Pill memories
Here are memories of Pill and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Pill or a Pill photo.
Pill Bicycle Shop
My maternal grandfather, Allan Henry Ball, had a bicycle shop in Pill prior to the Second World War. My mother had a photo of herself as a child outside the shop (in the 1920s). I believe that both my grandfather and his wife were born and bred in the area of Pill and Nailsea The window had whitewash advertisedments stating new bicycles at 10/6p. Unfortunately all the family photos disappeared on my mother's death. The family moved to Downend, Bristol at the Second World War and I believe my grandfather worked as an engineer at Parnells, Yate on Spitfire production. I know my mother, Irene Eleanor Ball, worked there also for a time. My uncle, Allan Ball, served in the REME for the war and later lived in Iron Acton until his death. His wife, Grace, died shortly after. They had no children. Another daughter was Roma who lived in Birmingham and was married to Cyril Rowley, I am not sure of their existence now, I do know they... Read more
YMCA Agricultural Training Centre Ham Green Pill
In February 1949, my husband Derek travelled from London to start agricultural training at the YMCA Agricultural Training Centre at Ham Green, Pill, on a scheme known as 'British Boys for British Farms'. He arrived at Temple Meads Station, and caught a small train which in those days ran from Bristol to Portishead. Although born in London, he hated the idea of city life, so chose to study farming. One special memory of his time there is of seeing the Severn Bore. He subsequently obtained work at a farm in North Dorset.
Derek would be interested to hear from any other ex-training centre boys. Tel: 01590 681972
Memories of Avon
Howes & Son Butchers
My family owned the house that can be seen on the right hand side of the photo. You can just see the building on the side which was the shop from which the family butchers, Howes & Son, was run. I'm not sure how many generations of the Howes family lived in the house but I know that both my grandfather who ran the business until the mid/late 1960s, his father and my own father, Joe, were all born there. My grandfather, Joe, was in the Home Guard during the war - the original 'Corporal Jones'. On retirement my grandparents retired to Henleaze and the Howes link with Shirehampton ended, although a number of us remain in Bristol. I remember visiting the house and shop as a small child and going into the yard at the back through a pair of large wooden gates which remain to this day. I have some photos of the house and shop, the latter with meat displayed, taken in the early 1900s.
Simon... Read more
RE HOWES AND SON BUTCHERS.
I have many, many happy memories of the 1950s, my dad was your grandmother's brother? Reg Allen. I have memories of your granddad Joe and Ethel and the shop, they were always busy on a Saturday afternoon so I would come with one of my brothers over the Pill ferry from Portishead to play with your dad Joe, and Daisy. I now live in Bath. Your grandparents had a caravan at Redcliffe bay where I also spent many hours with them. Hope you may have a memory of who I am? (Betty Allen)
Memories of Blaise
During the fifties my friends and I spent many an hour in the woods and playing around the castle, during our school holidays we would be up there from dawn till dusk a few sandwiches and a bottle of water, those were the days. Many of the old photos bring back memories. My sister and I had to go to Henbury church for Sunday School, the photo of Hallen Road shows the old police station, I can't remember it as a police station but I did go there each week when I was in the Air Cadets, we used to keep the old 303 rifles in the old cells locked away.
One of the first schools I attended was at old Manor House opposite the church. In those days we had open coal fires in the class room. I think our teacher was called Mr Arther, I remember he was ginger with a beard, a very caring teacher. From there it was Henbury juniors, off of Marmion Crescent. I remember... Read more
Henbury C of E School
This was my school untill 1959/1960, the one teacher I always remember is Mrs Ellis, we also had lessons in what used to be a police station, our tuck shop was in one of the cells. I remember once a year, I think it was Lent, we used to have a service then hold hands around the church, sing a song, then had rest of day off.
Wedding
i married gordon blake dec.2nd 1944.we are still together after 63years
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:
- Bridge Of Gairn, Aberdeenshire
- Irby, Merseyside
- Hampton Wick, Surrey
- Penruddock, Cumbria
- Fleetwood, Lancashire
- Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire
- Blaenllechau, Mid Glamorgan
- Dovercourt, Essex
- Conicavel, Morayshire
- North Coates, Lincolnshire
- Luton, Bedfordshire
- New Brighton, Merseyside
- East Ham, Greater London
- Thurstaston, Merseyside
- Ribbleton, Lancashire
- Great Haywood, Staffordshire
- Oswestry, Shropshire
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
- Streatham, Greater London
- Llansamlet, West Glamorgan
- ... 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.
