Nostalgic memories of Orpington's local history
Share your own memories of Orpington 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 17 in total
Omg I remember the crescent my uncle Eric had the wet fish shop there and how I remember the Barnes 😀
I was born at 70 Southlands Avenue and lived there with my mum and dad and elder sister and attended Warren Rd and St Olaves schools. My mum worked at the South Suburban Co-op which had a butchers one side and possibly a greengrocers the other before it changed to a laundrette ? Remember the Lipscombes and Barnes families as they were local shopkeepers. Still have many happy childhood memories from those days ...see more
I attended Warren Road Primary School from 1945 to 1948 and was taught by Miss Gunn. We lived in Cloonmore Avenue backing onto the school grounds and "over the back fence" was often a quick way to get to school.
My grandparents ran The Orpington Cafe in the 50's and I have many memories of being there. At the rear and to one side was a sort of wasteland area, great fun to explore. At the time, my parents lived in Derry Downs, St Mary Cray and helped with the family business.
My sister and I attended Chislehurst Road primary school and I recall there being some sort of partial eclipse of the sun and we took ...see more
In the early 50's aged about 7, Dr. Ebbsworth admitted me to Orpington hospital for the removal of my tonsils and adenoids. I remember being dressed in a white gown and bed socks and was taken on a trolly and put into an ambulance and driven a short distance to the operating area. I was very concerned that one of the socks was down around my ankle and trying to pull it up. Next thing I was [it ...see more
I lived at 45 Waren road orpington with mum dad and brother tony We have very happy memories of living there moving away when i was about 15 -16. Mum and Dad(Rene & Charles ) ran the dance club for ballroom dancing and were in the Frank Spencer formation team. I attended Sidcup Technical School with my friend Frances. I now live in Berkshire, married with two sons and 5 grandchildren, but I often think back to the ...see more
My family lived in Orpington Kent from 1959 to 1964. I was 5 when we left. We lived in Repton Road. It snowed so heavily one year(62/3?) that a train was stuck at the top of the embankment above our house.The snow came to the top of my legs. Once I went into the High Street with my mother and there were "men with big heads",I was always scared they would be there again (but half hoped they ...see more
I grew up in Foxbury Drive and went to Vine Road Primary when the uniform was green and yellow. Headmaster was called Mr Ayres I think, I remember a teacher called Mr Swatton who saved my life in the playground by getting an ambulance quickly when I was stung on the throat by a wasp, have a life time allergy now to their stings. There was a large red house on the right hand side as you walked towards Windsor Drive ...see more
This pictures reminds me so much of my childhood. My father had the greengrocers stall which was outside the White Hart pub, partially obscured by the man on the bicycle. As a child I used to help out; I remember washing dirty sooty celery in icy cold water on Sunday mornings so that it could be sold as "clean" and command a higher price, trimming cabbages but shaking the ice out of them first! My ...see more
I'm not exactly sure what year I was an in-patient at Orpington Hospital, so 1957 or 1958 seems most likely. I was at Vine Road, Primary School, in the Juniors probably.
I had to have an operation on my Tonsils and Adenoids. To get to the Operating Theatre, I remember I was bundled up under blankets and with bedsocks on and pushed lying flat on a Trolley, from the Ward, into the ...see more
