Nostalgic memories of Ilkley's local history
Share your own memories of Ilkley 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 27 in total
I remember the guesthouse very well also mr and mrs Spiers who ran the place..I lived at Hilltop from 1959 to 1961..the people in charge were Walter and Rose Hall..they also had a daughter called Pamela..all us kids used to go to Hollybrook on a saturday to spend our 6d pocketmoney on sweets it was such a long time ago but the memories are happy ones
I remember Hollybrook Guesthouse well from my childhood as I lived with my parents at Hill Top, Westwood Road, which at the time was a Children's home for boys from "broken homes". I spent many happy hours with Mary & Eddy Spiers who ran it and paid a brief visit to see them in 1972 a few months before I married. I visited in August this year and was disappointed to find it gone.
Could anyone help me with the exact location of this park? We have lived in Ilkley on Parish Ghyll Lane since the 1960's but we have no idea where Parish Ghyll Park is. Is it the Gardens for the Blind at the bottom of Parish Ghyll Road?
From 1939 to 1959 I lived in West View, just a couple of hundred yards from the Royal. We were friendly with the proprietress of the time, a Miss Florence Shute. Miss Shute had a brother who lived in our flats and the latter had a son, Peter, who was injured in the War and who had a Dutch wife called Helen. Miss Shute had a mid brown Austin 10 Cambridge car registered CWR 442. At the Wells ...see more
I stayed at HOLLYBROOK GUEST HOUSE, and had a lovely time on holiday there in 1963, I was wondering if it is still there ?
Great Uncle Percy was born John Percy Norfolk near Ilkley, in 1880 and was the brother of my grandad William Arthur Norfolk.
He fought with the East Yorkshire Regiment during the First World War as a volunteer and survived wounds. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant and was the Signals Officer. I have many of his military papers, photos, and medals which I am donating to ...see more
I was born in Ilkley in Sept. 1940, my parents first residing at Ben Rhydding. After my birth we moved to a house in Valley Drive, living next door I recall to a lady called Miss Booth. From our rear garden we could look up towards the Cow and Calf and in later years I climbed these.
We used to collect our milk daily from a farm just down the road, from a farmer called Binns, and I believe ...see more
Its not really a memory, I need help. I'm researching my family tree but my mum, Maureen Elizabeth Yates born 2nd June 1942 was adopted. I know she was born in Ilkley to a Kathleen M Yates and was adopted by Sidney Smith and Mary Jane? Smith (known as Janey). As far as I know Kathleen died just after my mum was born and my mum's real father was a secret! But I do believe he came from Guisley?
Its not really a memory, more what I am trying to find out. My mother was born in Ilkley on 2nd June 1942, her mother, Kathleen M Yates died in the same month and my mum was adopted by a Sidney Smith. Her father was unknown but I know he lived near the area. If anyone can remember anything, no matter how small, it would really help, thanks.
I too, was born at the Semon Home (although the family lived in Bradford), and the reason was, so far as I know, that the authorities wanted to keep St Luke's Hospital free for forces and other casualties. Until now, I thought the building still existed, but given the other comments here, I am going to check physically at the first opportunity.