Nostalgic memories of Cannock's local history
Share your own memories of Cannock 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 26 in total
I worked at the danilo cinema for 9 years showing films also working with Brian gwillidm , vick low ,Ken woolly
In the 1970s as a child, I used to travel from nearby Brownhills where I was from to cannock to go to the swimming pool. My friends mother had a market stall at Cannock Market and my friend and I would swim and then come back to her later. We would go for milk shake at a lovely corner cafe where all the market traders used to get their tea, coffee and lunches. I later became a member of Cannock athletic club. The ...see more
I recall being in a Children's home in Cannock Chase, it would have been around 1965 to 1970. I cannot find a trace of it when searching online. I remember it was a very grand stately house with a very long lawn at the front with stables. It was near the woods and I think it was near a caravan park as I recall 'escaping' one time and coming across a derelict caravan. The home was probably demolished ...see more
Saturday mornings in the 50's were often filled by many a child with a visit to the Danilo cinema in High Green.
That building was indeed a 'People's Picture Palace' with its impressive art deco design facade and a luxurious interior dripping with chrome and rich fabrics for the huge, swathed curtains which were drawn back from the stage to reveal the screen. Even the rabbit warren of broad staircases were carpeted and ...see more
There has been a public library in Cannock for many decades. As a child I remember the library being housed in a set of green painted, wooden buildings which stood on High Green next to the Council Offices. These grandiose huts had brass handles to the swing doors which led to a vast array of shelves all crammed with books of every shape and size. The one thing they all had in common was the smell. A musty old ...see more
Here's another set of memories about Walhose Junior School as I promised.
In 1955, I moved from John Wood C of E Infants up to the Church of England's own junior school which was located on the New Penkride Road. I was duly scrubbed and dressed in my new school uniform John Wood's had been grey and some blue - Walhouse's decidedly green with braiding to the edges and pocket tops of our jackets. ...see more
Walhouse C of E School was an integral part of Cannock's very existence for some 175 years. Sadly there is no image of it on this archive. This is what one record says of it:
Walhouse School was founded in 1828 by Mrs Ann Craycroft Walhouse of Hatherton Hall who gave £2,000 to buy the land and build a school and teacher's house on New Penkridge Road. By 1851 it had become a National School and was enlarged in ...see more
My father saw this clock being installed when he was young. It was an electric mechanism but many decades later somebody realised that it had never had a meter fitted and had run, free of charge all that time. Oops!
The building beyond the Market Hall is, of course, Taylor's bakery, cake shop and cafe. Once again my father had a slight connection. He was the very first customer after the original ...see more
It's pity that there are no images of Cannock's schools on this archive. Cannock actually had a number of schools long before many other towns. Primary education for all didn't come into effect until the Education Act of 1870 made it compulsory. I'd like to mention one school.
This is the John Wood C of E School which was established by a gentleman from London. (A memorial plaque in St.Luke's church bears this ...see more
One year, for Ascension Day, a curate at St.Luke's decided that we, the choirboys, should ascend the church tower and sing appropriate hymns. (Was it the Rev. Pollett?)
All of us lads dutifully made our way, fully robed in cassocks, ruffs and surplices I might add, up through the external door on the north side of the tower, past the bellringers loft. There followed an interesting, narrow, stone spiral staircase to ...see more
