Nostalgic memories of Croydon's local history
Share your own memories of Croydon and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 241 in total
I was born 12 st John's rd 1947 went to parish church school remember only one teacher miss pengelie not sure how it was spelt .
Went to wandle park over bridge when steam train came run through smoke. Also remember slaughterhouses bulls escaping in wandle park and the funeral of pc miles at parish church 1952 my grandad
sold watercress at the top of crownhill 1950 and what about Gilbert lies and school milk and the smog think 1952
Hi all, I have moved into the block of flats that used to be the church at the end on Westfield road, Croydon. I’ve come on here to find out if anyone can educate me on the history of what happened in the area.
Myself and some of the residents who live in the building have been experiencing some weird things in our flats i.e shadows of people, sounds of children’s footsteps running in vacant ...see more
I was born in 1951 and enjoyed a very happy childhood in Thornton Heath. Our house backed onto the Graveney River and the Rec. Blissful for children. Many happy hours spent in the children's playground with the playground lady a qualified first aider to look after us, whilst our mother's shopped in the local high street. There was a religious meeting for older children in the summer called Sunshine Corner. We would sit on ...see more
My father Oliver Berthoud was Headmaster of this school from 1956 until his death in 1972. The name of the school in that era was never Whitgift School, it was called "Whitgift Middle School" and then "Trinity School of John Whitgift", a name that sounded less like the "poor relation" of the "real" Whitgift School in South Croydon.
The trees on this photo are mulberry trees. ...see more
What a fantastic website. So many fond memories.
I moved to Croydon with my parents when I was two years old. Even in the mid nineteen fifties it would be considered a little too expensive to afford ones own camera, let alone the interest in collecting photograph’s of ones home town.
We lived only a few minutes away from Surrey Street, Wandle Park and Duppas Hill Park. Sailing model boats on the pond at ...see more
I went to Belmont school about 1944 to 1950 when I changed due to 11 plus and went to Coloma Convent in Tavistock Road Croydon My very best friend was Gill Stokes and we were a very saucy pair and did everything together. We were always laughing and did lots of naughty things. Gill and I are still the closest friends and speak to each other every few days. We are both 80 now and share everything together ...see more
As I remember the Almshouse have stood on the corner of George St and North End .Wilsons coffee shops were in North End and George St-also in Purley
The photo of Surrey St in 1955 might show a stall selling gramoohone records ran by a rosy cheeked lady.
I went to South Croydon Secondary Modern school from 1956-60 and still have some photos including school trip to Interlaken in 1959.
If you are out there Bernard Corby, I would like to hear from you
The coffee house some people remember was called Wilson's, and although only 8 or 9 I remember a large gold-coloured coffee pot hanging outside, much like a pub sign. Yes, the smell was indeed delicious and pervaded the entire High Street. Wilson's was opposite the old alms houses where the trams now turn left towards Crown Hill. My mum used to take me and my young brother into Wilson's in the early 1950s as a ...see more
Christmas with chestboard cakes that yellow and chocolate cake was always part of my Christmas as a child
My nan joyce bamford worked in the one in purley
The Lintott sisters ran a ballroom dancing school on the Upper Addiscombe Road. I started at 14 in 1957.
I think the Lintotts were Polish refugees.Who else had lessons?