Favourite Memories
Reconnecting with our shared local history.
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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How the location features in your personal history?
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The memories this place inspires for you?
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Stories about the community, its history and people?
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 201 - 250 of 2029 in total
When we first moved into The Croft, as the house was called, access to the front door was gained by walking up a narrow slopping path up and along the grassy bank towards the wooden gate. The property along with others along Hullbrook Lane had been built back from the roadside on a raised bank. In time, my father decided this was not ideal and set about the enormous task of digging out a driveway ...see more
I was born in Reading in May 1945, came to 'middle' Derinton Road in Tooting as a baby (mum had been evacuated) to live with her, my dad, nan, grandad and my aunty Joyce until we moved to Streatham in, I think in 1956. But my nan, Polly Harris, remained in Tooting until about 1963 when she came to live with us. We had many friends and neighbours in Derinton Road, and relations of my grandad (George) in Coteford or ...see more
This photo brings back many fond memories for me as my grandfather Arthur Stanley Walker, was the foreman on Cymmer station right up to the time it closed in the early years of the 1970's. My uncle, Thomas John Walker was the local shunter. I couldn't wait until the school holidays came around as I always spent them with my grand parents who lived in 6 Coronation Avenue where I was born. My first port of call was ...see more
I was born January 1945 and from the age of three I often went to stay with great-aunt Lizzie in Maybury Street, Tooting (possibly house number 23.) My great-aunt, was Mrs Reader, a widow, who lived downstairs in the house, while a Mr and Mrs Dobner lived upstairs. Their apartments were not self-contained, but privacy was respected despite certain practices that took place such as the one where each morning Mr ...see more
I was born in Dorset in 1940, my mother living there as an army wife. My name then was Gorringe. We returned to my grandmother's house in Freshwater Road at the end of the war. We visited Tooting many times during the war, and I remember the bombing, which my family made quite fun to stop me being scared. I was in Tooting the day a bomb dropped in Southcroft Road. Our house was shaken, but the only casualty was my ...see more
My grandfather, Herbert Powell, owned the Korniloff Hotel after marrying his second wife, Ilse Buckingham, in the 1960's. We lived in the annexe that no longer seems to be there and I remember it as the happiest time of my life. I returned in May 2012 to find Bigbury-on-Sea little changed although there were some changes to the hotel and it is now being run as an old-age home. I will always remember the ...see more
Me and my brother went to this home around 1954. I would be 7 and he would be 9; we went on the train from Rochdale. I remember mother giving my older brother 2 half crowns - 5 bob for sweets to last a fortnight. I also remember watching someone peeling tats by putting them in a big drum with sharp edges and turning it like a mangle. Unfortunately, I also remember climbing the steps on the slide in the play area and falling ...see more
Is there anybody out there who lived at or visited the village of Glanwydden, or was a pupil of the local county council school during the period 1937 to 1945?,
I attended the local school between 1937 and 1945 where I was educated by the likes of Miss Pierce, a lovely pleasant young lady who loved to play golf if my memory serves me right, then there was Mr Williams, known as 'Bulldog', a ...see more
Lived at 17 Southern Drive, went to St Oswalds. One of my memories was helping Harry the firewood lad; he used to sell firewood from his handcart. Marco real ice-cream. Harry Wilkinson in the chip shop - if you put your hands on the counter, he would put a hot pudding tin on them. Bonfire Night in the circle of the drive. A lady called, Fat Ronnie, running off with the money for our Coronation ...see more
Born in Ilford 1947 I lived just a few yards from Barking Park. I spent a lot of happy times there in the outdoor swimming pool, running around the field, riding on the little train, boating on the lake (especially the steamer), having an ice cream from the cafe and listening to the music from the bandstand. I remember the Carnival and the fair that came every September and if you got the same ride as the Carnival ...see more
My Mother, Father and I (aged 9) moved to Newport around 1952. We lived in 18 Albian Street owned by a Mr O'Connor, I believe. My best friends where Roger Roberts at number 1, and Walter James, I think at number 8. We went to a school just up the road but cannot remember the name. Opposite Albian Street was the YMCA, just down from there was a fruit and veg shop; we would carry fruit up to the hot room for an apple ...see more
I was 6 mths old when my parents moved into Magna Close, my maiden name being Stenson. 1955 I was born. Well, I have many warming memories of my childhood in Great Abington, some of which relate to the post office. Harry and Hilda Jaggard owned and ran it then, Harry seeing to the post office side of things and Hilda looking after the shop. To this day I still remember the penny arrows, the 2d bars of ...see more
I was four when my family moved from London to Manage the Rose and Crown in 1940. The Rose and Crown was then about four hundred and fifty years old. After six months there was a devastating fire which destroyed the whole of the thatched part of the hotel and part of the building which is in Church Lane. The cottage immediately opposite across Church Lane was also burnt down. The fire started during the ...see more
I moved to Westward Ho! in 1952 with my parents and two sisters. My parents owned a guest house call Beacon Lights in Nelson Road, sadly it has now been demolished to make way for flats. I remember the floods at Lynmouth in 1953 as a lot of dead animals were washed up on the beach at Westward Ho! I loved the time I spent there, and used to get up early in the summer to walk the beach bringing home 'treasures' ...see more
Bert Price's Shop was at the top of our street - Church Street. Bert Prices' shop sold anything and everything. From household buckets and dusters to DIY tools, firewood, fire lighters and paraffin for the heater in our bathroom. It was run - if memory serves me right - by Mr Price and two sons. It was the shop of choice that my dad took me to when I repeatedly mithered him for a penknife -that would be when I was ...see more
My mother took short term housekeeping positions and in 1953 we lived in Westbrook House in Westbrook village, looking after Sir Edgar and Lady Ludlow Hewitt. He was a gentleman farmer and I sometimes drove around his land with him in his Landrover. I remember beautiful fields with so many wild flowers, I would come home with armfuls. Cowslips are still my favourite. They went to London for the Coronation of Queen ...see more
We were moved to Brasshouse Lane School as we had nowhere else to go.
Mom and Dad were there for quite a few weeks, I went to stay at my Gran's house but I was not there long as two bombs were dropped in the street and they destroyed a few houses. One of the bombs had not exploded so again we were told to move out and only take what was needed, so there we were, Gran's five daughters and their ...see more
I remember when The Beatles came to The Wood in 1963 to record the Morecambe & Wise show at the ATV Studios off Eldon Avenue. Me & a couple of mates from school (Holmshill) played truant to wait at the back of Studio Gates off Shenley Road to try and catch a glimpse. After waiting a few hours it got to lunch time so we wandered up to Shenley Road for a bite, and there was John & Paul just walking along by ...see more
I often wondered who Hubert was. Other road names around were obvious. Bank Street was on a bank; School street had a school at the end of it. But Hubert Terrace? One side of my street was brick and the other was stone; something else I wondered about because all of the streets down from us towards the river were brick. Just this one terrace in stone. I say my street but in fact we lived on the corner of Bank Street ...see more
It was about September that the bombers came over Smethwick. They dropped their bombs all over Smethwick aiming for the factories. We were in the cellar when the bomb dropped on Smiths Foundry in Brewrey Street. The police came down the the street telling everyone to get out as the water mains had been hit, and the water was running into the cellars. My dad told the policeman that his father was still ...see more
We moved to No. 6 Tipton Vale in 1950. Maureen a baby, myself (Valerie) and parents Eric and Joan White fom Fenny Bridges. The house was a new council house, pink and blue. Dad dug out a bank at the rear and we found hundreds of flint arrow heads, knives and tools which we collected in Oster Milk tins and left in the garage. They should have gone to Exeter museum. I started at the school in November ...see more
The Great Orme Tramway is split into an upper and lower section at Halfway station. This photo is taken on the lower section at the middle passing place, situated on Ty Gwyn Road just above Black Gate. At this point, car 4 takes the outer rails to pass car 5 which passes on the hillward side. The roadway here is 'pinched' [ie it suddenly narrows] and has on occasion been the scene of ...see more
It was after World War 1 that strawberry growing became important around the Wisbech area and as strawberry prices continued to rise so more and more strawberries were planted. Eventually, local labour could not cope with the picking so hundreds of poor people from London's East End were encouraged to come to the area for a 'holiday' and earn money as well. They came in special ...see more
This is a photograph of two tramcars, Nos 6 & 7, at the passing loop above the Great Orme Mines. They are painted in the Dark Ochre livery which was only used for a few years after the upper line's opening in 1903. The haulage cables are clearly visible, these being of seven eigths of an inch diameter. They roll above ground on 12 inch sheaves and are guided by 'top hat' ...see more
My gran and aunty Margaret were the last to move out of Pilling Street. I remember Lizzie Whites shop on the corner, playing on chippys roof, sitting on the railway wall and looking over to the turntable - there was no electric. I remember the accumulator man bringing the battery and sitting round the table on Sunday listening to Jimmy Clitheroe. The snow started Christmas Eve that year, and playing out ...see more
In 1945 there was still a lot of horse and carts about. I am aware that Doncaster Corporation had buses and dustbin lorries and other petrol driven vehicles but there was not many private cars about. The only one that I recall belonged to Dr Scott who used it when he was on his HOME visit rounds. It was a small open topped tourer with a canvas hood that could be pulled up and over, and ...see more
8 Southall Street /16 Tan-y-Bryn. We, the Brynna Boys, used to run to school, Mr & Mrs Davies Head Master and thei two daughters, strict and friendly, firm and kind. I can only describe those happy days, Coronation year, getting our school free mug, watching on a black and white12 inch telly crammed into class. Those days long gone but memories will never die.
I have walked over every inch of the ...see more
It was about 1953. Saturday afternoon was a great day down at the Imperial picture house in Newburn. Roy Rogers and Trigger, Gene Autry with his guitar and six guns, Flash Gorden with his ray gun, Batman and his cape. I remember an older lad than us called Wee Wee Reed, he had bright ginger hair, anyway Batman had been on and when we came out Wee Wee put his black Burberie mack, tied the sleeves around his neck and ran ...see more
On my first day at Corringham School, my mother walked me, aged five, down the long lane from Aisby with our faithful old dog Floss and a playmate, Monica Bramford, a year or so older than me. During assembly I started to cry and my mother had to walk me to school for a while after that, leaving a most reluctant scholar at the East Lane corner. I later learned to ride a bike and attended school with Mike ...see more
This is where I grew up moving in when I was seven years old. I remember falling in the beck shortly after moving in as it was just across the road from the school. The locals always said that you weren't a local unless you fell into the beck. I remember that there were trout in it and some of the kids used to tickle them. Never got the hang of it myself. The Paper Mill and the Mechanics Institute were still ...see more
This photo brings back a lot of memories for me as a kid aged 5 in 1971, when me and my older brother spent around 3 hours on a Saturday afternoon playing outside the pub(Borough Hotel) and the steps of Woolworths (just a bit further up the street). Waiting for one of our parents to come out of the pub every hour or so with bottles of pop and bags of crisps for us, then saying only another 10 minutes, one hour later same ...see more
The smell that came from the foundry... I used to go see my dad and the cold damp stench used to burn your eyes and fill your lungs. The building was cold and damp and yet the heat from the ladles of molten iron would burn your lungs if you got too close. The cherry red metal gave no mercy and it would scare me into thinking this place was hell on earth. I would have dreams where I saw the gates of hell open and ...see more
I have just been reading the memories of a Ms Hamilton. I used to cross the bridge on the way to and from Goldsworth Junior School as I lived in Horsell. My sister and friends would stop and fish for newts or frogs - especially when tiny frogs appeared in the spring, which would make us late home - obviously we got told off for being late. I loved that bridge it has happy memories. I now live in Devon, ...see more
Memories of Brambletye Boys Preparatory School 1967 – 1971.
When I went to Brambletye at the age of nine, in September 1967, it was my fifth school in the last four years. As my parents were routinely being posted within the Army, they felt a boarding school would give me a more stable education. I vaguely remember touring the school with them and Mr Blencowe, the Headmaster, one summer ...see more
We moved to Yew Tree Cottage, out on the Forest, in December 1940, when I was 20 months old, and my father finally sold up in the early 1980s.
I loved the Forest, and was allowed to roam free from an early age. I have many memories of the wide open spaces [yes, they were then, when the smallholders cut and gathered the vegetation for their animals' food and betting, and cut birch for firewood]. ...see more
Wow! I was taught to swim in the Woking Pool by my mum. I could be in this very photo but preferred the quieter sessions. My sister or friends and I would cycle there and take a Thermos of Bovril to warm us up after our swim. There was a chalkboard at the turnstile entrance warning us of the water temperature! The changing room lockers were locked and unlocked by very sun-burnished attendants, and we had to poke part ...see more
I was born at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey in 1971 the eldest of 3. We lived in Orchard Mains until I was 4 when we moved to Hook Hill Park. I have fantastic memories growing up. We made friends with all the children on our road and spent hours playing in the woods which backed on to our road. In the winter we went sledging down the steep slope of our road. I went to Greenfields School which again I have fond ...see more
I was born July 1932 and moved to Perivale new housing estate developed by Percy Bilton in 1935, the name Bilton Road after him. The housing side was built by Taylor Woodrow and to my knowledge the same for Medway Parade. Ref to Alan Grose letter.
I well remember the landmine, we use to play on the bomb site after school. I remember Reggie Eels from Selborne School who lived in the first block of houses in ...see more
I was born 1945 at Mason Green Farm and attended the little school from 1950 until 1954 when my father moved on to other employment away from the area to Furness in north Lancs. My sister Barbara who is 4 years younger than me only briefly attended the school. My memories are of a small happy group of kids in 2 separate classes with a very loud but firm Headmistress, Miss Arms, followed by a Miss or Mrs? Leeming ...see more
By 1951 this had become Joy's Bakery - the Joys were wonderful people, and the bread was 'to die for!'
Dear old Kiddy. My youth and teenage years during the late 1950s and early 1960' spent here. I remember a busy medium sized market town. Full employment was provided by the numerious carpet factories, Adams, Brintons, Carpet Trades, CM Co., Victoria and many more. Dozens and dozens of thriving shops all the way from the railway station, down Station Hill, along Oxford Street and Vicar Street. The High ...see more
Brent Street was a typical suburban or small town high street. There were no really large stores but a selection of individual shops. The range of shops was remarkable with several grocers, bakers, greengrocers, butchers, chemists, fish shops, newsagents and hairdressers. There was a drapers and ladies clothing store, a gentlemen's outfitters, furniture store, hardware shop, shoe shop, electrical ...see more
My parents met at a place called Thornypits and married during the war years.They were George and Pam Edwards, he was a local barber and came from Killarney, Southern Ireland, she came from Ditcheat, near Shepton Mallet in Somersett. They had three children, Pat, David and Pam. My parents worked at the Moon Aircraft, which produced many parts from Perspex for aeroplanes.
We lived on a purpose-built ...see more
I lived on Commercial Road, Aberbeeg with my mam, dad, three brothers and sister a stones throw from Aberbeeg School which I attended when Mr Talbot was headmaster. My local chapel was in Glandawr and has been demolished. I belonged to a Christian group there called The Campainers. Our family never went out of Aberbeeg for holidays exept for the odd trip to Barry with the chapel. So every summer we went to the Dingle a ...see more
From 1975-1985 approx, when we were kids from Dalry we lived in the estate below Blair House about 1 mile from main entrance,The Blair Scheme. Myself and a few lads and girls from there used to go up there walking at evenings and weekends, as you turned into the main drive through those large black gates with stone pillars and walls to match there was a gate house, in all my years up there I never saw anyone ...see more
All I ever wanted was to be a nurse but not having the exam results to do this our family Doctor suggested to my mother I go to a Children's Convalescence Unit in Woodhouse Eaves and work voluntary; at first I thought this was would be a great adventure. I arrived on a Sunday ready to start work on the Monday, I was given a uniform that looked as near as damn it, to a nurse's uniform. I woke on the Monday ...see more
I lived in Church Lane, Kingsbury at Elvin Court and went to Tylerscroft after leaving Fryent infant and junior school. I have very fond memories of Tylers as we called it back in them days. I remember Mr Perkins Music, he built his own music system for the school and I always found his lessons very infomative of which I learned at lot from. Also Mr King(science) strict but a good teacher if you ...see more
I am an American who went to school in Chester in 1966/67. Rather, should I say, I was registered for school at Chester College. However, I can't say I was actually in the building very often. There just always seemed to be somewhere else to go, and something more interesting to see instead.
I arrived in Chester just as the hippies were raising their flowered heads back here in the beach areas of southern California ...see more
My memory of Steventon started in 1947. For those who don't know about Steventon Camp, it was a disused army camp about 1 to 2 miles from Steventon village, on the Hanney road. (I see the storage depot is still there, which when I was a lad was full of army lorries.) My family (Victor and Kathleen Davis, my sister Kathleen and myself) lived at no 12a, it was at the far side, away from the road, ...see more
I was born in Nant Gwynant in 1925 and lived there for the first 20 years of my life. In 1944 I was drafted into the army and served in German and Italy. Upon release in 1947, I decided to try and make a career in agriculture and before undertaking a college course Brooksby Hall, Melton Mowbray, I had to gain experience of farming for 12 months, and this was done at Hafodlwyfog Farm. It was then owned and run ...see more
