Caversham memories
Here are memories of Caversham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Caversham or a Caversham photo.
Lower Caversham
Lived at Piggotts Road adjacent to Caversham Mill in 1954 to 1966. As kids. View Island & the river area were wonderful; fishing below the mill, swimming View Island. In an old gypsy caravan along Mill Green lived Johny Edwards, a scrap dealer who collected mainly old metal on a handcart. He would shout at us kids & chase us away if he was in a bad mood - very scary. Bonfire nights we used to erect a huge bonfire on disused allotments at the rear of Piggotts Road & would maintain a camp inside the bonfire prior to bonfire night to stop other kids setting it alight before the night. Potato picking at Deans Farm, the farmer, John Lucas, would pay loads of kids two shillings & sixpence for a days work. When I left school I worked at British Technical Cork Products at Caversham Mill, only 50 yards from my house, but I was always late clocking in ... Read more
'The Clappers'
'The Clappers' as my dad would say.... 1980 I would spend many hours here pike fishing, there used to be an old guy that used to hang around hoping someone would offer their catch to him for his tea.
School Days
I used to have my hair cut in the barber shop on Bridge St usually before going to Saturday morning cinema.
I also did a paper round for the newsagent on the bridge, the round was in Caversham Heights where I lived in Albert Road.
School was at Caversham Secondary Modern, I really enjoyed school great time.
Left there in 1959. any one remember the school plays and ballroom dancing?
My Memories of Caversham
I lived in Caversham in 1970-1972 at 11A Bridge Street, above the hairdresser's shop. It was owned by a Mr Simmonds, who was our landlord. There was a newspaper shop about 3 doors up from where we lived. There were our friends, the Hyetts - Clive, Louis, and their mum. There was the pub across the road run by a scottish guy, can't remember his name. I used to work at Mr Harry's suits, on the Basingstoke Rd. My late husband worked at Stevenson Mills, next to the Gillette factory. We used to go to the World Turned Upside Down, on the Basingstoke Road. My name was Kath McCarte, my late hubby was Bernie. If anyone remembers us please contact me kathleen860@btinternet.com or 01495 320226 many lovely memories.
Caversham
I went to the Hill primary school and then to Caversham secondary modern school. I left there in 1963. I lived at Kings Road. We used to play down the rec and view island. We would play skipping and marbles in the street, there were not many cars in them days. I used to go to the Regal and Glendale pictures with my brother. He was 6 years older then me so didn't really like me tagging along. I moved away when I got married, but moved back about 18 yreas ago. I now live in Lower Henley Road. My mum worked at Caversham Laundry for a while and we used to go to the Christmas parties there. I used to be Carol Hawes in those days, if anyone out there remembers my family.
Caversham Boy.
I lived in Southview Avenue, schools were Hill Primary and Caversham Secondary Modern . I left in 1959 and went to Reading Art College (Kings Road) and then Reading Process Engraving Co. I attended St John's Church, St John's Road. I remember fishing at Caversham, sailing model boats on the 'lido', circus and fairs at Kings Meadows, adventures on View Island, Mods and Rockers at View Island, river trips on Salters Steamers, my Vespa scooter and later my Mini, the Star Public House, Cow Lane, and a friend who lived on a houseboat at the bottom of Cow Lane.
I also remember Caversham Secondary Modern, craft lessons, ballroom dances, football lessons with huge clumpy boots and a football like a cannon ball, swimming in the Thames at Caversham weir and standing on the weir support structure in the summer to cool off, the swimming baths (open air) and lots more. A great childhood that did me no harm!
Memories of Berkshire
Elliott Family
I am researching my family history and trying to find relatives, My aunt Lydia married Reginald Elliott in Kent during the 1930s, they had 4 children?? John, Frederick, Yvonne, all born in Berkshire. I know Berkshire is a big county, but just maybe someone has heard of them.
Brian.
Thames-Side Miniature Railway
The Thames-side Miniature Railway opened in about 1946 and closed in 1954. The station, which had a single platform, stood at the Caversham end of the line. To the east of the station was the engine shed and, beyond that, a turntable. At the western end of the railway was another turntable and a passing loop that enabled the locomotive, once turned, to return to the front of the train. The railway was single-track throughout, and it ran for about half a mile to just short of Cow Lane.
The maroon locomotive was named 'Western Queen' and, if I remember correctly, had a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement. One memorable feature, was the very penetrating chime whistle which could be heard a considerable distance away.
''Fanny'' Hawkins Sweet Shop.
In reply to Keith Hawkins' appeal to anyone that knew of F.W. Hawkins shop on Hosier Street, Reading, I used this shop during the 1950s as a small boy while spending the weekends with my Nan & Grandad who lived at 61 Hosier Street. My Mum & Nan referred to Miss Hamkins as Fanny, I have no idea if this was her real name. The shop was very dark inside with gas light brackets on the walls. On entering the shop as a small boy clutching a few coppers my Nan had given me to buy some sweets with the silence was unreal, the shop was always empty, after a few minutes of waiting to be served and looking at lots of glass cube-shaped display jars with round lids, all full of different sweets, trying to decide what to buy, Miss Hawkins would emerge through the part glazed door (which sported a heavy net curtain) at the rear of the shop, which must have been her living accomodation, the doors were... Read more
Rowing
I think this boathouse was where the Reading Working Men's Rowing Club was based. I remember boys from the Forest Grammar School rowing on the river here and the extraordinary pain in your arms as you rowed the last few strokes of a race!
Huntley & Palmers
This picture shows the factory of Huntley & Palmers - the biscuit makers who were one of the largest employers in Reading in the 20th Centrury. Presumably the photo was taken at the end of a working day with the workers streaming out of the factory? Palmer Park was named after one of the founders of this firm.
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