Perivale memories
Here are memories of Perivale and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Perivale or a Perivale photo.
War Time in Perivale
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 Hodder Drive the Woodhouse Avenue end where I thought the bomb had landed. The photos were in the Ealing Paper which my mother had cut out. Would it be possible for Alan Grose to email me the photos please? At nine years, I remember those long nights of bombing. The target was The Hoover Building on the Western Avenue, Perivale, making munitions, and the Peerless furniture manufacturers, making Horsa Gliders. On the golf course opposite was an ACK-ACK gunsite and search light battery. The Hoover building was in camouflage and when the guns went off... Read more
St Nicholas Church, Perivale,Middlesex
On my way to school one morning in possibly 1944 there was the body of a woman in the river Brent where we crossed by the footbridge at the church. She was lying face down, motionless and her hat and handbag were on the bank. There was a policeman on watch and he told me to "Go on son you don't need to see that". I often wondered why she had apparently taken her own life. In 1944 the world was full of problems for so many people.
Perivale
I worked at a textile mill called Sewing Silks in Perivale Avenue from 1957 to 1960, the compnay had been a German one until the Second World War when it was taken over by an Austrian manager whose son was an RAF ace I believe. It was one of the happiest time in my short working life before I left for Adelaide South Australia. I was very much in love with a another employeee called Silver who lived in the Greenford or Ealling area, but because I lived at Harrow Weald in those day it was hard to keep up the relationship!
I Lived at 7 Haven Green And Now I am Searching...
I lived at 7 Haven Green but in the year 1965 we moved to Switzerland. Now I am searching for people who knew us. My father's name was Peter J. W. Benning and my mother was called Margaret Benning - Bryan - Lambert (she was Argentinian). Whatever name she exactly uesd at that time, I do not know unfortunately. I have a brother born in 1956 named Jeremy and a sister born 1963 named Saskia. I know that I went to a pre-school there, butI have no idea what this was called. I just know that nuns gave us our lessons there. My mother had a girlfriend, her name was Beba. If someone remembers us, I would be very happy if you would contact me. BTW: I'm in London in April:-) Nici
Born in Perivale 1964
I lived at 91 Bilton Road right opposite Elliot Godfrey, chemist. I used to walk up to Tommy Dodds the sweet shop, and also Lauders, another sweet shop. My nan used to work at Pains & Burns in Perivale, my dad worked at J Davy in Wembley and my other nan and grandad owned the bakery in Wembley opposite the indoor market. My brother and I went to Perivale School down Sarsfield Road, where my nan and grandad lived, my other nan and grandad lived 53 Bilton Road. We had lots of friends there, Julie and Caren Armstrong, Sheena and Adrian Siret, Mark and Janet Hopping Browers, Sally and Diane Newton. I also went to school with Diane Smith, and Jackie Wall. My name was Diane Reader, my mum and dad are Jill and Oaul Reader and my brother is Tony Reader. My nan and grandad were Win and Len Venables.
Midwifery Training
I did my midwifery training at Perivale Maternity Hospital, 1981/82. It was a lovely little hospital with two post-natal wards, one ante-natal ward, a delivery suite and out-patients. I did my community placement in Southall, we lived in a huge old house next to the cemetry when we were on-call at night. Most of our lectures were on-site but for some we travelled down to Hillingdon hospital .
What a friendly hospital Perivale was, everyone knew each other. So sad when it closed down.
Martin's News Agents, Bilton Road, 1965
Wow, I was looking at the pictures of Bilton Road, and it's good to see the newsagents, Martin's is still there. The Maternity Hospital, I can confirm was on Stockdove Way at the junction of Perivale Lane and Argyle Road, I still remember seeing the signs for it.
Medway Drive Perivale
I was born on 24 September 1937 when my parents were living at No 54 Medway Drive, Perivale, Greenford. I thought I was born in a maternity hospital ( possibly Perivale Maternity Hospital, but no records now exist for this hospital) but my birth certificate shows me being born at home, so maybe I was. Apparently we moved into Medway Drive soon after the houses were finished being built at the end of 1936. I am interested to know if the houses in Medway Drive were part of an LCC Estate, and so were rented by hoseholders or were privately owned. If anyone has any information on this I would be glad to know.
Many of the houses in Medway Drive were completely demolished by a so-called Parachute Landmine Bomb dropped by a German raid in the early hours of Thurs 26 September , rendering some 450 people homeless. Fortunately my mother, sister (Sheila) and I were in the Anderson shelter at the bottom of the garden and were... Read more
Perivale Maternity Hospital
I too was born at the Perivale maternity hospital in 1949, and at the time we lived in a prefab at Gurnell Grove somewhere near Cuckoo Hill I think, if anyone has photos of these prefabs perhaps you could email me one on: john.nicholls@sky.com. The hospital is no longer there and they have built houses on the site now. I'm not sure when this happened but I think it was in the late 1980ss. If anybody is looking for records from the hospital I would imagine you would have to apply to North Middlesex Hospital. The Hoover Building still stands in its full glory as it always has done but is now a bloody Tesco's. Still at least they haven't touched the front of the building (I don't think they are allowed too as it's now a monument). I was at Gurnell Grove till I was 3 years of age and then the council moved us into a nice house (with a bath!) in Townson Avenue, Northolt Grange off Kingshill... Read more
Ancestor Memories
I don't have a memory but some of our family lived there around 1950 pre and onwards. The Tomlinsons, Peggy and Burt, maybe Peggy's sisters and brother John and their mother who I believe was a Collins. Hoare is another surname. If anyone knows of any of these names or their descendants please let me know. We live in Australia and would like contact with these lost people. Ethlyn Catherine Hoare/Cracknell/Acott came to Australia probably about 1950. Thanking you, Helen Acott
Perivale Maternity Hospital
Actually, I have no memory of 1971, as this was the year I was born. However, I was born in Perivale Maternity Hospital, which I believe was situated on Stockdove Way (before a housing estate was build there - Haymill Close / Wyresdale Crescent), literally next to the A40, just off the Argyle Road, and not very far from the Hoover Building! Just yards away from where the hospital stood, is the Perivale Park Golf Course and Perivale Athletics track. The postcode I believe was UB6 8EL. I am also looking for a copy of a picture or two, of the hospital. Does anyone know where I can find one? Thank you. Ian Batson-Wright
Hospital Records
Hi, my name is Julie and I am researching my past. I was born in Perivale Hospital in 1962. I am told that the hospital no longer exists. Can anyone tell me where the hospital records may have been moved to? Information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Julie
Perivale Maternity Hospital
I was born Penelope Anne Ashton one hour and three quarters after my twin sister. It was March 1944 and we were born in Perivale Maternity Hospital. We were taken from the hospital to our family home in Uxbridge Road, Ealing. Our house was bombed out just months later and we were evacuated out.
I've never seen even a photo of Perivale Maternity Hospital, nor do I know the road it was in. I was told it too was bombed during the war. And that it was no longer there. I wonder if any one else has a photo and can tell me more about it.
I have grown up in Australia but have visited back home several times Would love to know where to look for the hospital next time I come.
Bilton Road
I grew up in Perivale my dads bakers shop was on Bilton Road, Geo Ort.
Does anyone remember?
Memories of Middlesex
Ealing 1962 Onwards
I moved to Windsor Road in Ealing in 1962 when I was 11. I remember the Grove with fond memories. All the shops! The tailor's shop and the barbers. The sweet shop which always had a bowl of water for the dogs outside in the summer, the butchers (Mum used to send me there on a Saturday for a piece of beef costing about 3s or 3/6d (15 or 17 1/2p) The man that ran the butchers along with his 2 sons also had a cafe a few doors up. (In the 1970s I worked in the offices along the Uxbridge Road and used to go there and have a good meal with chips which were 1p extra!) The penny library next to the car park (yes only a penny a book!). Along from there in the Grove was a piano shop, then the Kings Arms pub, a dairy, the paraffin shop and the haberdashery shop, then the bread shop (one of the first bakers with a bread slicer!). At... Read more
Bakers And Ealing Studios
My God! I remember the baker shop fondly as it was opposite the Ealing Studios, and we used to hang outside Ealing Studios loads of times as kids, hoping to see someone famous - and we did. I've said "Hello" to Hattie Jaques, she was so lovely and warm, I remember her just walking over to my sister to say hello and ask why were we there, we explained we lived in Northolt but our nan and grandad lived in Regina Road, West Ealing and our dad was in the pub so we always came here when he went for his drink. She kissed our heads and waved goodbye. Another week me and my brother Andy were there eating hard scones that the baker gave us free, I think they were the day before's, and Sid James came walking out of the studio to go to the bakers. When he came back he gave us a cream bun each. He had a fag in the side of his mouth and... Read more
The Mall
I used to work at Burnside high class stationeries which was opposite where this photo was taken.
Opposite Burnsides was the National Provisinal Bank where there was a suspected bank raid all the detetives were dressed as window cleaners and odd job men , at the time I was dressing one of the front windows when a detective came up to me and told me to keep quite and he would help me with the window which he did, but at the same time he was keeping an eye on the men who was going to do the raid.
The police caught them as they were entering the bank.
Ealing Grammar in The Good Old Days
My family returned emergently to Ealing, from the U.S., in late 1969. We lived with my widowed grandfather in North Ealing and I was sent to school at Ealing Grammar. As we were not sure how long we would be staying, the headmaster, Mr. Hartwell, agreed to let me go to school in street clothes. So, for three months, I was the only boy allowed to wear regular clothes. The school had barely changed from this earlier photo, but was a fabulous place to get an education, for which I shall always be grateful.
Childhood in Ealing And Thereabouts!
Although I wasn't born in the Borough I spent quite a lot of time in the district. I also attended St Anne's Convent, Little Ealing Lane, from the age of 5 to 16 and from there went on to Pitmans College in Ealing Broadway. My much older sister was married in the beautiful Church of England church there in 1951. I remember Saturday morning shopping which included a necessity to queue for lovely bread at 'Parkers', I think it was called, but I am not totally sure. I also learnt to drive in Ealing and passed my test at 17 years of age in rush-hour traffic at 8.30 a.m. which I thought was quite a feat!
I emigrated in 1961 to New Zealand and married a fellow Londoner and we have been in our lovely, adopted country for nearly 50 years. However, the fond memories of 'Home' as it was then are never far from our thoughts. Gwynne Tilly, nee McBride.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,902 memories of 5,954 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Luton, Bedfordshire
- Ewell, Surrey
- Conicavel, Morayshire
- Eccles, Lancashire
- Salford, Lancashire
- Maesteg, Mid Glamorgan
- Selham, West Sussex
- Ashford, Middlesex
- Taunton, Somerset
- Penruddock, Cumbria
- Southampton, Hampshire
- Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
- Banstead, Surrey
- Thurstaston, Merseyside
- Raby, Merseyside
- New Brighton, Merseyside
- Old Coulsdon, Greater London
- Heywood, Lancashire
- High Halden, Kent
- Duloe, Cornwall
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
