Locks Bottom
Locks Bottom is an unusual name befitting what is in reality a gem of a place! It has a vibrant high street that is reminiscent of London high streets of old; a large collection of shops, restaurants, banks and yes a supermarket that doesn’t impede the smaller shops it just adds a metropolitan dimension to what would otherwise be a thriving small town high street!
Locks Bottom could be described as one of London’s original super suburbs; a place that has a variety of shops, an extremely good restaurant and in no way could be described as dull and boring. One often associates the Reggie Perrin sitcom with life in the suburbs especially after he had done his very best to illustrate what most people equate with suburb living – twitching curtains, nosy neighbours and a mass daily exodus to the city. The only comparison that Locks bottom has with a mediocre London suburb is that everything that one requires to make life fulfilling is on ones doorstep.
Even though Locks Bottom is just a few minutes from the nations capital life here is much calmer and greener this has helped to make the place even more desirable for London’s wealthier individuals. The proof of which is the countries oldest gated community – Farnborough Park which lies just to the West of the High Street.
It is an estate that is full of houses that exceed most peoples wildest dreams; there is no such thing as excess here, whatever you desire is available providing you have a bottomless wallet! They are not really houses but more like the mansions built for the aristocracy centuries ago. These are more than just dwellings they are in effect a reflection of the inhabitants worldly success, “every mans home is his castle” but in this case it isn’t a castle it’s a palace!
This development is nothing new, although Locks Bottom does not have the long history connected with neighbouring towns it has always been associated with wealth.
During the settled periods of the early twentieth century mainly between the wars London was expanding rapidly because of the ease of transport and an ever increasing number of affluent middle classes. These people no longer wanted to live in the grimy city centre but wanted to live in new purpose built estates surrounded by their own kind. Locks Bottom offered the best of both world’s countryside and the healthy environment that we usually equate with it alongside neighbours of a similar social background. Although Locks Bottom was quite far away from the city there was no escape from the infamous “pea soupers” – a fog so dense that it was very difficult to see and it was created by the pollution that was so prevalent in London at the time. On the whole the standard of living was invariably much better the only drawback was the lack of public transport.
Nearby Keston Park is a perfect example of a new “posh” estate. Individual plots of land were sold in the 1920’s and on each of them was constructed a four or five bedroom home set apart from the others by woodland and other greenery. All of these homes would have had central heating – something that we now take for granted but was fairly avante garde for the time. In many ways this reflects on the luxurious interiors found in the homes on Farnborough Park, where home cinemas and indoor pools are the “norm” for the three million plus residences.
The heads of household in Keston Park in the 1930’s were on the whole successful business men or city professionals and unlike similar counterparts in other areas they all owned cars and used them for travel to work which was very unusual for the time!
Unlike today wives on the Farnborough Estate their sisters in the 1930’s although wealthy in comparison to other women of the time would have cycled or walked into Locks Bottom to place an order their weekly shopping delivery. Today’s shopper will have an entirely different experience but then again things have a habit of changing
Even though the nights are now drawing in and we are prone to melancholy reflections of times past life was not always as good. The people that would have called these area home centuries ago will have been busy preparing for the Winter Solstice, a time of year to say goodbye to the ever lengthening nights and celebrate the not too distant coming of spring. The solstice was a very important celebration for the inhabitants as they would not have been certain that they would survive the famines that started in January and lasted through to April. The Solstice was a time of feasts, in many ways similar to our Christmas. Before deep winter took hold most of the cattle were slaughtered so they would not use precious food. It was probably the only time of year when a supply of fresh meat was available. The majority of wine and beer made during the year was finally ready for drinking, hence the party!
Locks Bottom’s celebrations in the 1970’s were renowned for the Christmas light displays. Which were good enough to tempt celebrities to turn them on but they were not the equal of the ancient celebrations. As with most things the Christmas lights have declined but the individual shops that stretch along the high street offer a cosy glow that will chase away the dark and shopping opportunities to lift the spirits and a reminder of good things to come
copyright© Wendy Stevenson 2011
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