Nostalgic memories of Guildford's local history

Share your own memories of Guildford 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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Add Your Memory for Guildford

Displaying Memories 21 - 30 of 65 in total

Guildford Swimming Baths

I learnt to swim in the old Castle Street Baths. The old changing cubicles were a nightmare as the "wash" from the pool always resulted in wet socks!

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Added 10 May 2013

18castle Street

I was living in Castle Street at number 18 when this photo was taken. I remember the hunt gathering in the car park opposite on Boxing Day and the bakers on the road down to Tungstate where mum would get me and my sister an iced bun, and playing in the castle grounds on my scooter.

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Added 22 February 2013

Pilgrims Wood Childrens Home

Around the late 50's/early 60's I was at Pilgrims Wood with my two sisters, Patricia and Mary. It is and will always be a lasting memory of both our arrival and our departure. We came from a loving but dysfunctional family that grew in size each year with additional children. We had never known structure and order within our lives and found even the smallest thing so very daunting and frightening. ...see more

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Added 13 November 2012

Change Of Name

Now known at St Lukes hospital, I worked there from 1965-1977. It has seen many changes.

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Added 12 November 2012

Guildford Area

I remember the castle well, as my family lived in Castle Street, and just after the war, for about two weeks (I'm not sure, but I think it could have been for National savings bonds), the castle was lit at night with a searchlight, very bright, and difficult to sleep. The families in that area were very close and I remember the Cooks, Coppingers, Adams and the Knights, to name but a few. OH Happy days.

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Added 20 August 2012

Castle

Lovely to see a picture of the Castle with the old cottages and the Indoor Baths at the base. My family used to live up the road from there and this area was our playground.

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Added 17 May 2012

Harvey's Roof Garden

We moved to live in Hersham, Surrey, in the late 1950's and visited Guildford quite often through the 1960's. A visit to the Rooftop Cafe was always a highlight for me. I remember jumping from stepping stone to stepping stone, and watching the fish darting about in the water. I have never seen another roof top cafe anywhere and I'm very glad to know this unique place is still in existence - I have very happy memories of it.

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Added 27 April 2012

Jonny 7

Back in the 1960s my sister used to take her dolls to the dolls' hospital to get them fixed, they also mended teddy' bears but my best memory of the dolls' hospital was that they used to have a Jonny 7 machine gun set up in the window, it was a toy gun that broke down into 7 different weapons. I was living on Bellfields then and my mum didn't have much money so she couldn't afford to buy me one and all of my mates were in ...see more

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Added 17 February 2012

Childrens Home

I attended Onslow County Secondary school in the late 1950s. I remember there were several children attending who came from that children's home at Pilgrim's Way. I always remember them as being well adjusted and extremely well mannered children. One particular friend of mine went by the name of Margaret ?, she had heart trouble and I believe underwent surgery in the early 1960s. She had a sister who had been ...see more