Nostalgic memories of Colchester's local history
Share your own memories of Colchester 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 11 - 20 of 26 in total
I remember in my 1st year at the Royal Grammar School (1955), I was selected to read the 1st lesson at the school Carol Service at the Town Hall. Also the borough organist was Leonard Simpson who was also organist and choir master at St Mary at the Walls Church where I was a chorister in the late 50's. I also remember coming to a dance here with my parents who were involved in the organisation. I suspect it was the BP Guild, but not sure.
I lived in Salisbury Avenue and once at St John's Green Junior School this was my route home. Playing on the walls of the assault course, amongst other escapades. Unfortunately, when I was back there in 2012 it was a building site. Infact, virtually all the barracks had disappeared and I had to find my way round with a Sat Nav!
My mother, Kathleen Cook in 1910, still has a photograph of Lexden Road gatehouse where a relative held position as porter.
Hi there, I have lived in Essex and Colchester on and off since 1964 but was unaware of exactly where the "asylum" building was - can anybody help me. It certainly looked the part...
Many a happy day was spent at the open air swimming pool in the late 1950s - early 1960s. The changing rooms, under the road bridge, were not nice and always covered in water. I had swimming lessons with Mr Smith and even had a picture of a lesson in the newspaper, he pulled me in on a rope, so I didn't drown. It seemed to always be sunny and was a real sun trap. I went with my brother Ian and ...see more
I recall being a junior soldier and having the pleasure of being one of the military band and drums at the tattoo in the 1960s, what a buzz it was marching through the main street of the city on Saturday and Sunday and then doing the tattoo in the evening, fond memories.
As a child in the 1960s and 1070s my memories of Crouch Street are distinctly Christmassy, I loved the decorations they always put out, and also the trip to the butchers there to pick up the sausages and turkey on Christmas Eve, followed or preceded by a trip to Nanna in Butt Road, in of course Butt Road, I loved that street!
My Nanna in Butt Road had a few scary stories up her sleeve to thrill us with, and one of them was about this old bit of wall, I don't remember it being fenced off when I was a girl. Anyway, she used to say that there was an old Roman Centurion who used to walk the wall and appear at this gate, it still gives me a little shudder even today! My modern children are not at all interested in this little story, needless to say!
Yes, I can remember some happy sunny afternoons on the lookout for boys around the mid 1970s, we used to pool hop between the new indoor and the old outdoor,
A less happy memory was doing my 50m Preliminary 2 with Heathlands Primary, as we travelled there on the coach the sky was black and we were all sure it would be cancelled, it was a FREEZING cold day. But no, we all got lined up at the edge of the pool ...see more
My siblings and I were regulars here for much of the 1950s and 1960s. Our maternal grandparents lived on Northgate Street and we often marched down to the park to go on the boats. There were five of us and my oldest brother was usually in charge of the half a crown, part of which Bill the Boatman would often press back into his hand so we could buy some sweets. I think he was married to a relative or ...see more
