Nostalgic memories of Hay-on-Wye's local history

Share your own memories of Hay-on-Wye 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 all 5 Memories

my father was a chef at the crown Hotel in 1955.name CLARKE.
I have vivid memories of visiting Hay on Wye as a little girl with my mum and nanna . Our reason for our visits was my nana had relatives there - Alice Jolly, Letchmere Jolly, Riley & Oscar Jolly . They lived in a house called Red Wing which I think was in Lion Street and my one favourite memory was that the garden at the back of the house ran down to a stream . Somewhere I've got some photo's ...see more
Wartime Memories of Hay: Part Three. (Continued) Apart from Ration Books and the coupon implications for restricted purchase of food and clothing, my own recollections of life in Hay during World War Two hinge on evacuees along with hazy memories of particular events some of which have been outlined in previous two parts. At home there were at different times at least two sets of ...see more
Memories of Hay during the Second World War: Part Two. (Continued from Part One) Thoughts of 'Dad's Army' remind me that the local Home Guard occasionally used Forest Road for some kind of exercise. I've dim recollections of one or two coming into the garden of 'Wayside' with their rifles and taking up whatever position was thought advantageous. Soldiers marching through the town was not an ...see more
Memories of Hay during the Second World War. When I was still quite young, I recall that there were three phrases used by my father over and over again in conversation. The first, tellingly, were those remarks, usually making contrasts of some kind, beginning "Of course, before the war". And then post-1945 there was the obvious "During the war". And finally there was, ...see more