Nostalgic memories of Deal's local history
Share your own memories of Deal 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 11 - 20 of 29 in total
Do you remember those meetings on a Sunday morning when the cycle club turned out for a day trip to Hastings or Dymchurch, maybe to Rye, etc. In charge was Harry Falvis, (not sure of the spelling), a short stocky man from the North of England. We assembled at St. Leonard's, sometimes as many as twelve, and off we went, led by Harry. His two daughters and son often made up the party and a great time was had ...see more
Where Deal Library stands today was the site of the 'Nelson House Restaurant', which was owned and ran by my father, Frederick William Ford; around the corner in Middle Street, was 'Lady Hamilton's Cottage', where Lord Nelson was supposed to have had an affair with Lady Hamilton! Diagonally opposite the restaurant was a sweet shop and on the corner oppostite was a public house. Next to ...see more
I was 16 yrs old when I moved to Deal with my parents; we moved into a lovely old house in Cowper Road. I soon made friends. I used to go into a coffee bar called The Good Intent, it was always busy, the duke box was always playing Buddy Holly and so many others songs. I used to go dancing a lot too, I had lots of happy memories in Deal. I have been back a couple of times - hasn't changed much, happy days...
I grew up in Deal, spent many hours in this shelter, from around 1961, it is still there today.
My fondest memories of that time are: directly opposite across the road was a roller skating rink and amusement arcade, cafe and a round bingo hut, later the bingo hut was removed and replaced with swing boats.
I loved my time there. I have only one picture of myself on the rink, but cannot see ...see more
Perhaps you would like to know more about Thomas Barwick. Sarah Goodborn was Thomas' s second wife and was possibly the sister of his first wife, Eliza Goodborn, who appears to have died in childbirth. He had three children with Eliza: John (1835), Helen (1839) and Thomas (1844, died in infancy). In 1851 Helen was a servant in a house at Northbourne. Thomas went to Tasmania in 1856; his parents had gone with his 4 ...see more
My parents were married here on 13th January 1945. The church is at the bottom of Rectory road, which is where I lived and I used to go to the service on Sundays. I remember being given a little card with a picture of violets on it to take home for Mother's day. I was also married here on 27th April 1963, a beautiful sunny day.
The two photos are of Deal War Memorial Hospital on London Road. My brother's godmother, Margaret Paxton, used to be Matron of the Hospital. My father and brother had operations there, my grandfather passed on there and my godmother was a Head Nurse.
George James Norris and his wife Charlotte, nee Halliday, lived at Alders, Sholden with their 5 children in 1891. Miss Sarah Norrice who was living with her mother Ursula at Sholden in 1881 was George James's 2nd cousin as her father George Norris was the brother of George James's grandfather Thomas. In 1843 Sarah was christened Sarah Barwick Norris after her ...see more
My parents had to walk from High Street, Deal to this church on the coldest and snowiest day recorded up to that time for my baptism in February 1947. My godparents were Hazle Rennie (nurse at Deal Hospital), Ena Wilkins (ballet dancer friend of Mother's who lived to be 100) and Bob Eliot (a friend from the Second World War days). We then became parishioners at St George's, Deal, till we moved to Walmer and went to St Mary's.
My memory of Sandown Castle was that by the time we were children the sea had washed it away and all that was left were flat stones. You had to pass it to go along the sea trail to the golf course at the north end of Deal. Also that, if I am correct, it is the only castle that Henry VIII built to help protect our shores from invasion that did not survive the elements. The sea can be pretty rough up there as seen in the photo but so invigorating!
