Nostalgic memories of Chipping Ongar's local history

Share your own memories of Chipping Ongar 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 all 8 Memories

I lived on the Shelley estate at 12 Crispsey Avenue and went to the primary school in Ongar town near the town hall. Later I went to the new primary school on the Shelley estate on Milton Crescent. On the Moreton Road was a bicycle race track which my older brother Michael raced. I can still remember the houses across form my home being built. We lived next door to the Fog's on the right and the Neil's on ...see more
Was this the lovely little building on the south east corner of the roundabout at the top of Ongar ("The Four Wantz"?) as you head out northwards? It was allowed to decay and eventually disappeared. It had unusual shaped windows and must have been very old, made out of wattle and daub. Now the area at the roundabout has buildings all round and is hardly recognisable. There were some really lovely old buildings around Ongar when I was young, it had a real country atmosphere.
I attended Ongar Secondary School from 1945 to 1949. Some of the students I remember were Keith Mills (we were longtime friends, he passed away 2005), Len Shuttleworth, Hugh Brace, Brian Buttle, Jim Parrish, Marion Jennings, Don Eustice, Gordon Knight, Annie Stanford, Bumper Richardson and many more. Those of us that attended Ongar Secondary School got along well together. The boys ...see more
I went to Ongar Secondary School in th 1950s. Does anyone have any photos of the school as I know it is no longer there?
Does anyone remember Ongar Secondary School? My maiden name was Marner, I had a brother Fred and a sister Stella, we lived at Cripsey Road, Shelley. I married a Brian Chaston who lived in Rodney Road. We often wonder who is still alive from our school days. We were invited to a school reunion a few years ago but everyone there was younger than us. The school is no longer there. I think it's a sports ...see more
My family used to run this pub. First, a Jane Tanner in the 19th century and then my great grandfather, Charlie Green in the 1920s. He also ran The Kings Head in Ongar for many years, leaving  in the 1940s.
Hey there, can anyone help me please. My mum is trying to find a small church in Ongar which comes off the Ongar Road, it's on the right hand side and it has a gravel lane, the church is at the end of the gravel lane with a field on the left hand side.  I would be very grateful if anyone can help to offer me any information with regard to this. Many thanks. Sarah
My mother had a hairdressing shop on the high street and one corner of the shop had a few books that we used as a small library. I was in boarding school, but on vacations and weekends I'd help with loaning out the books. We lived in North Weald at the time and I'd catch the bus at Tylers Green to make the 15 minute ride into Ongar. Some times I'd ride my bicycle from North Weald, through Ongar towards ...see more