Nostalgic memories of Chigwell's local history
Share your own memories of Chigwell 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 14 in total
The boys band stayed here for 5 weeks in June/July 1963 on their European Tour of England and the Netherlands. Had a great time. From here we set out each day to visit England and play concerts. A boys High School band of about 53 young men. Thank you for your hospitality
Hi, yes I think he must've been the Welshman who took over from your Mum.
I was there from June until September 1974.
I had a great childhood living at Grange Farm. My parents moved there in 1960 when I was five. My mum was employed as the catering supervisor for the site and we were given accommodation in a large Bungalow, No 1. From memory the sun was always shining! My sister and I spent hours in and out of the pool, playing tennis and table tennis in the recreation hall. As a teenager my friend and I who also lived on ...see more
I learnt to swim in this pool late 1950s. It was always massively popular during the hot summers we always seemed to have then, and I was sad to see it close - there are so few open air lido type pools around these days. I remember jumping off the high diving board 7metres and the fear of making the jump. Public swimming pools don't seem to have high diving boards any more; the safety reasons for this are understandable, but how do youngsters become Tom Daleys without them?
I was one of the first pupils to go to the school the year it was opened and have very fond memories of all pupils and staff that were there. There used to be a small cafe down the road from which we were banned but obviously unless you were caught it was a great place to go. Also the No. 10 Bus used to run to the school from Chigwell Station where I used to come from - such happy memories Janet Elliott (nee Dibble)
Yes, this is Grange Farm. This sculpture was one of the first things you saw when approaching the camp site
In 1974 I left school in Durham and worked in Chigwell for 3 months, at a place I believe was called Grange Farm (?) Groups of mainly foreign young people stayed there as their base for trips into London. I worked in the kitchens and made many friends and had some great experiences there. The chef was a very fiery Welshman! I now live in South London and have often thought about revisiting old places there. So many happy memories.
Although I lived in Barkingside, it was in the days when you were sent to the school of your choice if you passed the 11+. I was fortunate to attend the newly built West Hatch. It was through school that we went to Grange Farm to befriend a group of French students who were holidaying there. It was a great site with the added bonus of that beautiful lido and all in the surroundings of the quiet countryside - long before the noise of the M11 and M25. Now a fancy eatery - I prefer the former.
I visited a camping site when I was a child, this was back in the early 1970s, I think this is the place with the outdoor pool, I think it was about 1973, I never forgot my 2 weeks there. I remember there was a hut with a juke box in and I used to play 'School's Out' by Alice Cooper which was a hit at the time. In the hut was a TV and table tennis table. I would like to know if it is still there for me to take my grandchildren to.
Ian Lambert.
I lived my early years in the grounds of Great West Hatch Hospital (my father was the gardener there), next door to the school site. I can remember the school being substantially finished by the time I was 11 (1957), though my parents persuaded me (against my better judgement) not to go there for my secondary schooling. I have older memories of the land as part of Furze's farm, and helping stack sheaves of wheat at harvest time.