Hurtmore and Shackleford used to be much more closely linked than they are now, the construction of the A3 doing more than anything to separate the two communities.
People from both these villages as well as Eashing used to meet in the Village Institute for dances and other activities, whilst St. Mary’s School as well as the church bound ensured that everyone knew each other. There was a long tradition of the school holding an annual bonfire on the field on Quarry Road, serving jacket potatoes, soup and hot dogs to raise funds.