Nostalgic memories of Hatch End's local history
Share your own memories of Hatch End 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 28 in total
In my day there was a triangular grass island where Old Redding met the Oxhey Lane; that possibly saved my life. What is not apparent from the photo is that Old Redding is a 1 in 9 incline. One day, whilst seeking more exciting places to use my go-kart (that is an unpowered vehicle comprising four pram wheels on a wooden plank with rudimentary steering and no brakes) my chums and I decided to try our luck at ...see more
There was strong competition among us young lads in the 1950s to be allowed to help Horace, our local United Dairies milkman, with his milk round in Hillview Road, Grimsdyke Road and Sylvia Avenue.
Horace would allow two of us to help him deliver and in return we were given a one third size bottle of orange squash and a ride on the seat on top of the cart at the end of the round! It ...see more
Seeing the photos of Hatch End Broadway in 1965 brought back memories of how it felt to live there at the time. We moved to Hatch End that year, when I was ten, from Pinner Green. I especially remember W H Smiths, with long newspaper and magazine counters either side as you went into the shop, and further through to the pens and stationery. My dad would buy his newspaper there on the way to the station every ...see more
In December 1995 the Harrow Arts Cuncil organised a festival of dancing at Hatch End High School and invited a dozen or more dance groups and schools to come along and provide a showcase of talent. It was fascinating to see so much talent and a surprising amount of this was from young people and, in particular, groups of Asian dancers with magnificent costumes. The only participats to represent a truly ...see more
In the middle of this picture is a bus stop where the London Transport red double-deckers on routes 98B and 209 stop. Both routes ran to Pinner in a westerly direction and I would stand at this stop many hundreds of times between 1956 and 1963 to catch the 209 bus to Pinner Grammar School - often with my schoolfriend Roger Gilbert. The trees shown in this photo are still there, but now fully grown!
My earliest memory of Hatch End is when I started at Grimsdyke School at the age of four and a half in 1948. My brother Michael used to walk me to school from Hillview Road. I went to 2nd Hatch End Brownies which was held in the Vestry behind St Anslems Church. After leaving Grimsdyke School, I went to Rosary Priory at Bushey Heath. I used to catch the train from Hatch End Railway Station to Bushey ...see more
My best friends father used to be Vicar here back in 1960's (Rev J Gaunt). Sabrina and I would hang around Hatch End at various places getting up to all sorts of mischief. I had my confirmation at this Church under the guidance of Rev Gaunt but carried out by the Bishop of Singapore who was visiting at the time. When Rev Gaunt moved on the fabulous Rev CLive Pearce took up residence. Clive carried out my ...see more
My memories of Hatch End are all of a very happy childhood with my Mum and Dad who worked at Euston, and used to come whistling home from the railway station every night. We lived on Oxhey Lane, a service road and I can just recall the milkman with his horse and cart, Mum laying crazy paving in the front garden, pigeons from the house at the back flying round and ruining Mum's washing. I remember the library at the end of ...see more
I just stumbled across this site, and I had to post some of my memories here! I remember so much of Hatch End, (I'm going to run out of characters in this box - may have to add anther one). I remember Budgens and also Akropolis and I'm sure there was a hairdressers up that end too. There was also a tailors along there. I definitely remember the butchers as there was a young man in there I took a shine to, and ...see more
I bought my favourite car in Hatch End from the Cornwall Garage in 1970. It is on the right of this view beyond the row of shops and the crossroads of Uxbridge Road and Cornwall Road. It was a 1966 Triumph Spitfire, pale blue with two black "racing stripes" up the long bonnet over the hard top and down the boot! It cost me all of £465 in April 1970. I rather think ...see more