Nostalgic memories of Kensington's local history
Share your own memories of Kensington 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 all 8 Memories
I LIVED IN CAMPDEN HOUSES, PEEL STREET, THOUGH THE FIFTIES AND WENT TO THE CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART IN BARNES. I LOVED SEEING THE PEOPLE ON THE TV AND RADIO WHO LIVED CLOSE BY BECAUSE THE STUDIOS WERE EASY TO GET TO. DICKIE VALENTINES DRUMMER LIVED IN THE NEXT DOOR FLAT AND WHEN THEY HAD BURGLARS, THE POLICE ASKED ME IF I'D HEARD ANYTHING, BUT I WAS BUSY WATCHING 77 SUNSET STRIP AND ROBIN HOOD ...see more
After I foumd out that my family lived at 3 Canning Place in 1838 and attended the Holland Street Catholic Chapel, I discovered the RC baptisms of John Rogers Herbert RA artist and my g.g.g.aunt Kezia Herbert nee Dedman's three children's baptisms at Holland Street RC Chapel 1838. A wonderful surprise. These registers were only discovered in 2008 and are kept at the Westminster Diocesean Archives ...see more
My father was the caretaker for the Linquists` Club in Holland St from 1959 to the early 70`s, when the building (Niddry Lodge) was demolished to make way for the new Kensington town hall. We lived in The Cottage next to the lodge and the old stable was below my bedroom. The club was a school of English during the day and a social club in the evening. For 10 years, from the age of 9, I met ...see more
I grew up in Kensington and have so many fond memories of it from the early 1980's. I remember the video shop that used to be in the Odeon cinema, which is now a Hagaan Dazs cafe. I remember when the Ice House in Holland Park was a gallery and you could walk in there and look at paintings whenever you pleased. I remember my favourite place was a big toy shop which I think was called the Rocking Horse, ...see more
I remember my father-in-law taking me to Barkers to look at a commerative board of the employees of Barkers who fought in either the South African campaign or the First World War. The board was on the right hand side of the entrance above a staircase. My father-in-law's father, Robert John Cook, was on the board. I have been unable to find any information about this. I hope that someone else will remember this and may even know where the board went.
Jennifer Cook
My mother was one of 13, 2 died in infancy, all born at 28 Dartmoor Street. Have been to the house 3 times, but the street is no longer Dartmoor and I can't find out what the name is now! I took a picture I have of grandparents (Mary and John Howard) and my mother back in the 1920s and stood by their front fence and had my picture taken in the same spot. Awesome feeling!
My memories refer to 1955 through 1959. I remember these years with affection - being taught 'cello by Harvey Philips, piano by Hilda Klein (excellent use of swearwords, I remember!!), composition by Herbert Howells (lovely man). I remember that ineffectual conductor Richard Austin and a visit to the College by Herbert von Karajan who was refused, by Ernest Bullock, his request to take a First ...see more
When a was a small girl my parents used to take me to visit my Grandparents, in Kensington where they lived at No. 29 Kelso Place. As the underground trains pass deep under the houses there, I was often to be found in their sitting room laying on the floor with an ear pressed against the carpet listening for the deep rumbling noise! I also remember my parents taking me into one of the large Department ...see more