Nostalgic memories of Purley's local history
Share your own memories of Purley 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 21 - 30 of 35 in total
I lived on Woodcote Valley Road from 1967 to 1989. The pictures from the 1960's is how I remember Purley - I don't recognise the place when I go back there now.
The shops were great - Morgans where you could buy individual farm animals, and I seem to remember one of the shops had a pulley system to take the money to the cash office at the back which sent your change back.
I loved the library - the ...see more
Someone mentioned the outdoor pool. We used to go there all the time in summer. I was up by Purley airport. I can remember also there was a scare about polio and my Mom wouldn't let us go there at that time.
I do have some good memories of Reedham. My elder sister Suzanne and my younger sister Rosemary lived there for some years. We were born in Argentina. Who remembers Magot, assistant Matron!!
Had some good times toasting cheese on bread over a candle in the tower. Listening to Luxemburg top hits after 12pm. Does anybody remember Mr Bristow, ooowww?
I was dressed as an angel and driven to Reedham station ...see more
I, with my 2 brothers, was at Reedham from 1943-1944. My memories are happy ones. I recall walking in the lanes and being given apples. Reedham was bombed in 1944 and we were evacuated to Nottingham.
The day after our trip to London, I woke in the morning and was told to immediately get dressed and put on my new shoes and overcoat by mother. We dropped Bernard at Aldersbrook School and then caught a bus into Wanstead Tube Station, from here by train we went south of the Thames exactly where I do not remember, but from a South London station we walked on to a very large house near a large lake. It turned out to ...see more
I grew up in Lansdowne Road, Purley. On Suday evenings in the summer, we used to sit on the edge of the fountain and watch the traffic coming back from the coast. Sometimes the cars were lined up all the way back to the Regal Cinema! On VE Day, my brother Wally rolled up his trousers and paddled in the fountain. My dad used to drink at his local, "The Jolly Farmers", which is still there. We live in Canada now, but still have many happy memories of Purley.
I was born in Mayday but brought up in Lansdowne Road for the first two and a half years. I remember the fountain being in the grounds of the water works where Tesco is now situated. When I was nearly 3 we moved to above the old gas showroom in the High Street, Purley. The cinema that is there now used to be called the Astoria and I can remember as a very small child having tea in the restaurant. My ...see more
Born in 1939 and living in Banstead Road during the war, I have many memories of Purley, Croydon and Coulsdon. An alleyway ran from the High Street to the station, where I used to meet my father in the evenings from the London train. Beside Morgan's was a little grocer`s which had a system of overhead wires and brass containers taking money to the cash desk. Sawdust covered the floor! Next to the ...see more
I attended Reedham School from 1957 for a couple of years. My father had pased away and my mother sent me to Reedham, our home was in Harrow, Middlesex. I have read some of the other memories, mine were different. I was physically punished by prefects and staff, made to stand in dark rooms for talking in bed at night, had mail withheld and to be honest I have no good memories of Reedham at all. I only ever remember ...see more
I remember every sunny Sunday myself and group of friends inclusing Maria M, Susan, Jules and others, we used to walk from Carshalton and Beddington through to Purley to go to the open air swimming pool. It was a fantastic time. We would take a packed lunch and spend the day there, it was brill, a really great memory.