Nostalgic memories of Rochester's local history
Share your own memories of Rochester and read what others have said
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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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 11 in total
I remember going to school, at Gad's Hill Place (Dickens House). It was for girls only and the class was ten of us, not like now! In the gardens they grew veg and fruit, the school had their own gardener who as I remember was quite grumpy - but no wonder with all us girlies!
My family moved to Rochester during the war ( a naval family). We lived in Union Street until it was demolished for the new police station. We had a small gang, four strong and we roamed far and wide during the long summer holidays...mostly up to mischief! The area was mostly in its war time state, anti tank blocks etc.. had been moved to most road sides or removed. I remember the water tanks and air ...see more
This is Jackson's Field - I lived in one of the houses opposite the rectangle in the background. This was an old WWII water tank and was still lined with metal and we'd play in it as kids. Chipperfields Circus used to pitch just out of shot to the left and I watched the elephants being exercised on Jackson's c.62! Happy days
Can anyone please shed any light on what was (or is) an old fort or folly in woodland behind the Lawn Tennis club off Maidstone Road? I have a photo but I'm not sure it would come out well scanned. I remember as a kid we walked slightly off the walking track and scrambled down a slope into copse where there was this tower and a walk way.
It's been driving me nuts since I couldn't find it when I visited a couple of years ago. Any help would be great.
I took part in a simple survey of Restoration House in the early 1990s when the Local Authority were considering buying the property from the children's entertainer Rod Hull (of Emu fame). He had fallen into disastrous financial circumstances, partly through his labour of love in trying to restore Restoration House that arguably contributed to his untimely death. My abiding memory is of Miss Havisham's ...see more
Gad's Hill Place was my school when I was 7-9 years old, from about 1950-1953. About 4 or 5 girls of similar ages lived on Thames Sailing Barges at Hoo and went to school together, sometimes by car, but usualy by bus. I don't remember much about the school, but I remember the gardens which had many little 'graves' dedicated to pets which the Dickens children had had.
I was a milk boy for Bourne and Hilliers in the 1970s. I would oftern go to the Red Lion after my rounds on pay day for a pint or two and throw some darts - Tom was the landlord of the Red Lion at that time. Where the police warden stands in this picture now sits a round about. The pub and dairy are now long gone.
I lived at the Castle Tea Rooms from 1953 untill 1976, my mother and father ran the tea rooms. I would love to hear from anyone who passed over the doorstep to enjoy my mum's scones.
I regularly went across this junction on the bus to and from home in Rochester and school at Chatham between 1955 and 1961. The Gaumont cinema was directly across the road from Bourne & Hilliers Dairy. I went to Saturday morning pictures, and ocassionally to the Victor Sylvester Ballroom Dancing classes, also at the cinema. Unlike the photo, Star Hill and the New Road were gridlocked morning and evening for the school run.
I remember being in St. Barts Hospital in 1961 or 1962, aged 11 or twelve, to have my appendix removed. At that time there was a construction worker recovering from a very serious injury received while working on the bridge. His whole arm had been removed, leaving him only his right shoulder.I met him during a mass held in the ward and he was amazingly cheerful and determined to stand and kneel as required by the service.
