in the Royal Berkshire Regiment. His Regimental number was 26376 / 96241. He lived in Hillside Cottage at the bottom of Barnetts Hill and Hedge Sparrow Lane.
My mum Vera Hallett (nee Baker) was adopted in 1920s by Fred and Maggie Manby of Hillside Cottage. When she was 9 or 10 coming home from box school she decided to climb over the road bridge over the railway line at box tunnel and climb from one side to the other over the railway lines. The postman saw her but was too scared to haul her back over to the road in case she saw him and fell on to the lines. Needless to say when she got home gran and grandad Manby were waiting to give her a good telling off after the postman warned them of what she had done. I always remember her telling me about it.
My wife's grandfather lived in Box and went to war in WW1. His name was Fredrick Manby. He was Private in the Royal Berkshire Regiment. His Regimental number was 26376 / 96241. He lived in Hillside Cottage at the bottom of Barnetts Hill and Hedge Sparrow Lane.
Your Memories
We would love to hear from you if you wish to add to this story or to mention people or places that you remember from the past and would like to discover more about. Search in the recesses of your memory and you will be amazed what pleasant recollections you have from times past.
You can write to us at [email protected] or via the Contact tab.
We would love to hear from you if you wish to add to this story or to mention people or places that you remember from the past and would like to discover more about. Search in the recesses of your memory and you will be amazed what pleasant recollections you have from times past.
You can write to us at [email protected] or via the Contact tab.