Nostalgic memories of Gillingham's local history
Share your own memories of Gillingham 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 41 - 50 of 56 in total
We had some great times in the summer hollidays. A crowd of us would get on our bikes go along to the Strand and then along the sea wall to sharps Green. We passed a boat yard, but I don't remember the name. We were gone all day. We played "bike scrambling" up and down the mounds, the boys were always better at it than us girls. There were always loads of damsons and blackberries that we could pick and eat. We ...see more
We lived in Grafton Place and my gran had come to visit us from Frindsbury. As she was going home we heard the sound of the doodle-bug overhead, we were not worried as we knew we were safe all the time you could hear it. As we watched a Spitfire was chasing it and trying to shoot it down but no luck so he flew under it and tipped it over with his wing, we all cheered as it went down, so my gran went home only to ...see more
The Bredhurst bus did indeed pass the Jezreels but it was a number 38 (not 8). I was at Gillingham Grammar School from 1948 to 1955 and used regularly to catch that bus to my home in Forge Lane, Bredhust. I have vivid memories of running up Barnesole Rd ( the school was in Third Ave then) desperate not to miss the bus. If I did it meant an hour's wait or a walk from Wigmore - mostly on unlit and unmadeup ...see more
After the war I used to go to the Salvation Army flicks, almost next to the Odeon. They were free on sat ams I believe. I lived at 191 Gillingham Road till 1955,then went to Canada. Memories of Kerridges, Livingstone Circus, Darland Banks, Gill grammar school, David Frost, Strand, ice cream wafers...handmade...damson jam made at home, scrumping,gooseberries, Byron Road Sschool, Cubs and Scouts, St. Barnabus ...see more
I went to the Tech as well, in the 1960s before they moved to Pump Lane. Down from the school to the High Street, turn left and stood outside the Co-op, opposite Debenhams? OK I admit I did not learn much there but surely you had to turn right at the High Street to be standing outside the Co-op, looking at the station opposite Debenhams?
Does anyone remember the old Brittania pub in the old high street, not the high street where it is, it was in Pier Road? I am looking for photos of it as my nan owned it.
I worked here and the manager was Mr Tremaine, good times then. The boy who worked the lights was Len Bowgen who lived at The Brook, Chatham but emigrated to America. I used to sell ice creams in the interval.
1932. I was born at Canada house, 10th March, I was put in an Royal Naval Orphanage 1936, now Penbroke House Gillingham and went to school at Barnsole Road I think. And then I went to Forge Lane Junior school in 1939/40.Anyone out there who has any connections like to hear.
If Ben went past the Jezerels on his way home from the Tech School he must have been on a no 8 bus and not on his usual 45. The No 8 went up Canterbury St to the Top Rd and then up the Rainham Maidstone Rd to Bredhurst past the Queens Head PH. The 45 went up Barnsole Rd to the Top Rd and then up Edwin Rd to Wigmore past the Smallholders Club and terminated at Fairview Ave jct Bredhurst Rd. If for some reason I ...see more
This is a photo of Sharps Green which is now part of the Riverside Country Park. I remember playing there as a child - it was always a rather wild place. My family and a large group of neighbours would go for a picnic when the blackberries were ripe, and we would troop off to collect blackberries for our mums to make a delicious pie - we children always tried to find the most out of reach, fattest, ripest berries. The walk home was always tiring as it was all uphill!