Nostalgic memories of Bristol's local history
Share your own memories of Bristol 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.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 82 in total
The Army
My call up papers came with a railway warrant for Gloucester, where I and another group of lucky lads, were picked up by army lorry and taken to the barracks of the Gloucester Regiment for our six weeks basic training. Unloaded at the barrack square, we were marched (shambled) to our huts, then to the QM stores for uniform and kit.
The Army does not give you your kit, it is yours “for the use of” during your ...see more
So! Back to 11 Woburn Place, back to school on Hope Chapel Hill back to Hotwells golden mile with its 15 pubs.
The War was still going on but there was only limited bombing and some daylight raids, the city was in a dreadful state of ruined factories and bomb damaged houses and dockyards. While we had been away, our older brother John had joined the 92nd Sea Scout Troop, so I went along with him and joined up as ...see more
The Blitz started with the Sirens wailing in the early evenings, to warn of the approach of enemy planes. Then complete silence for quite a long time as we waited with mounting apprehension in the passage way, mother, myself, Dennis and David with father watching at the front door, John would not get out of bed for anything.
The drone of approaching bombers heralded the beginning of the air raid. Then the thunder of ...see more
I was born on the 24th of July 1929 above a shop next to a pub called the Rose of Denmark, in Hotwells, Bristol, very convenient for Father to wet his whistle and my head at the same time. Father was born in 1893, Mother in 1895. They were married on the 9th August 1924. My older brother John was born in 1927. Two months after I was born the New York stock market crashed, but I don’t think that was anything to do with ...see more
St Augustine the Less was in Hotwells, Bristol, on Hotwells Road oposite Dowry Parade. I think it was demolished after the war, and replaced with a block of flats.
Western Square, Hotwells, was one of two small squares facing Cumberland Basin, Hotwells. I cannot remember the name of the other one, the pub, one of two, was called the Pilot. I knew a lad called Brian Simms in the sea scouts at that time.
I can remember my parents taking me to a furniture shop at the bottom of Union St, opposite the cinema which a friend of my father ran. I have tried and tried to remember the name with no luck - it was in the late fifties - can anyone remember it.
When I was a little boy we used to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Bristol and on the way Grandfather very often stopped the car so as I could watch the ships unloading their cargos. The sights, sounds and smells will live on in my memory for the rest of my life. Long may the people of this fascinating area maintain, share and enjoy their heritage!!
My grandfather was born in Bristol in 1900, he was Henry Fisher, born 11 Walpole Street, Bristol. His father was Henry Fisher who was a master hairdresser, his mother Lavinia had a brother Reginald and two sisters Mable and Beatie. I do not know much about my grandfather's life in Bristol but I do know that he married my grandmother Hilda in Hampshire. I am not sure when he left Bristol for Hampshire but he brought his ...see more
I can remember as a young lad, aged nine years, walking along this dockside with my father, who was a railway checker.
There was a British destroyer called HMS Vansistartt moored throughout the blitz, just beyond where these cranes are shown, she was used as a antiaircraft base, and as we boys were in the sea scouts, we used to be welcomed aboard by the crew. Later on when the USA came into the war, American escort ...see more
