You are here:
Richmond
Richmond maps
Historic maps of Richmond and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Richmond maps
Richmond area books
Displaying 1 of 13 books about Richmond and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Richmond
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Richmond.
Add your memory of Richmond
or of a photo of Richmond.
Richmond Park
I have many memories of Richmond Park. Sometimes I would walk through Sheen Common to the end and walk through the gate near the old wooden hut and into Richmond Park. Other times we would travel by pushbike with my friends and ride around the huge park, looking for a nice patch to sit down and have a drink that we brought with us. When I travelled with my parents by car into the park, the deer would walk up to our car if we had stopped. They were so friendly you could pat them on the head. There were many lovely little spots to rest and sit down and the long tall grass would surround us that no one knew you were there. Great for hiding and playing. I remember there were many entrances to the park from other suburbs. Love this place!
The Quadrant
I used to live in Niton Road, Richmond and used to catch the bus at the top of the Gas Works bridge and get off at the Quadrant, from when I worked 1961-1967 until I married and moved to Kent late 1967. I worked at a couple of places in Richmond Town, the last being a baby shop, Selby's which was just around the corner from the Quadrant, walking past the big fruit and veg shop on the corner and Selby's was opposite, near Woolworths store. The Quadrant was I think the hub of Richmond Town, most of the buses stopped there and was central to everything else.
Marching on The Green
I used to live in Niton Road, Richmond from 1946-67 until I married and moved to Kent. I joined the Girls Life Brigade when I was 5 years old and left when I was 12. In that time we used to practice our marching and drill on the Green on many weekends. Some people would sit down and watch us for around an hour or so and we gave them some entertainment I suppose. When we had our parades we would march all through Richmond town, ending up on the Green. My family and I often had picnics on the Green, was a beautiful area and I loved all the old unique houses that lined this beautiful area.
Surrey memories
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
The Fire Station
My Mother was born in the flat above Mortlake Fire Station in 1899. Her Father W.O.Knight was the Officer in charge. I lived there until approx 4 years of age and can remember the two fire engines and many details. The building is still there but has been converted into offices.
