Nostalgic memories of Brentwood's local history

Share your own memories of Brentwood 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.

A couple at a laptop

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

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:

  • How the location features in your personal history?
  • The memories this place inspires for you?
  • Stories about the community, its history and people?
  • People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
  • Has it changed over the years?
  • How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?

This week's Places

Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:

...and hundreds more!

Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.

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We moved to Pilgrims Hatch in 1971, such fun living on the Estate with a never ending hotch potch of mates to street rake with - knock down ginger, ipp dipp dog sh*t, duck duck goose, conkers and kiss chase. We'd bike to Ken Saunders sweet shop and get half ounce of Golden Virginia for Dad and penny chews or marshmallow mushrooms for us. There were Silly Syrretts the tiny grocery shop, the Butchers with ...see more
My father (Peter Winslow) was in charge of salaries and wages for the Brentwood District group of hospitals in the early 60s and he was based at Highwood Hospital. His offices were at one time in the Limes, the building in the photo to the right of the Admin Block. The Admin Block has the water tower. Previously Dad's office was in Poplars, c1962. After my parents separated in 68/69 my father lived at ...see more
Was the owner of the hardware shop called Hooker! I always remember it as H J Looker.
Marilyn Celico was for a time writing about stuff back in America about 15 years ago on a Brentwood website(before Facebook) and just chattering about the States.I remember her blonde hair and accent and her Dad at the Cafe called the Donut Bar down the small street beside Odeon cinema that was!. First the swimming pool off Ongar Road was sold off and we had to wait 20 years for the ...see more
My name is Peter McGuire and i lived at the Gardeners Arms Pub in 1971-1972. I worked at Selo's Film factory on shift work. Reg who owned the pub back then let me arrive at odd hours which made live easier. I shared a house in Ongar road with 3 other young men, near the Robin Hood pub,which was owned by an ex West Ham player Brian Dear and drank with most of the team on Saturday night. , but found my self with ...see more
I was born at Rosemead Ongar Road Pilgrims Hatch in 1942.Nearly opposite Dazleys shop, we were bombed in 1945 and went to Lowestoft for some months before returning to Pilgrims Hatch, I went to convent school in Brentwood. I often wonder if Rosemead is still a family home. We had an idyllic childhood and in summer months loved to help farmer from Caldcott Farm, John Widdison with his harvest and remember riding home on a ...see more
Hi, I remember this area very well, as I boarded at High House, and went to the Girls’ high school in the late 60s/ early 70s. Walks through the woods at weekends. Can anyone remember the tea shop in the area, I think it was called The Olde Logge, and of course the Seven Arches pub nearby?
I was in this hospital about 1954/5 My name was Jacqueline Warren. Would love to hear from anyone else who was there at this time.
I was born in Brentwood in 1947 at the little maternity hospital on Shenfield Common,i moved away in 1970 and have rarely been back.I was talking with a friend who also lived in Brentwood at that time and we tried to picture the high street but as it was in the fifties.Near the old town hall,a little nearer Kings road traffic lights,there was a shop that always had the most wonderful smell of fresh ...see more
The date on this photo is inaccurate. I joined Brentwood School in September 1963, at which time Hough House wasn't even started. From memory, it was not completed until about 1964 or 65. Godfrey Thomas (Geography teacher) was either the first, or one of the first, House Heads. Mark Welton Many thanks for this information. I have forwarded it to our archivist to make the adjustment. Ed.