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Kew
Kew maps
Historic maps of Kew and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Kew maps
Kew area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Kew and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Kew
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Kew.
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or of a photo of Kew.
In Line And Two by Two
Miss Cary was short and stout with grey hair in a bun. She always wore a cameo brooch on a white silk blouse, grey skirt and sensible shoes. She was kind and patient, she was also my first teacher. One day as the mothers picked up their children she announced, 'Tomorrow my class is going on a day trip, the children will need a packed lunch and two shillings', and that was that.
The next morning we arrived clutching a packed lunch and a two bob bit, if any kid didn't have the money I think she put it in herself. This was one of Miss Cary's outings, no motor coach to pick us up, no other teacher to help and no classroom assistant in those days. This was 1952 and twenty two six-year-olds from Harmondsworth Primary School were going to Kew Gardens. We marched out the school gates at 9.15am, in line and two by two. Miss Cary at the head, calling over her shoulder 'Keep together, children'.... Read more
Childhood by The Pond
This photograph of the Pond was taken from a position at the top of Priory Road, the street where I was born in 1950, at No 43. The Pond was always a focal point for myself and my sisters during the fifties and early sixties. I remember many an occasion walking on the white railings pretending to be a high wire expert. Yes, it led to many falls and grazed knees. Just to the right of this shot stood Queens School, long since demolished. And the entrance to Watcombe Cottages, where i would often escape to visit my grandmother. Probably this one photo holds the most imbedded memories of my childhood.
Sandycombe Road
I was born in Kings Farm Avenue, just off Manor Road in Richmond in 1964. When I was a baby we swapped council houses with my Uncle and moved into 28 Sandycombe Road - this was to be my home until 1987.
My grandparents lived at number 103 and were almost opposite the corner shop, when I was a very small child it was run by an elderly couple (I remember the man being blind). About 1969ish the shop changed hands and the couple were Mr and Mrs Silva (De Silva?). I used to take the Corona bottles back to them and collect the money which was maked on the bottle tops, I think it was 6d.
Of course, the whole road has changed, I still drive down it sometimes and have a great longing to knock on number 28s door armed with a handfull of old photos of me in that house, adn ask if I can have a look around. Even up until the 80s there... Read more
Surrey memories
My Frist School
I went to school at the house, in the grounds, of Boston Manor Park from 1951-1953. I have very fond memories of this school, Miss Stevenson being the head and Mrs Clark the other teacher. We used to do nature walks around the lake and into the woods and I remember seeing a tramp who appeared to live in the park. We had sports day and danced around the maypole on May 1st. I lived in Boston Gardens which led to the park.I can remember the swings at the bottom of the park and spend many happy hours there. Does anyone know what the house is used for now?
Harnage Road And Surrounding Area.
My mother Rose Rye was born at 24 Harnage Rd Brentford in 1908. She married my father Arthur Collins, from Strand on the Green, in the 1930s. They lived there all their married life until the houses were needed for development in the 1960s. My brother and I were born in the same house, Alan in 1944 and myself Ann in 1947. I have great memories from my childhood, mostly from school days and can remember the Maypole dancing each year.
My Mum was taught at St Georges School by Mr Allen and when I went to the same school he was the headmaster.
My mother worked for many years at the cinema, Queens Hall at the Halfacre and my father was a painter and decorator. My Mum sadly died at aged 59 after a long fight with cancer. I would be pleased to hear other peoples memories of around this time.
Birthplace
I was born in 1937 at 73 Boston Gardens, Brentford, Middesex, near Boston Manor Station on the Picadilly Line. I left the area in 1954 to work on the south coast prior to emigrating to New Zealand in 1961. I remember the public baths (and the library!) where I learnt to swim at a young age and, of course, the domination of the Gas Works! I would dearly like to locate an old friend who lived next door to me, a Frances Atkins, at 71 Boston Gardens. There was a lovely park just at the bottom of our road where we climbed trees and caught tadpoles in the pond! I re-visited over 20 years ago and not a lot had changed!
Gwynne Tilly (nee McBride)
Childhood
I lived in Hamilton Road from 1940 until approx 1958. (my name then was Mortlock) I went to Ealing Road School and then Brentford Secondary Modern. I remember the air raid shelter at the top of Hamilton Road and hearing the sirens and seeing bomb sites etc.
The High Street was full of old fashioned shops, a bakers and a shop where we exchanged accumulators for the radio. Goddards the furniture shop and many others. I remember the gas works and the Fire Station at the top of Ferry Lane.
As children we all played in the street with seasonal toys, whip and tops, marbles, skipping etc. My friend was Wendy Biggs and others were David Martin, Georgina Keeping, Sandra Payne, Jean Jarvis and some I forget the names of.
In the summer holidays we went to Boston Manor Park with a bottle of water and some jam sandwiches, staying all day until our stomachs told us it was time for tea.
When I left school... Read more
