Tag Archives: primroses

Eileen Smith: Thorley, St Swithin’s churchyard 1960s

St Swithin’s Church, Thorley

Thorley churchyard spring

Thorley churchyard spring

When Bert Welstead got too old to be able to look after the churchyard, Ralph took over from him and carried on the good job of looking after the wildflowers that make Thorley special. He was asked by visitors on one occasion why he didn’t keep the grass mown shorter;  it looked untidy. He didn’t think much of them; they wanted St Swithin’s churchyard to look like a garden lawn. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921 ( Thorley’s churchyard is recognised for its wealth of wildflowers, and the care that has been taken to conserve these through the years.)

Pam Cotton: Thorley 1950s

Primrose bank, Thorley

Primrose bank, Thorley


As children we played outside most of the time in the surrounding fields and in the stream across the road behind the barn where we would catch minnows and sticklebacks. Sadly I can also remember sitting in the field near this stream decorating the cow pats with buttercups and daisies! I liked collecting wild flowers and my dad made me a press so that I could put my collection in books. Sometimes we would go over to what was called the Rew, a small copse at the cross roads. It was a bit dark there so I didn’t go alone! Pam Bone nee Cotton b 1948