Today’s threat to Horndean is the onslaught of developers coming over this hill (which we look like we will largely defend ourselves against), but in War Time Britain was Horndean just a sleepy rural collection of villages? After asking about, to my surprise it most definitely was not.
Dennis Longhurst, a current resident of Cowplain, was born in Horndean in 1932 and saw war time Horndean as a young boy and when old enough, a Cadet. In this remarkable article you are going to read about Bombings, Spies, Churchill, Doodlebug V1 Flying Bomb, Spitfires, Crashed German Planes, Blown Up Houses, POW’s, Lancaster Bombers, Tanks, Troops, Hidden Explosives, Montgomery, Eisenhower and so much more you will have to read it to believe it.
We have prepared a map of War Time Horndean to show the vast extent of the impact the War had on the villages. Dennis’ story is largely centred around Catherington and Lovedean. In 1932 the village centre in Horndean was a long way from the village centre in Catherington. It was ‘Over The Next Valley’.
We would like very much to hear from anyone who can help with further photographs, names of the home guard men or further details of the War, especially from the villages of Horndean and Blendworth.
The detail for much of this article has been researched and written by Sara Schillemore and Guy Shepherd. We would both welcome comments, please click on the ‘comment’ link at the top of this post.
To enjoy Dennis’ account click on this link here: Horndean at War – Dennis Longhurst
For a larger version of the map below click on this link here: Horndean War Map – Full Size PDF
Thank you very much Dennis for sharing your story, it was a compelling read and very interesting.
Fascinating. Well done for the research. It would be fun organising a summer countryside walk going over some of these sites with Dennis, if he’s still up for it, or a guide who knows his stuff
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Many thanks to you Dennis, for your article. You have painted a very interesting, moving – and at times, humorous – account. I have passed the details to my 3 children (now adults) who grew up in Horndean in the 70’s onwards. I just know they are going to enjoy reading the article too! Thank you again.
Fascinating, we lived at Laundry Corner, Lovedean a while, before moving to Merchistoun Road.
We used to have picnics in a bomb crater.
SO DID YOU KNOW ANY OF THE LINKHORN FAMILY if so let me know
Dennis is not on the Internet, if you email me at guy.shepherd@easthants.gov.uk with a note I will see a printed copy gets to him if you like. Best wishes, guy.
Do you know the origin of the name Laundry Corner?
N Thompson
Hi, The building was originally a laundry for those who wished to have this done for them. Hence ‘laundry corner. Guy.
Did Dennis used to go out shooting with peter Linkhorn
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Hi my grandfather walter moon lived and died in horndean. He was in the fire service during and after the last war and was on the local council for many years he also looked after the war mamorial and catherrington church yard until he was about 90 years of age. My question is have you any photos of him durring these times as i have only one photo taken by the pompey news
Regards kevin puleston