Cinderford memories
Here are memories of Cinderford and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Cinderford or a Cinderford photo.
Cinderford Square
I was born in Cinderford in 1962 and lived there until the mid 1980s. Through my childhood the town centre around the Square (now called the Triangle!) was busy and prosperous with all sorts of shops, my favourites being Woolies for my huge Airfix collection and James (now Merretts) for comics, toys and Standard fireworks. It's sad to see the town centre run-down now, my mum and sister still live there. However I accept it was partly due to me and many friends from that generation moving away to get jobs that directly contributed towards this, Catch 22 I guess. I moved as my job at Ranks (Xerox) was in doubt, they'd just started running this main local employer down, my friends had to move to get teaching jobs. We all still have family living local though and really enjoy occasional get togethers in our old local, The Miners. The shops in the centre of this pic behind the War Memorial (still there of course) were demolished in perhaps... Read more
Stepping Back in Time
It started when my mother was dying, when we asked her about the family history, and she gave us names and dates. Her family came from France in late 1500. They were Hugenots and they were Puritans, and were chased out of France because of their beliefs. They went to live in Gloucester, where they helped to rebuild the church in Taynton St Lawrence. We went to visit the church and it was the most exciting thing to experience. All our early ancestors are buried down the aisle of the church. One could not be found - the last one - so when we went and spoke to a man who was writing about our ancestors (she had written a book), and they confirmed we had the right family. His name was Douglas J Parker. He wrote the story of the two churches, the old and the rebuilt one. He told us they were looking for the last to be buried there and how they came to find her.
Let... Read more
Boyhood Memories
I have great memories of Cinderford [Bilson Green areas] from 1953 to 1961 when I was growing up. I remember riding go-carts down the hill. My mother was born in Cinderford [Margaret Hale, married name Hancox and she worked at Rosedales]. My grandfather was Milce Hale. This is a great site that brought back memories now that I live in Lake Wales, Florida, USA. If anyone remembers my parents or myself, it would be great to hear from you. Phil
Memories of Gloucestershire
School Holidays
This picture reminds me of wonderful school trips to the west of England from a school based in Oldham called Fittonhill Secondary. This hotel was our base for the weeks holiday and we went out daily on organised trips to Chepstow, Symonds Yat, Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust, Tintern Abbey among other glorious places. Living in a built-up area like Oldham this seemed heaven even as a 13-14 year old. I came on the trip three years running so it must have been magic. I found this site looking for the actual hotel thinking it would be nice to re-visit my youth and book a stay there but I can only assume that it no longer exists. The picture is just as I remember the hotel but would have loved to have seen a view of the gardens at the rear or even an interior picture. I have no pictures from those holidays sadly as cameras were not as easily purchased back then and as a teenager you don't think that one... Read more
Memory of Soudley
Steam to Stratford, in the early 20's James Joiner (a contractor from Soudley) assembled his convoy of Traction Engines en Route to Stratford Upon Avon to start the new Sewer Contract which was awarded to Joiners for £57,000.
He used Forest Coal miners who were unemployed, to tunnel under the Town Streets to engineer this prestigious contract. My late father, Roy James Bevan was a 15 year old traction engine Driver's mate, starting his own career as a transport pioneer buliding up a Transport business in Soudley with his brother. The photo shows the road to Sutton Vale towards Littledean. When I worked for my father we road tested vehicles on this stretch of road. On a more romantic note, it was along this road I courted my late wife Ursula - we used to walk on Sunday evenings to the Top Ponds.
My Sister Mandy
Myself and my husband Roger had visited Soudley Ponds several times when travelling around during weekends away and my younger sister Mandy loved to listen to tales about where we had been and what we had seeing and doing. Roger and myself loved Mandy and her husband John and had spent many many happy times together over the years. We decided one day to take them to see for themselves and along with their daughter Sophie aged 10 we had a lovely day. The weather was quite damp and it had been raining. We arrived early and decideo to walk around the pond while we waited for the Heritage Centre to open. As we neared the end the sunlight broke through the clouds. It hit a willow tree standing on the other side of the pond. The tree was heavy from the moisture in the air and heavy droplets were falling into the water from the drooping branches, one of the most magical sights. As the sun broke though... Read more
Unlawater Hotel
This hotel was owned by my mother Patricia Woods till around 1959. Newnham was a busy place then. H G Zeal had a themometer factory in the High Street.
Above the hotel was a dairy farm run by A.Jones (Dean Forest farm).
As a matter of interest, the name Unlawater translates to River of Sorrows and was from a time back in history when Lady Padget lived there and a member of the family drowned in the river.
Best wishes,
Rai Woods. (Captain)
My First Home
My parents owned Unlawater House from 1963 until the 1970s. It was their first house when they were in their twenties and they ran it as a private children's home. I spent the first eight years of my life there and have great memories of lunches in the garden.
They re-roofed it within the first five years of purchase. The council bought some of the land along the road to widen the road as it kept flooding as a result of the Severn tidal wave; they did eventually rebuild the pretty red brick wall which runs along the perimeter.
There were some beautiful trees in the garden (many of which have since been taken down), and a superb monkey tree which we used to decorate with coloured lights at Christmas.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,847 memories of 5,947 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Forest Row, East Sussex
- Fyfield, Essex
- Raby, Merseyside
- Sedlescombe, East Sussex
- Glasson, Cumbria
- Dulverton, Somerset
- Woodbridge, Suffolk
- Thurstaston, Merseyside
- Nazeing, Essex
- Salford, Lancashire
- Eastleigh, Hampshire
- The Green, Cumbria
- Streatham, Greater London
- Luton, Bedfordshire
- Boston, Lincolnshire
- Banstead, Surrey
- Great Holland, Essex
- Bath, Avon
- Blaenllechau, Mid Glamorgan
- Fleetwood, Lancashire
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
