Rainham memories
Here are memories of Rainham and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Rainham or a Rainham photo.
War Memorial
My father Sidney Edward Nurden whose name is on the war memorial at The Broadway at Rainham. He died from wounds he received in France in 1944 aged 28 years. He is buried in the cemetary in Upminster Road where there are now several others from the Nurden family including my mother Lucy Maud Nurden whose ashes are scattered on my father's grave. I think we used to call the Broadway the Clock Tower and it was always a very busy place as to go anywhere you had to get a bus, 103, 87, 52. The Rainham Church was also one placeIi remember well with church parades in the Cubs and Scouts. Rainham was a great place to grow up and I have very fond memories.
Dennis Nurden.
Mimi And Grandad's Sweet Shop
My grandparents owned the sweet shop at the end of this parade. They were Harry and Gladys Godwin. My mother grew up there, as did my Uncle Paul. My brother and I have hundreds of fantastic memories from the 1970s. I now live in Highgate, North London. Last year I was driving past the shop and decided to go in, it seemed tiny now and I couldn’t work out if it had been altered in any way, I remember it being quite a big shop with the fag counter up one side and sweets on the other. It also had a post office at the end of the shop which was run by Roy Firbanks.
THe Nurden Family History Book.
My name is Dennis Nurden, I have a twin sister Valerie, we lived in Sunningdale Ave when Murex sports ground was there. Though not born there we did all our schooling there and left when we were about 18yrs old. At school I did paper rounds and worked on Saturdays in Castle Sports, the shop left in photo. My father Sydney Edward Nurden and his family were from Rainham and some are still living there today. My father was in the army and died in 1944 (injured in France). His name is on the War Memorial at The Clock Tower in Rainham, both my parents(mother Lucy Maud Nurden) are buried in the cemetary in Upminster Rd, as are others from the Nurden family. Rainham was a great place to grow up, Lambs Lane Secondary Modern had just opened when I was there in the early 50s with beautiful sports fields. As kids playing on the Rainham marches looking for old cartridges left behind at the rifle ranges and playing on... Read more
Born in The House Directly Across From The Shops Shown.
I was born in Dec. 1941, in the house, 241(?) directly across from the butcher shop (where the lorry is parked) , only my mother and a 15 yr old aunt were present. Nurse Chalk, on her trusty bike, showed up a little later. My father was serving in Hornchurch Aerodrome and one of my earliest memories were spending nights in the air-raid shelter in our backyard. That street was my playground, Rainham Hall my nursery, the old Infant's school and Primary School nearly to the clocktower (the other picture must surely show a number 87 bus). The hardware store was at this end of the row, and from it we bought our bike innertubes, as well as the rubber band to make our catapults. Furbanks, at the far end, was the place to buy our weekly 4 ounces of sweets--everlasting toffee strips were favourite. This street and the people in it were my life until we moved away in 1950. Fond memories.
Blacksmith - Great Grandfather
My great grandfather Frederic Fynn, came to Rainham in 1875 after he married Louisa Virgin of Ilford. He had his shop in Back Lane. He had a number of children, one being my grandfather Harry Robert Fynn. My father Henry John Fynn, was also born in Rainham, but I was born in Dagenham, in Becontree Avenue in 1946.
Summers Spent at my Grandparents'
My grandparents moved to Rainham in the 1930s and were there during the Second World War. After the war my mother married at St Helen's and St Gile's and when I was born, in 1952, my earliest and fondest memories are of my grandparents' house on Wilfred Avenue. Granddad helped start Rainham F.C. and was always running about arranging dances and raffles for fund raising for the club but there was always time to drive to Tilbury Fort to watch the ships pass down the river Thames or walk up to Wennington Road to buy sweets. Sadly the football club doesn't exist any more.
My Early Childhood Years
My grandfather worked at Murex down by the river and I loved being able to pick him up from work on the odd occassion with my late Mum, Dad and younger sister as we would be allowed to see any boats passing. I still love the sight of water ways today and I am nearly 50 years of age, I adore the River Thames and the homely boats on its water in London that I see on my journeys with National Express. Memories are so precious and I am glad we all have them! Rainham will always hold my roots even though I live many miles away now since I married in 1980.
Memories of Essex
I Just Started School in 1950
I grew up in Hornchurch, born in 1945. As a child I got my first eye glasses right up the street from where this picture was taken. Odells I think it was called.
My mother used to send me out to get bread right next to where the bus is located in this picture. Allies or Aylies Bakers I think.
Christmas Tree in Hornchurch
I too was born and brought up in Hornchurch and remember the bakers - it was called Alies and the daughter was called Enid who went to our school. Just by the bakers was waste ground and I am sure I can remember seeing a christmas tree there, does anyone else remember this? Carol Board (Westbrook)
I Now Live Here
I now live in Hornchurch, since 2003, and the High Street looks nothing like this (apart from the pub, the Bull, still the same but is now the Fatlin & Furkin) picture in 1955.
The Bull
Lots of happy times (and a few hangovers ) in the Bull pub in the early sixties. In the days when the door was in the front, there used to be a small bar to the left with a dart board and pin table with a small hatch/bar where you got your light and bitter or Watneys Red Barrel. I left hornchurch in the mid 70s, must go back one day...
The Bull Hotel
I lived in Elm Park from when I was born (in Oldchurch Hospital) in 1950 to when I was dragged away to Australia, kicking and screaming (inside) at the end of 1964. I often went to The Bull with a couple of my friends from Maylands girls' school. Of course, being only 13 or 14, we had to stay outside but we went to listen to the groups that played there, from time to time.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,901 memories of 5,953 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:
- Southampton, Hampshire
- Thornton Heath, Surrey
- Battersea, Greater London
- Heswall, Merseyside
- Fleetwood, Lancashire
- Bull Bay, Gwynedd
- Llansamlet, West Glamorgan
- Braunston, Northamptonshire
- Dan Y Parc, Powys
- Knaphill, Surrey
- Chiddingfold, Surrey
- Ryhill, West Yorkshire
- Lundin Links, Fife
- Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex
- Cefn Fforest, Gwent
- Hornsey, Greater London
- Maidenhead, Berkshire
- Worcester, Worcestershire
- Amble, Northumberland
- Nazeing, Essex
- ... 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.
