125 House and Home, Beechen Drive, Hillfields

125 House and Home Beechen Drive, Hillfields

By Carol Humphrey

About this book Hillfields was the first area in Bristol to provide Council housing after the First World War. 125 Beechen Drive was one of these houses which became home to 3 generations of the Hillier/Brown Family for nearly 80 years!

This is the history of that house through time and the people who made it their home.

An old postcard of Beechen Drive

This book was compiled by Carol Humphrey whose home was 125 Beechen Drive for 25 years (1953 - 1978).

The material here comes mainly from family memories and is true to the best of Carol’s knowledge.

Photos of the views of the street come from old postcards.

3

Homes for Heroes In World War 1, Enos Fred Hillier volunteered to join the army.

He left behind a secure job and his future wife. After the war (in 1920) the future Mrs.I.M. Hillier and Mr. E. F Hillier married.

However there were high unemployment rates.

“Soon after the first World War, Prime Minister David LLoyd George announced that the country needed ‘Homes fit for Heroes’ to replace the squalid and overcrowded slums…

Hillfields was the first area in Bristol to provide council housing after the 1919 Housing Act was passed in Parliament.”

- Hillfields Homes for Heroes

Mr and Mrs Hillier on their Wedding Day 11th September 1920

“My husband was laid off 3 months into our marriage. He was out of work for 10 years!” - I M Hillier

Enos Hillier (known as Fred) in his army uniform

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Mr and Mrs Hillier began their married life around Totterdown, which was then a poorer area of Bristol.

“For a while we were a family of four living in one bedroom. We were nearly too poor to feed the kids.” - I M Hillier

Thankfully in 1929…

“Fred had the chance of an interview to be clerk at the Labour Exchange... As we now had regular money each week we went to the Council for a house and I was told that I should have gone there years ago.”

- I M Hillier

The Hillier Family: Fred and Ivy with their children Jean and Freda

The Hilliers were first offered 123 Beechen Drive, however on visiting, they found the original occupants of 125 had decided to move ‘next door’. It seems 123 was seen as the preferable accommodation as it had a parlour!

The Hillier Family moved in to 125 Beechen Drive in 1930.

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House Design There were a variety of house designs at the time. The Addison Act 1919 (National Housing Scheme) paved the way for large-scale council housing design. Addison Act housing encouraged family sized houses usually with three bedrooms (though some had 2, 4, or even 5 bedrooms), a living room, scullery and sometimes also a parlour. They also included generously-sized back gardens so families had space to grow their own vegetables.

“Mr S S Reay’s non-parlour, 3 bedroom houses

125 is an end-terrace 3 bedroom home with a front and back garden.

were first built in the Demonstration Area in Hillfields in 1919-1920. Only one block of these houses was ever built, probably because of their cost to build” - Hillfields Homes for Heroes

Design Postcard

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It is interesting to note here that the Hillier family memories suggest 125-131 Beechen Drive were intended to be the first homes built on the Hillfield estate.

“The road, Beechen Drive, was due to run the other side of our home but there was an objection (believed to be by the adjoining farm owner who had a 99 year lease).

The rerouting of the road would explain the unusual layout of our home, including few front windows and larger rear windows”. - Freda Brown

There is a plaque between 84/86 Beechen Drive to commemorate those as the first permanent council houses erected in Bristol.

The Plaque reads: “These houses were the first to be erected in Bristol under the National Housing Scheme in the year 1919.”

A Painting by Freda Brown of the view from back of 125 Beechen Drive showing the farm as remembered from her childhood 7

Children & Countryside The children loved the freedom of their new home.

“As children we had a great deal of fun running up and down the stairs. Must have been very noisy, as there was no carpet nor linoleum to begin with” - Freda Brown

Although Mrs Hillier was not so pleased to be living in ‘the back of beyond’, the children enjoyed the more rural setting.

A view from Beechen Drive 8

A view of the fields

“The field at the bottom of the garden usually held two horses and my mother would call them and give them bread over the (then) low hedge which separated us.

There was also a stream in this no man’s land between garden and field and we could hear the horse splashing in it… Hay-making was also a sight we enjoyed watching in the field. The adjoining field had a dairy. As children we would often go round for milk and they would ladle it from churns into the jugs we brought” - Freda Brown

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Rent As council houses, rent was to be paid weekly and was recorded in rent books.

The weekly rent was 8s 6d (8 shillings and 6 pence), equivalent to £19.76 in 2017.

The rates (now known as Council Tax) and water charges were 3s 10d, equivalent to £8.78 in 2017.

First Rent Book from August 1930

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Downstairs at 125 Most basic houses at this time only had outside toilets so the Hillfield houses were very modern having an inside bathroom and toilet. The downstairs included a sitting room, kitchen (scullery), pantry, bathroom and toilet (separate) and a hallway.

The Kitchen (Scullery) “The large kitchen (known as a scullery) had brick walls. I believe there was a pale yellow distemper on them. My mother painted each wall, scraping and washing them first. This was a great improvement.

“Mum had a boiler in the scullery, a large wooden table, a few chairs, and a gas stove. A huge mangle (used to wring out water from wet clothes) was also there, which was later put into the garden” - Freda Brown

Mr Fred Hillier in the kitchen in the 1950s

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The Coal Bunker “In the house was a ‘room’ specially for coal. The coal-man (Silvey’s) would come with a horse and cart and empty each sack until it was half full. Boards were placed across the doorway and when the coal was being used they were removed one at a time until my father was scraping the coal from the floor.”

- Freda Brown The Sitting Room “The sitting room (lounge as we called it later) had a large built in dresser on which my Mother put all her china. Beneath these shelves were two large cupboards into which went all our toys, mostly all home made.”

- Freda Brown

A Rough Plan of the Ground Floor of 125

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Coal Fires & Heating All heating for 125 came from the coal fires both in the sitting room and upstairs, kept topped up with the coal from the coal bunker.

“All three bedrooms had fitted fireplaces (for coal fires) and had metal mantle pieces. In the beginning there was only gas oil-lamps and candles. I can remember vividly my sister and myself going to bed with a candle.”

- Freda Brown

Freda also remembered the lamplighter man coming to light the gas lamps along the street each night.

Gas Fitting - Although no longer usable, one of the fittings from the gas lighting was still in place in 2020. It’s believed that the gas mantle was fitted to this.

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Electricity Letter Application Form to the Corporation of Bristol Electricity Department requesting the supply of electricity to 125 Beechen Drive in 1939.

Electricity came in later. Fred Hillier’s mother, Mrs M Hillier who was born in 1854 and who stayed at 125 for a while, was very scared of this “new electricity”.

Mrs M Hillier with her granddaughters Jean and Freda in the 1930s

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The Hillier Children After Jean and Freda, Mr and Mrs Hillier had three more children, Stuart, Grace and Valerie in the 1930s. They were then a family of seven.

“In those days it was quite safe to play in the streets, which we did every evening. All the neighbours’ children did the same. Hopscotch, skipping games, ‘What’s the time Mr. Wolf’ and ‘flicking’ cigarette cards were all favourites”.

- Freda Brown

The Children: Jean, Freda, Stuart, and baby Grace in 1934 15

As older siblings, Jean often helped her mother with the housework and Freda helped with the children. Freda would walk with Stuart, Grace and Valerie in a pushchair to Fishponds Railway Station where they would eat their packed lunch and watch the trains go by.

Fishponds Railway Station - Photo taken by Freda Brown

“When we were old enough, we would go to ‘Vassals’ (a park with a river) taking a jam-jar with string tied around the top, fishing nets and homemade lemonade and sandwiches”.

- Freda Brown

Of course, they also enjoyed playing in 125’s big garden.

“Mum and Dad would erect a tent. It was erected on expanding ‘trellis’ and formed 3 ‘walls’ and roof with an extension held by poles. It was a great place to use as a ‘stage’ or just to keep dry”.

- Freda Brown

Tent as a Stage in the garden of 125 Beechen Drive 16

World War II When war was declared in 1939, the Hillier children were too young to join the armed forces and were kept as safe as possible at home.

“During the war, the top part of the garden (in front of the kitchen) was dug up. This was to enable an Anderson shelter (a type of bomb shelter) to be put in the ground there. Some of the stones used with corrugated iron were later used as edging for the smaller lawn. In this shelter there were wooden slats on three of the sides and Mum had blankets, pillows, etc. ready to take down each evening in case they were needed. Every night when the sirens went, we were all taught to roll our day clothes in a bundle and head down to the comparative safety of the Anderson shelter”.

- Freda Brown

An example of an Anderson Shelter in Brockley, London 17

The Hillier Family in about 1944

From left to right: Grace (born 1933), Freda (born 1927), Ivy - Mrs Hillier (born 1901), Stuart (born 1932), Fred - Mr Hillier (born 1891), Jean (born 1923), and Valerie (born 1935)

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War Rationing With war time rationing and a family of five to feed, Ivy and Fred (Mr & Mrs Hillier) had to be resourceful. Thankfully Fred already had one of several allotments at the bottom of Briar Way. “[The Allotment] proved beneficial as there was always plenty of vegetables. Also, one of the lawns was dug up for potatoes and a hen house was erected and an area enclosed with chicken-wire. The chicks were ‘brought-on’ in the kitchen with a wrapped hot-water bottle to keep a warmth in the box”.

- Freda Brown

In the Chicken Run

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“Before the War, Council tenants were not allowed to keep any pets but “all rules change when it is necessary” ”.

- Freda Brown

Council Rent Book with Rules for Tenants

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Wartime School For most of the War, the three younger children were still attending Hillfields Park Primary School. They would later attend Speedwell Secondary School.

The children also joined other youth groups. Stuart was part of the Boys Brigade.

The Three Younger Children: Grace, Stuart, and Valerie

Stuart winning a swimming award at Speedwell School 21

Children’s Parties during the War

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In 1939 Freda, having obtained a scholarship, was already attending St. George Grammar School. She was working hard at her studies but it was not easy.

“One evening at home I was doing homework. Our teacher was a stickler for neat and tidy work and in those days we used pen and nib with bottles of ink, so I was being careful. Suddenly, there was a tremendous bang and an air-raid siren wailing.

My hand jumped at the loud noise and black ink splattered all over my page. The next morning I gave my explanation to my teacher with trepidation, but he nodded and made no comment.”. - Freda Brown

Freda’s School Report and Letter

At age 14, Freda left school and started work at Hamilton’s Photography Studio in Staple Hill.

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Air Raid Precautions (A.R.P.) During the War, Fred joined the A.R.P. as a warden.

Stirrup-Pump

“He was issued with a tin helmet and a whistle.

Also he was in charge of the stirrup-pump. This was to enable them to put out incendiary bombs, some of which did come our way”.

- Freda Brown

Mr Hillier’s certificate of completing a Course of Anti-Gas Training as part of his A.R.P. training

“One evening after the siren, it was very quiet. Mum decided she’d make hot chocolate for the A.R.P. wardens on duty. As she was coming back, at the side of the house, she heard a whistling sound and felt something whizz past her. She rushed to the shelter and in the morning we found a large piece of shrapnel lying there”.

- Freda Brown

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Fred Hillier also worked at a factory in Fishponds in World War II where they were making parts for planes.

At the end of the war, parts that were left could be taken. Ivy painted these parts white and they were used as brackets for a shelf.

Leftover Aeroplane Parts painted white and repurposed as shelf brackets

Ivy Hillier’s Identity Bracelet ID Bracelets were recommended by the ARP during the war.

OAQC 44/2 refers to the area, a bit like a postcode (but these didn’t exist before 1959)

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Romance in World War II As the war progressed, a friend suggested Freda should join the many young women who were penpals with young men in the services. Freda began exchanging letters with Frank, a soldier who was serving with the armed forces in India.

For some years Jean had been a penpal with her Canadian cousin, Ken. Through him, Jean also met a young man.

“When Ken heard that his friend Johnny was going overseas to England he said “When you get there look up my penpal Jean”. Jean was about 18 or 19. They went out a couple of times and then he went off to War” - I M Hillier

Frank’s letters to Freda from India

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Jean in her Father’s WW1 Uniform

V.E. Day When the War ended in May 1945, there were celebrations across the Country. There were definitely a lot of celebrations in Beechen Drive.

“When I was 18 and went to register to join the armed forces or the land army or munition work, I was told that I could sign the forms but wouldn’t hear anything as the war was nearing its end. Thus it proved, and May 8th was a celebratory day and evening - and I was just the right age to enjoy it!”.

- Freda Brown

V.E. Day Celebrations on Beechen Drive

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V.E. Day Celebrations on Beechen Drive

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Freda’s Wedding The War may have been over but romances continued, despite the long distances involved. When he returned from the War, Frank, the soldier Freda had been writing to, took the train from his home in Huddersfield, Yorkshire - there were very few cars at this time - and continued to ‘court’ Freda.

On 14 June 1947. Freda Hillier married Frank Brown and became ‘Freda Brown’. The Wedding Reception was naturally held at 125!

Bridesmaids at the Wedding Reception in front of 125

Freda and Frank in the garden of 125 - Can you see the mangle in the background?

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Jean & Johnny After the War, 125 looked the same, the views from the windows hadn’t changed much but life for the Hilliers was changing.

“Johnny wrote to Jean inviting her out (to Canada for a holiday). She said she’d come back - she never did... Back then Canada was like going to the moon” - I M Hillier

Jean and Johnny married in Canada in 1947. Mrs Hillier found Jean’s departure very difficult.

“As I wanted to visit them there, I went to Robinson’s factory and worked on shift-work for nearly 3 years to save the fare. You had to go by ship in those days” - I M Hillier Mrs Hillier was in Canada when Freda gave birth to her daughter Carol in Huddersfield.

Newspaper article about Jean and Johnny’s marriage

A Badge from the ship Mrs Hillier sailed on

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Coronation In 1953, the Hillfields residents were celebrating again; this time for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Although family ‘sing alongs’ were still popular, television and their accompanying rooftop aerials started to appear along Beechen Drive.

TV at 125

Coronation Celebrations - decorations at 125

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Ivy and daughter Valerie by the Piano in the sitting room at 125.

“Valerie had a talent for playing tunes ‘by ear’ ” - Carol

Sadly around this time, Freda and Frank’s marriage ended. Divorce was still very uncommon and single parents did not have the support of today. So in 1953, Freda and her young daughter Carol, were fortunate to be able to return home to 125.

Fred (Mr Hillier) celebrating the Coronation with his Granddaughter Carol 32

Grace and Valerie’s Weddings “I arrived at 125 at about the same time that Grace was planning to get married to Ron. As normal for the time, their wedding reception was held at home. However when Valerie married Ken in 1955 they chose the then modern option of an evening party in a local hall” - Carol

Grace and Ron cutting the wedding cake

Carol presenting a lucky horseshoe to Grace and Ron 33

Celebrity Visitors The occupants of 125 were now Fred and Ivy (Mr and Mrs Hillier), plus their daughter Freda and granddaughter Carol.

Stuart had left home some years earlier and was pursuing a career in the theatre. He would make occasional visits home which often caused excitement. One such occasion was when he visited with his friend Dennis Price, a well known actor of the time.

A Greetings Telegram from Dennis Price

Mrs Hillier with Dennis Price

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Carol’s Early Memories Freda and Carol shared the largest of the three bedrooms.

“I particularly remember my single bed in the corner of our room and the small cupboard which housed my toys and childhood things” - Carol

Carol in Bed and her Cupboard for all toys and possessions

Hot Water: Although 125 had an indoor bathroom, there was still no hot water ‘on tap’.

“I loved exploring the garden but I was not so happy when it came to my weekly bathtime”. - Carol

“In the beginning the water for the bath was heated by a gas-boiler (called the ‘geyser’). There was no ventilation except for opening the windows, although there was a top pipe leading to the outside wall. Many a time when the pilot light was lit, the apparatus would make a loud ‘whoof’ - but it was only in later years that we realised how dangerous it probably was”.

- Freda Brown

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Carol and family in the garden

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Home Improvements With Freda getting a permanent job and wage, she could try to improve her bedroom.

“Began painting of bedroom furniture. Tackled a little plastering and design ‘facade’ fireplace!”.

- Freda’s Diary, January 1957

The bedroom fireplace could now be covered over as Freda was using a small electric fire for heating.

“Finally finish the facade fireplace with the hardboard and canvas and sticky tape. Looks lovely now it is finished”.

- Freda’s Diary, May 1957

Fireplace Facade

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At this point, most ‘alterations or additions’ to the property could only be done with the permission of the Corporation. The Collector of the Corporation collected rents weekly or fortnightly.

“If there were any problems with 125, I remember Nan would walk up to the Housing department district office in Summerleaze”.

- Carol

Rent Book showing weekly payments of £2 15s 4d in 1955

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Carol and School When Carol was old enough she started at Hillfields Park School.

In the early years, Ivy (Mrs Hillier) would walk to school with her granddaughter. This would be up Gorse Hill, Summerleaze, and The Greenway. The journey would be four times a day as there were no ‘packed lunches’. Later Carol would walk by herself or with friends.

Carol’s Hillfields School Report 1959

Carol taking part in a class Nativity

Views of Horses

At home it was still entertaining to see horses in the fields.

TV time was very limited.

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Carol and Friends In the 1950s most of the children played outside. Sometimes this would be ‘up the rec’ or simply in the street.

“Being an only child in the daily care of my grandparents I had quite a protective upbringing but fortunately I had a friend, Jane, who was another only child who lived at 123. Jane and I would sometimes play in the back garden, or on our scooters, or on occasion at the Briar Way allotments where Jane’s father and my Grandfather may be working”.

- Carol

Playing in the Street Carol has short dark hair and is wearing a white dress

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Jane and Carol

Playing on the Rec

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Ivy’s Car At the age of 60 (in about 1961), Mrs Ivy Hillier learnt to drive.

“My son (Stuart) bought me a car and I passed the driving test first time” - I M Hillier

“My Nan’s car was the first in Beechen Drive. However the car was considered so precious it was often kept in a garage which Nan rented behind Fishponds Library - A long way from our house!”.

- Carol

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The Winter of 1962-63 was extremely cold, known as the ‘Big Freeze’. This may have restricted Mrs Hillier’s driving adventures!

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Grandad Fred and The Garden The back garden had always been a joy for all of us.

In the 1930s “Mother bought two saplings, an apple and a pear tree.

The apple tree was prolific, giving us a huge amount of apples. Very large, rather similar to a Bramley. Beautiful for apple and blackberry pies or apple sauce. We had so many that we were able to give to friends, relatives, and neighbours. At the first opportunity, Dad bought a shed - a store for Dad’s garden tools”.

- Freda Brown

Tree “I have many memories of my grandad enjoying the garden and shed and it was after one such pleasant afternoon in 1964 that he passed away peacefully”.

- Carol

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Grandad Fred and Carol in the Garden of 125 in the 1950s

As well as a keen gardener, Fred Hillier had been very involved with the local British Legion.

“Every November I remember Grandad giving me trays of poppies to take to Hillfields School”.

- Carol

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Article about the local British Legion branch

1960s The “Swinging 60’s” may not have affected Hillfields as much as some areas but there were some changes. Mrs Hillier was very proud of her newly bought formica kitchen table in a contemporary design with matching chairs!

Well-used kitchen cupboard was now in the new storage room

Traditional baking on the new table

On a practical level by now the Council had provided all their houses with an outside concrete coal bunker. This freed up a new storage room by the kitchen.

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Mrs Hillier and her Wig!

Carol’s bed, still in her mother’s bedroom, was now surrounded by popstar posters.

Mrs Hillier even jokingly tried out the new trend of wearing a wig.

Carol and her Bed surrounded

by Popstar posters

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School “I was fortunate to be in Mr Elsom’s class for my last year at Hillfields School (1962). Mr Elsom was a very inventive teacher and we even produced a school newspaper ‘Glimpse’!”

- Carol The School Newspaper - Glimpse

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Class Photo

Hillfields Area “The Hillfields Community Centre seemed particularly popular in the 1960s. Nan was involved with activities ranging from basket work to amateur dramatics. For a time I also belonged to the Youth Club. Later the 133 bus (which terminated at the Thicket Avenue/Briar Way junction) was a well used route to ‘Town’” - Carol

A basket tray

At this time, Beechen Drive was itself on a bus route to Kingswood.

Over time the nearby railway track had been used by express trains rather than older steam trains. This may have started in the late 1950s.

However with the ‘Beeching Rail Cuts’ in 1966, Fishponds station and the local tracks were closed.

“If it was an express train, the back door of 125 would rattle”.

- Freda Brown

Train Tunnel 49

Family Reunited Looking much further afield, air flights were becoming more affordable! Indeed, in 1966 Jean and her sons managed to come “home” for a visit. The three boys particularly enjoyed visiting at the time England was hosting the World Cup.

A Newspaper Article about Jean’s Visit from Canada

Family Photo From Left to Right: Cousin Diane, Ken, Grace, Ron, Ivy, Geoffrey, Russell, Jean, Andrew, Valerie, Freda, Richard, Carol 50

1970s Looking from the bedroom window in the early 1970s, it is noticeable that the back garden was now filled with more flowers than food. Also, although the fields were still there, larger buildings were now part of the view - in particular two tall chimneys.

However there were going to be bigger changes for the Hillfields Council estate as the Conservative Party had committed itself to introducing a ‘Right to Buy’. This scheme was largely in place by 1974 and finally became law in October 1980.

The ‘Right to Buy’ was of particular interest to Freda who would not necessarily be able to take over the Council tenancy after her mother as Freda was no longer officially a Hillier.

Garden

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A View Showing the large Robinson’s factory building

A View with Chimneys

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Mortgage “In the 1970s Bristol Council were offering some houses for sale. As I was in a good job in a solid firm, my mother and I decided to buy [125]. The mortgage had to be in my name.

There was hesitation about it at the building society as they said they had never given a mortgage to a woman before”.

- Freda Brown

Mortgage Paperwork

Ivy and Freda in the Kitchen 53

Their House 125 was no longer a Council house but a privately owned one which meant the occupants were responsible for all repairs.

“After all the solicitors’ papers etc. we finally had the house, but just a few weeks later we found trouble with the electrics.

Unfortunately the whole house had to be rewired and we couldn’t afford it. The Electricity Company said they could spread the cost. We then discovered that there was no entrance to the loft for the rewiring. More expense to have one cut into the ceiling of the landing. A couple of months later we had rain coming into a bedroom and still more expense.”

- Freda Brown

The Last Rent Book The last weekly payment was £9.96p

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Freda’s List of Repairs 1973

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Changes to 125 As well as essential repairs, Mrs Hillier and her daughter Freda were able to make some external changes they’d looked forward to to save work.

“When the house was ours, the front hedges were removed and a wall built which saved a lot of work” - Freda Brown

Patio and Front Wall

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Freda was also able to improve her (family) bedroom.

“Originally all three bedrooms had ‘fitted hanging space’.

This consisted of a door across one corner of the room with a hook on each wall. Quite small and practically useless, so when we were able, they were removed. In the ‘master’ bedroom, an alcove cupboard was built instead” - Freda Brown

Freda’s Notes about repairs and improvements - it also shows the estimated costs of the works to be completed

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More Local Changes Over time, more people bought their homes from the Council and often wanted to put their own personality into them. No longer did the doors and windows all have to be the same colour!

“The residents were becoming more affluent and Nan’s car was not the only one in Beechen Drive!”

- Carol

The back garden at 125 was now definitely for pleasure. Indeed generally less people seemed to be ‘growing their own’.

The allotments on Briar Way were replaced by bungalows.

View of the back of 125 from the Bungalows

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Carol Married When Carol married Tony Humphrey in 1978, she finally left 125.

“On my Wedding Day, so many neighbours came out to see me leave in my wedding dress. It was such a lovely tradition”.

- Carol

For the first time, Freda had a room of her own and apart from that, the house then stayed much the same. However the view changed and the fields were disappearing as Briarwood School was built.

Briarwood School being Built

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Planning Application letter and map about the New Briarwood School at the rear of Forest Road and Briar Way, Fishponds

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125 - The Family Hub In the 1980s, 125 may have only had two occupants (Mrs I M Hillier and her daughter Freda Brown), but it was still a hub of family life. Many Hillier children, grandchildren, and soon, great-grandchildren enjoyed visiting.

Carol with her daughter (Mrs Hillier’s greatgranddaughter) visiting in the mid 1980s.

Note the heavy curtains as there was still no central heating at 125!

Jean’s son Russell and his wife visited from Canada

Valerie and her husband (middle) visiting Ivy (left) and Freda (right)

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Hillfields Summer Fete 1982 On Saturday 17 July 1982, the Hillfields Summer Fete was held at the Thicket Avenue Playing Fields. It included lots of stalls, games, performances from marching bands, and a parade!

Hillfields Summer Fete Programme

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In 1996, the bath was removed and a walk-in shower installed instead.

“Mum and Nan were amused that they were able to sell the old rolled top footed bathtub as it was now considered an ‘antique’”.

- Carol

Later, in about 1998, a new electric stair lift was also fitted to help Mrs Hillier get up and down the stairs more easily, thanks to help from the Royal British Legion - the story even made it into the local newspaper!

News cutting about Ivy’s new stair lift!

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A view of the old train tunnel The old Midland Railway tack became the Bristol and Bath Cycle Track between 1979-1986.

Changes for Mrs Hillier By the 1980s, 125 had a telephone, providing a useful connection for Ivy and Freda to the rest of their family. However they still enjoyed their home and the community around them.

Ivy enjoying the telephone!

“1990 Jan 1st - Last night celebrated New Year with Mum. Minced pies, sherry, ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Lots of fun in the street further up Beechen Drive and fireworks from somewhere!”

- Freda Brown 64

By the 1990s, Freda was taking responsibility for the bills. Mrs Hiller (now in her nineties) was still a homemaker, often cooking and sewing.

Mrs Hillier with jam tarts and pies

“My children said Nan made the best apple sauce”.

- Carol

Mrs Hillier embroidering at the kitchen table

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Interest in Local History In the 1990s, there began to be some interest in the history of the area.

“A lady was researching stories from people who had lived in Fishponds for many years. This was for a permanent exhibition to be located in the Bristol Council Offices, then to be opened in Hockey Lane. She came to us several times and was interested in our stories and photographs. When the offices were built and opened, there were stands in the main lobby each showing a potted history, including ours”.

- Freda Brown

A News Article about the Fishponds history exhibition at Hockey Lane

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“Mum and Nan enjoyed sharing their memories. In 1999, Nan (Mrs Ivy Hillier) died of old age”.

- Carol

Mrs Ivy Hillier died aged 98 in October 1999. 125 Beechen Drive had been her home for almost 70 years!

A Photo of the Display at the Council Offices

A Reunion at Hillfields School in 2003.

Freda is pictured on the far left of the above photo.

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The Farm The view from the back windows of 125 had changed considerably over the years. The farm was no longer the focal point.

“Two sisters eventually held it (the farm) and when they died it fell into disrepair. After a fire it was deemed too unsafe and pulled down”.

- Freda Brown

New homes were later built on the site. Briarwood School and the Briar Way bungalows were also now an integral part of the view.

Picture of the Farm building

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Picture of the Farm

Freda wrote to the Bristol Archaeological Services about conserving records, photographs, and history of the Farm in the city’s archives.

They responded to let her know that records and the date-stone were to be looked after by the museum.

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Freda’s House Freda was now living alone at 125 Beechen Drive and with the new millennium, she reorganised a little. One of the original bedrooms was now her ‘leisure’ room where she had a computer and pursued her artistic hobbies.

Other improvements came from necessity. The gas water heater and gas stove had to be replaced. The problems didn’t end there as gas leaks became evident both outside and inside and new copper pipes had to be The Gas Heater & Stove were installed. “old - poss dangerous”.

- Freda Brown

The Pantry now housed a new hot water heater but was still a home for the meat safe - used before 125 had a fridge!

Freda’s notebook

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Keeping on top of the Garden “It was always a joy to visit Mum (Freda) back home. She was very happy there and I knew she had very good neighbours to look out for her”.

- Carol

One of Freda’s greatest pleasures was the beautiful garden at 125. The garden was now becoming overgrown but neighbours helped keep the hedges under control and Carol and her family would make special days to cut back the invading brambles.

“The grandchildren would particularly enjoy uncovering little garden pathways”.

- Carol

Carol in the Garden of 125 in 2003

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The family working on tidying the garden

Freda with her grandchildren

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Moving Out In 2007, with some health issues, Freda realised that the responsibility for 125 was becoming too much. She was 80 years old, and Beechen Drive had been her home for many years but she made the difficult decision to sell up and move into a retirement flat.

“Mum left 125 soon after her 80th Birthday. It was an emotive decision as 125 will always hold happy memories, but it was time for a new family to make it their home”.

- Carol

Freda taking a few final photos of the house

The mantlepiece in the sitting room with Freda’s 80th Birthday Cards (March 2007)

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The Removal Van on Beechen Drive in 2007

Freda leaving 125 Beechen Drive, her home for many years, for the last time

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A House and A Home For nearly 80 years, the Hillier Family lived at 125 Beechen Drive which was built under the Homes for Heroes scheme.

Fred and Ivy Hillier began their life in 125 as Council tenants.

Then in the 1970s, Ivy and her daughter Freda purchased the house from the Council.

During the 1930s, it was home to Fred and Ivy and their children (Jean, Freda, Stuart, Grace, and Valerie), and Fred’s mother also briefly lived there. In the 1950s it was again home to three generations - Fred and Ivy Hillier, their daughter Freda, and her daughter Carol. By the 1980s, the next generation of the family were also visiting and creating new memories too. Freda finally sold the property to a new family in 2007.

It is is a very special house, filled with many happy memories,.

125 wasn’t just a house, it was a home.

Three Generations at 125: Ivy, Freda, and Carol Late 1960s

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125 Beechen Drive, Hillfields

2019

125: House and Home Written and Compiled with Family Memories

by Carol Humphrey

2021