Nostalgic memories of Oadby's local history

Share your own memories of Oadby 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 17 in total

My wonderful nan lived at number 10 Church Street. Her name was Mrs Amy Wheeler. My sister Jane, brother Richard and cousin Janice spent all our holidays with her for as long as I can remember. She was very hard working, and looking back, I can’t remember her sitting down. She did her washing in the wash house in the garden. It wasn’t an easy job as water had to be pumped up. A brick boiler sat in the corner which had to be lit. ...see more
My dad was Eddie Cattell who ran Ye Original Pharmacy at 104 Leicester Road opposite Sandhurst Street School. We lived at the shop before moving to 41 Fairstone Hill when the houses there were built. I went to Sandhurst Street, then Langmoor, then Gartree and finally Beauchamp and run a reunion for anyone who went to those schools in the late 50s, and the 60s twice a year. Contact me if you are interested. I ...see more
I was born in the house that was opposite Allens the chemist. I remember going into the butchers to get a bone for my dog every Saturday. Outside the bike shop was some bubble gum machines, which I used a lot along with my 2 brothers. I remember the library that was over the swimming baths as well. I also spent many happy hours on the allotment with my dad, that was down the road next to the chemist.
Grew up in Newmarket Street, Knighton. Like most kids at that time we never had new clothes & had little food. I went to Avenue Road School when I was four years old, this was in 1939 just before the war. Craddock Arms Pub was at the end of the street, trips made regularly by my father. Dad sent me a postcard many years later of Old Knighton Schools nearby. Does a picture of this exist today. We were lucky not to ...see more
I moved to Oadby in 1969 as a 9 year old. I also remember many happy days playing along Fluids Lane, in the stream, building and breaking down dams, going into the fields, scrumping and getting caught on more than one occasion. Such a shame it is no longer the same.
I can remember going to the Oadby cinema. I believe it was owned, or at least run by the father of a schoolfriend. It was commonly known as the 'Oadby flea pit', not that any of us actually saw or were bitten by fleas
Mr Allen (snr) was my grandpa. As a child in the 60s, the shop was a magical place. When this photo was taken, the shop was the second one from the corner of Chapel Street (walking towards the church). There was a antique shop on the corner when I first remember it. Later the chemist shop was extended and took over the corner premises. I too remember learning to swim at Oadby pool. I also remember Ellsons bread : )
This picture brings back happy memories, I was born in Oadby when it was a village like this picture shows, it was a wonderful time. The picture shows the large building on the corner which was "Allens" Chemist, further down the shops was "Rawsons" which sold bicycles, TV`s, radios and electrical goods, it later became "Dexters" where I worked in in my teens as an apprentice electrician. At the end of the small ...see more
I think the chemist shop is on this road, along with the baths,
My grandmother, Dolly Harding lived at number one, Sandhurst Street. I was brought up at Davenport Avenue. At that time, before all the new houses were built around Foxhunter Drive and Chesnut Avenue, the way to the infant school was down Davenport Avenue, along Iliffe Avenue, across to Cartwright Drive then up the "Black Pad" to Sandhurst Street. The geese in the field it crossed (Chesnut Avenue) were always a ...see more