Nostalgic memories of Barking's local history

Share your own memories of Barking 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 81 - 90 of 114 in total

I was born in Upney Hospital 1944, my mum and dad lived in Stratton Drive, went to Park Modern School as did my 2 older sisters and my brother. Most of my parents families lived in the same area ie on the so called 'Leftly Estate', we were considered to be upper class living there!! My best memories at that time are of Barking Park, the small train that ran at the end of the park, boating on the lake, ...see more
Sorry to one of your correspondents, males never wore hats in the shops of J.Sainsbury to my knowledge. The females wore nylon head scarves. I worked at the Barking branch for several years, are there any more of the staff still around ? I loved the Christmas's there, working with Mr Harris the super. We had the big front window open and yelled and served from it. Frank Smethins was the manager, Whip Henwood the ...see more
Thanks to all for bringing back memories. I was born at 66 Napier Road, East Ham. I moved to Essex in 1958 and later emigrated to New Zealand. I have good memories of Muddies Pie and Mash, jellied eels and whelk stalls. I still remember people I knew back then, including my best mate Mavis who I have recently reconnected with. I often wonder what happened to others like my first boyfriends Eddie Manders and Alan ...see more
What a place! If you're not born here, run for the hills! But I love it, I still see faces of long ago that do too, or why didn't we move away a long time ago!! My mum and dad were the best, I never got hit by them but this place turns you when all your school days are who's the best at beating up others. I encounted this as did all the children I went to school with, nice children turned by kids that got ...see more
I remember going to the pictures on a Saturday and watching 'Old Mother Riley', also going to Timothy Whites and buying a Christmas present for my mum in there.
I was born in Upney hospital in 1954, lived in Barking in Esex in St Aldrey Street, attended Ripple Middle School, loved going to Barking Park as a kid, we moved to Australia in 1966.
The summer of 1959 goes down as the hottest in my memory. It started at the end of April and continued right through until the end of September. I was ten years of age that year and I spent most of that glorious summer hanging out with my pals over the outdoor pool in Barking Park. I remember bus drivers and conductors who had finished work at the adjoining bus garage, asking the girl on the turnstile if it was ...see more
I was born at 16 Roding Avene, the prefabs right next to the River Roding. Across the main London Road was Delayneys, also the Masters Match factory with its tall chimmney. I remember seeing the chimney being knocked down, the man at the top looked like an ant. I have many memories of Barking. I went to St Margarets C of E School [played the recorder in Mr Gray's Orchestra] then Park Modern Secondary. I danced at the ...see more
I went to Eastbury boys school, lived then in Blake Avenue, had vert fond memories of Barking town centre, also played in Eastbury House. I remember the pie mash shop and the coffee bar next to the picture house called the Electric or known as the bug hole.
I was born in Shirley Gardens in 1935, right opposite Barking Park where I spent most of my childhood at Barking open air lido. What a magnificent place that was! My father was a policeman in Barking so we always knew what was going on! In winter we would go swimming at Barking indoor pool and always have Pesci's chips when we came out. How exciting to go to Barking football on a Saturday down the ...see more