Nostalgic memories of West Ham's local history
Share your own memories of West Ham 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 1 - 10 of 19 in total
Pretoria road school 1954/1958
I lived at number 38 , approx from 1949 to 1956/7 don't know if they still there, I remember the joys and the cannings , I went to Gainsborough infants then Pretoria road school, my friend lived near the memorial fields we both moved to Dagenham after that
I was born in Queen Mary's Hospital in 1936. My parents lived in Glenavon Road. My sister was 3 years older than me and attended primary school in Water Lane in 1938/9/40. I can remember going shopping in Boardman's with my mother and playing out in the road with lots of other children. I was arrested one day and taken to Stratford Police Station for pedalling my car up the Romford Road towards the Broadway. ...see more
One of my cousins (now deceased) remembered a home somewhere near to the junction of Glenavon and Romford roads. She thought it had a large sign saying "Leytonstone Home for Waifs and Strays", but her memory was sometimes doubtful! On http://www.childrenshomes.org.uk/list/MH5.shtml there was a home on the corner of Glenavon Road named The Association of Friendless Girls' Refuge and as her memories would have been from around 1936 perhaps it was renamed later.
I was born at home in Lester Avenue in 1947. 9 of us lived in that 3 bedroomed house, and it never seemed overcrowded. There were 2 Grandparents, an Aunt, Uncle and Cousin, my Mum and Dad, my Sister and Me. I can remember going to Gainsborough Road School opposite the park and on Saturdays going to Rathbone Street Market. We either walked, down the alleyway near Carpenters Stores, then passed by the Co-op or caught ...see more
I lived in West Ham Buildings near West Ham Station until the age of 15 in 1963. Great community and all the neighbours helped each other. I remember the Queen's Coronation and the street party. A lot of the women used to go on Beanos and throw pennies to the children as they left on the coach. I remember particularly Aggie Coker, Dark Alice (as she was known then), Blonde Ivy and my Mum Louise, most of them ...see more
I lived right opposite the Theatre Royal in the 60s and remember going to see the panto Aladin with Salway Road school it was wonderful. I just loved wandering around Boardmans store in Angel Lane and going into the little bungalow furnished with all mod cons. The hat department upstairs and walking around the balcony and looking over and watching the customers below. They had such beautiful clothes etc. we had to go ...see more
Does anyone remember a Church of England home for unmarried mothers? There appears to be no mention of one in history pages, and no record of the poor girls who left their babies there.
I am looking for my family on my dad's side. I remember my grandparents, John and Elizabeth Thompson, they lived at 10, Forest Lane, Stratford, London. I have many happy memories of staying with my grandparents, and of them taking me once to a pantomime. I can't remember where it was, I must have been about 5 at the time. I remember my uncles and my aunt Connie - she had a daughter, Linda. I have lots of lovely ...see more
I was born in Jersey Road in 1960. Just around the corner, my nan used to own a grocery shop in Devonshire Road called Smiths. I had loads of good times there as a young boy. There was also a chip shop very near but I can't remember the name of it. I was sometimes treated to a bottle of coke at the Nottingham Arms - my nan's favourite pub. She had a very good friend called Vera Cooper, a lovely, ...see more