Recent Memories
Reconnecting with our shared local history.
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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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 801 - 880 of 36556 in total
born in 1948 in a place called Cappenfield near Bilston, just off Dudley street, just four houses in a row surrounded by fields,, the canal, or cut, as we all called it ran alongside, and it narrowed down to what we called the stop,it was where the barges pulled up to wait to get into the basin so they could load up and start their journey back, i remember the railway branch line that ran past the bottom of the garden,,very ...see more
I was born at 28 Newlyn Drive in 1944. We lived with my grandparents. Moved to Romiley in 1948. Sadly my parents moved us all to London in 1951 the worst time of my life. The only time I was happy was during the long summer holidays when I went back to the old home.
I lived in Hillier Road Battersea from 1952 - 1964 and went to Honeywell primary school. As a 15y.o in 1962 the highlight of my week was going to the Balham Hill flats with my mates to a club run by Mrs Boyland. I had several friends including Lionel Challis and big Eddie. I was mesmerised by two of the prettiest girls I ever saw, Christine Appleton and Janet Rayner who used to dance so well. If I remember rightly ...see more
I remember the triangle of shops at the top of Whetstone Hey in(1962), when I was about 7 years old.
If you came up Whetstone Hey, from Valley Drive, on your left was Wartons Newsagents (what we called The Paper Shop). It was run by Mr Warton and I think his wife and one or two other assistants. Mr Warton was a small slightly tubby man, slightly balding. Outside were two Chocolate Machines. One sold Milky ...see more
My name is Derek Price, and I was born in Central Middlesex Hospital and lived in Court Way, North Acton, until moving to Birkbeck Avenue when I was married in 1965.
I attended West Acton Primary, Acton Wells Junior, John Perryn and finally Faraday school Bromyard Avenue until I left in December 1957.
North Acton playing fields was our main playground together with the back alleys of the local houses as well as exploring ...see more
My 6 x great-grandparents, Thomas Pell and Isabell Emery, were married at the Parish Church on 13/4/1732. Their children were born in the village, and Thomas, Isabell and some of their children were buried in Great Houghton. It would be interesting to know whether any of their family remained in the village. Their son Richard (my 5 x great-grandfather) moved to Kingsthorpe, then to Coventry. We recently visited Great Houghton, it is a lovely village.
I noticed a memory about Violet Fryer and Herbert Morgan. I often stayed with my grandparents, Artie and Floss Messenger, and they used to know people of that name. Our house was called Floral Gardens. It was their livelihood - selling fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk, wreath-making, flowers,etc. At times they kept pigs, chickens, geese, sheep , cows and bees. There were orchards also.
I’d love to ...see more
I was born in the new police house in 1959 on Garfield Avenue.
My father was Constable Hind,the sergeant next door was called Dethick.
I have memories of the street and playing in it.My brother and father made a swing for me in the garden.
I remember going to Sunday School, having to face the back kneeling on our little chairs.
My father received many commendations, which I have.
There was a family ...see more
We moved to 52 Worcester Crescent, Mill Hill early in 1939 not long before the outbreak of the war. I am now 83 but I can clearly remember the bomb crater at the bottom of Ramillies Road. If you come from Bedford Road the crater was on the right not very far up, about where numbers 6,8 and 10 Ramillies now stand. This filled with water naturally and I remember Mum and Dad having a ...see more
Dolly's (Essoldo Cinema) in distance
Thats Everitts Corner in front, Co-op store on left (mum got a weekly order from here, I had to taste everything, washing soda tastes horrible!), Langleys toy store on right, also chip shop and barbers
From footbridge used by girls going to High School, looking towards Three Tuns & Slough, later unsafe and demolished?
Surely this is Aspro's bowling green? along Bath Rd., houses must be Westgate Cres or Ivy Cres. Pals dad was gardener to Aspros. was it built beside Aspros cricket pitch?
off Bower Way (handy for me!) Think my wife lived down here for a while, she was nanny to 2 kids whose parents worked at US base at Ruislip moved to Denham before we married
Started out as isolation hospital for scarlet fever(?) Used as nurses hostel for nurses from Cliveden, they were taken by coach, was at the back of site, backed onto Aspros( later Sara Lee?) factory, they built Westgate School on e side
Pic is taken from gravel pit, we used to spy on nurses, hoping to see them undressing! Typical small rooms with French windows like TB hospital. it could also be reached by steps from pit, boilerman used to throw ash down into pit!
I am looking for some historical images from my house on Chope Road. It is currently called Sundene and was built in 1920 as one large house, now separated into two. My understanding is that the house owned a lot of land, which is now Tudor close. There are significant land marks of a number of Copper Beech trees which must be as old, if not older than the house.
Born in December 1957 my maiden name was Kemp I must have started in Mrs Padgets class St Joseph's circa 1962. i remember the alphabet in pictures around the wall A is for apple B is for ball, C is for cat & D is for dog etc…I can still work my way through the images for every letter. There was also a Wendy house corner that I loved playing in. We lived on Crag Mount Halfpenny Lane and ...see more
The Semi detach house in the middle of the photo, is my first home purchase, Moved in two months ago.
I used to be at Acworth House before the Second World War. We used to play cricket and football at the Top Field.
Our school was called Temporary School but we called it "Tin School"!
After each meal to avoid a crush, each House was called in order to exit the huge dining hall. I remember clearly the first few called which were
"Kings, Brittania, Natal, Acworth, Empire, ........
I wonder if there are any other old Acworth boys around?
John Hing, No: 17
At the age of 13 I suffered a nervous breakdown due to problems at home. It was decided by my doctor to send me away from home to give me a break.
My mother took me to a mainline station in London where I was handed over to a lady who was to escort me to the home.
On arrival at the Andrew Duncan home, I along with other new boys were introduced to the staff by the matron.
My bed was one of four ...see more
My father Douglas Bolton was at Harold Woods in Heckmondwike as a personal & safety training officer. Can any one remember him he was there in the late Sixties
Does anyone remember vatric controll systems in Garth road lower Morden. I worked there in the mid 1960s
David Huggett
I recall visiting sugwas Court when I was a child in the mid 1960s, my grand father had been the rector at Kenchester. Unfortunately I don't seem to be able to upload any photos.
It would be good to hear from anyone else with memories around that time.
Steve Roberts
Dazzercat@gmail.com
I was born in Steyning in 1954. My father was a police constable and at only 2/3 months old we moved to the 'police station' in Whiterock Place in Southwick. The station consisted of 2 large semidetached houses with large back gardens and a dog yard with a kennel for any strays. The gardens backed virtually up to the railway embankment and the front of the house looked straight down Colebrooke Road to ...see more
I remember well taking the bus up from Westcott with my grandmother on a Sunday afternoon in the 1940's to have tea and cakes at Grimm's Kitchen right opposite the famous clock in Abinger Hammer .
I moved to Westergate around 1951 (aged 7) from London. My parents bought the local village shop & Off licence in the main road, opposite the Alpha Garage. I can honestly say I had a wonderful childhood living in Westergate. We were free to wander all day, care free over the fields etc., no problems what so ever. ( I don’t know how we knew it was time for dinner etc., we had no watches) Our shop sold ...see more
I went to the Court with friends between 1966 and 1970.
We would meet up in the Two Brothers opposite.
I met my wife there at a Halloween Party night, October 1969.
The manager was Derek White, with his wife Jill.
As the business was expanding , Jill managed a branch adjoining the Granada Cinema, in Maidstone.
With my friends, over this period we also visited other branches at Tunbridge Wells and Welling. Happy days.
Iv been trying for years to find something out about the camp . I was born there in 1948 when my farther Mr Arthur Blowes was sent to North Korea when he back from the Second World War
I remember my first day at the Royal Kent School – 8th November 1948 – as recorded at entry no. 1450 in the school's original Admissions Register. It was a few weeks into the Autumn term, as in September that year I had been in hospital having my tonsils out. All my friends had started at the beginning of term so after being kept away I was really looking forward to joining them. But ...see more
My dad opened his first shop in Ferry Approach, a cafe, it was situated directly outside the woolwich foot tunnel with plenty of dock workers and factory workers passing by every day and a constant stream of traffic queuing for the ferry.
My brother and I used to go to the shop after school to help out, washing up and sweeping up.
Dad went on to own the fag and paper shop next to the cafe also a greetings card ...see more
in 1944 we were taken to St Agnes, me, my two sisters and my mum. I was only 5 years old. They put us in the hotel Driftwood Spars, St Agnes. I went to school there, I can't remember the name of it. My mum worked in the pub in the village, as my dad was fighting the war. Loved every day we were there - came home from school then down to the beach. My sister Margaret was 9 years older than me and my sister ...see more
I remember staying at the hospital and going to Heswall beach and playing on the aeroplane in the back garden at the hospital,it was about 1965
Early C20 formal gardens and parkland designed and landscaped by Thomas Mawson and implemented by Robert Mawson of the Lakeland Nurseries, Windermere, surrounding a house designed by Dan Gibson with a ground plan by Thomas Mawson.
Historically, Wood was a substantial Devon farm centred on a late C16 or early C17 house, lying some distance from the village of South Tawton. The early C19 Tithe map (c 1840) shows a group ...see more
What is now 1 Taw Green Cottages was once the Smithy I am told.
TAW GREEN is a hamlet in South Tawton in Okehampton, Devon, UK
My Grandfather William Lawson died at a place described on his death certificate as The Hostel, High Street, Bentham. Grandfather was from Liverpool this was 7th May 1941 can anyone tell me what was the hostel, was it a pub ? or a place to stay.
my dad and uncle worked as building contractors for bb evans and the cinemas in kilburn high st my dad also drive a van with billboards advertising would love to hear if anyone has memories of this or worked at night in the cinemas
My parents had a caravan at The Old Coastguards close to Seasalter Sailing Club from 50s to 70s. It had only 3 caravans on it. I regularly got up early as a child to accompany the site owner, a super guy, while he followed the tide out to put out fishing lines. The next morning going out early morning to get the days catch.
My parents seemed unaware of the shifting sands danger at low tide and I had several ...see more
This is the school I went to, and really enjoyed my time here. Mr. Gothard was the Headmaster. We also had a lovely Welsh teacher in the middle class, and I think Miss Yarrow took the little ones. (A very short walk through to Berristead Close where we lived.) We had to walk up to the village hall - St. Peter's - for our school lunches as there was no canteen. The school is at the bottom of Carpond ...see more
Has not changed much over time - apart from the loss of the old oak tree.
This is the other side of the road from the Post Office, with a very old car parked in front of Hazel's shop, which sold all sorts of things including penny chews and sweets. You can see the old tree, and the bus stop and the end of the Blacksmith's cottage. The works would have been behind the tree. Towards the end of the road is the old Victorian School, and School Lane where my father lived when he was growing up in the 1920s -1930s.
Post Office and shop on the left. Mrs. Cornwall was the Postmistress. On the right is a lovely tree next to the Blacksmith's cottage, which was cut down for a new house later on. Lovely empty street here. Wonder who the child is?
This looks like the Manor School. Back in the 1950s/1960s the Headmaster's youngest son was a friend, and we used to play in the grounds.
This is called 'The Piece'. In the 1950s it was a place to play, and go on the swings, and there was a village sports day here. It is still there, though the pavilion developed. Known today for the Fireworks night and Beer Festival.
The Oak Tree was amazing, and big enough to hide behind as a small child. It was a key feature throughout childhood. It was a shame when it was cut down. It is near the Berristead, the Elizabethan manor house, and was allegedly planted by a Tudor, though not sure who.
This is where I grew up. In the summer we played on the green with other children, and when the trees were a little bigger than this enjoyed climbing them. Happy Memories. The trees are a little bigger now and the green has been chopped into for parking, and there is also a children's playpark there. The houses do not look much different.
I am trying to find out about my Tickner ancestors who lived in Dorking in the 1700s. In the 1970s a cousin remembers seeing a plaque on a building in the high street that read , 'Thomas Ticker coachbuilder ' and there was a date in the 1700's he can't remember what it was exactly. This plaque referred to my ancestor.
Where has this plaque gone? Does anyone ...see more
I was born on the Anchor in 1941. The houses were set back from the road with rough patch of ground in front of them where Pat Collin's fair used to set up every year in the summer. From the canal bridge on the left was the pub, The Anchor (Arthur Baines), attached to a row of terraced houses (Silla and her sister, the Weberleys, Richard’s, Littlehales), then the big entry. The other side of the entry was the big house ...see more
I was born in Sandiway but during my primary and secondary school days we would go to Northwich which I remember from the late fifties and when all the old shops, such as Joe Allman's cottage and Eachus etc were all doing a good trade, Northwich has many happy memories for me. I remember the Bull Ring when the shops were all wooden fronted and the Talbot Hotel and the Methodist Chapel next door where the current ...see more
Having lived the first 25 years of my life in Widnes ,I have many happy memories of my school days there. Born in Dundalk Lane in 1940, from 1943 until 1945, I attended the Nursery,situated next to Ditton County Infants’ School, and then moved on to the Infants’ School itself, (often referred to as The Little School or Chestnut Lodge School), where I spent the next three years . The Headmistress at ...see more
Over 70 years ago, when I was about three or four years old, my parents and I would travel from Luton to see my maternal grandmother, Kate Whymark, who was the widow of Ernest Whymark. I never met Ernest, as he fell off a ladder at Burnt House Farm and was killed in 1931, Nan ( Kate Whymark )lived at Little Hitches, in Upper Road, Little Conard. I remember there was a man called Vince who lived next ...see more
My father was the Vicar of Cradley Heath from 1961 for about 15 years and we moved there when I was about 6 months old. The vicarage is now pulled down and the church is now (or about to be demolished.) One poignant memories is the smog in the early '60s which meant I had to overnight at the nursery school on a few occasions as any sort of travel was impossible. I loved it. My mum didn't! Another is ...see more
I was born in 1946 and attended Rokesley Infants school from 1951 to 1953. We baby boomers were too many for the main school and in 1952 my class was in a private house just up the road from the school. We had to march down for lunch. I really enjoyed my time there and was very upset when we moved to Clapham in South London. My mum worked part time at the Beales Bakery and my dad was a ...see more
Hi if anyone has any memories of Roy Grinsted, 5 The Avenue, Arden Park, bredbury. I would love to here them. He was born 1945. His dad was Thomas Grinsted and I only remember my step grandma Mary as my gran died in the 60's i think. Unfortunately my dad passed away on the 25th of August. I would love to hear anything anyone remembers. I came across a lovely book called Bredbury, A nostalgic history this is how i came across this site. Many thanks Lisa
Lived and grew up at Sellwoods from 1953. Family also owned shop in Whitchurch Hill
Sallyann Commins
I remember a sunny day in 1940 a 10 year old London kid alone nervous scared alone except for a bunch of other kids, We had been scurried away from war torn London having gone through the Battle of Britain German airraids. The British goverment had devised a plan given the secret name "Pied Piper" the ide to protect Britain's future generation .
So here I m swinging on a garden gate leading up the path to a Red door, the ...see more
Members of my Thomas family built a number of houses in Bryn Road and sometime lived at Nos. 64, 66, 70 and 84.
I have a photo of early family members that I would like to identify if anybody knows of these, Edith, Elizabeth Blodwen, David Gomer, Gertrude, Windsor, Robert, Alban, Beryl etc. I used to spend my Summer holidays there in the 60's but I fear sadly most of my family members have gone now ?
Dave (Berkshire)
I was born and brought up in Dartford but my aunt, Nora Hall, was housekeeper to Sir Edward Bligh and they had moved to Horton Kirby in 1961 from Swanley Village. Sir Edward took a ten-year lease upon the house that was then called "Holmesdale". The front gates were upon the corner of Horton Road and Bull Hill. This house is now known as "Rashleigh Lodge". (Sir Edward and my aunt moved to ...see more
I was born Leslie Dennis Crutch in Grove Road 1948. My brother Ken was born 9 months after dad (Ronald Kenneth) had gone to Normandy as part of the landings - I was born 9 months after he was demobbed (funny that) to mum Winifred Blanch Crutch nee Sanders. We moved into a nissen hut in Laburnham road where my younger brother Ron was born in 1950, we moved into Elm Court when the Armfield Crescent estate was ...see more
Hi I was born in 1963 in Hogsthorpe and went to the primary school in Thames Street, I remember some amazing times in Hogsthorpe helping my Mum and Dad in the fish and chip shop rumbling the potato's with Ted Hall and going out with my dad delivering fresh fish in the old Bedford van. I went to school with Simon Bradley, Jackie Stow, Sally Pears, Joyce Pinder and Candy Altese and I ...see more
my granny and grandad used to live in the old school house my grandad was a teacher there his name was hugh williams
I remember that postage stamp machine outside the post office. If you put a halfpenny in the penny slot & flicked it in forcefully you obtained a penny stamp.
My mother made me & a friend, who shall remain nameless, return all the stamps back to the office. We got a rollicking from the postmaster, who said it would take him ages to sell these stamps. However he didn't return our halfpennies!! Karma x2!
I grew up in Aylesbury, Barnsbury Avenue, Hardy Close and 73 Westmoreland Avenue. I really miss those days. I went to Broughton Infant and Broughton Junior School and then the Grange Secondary School. I emigrated to the U.S. in 1974 when I was 13 years old. I was a Brownie and a Girl Guide. I rode my bike there from Westmoreland Avenue every week. My parents have passed away and I really miss England ...see more
My family was one of those temporarily housed in one of the old Nisan huts used by those stationed there during WW2. My mother was Doreen and my adoptive father Ivan Nobbs. In October 1953, we were joined by my brother, Stephen.
I still have quite vivid memories of our time there before moving to Easthills Road, Costessey in 1953/54.
A name that comes to mind is George 'Jimmy ' Gowler who I haven't seen for many ...see more
I note that a couple of people have mentioned St Joseph's Convent School. Having attended that school from 1960 to 1966, I can confirm that the location was opposite Hoadley's and the building did indeed curve alongside the pavement. I believe it had originally been a coaching inn, which would make sense because the lavatories were housed in old converted stables on the right as you entered through the ...see more
My mother was in the WAAFs during WWII. She met my father (an American G.I.) at a dance in Henley. They married in 1944 and after the war, my mother traveled to the United States as a war bride. I was born in Nebraska in April, 1948. In 1951, my mother was aching to visit her parents in England. My father managed to raise enough money for my mother, my sister and I to sail to England in the Spring of 1951. ...see more
I n 1965 my parents retired to Saltash and my father built himself a small boat. As it was moored off the end of the garden. He looked around for a dingy to get to and fro and eventually found one in Gunnislake. Guess who got the task of rowing it down to Saltash. What a journey for a towney that had hardly been in a boat before. Fortunately the dingy was small and light [fibre glass] and the weather good ...see more
I was born in 1949 and entered Hart Hill School in 1954.
Those were the times when 5 year olds were taken to school by their Mums for about one week into the new term! There were so many kiddies in the surrounding area of Abbotswood Road and Bloomfield Ave that nobody walked home alone!
I entered the class of Mrs. King and then into Miss.Bunting for my second year.
The Junior side of the school started with ...see more
My mother lived as a young girl with my grandparents at 34 grant road in the 1930s I believe it was a sweet shop at that time. On google maps it looks as though that number no longer exists such a shame.
I have so enjoyed reading all the memories of Woodley and Bredbury. I lived on George Lane from 1939 to 1964, and went to St Mark's School in Bredbury. My Dad, Jack Hallsworth, worked at Livingstone's butchers shop, and was well known in the area because he had been in charge of the local air-raid wardens during the war, he had had leading roles in many pantomimes at St Marks and he had ...see more
My grandfather's brother Albert Charles Greenfield was an omnibus driver in 1907 who married at The Church of the Ascension. His family lived in Birley Street near Clapham Junction. His wife Elizabeth Penfold's family lived in Battersea High street at no 130a. This photo shows the haphazard road use in Battersea at that time and perhaps the type of Bus that he drove?
I was at St Josephs from 1952 until 1959, my name was Kathleen Mccoy i had 2 sisters with me Pauline Battles and Sheelagh Mccoy. I remember some names ,Theresa Thompson, Dorothy Wray , Roselyn Gallagher, Kathleen and Margaret Riley, to name a few. I was one of the youngest at that time in the home. It would be nice to know if anyone else was there with us.
To find the signal that was part of the Bulford station it is at the junction of Newmans way and the A3028
I lived in the house called Abbotsford in about 1934 which to this day, stands by the side of the America Woods.
Once a year, the scouts would camp in the field at the back of the house.
I spent many happy times playing in those woods, especially with my two brothers before they joined the army.
They knocked nails into the trunk of the tree to enable us to climb up and we also carved out names into the trunk.( I ...see more
I lived in Malvern Road and remember the winter of '47 when we had six weeks of snow and wonderful tobogganing on the slopes. My dad was the manager of Park&Brown Jeffery Street and a skilled wood man who was able to build me an excellent toboggan with steel runners. Incidentally in '37 my cousin Sir Derek Barton was studying Chemistry at Gilligham Tech, Gardner St and spent some lunch hours with his sandwiches in his ...see more
Yes I slipped a disc aged 11 years old on that shared Sports field whilst doing high-jump! No crash mats in those days.
We had to “ rest” on a rug, in the school hall/gym!
I usually went home fro lunch.
Mrs Purnell was my favourite teacher.
Mrs Braid our needlework teacher, got cross with me cos I sewed with my left hand.
I went to Oak End School from 1956
My favourite lesson was art, we painted on sugar paper laid out on newspaper on the floor, our paint pallets were old jam jar lids.
Anyone remember Miss Eldridge the music teacher. She wore the most amazing felt skirts with footprints appliqué around the hem.
Fish on Friday with red sauce and white sauce.
The huge tree with a rope on it, you had to climb up into the ...see more
My paternal grandmother, named in title, was born & lived in Bank Street in 1882, and so she would have been about 9 in this photo!
I remember the 1980's & early 1990's when Tony & Lorna Marsh the Peacock Inn's owners had jazz bands playing in the back bar on Friday evenings . I snapped some photos of Stan Tracey sitting on telephone directories to gain the best height to play an old upright piano. It was party night every Friday and the audience came from quite a distance to enjoy the evening.
My ancestor's nephews Henry and George Wraight aged 35 and 25 were brewers labourers most likely at Thompsons Brewery which was situated to the left of this photo where you can just see the Bell on a sign, this is an indication of their outlet the Bell public house which has survived to this day. In 1881 this was welcome employment for these Wraight ...see more
