Nostalgic memories of Rainham's local history

Share your own memories of Rainham 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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It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 11 in total

We moved from gravesend 1948 moved in with an aunt in broadview avenue us 3 kids and mum and dad living in one bedroom a bit short of space 3 aunts and a cousin in the other 2 rooms . no television in them days just a radio lots of sing songs and card games ,, rainham woods went on forever nearly into maidstone and the river medway with the landing craft at sharps green from the war , my mum didn't see ...see more
I was born in Upminster rd sth as it is now, opp the cemetery and Buttons shop. Went to Rainham village school then onto Rainham sec. Where my grandad was groundsman Was married in 1966 in Rainham church, run the brownie pack at the hall off Upminster rd then in parsonage rd school.i came back for a school reunion 225 yrs in 2010. My best man as was still lives there. Would love to chat to anyone of that era, ...see more
Hello, we are Alice Phoebe Hannah and Vilma students of the Central Saint Martins University College and we would like to receive any help from all of you that get memories of Rainham to join our exhibition experience will take place in Rainham Hall as soon. Please fell free to contact us at rainhamhallproject@gmail.com to share your memories with us, and we can get them alive in our project. Thanks Alice
Does anyone remember the webb family that lived in upminster road around 1955?
I moved to Rainham in 1953. My memories are on-line in Essex Boy 1949-1959 and also on the Walthamstow Memories website. I lived at 45 Brookway. I went to Rainham school in class of Miss Legg and Mrs Davies...Anyway, see on line. The printed version is in the London Borough of Havering Library and Essex Record Office...
I was born in 1948 in South Hall Farms little cottage, which as I know is still there. The farm was owned by the Gunarys, I lived there until I was 19. I went to Lambs Lane Secondary School which ajoined the farm, so I could go over the fields and through the hole in the wire fence then I was at school. All my school friends had great fun playing on the farm, used to go fishing down the little ...see more
Back those days (1960-1970), pen-friendship was the big deal as Face book/Bebo is today. I used to have a penfriend by the name of Karen Francis. I am from Mauritius - a tiny dot in the Indian Ocean - and relating to Rainham, Kent simply seemed so far, so impossible. I knew a little about England through my geography class in primary school, more interested because of the history and literature class in ...see more
My father Sidney Edward Nurden whose name is on the war memorial at The Broadway at Rainham. He died from wounds he received in France in 1944 aged 28 years. He is buried in the cemetary in Upminster Road where there are now several others from the Nurden family including my mother Lucy Maud Nurden whose ashes are scattered on my father's grave. I think we used to call the Broadway the Clock Tower and it was ...see more
My grandparents owned the sweet shop at the end of this parade. They were Harry and Gladys Godwin. My mother grew up there, as did my Uncle Paul. My brother and I have hundreds of fantastic memories from the 1970s. I now live in Highgate, North London. Last year I was driving past the shop and decided to go in, it seemed tiny now and I couldn’t work out if it had been altered in any way, I ...see more
My name is Dennis Nurden, I have a twin sister Valerie, we lived in Sunningdale Ave when Murex sports ground was there. Though not born there we did all our schooling there and left when we were about 18yrs old. At school I did paper rounds and worked on Saturdays in Castle Sports, the shop left in photo. My father Sydney Edward Nurden and his family were from Rainham and some are still living ...see more