Nostalgic memories of Chelmsford's local history
Share your own memories of Chelmsford 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 21 - 30 of 61 in total
I lived in Coval Lane from my 1st birthday to my 24th birthday - 1948/1971. Then I got married and moved out. At that time the shop on the corner was a wool shop because my mum, an ardent knitter, bought most of her wool there. I think somewhere there was a Barclays Bank and the Greasy Spoon Cafe as we called it was down an alleyway between the wool shop and Thompson's Builders merchants, right opposite the ...see more
I am tracing my ancestors as my mum and siblings were brought up in a home. Her grandfather was a Prison Warden at HMP Chelmsford around the 1900s and his father was a blacksmith. That's all we have apart from addresses on the BMD Certificates. 2 Buckhurst Villas/Village Springfield and what looks like (but not clear) 1 Devon Terrace Chelmsford. Anyone with any info - it would be enlightening and we would be very very grateful (and excited). Thank you.
Does anyone remember the name of the coffee shop in Duke Street opposite the Golden Fleece, you could smell the coffee from miles away!
I would like to know what was the history of the old Tudor-looking public toilet building that used to be at the bottom of the bus station when I was growing up in the 1950s. It was a shame to see it demolished. Does anyone remember it? I have searched the internet and nothing comes up. I always remember going in there when I came to town with my mum on a Friday and she would collect my dad's wages from the bus ...see more
On market days my father would take me to see ferrets which were displayed in cages on stands under the trees by County Hall, in the area now occupied by public toilets.
The car would have been parked outside where the Duke Street Post Office once stood. The man behind it about to step on the pavement has just crossed Broomfield Road into Duke Street. Behind him can be seen the awnings of the fruit and vegetable shop which once stood there. Even clearer in this picture is the 'Teas' sign which for many years was referred to as The Greasy Spoon Cafe. The large building in the background, to the left, has long gone, and is the present site of The County Hotel.
Here you can just see a part of the goods yard, opposite Marconi's Buildings, which were where goods trains pulled up, and were unloaded. Various horse and carts would stop here to collect their goods. Amongst them wouild be the various coal merchants horse and carts, ready to load up and take out to the customers. Two such merchants existed with very small offices either side of Duje Street. Moyes ...see more
This shot hasn't changed much on the right hand side at all. There is one more building towards us, out of shot, which is where the present day Co-op Store stands on the corner of Wells Street. The large building in the distance with the chimney pots still stands to-day on the corner of Broomfield Road. To the left hand side, this has totally altered. Gone is the old bus station which used to be ...see more
The lady standing on the left hand corner is at the top of Waterhouse Lane. Beyond the man leaning against the lampost is the start of Rainsford Road. The first 2 smaller houses that you can make out, on the right, are where the present Esso petrol station stands. The larger house just beyond them, still stands to day, admittedly with the larger chimney pot shortened, but this is on the corner ...see more
This view is taken from outside the island where the current Lloyds Bank stands, and shows the view down the High Street. In the background can be seen the spire, which was the Wesleyan Church, and to-day is the site of the old Caters House. On the right hand, you can see a shop blind near the horse and cart. Beyond this is where the current Marks & Spencers stands. The stone bridge would be just past where the church once stood.
