Cuckfield paddling pool 1953 and 2026

These two photographs show Cuckfield’s paddling pool from almost the same viewpoint, but they were taken 73 years apart.

James Revell aged 2 in August 1953 (colourised)

In the earlier image, dating from 1953, two children enjoy the shallow water beneath the familiar curve of the pool. A small ball floats nearby, while the trees and simple wooden fencing provide a backdrop that many older residents may remember. It captures an unguarded moment from a post-war childhood, when a visit to the paddling pool was one of the great pleasures of a summer’s day.

Margot Revell (James Revell's great niece) aged 3. August 2026

The second photograph brings us back to the same spot more than seven decades later. Much has changed in Cuckfield since 1953: generations have grown up, buildings and roads have altered, and childhood itself can sometimes seem very different. Yet the paddling pool remains a place where young children can splash, play and make their own summer memories.

Placed together, the photographs remind us that local history is not concerned only with grand houses, important events and celebrated residents. It also lives in familiar places and ordinary moments.

For generations of Cuckfield families, the paddling pool has been one such place, a modest but much-loved part of village life.