Nostalgic memories of Dagenham's local history

Share your own memories of Dagenham 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 91 - 100 of 141 in total

This photo was taken from in front of the Civic Centre in Dagenham. On the left of the photo is the Three Travellers pub, it is still there now in 2012. On the opposite side of the road is the Ship and Anchor pub, I think that is what it it is called. The area was always known as the Fiddlers, after the Fiddlers Arms pub which was on the corner to the left of the Three Travellers pub. I used to go to ...see more
My wife Evette, was born in York Parade, Dagenham? or Ilford, in 1938 and her dad worked at the Ford plant. Her family moved north to Wallasey when she was only 7 so she only has vague memories of the area. Over the last few years we have tried in vain to find the area where she was born, even to the point of visiting Dagenham on two occasions. Her mother and father, Vesta and Jimmy Evans, went to The Fiddlers ...see more
I remember George's second hand shop in the village, my nan would take me and my brother there for a treat that was the highlight of the week for us. Also the pie and eel shop, with the brightly coloured tiles outside on the wall. Then there was Pondfield Park, and the rubbish tip opposite, can you believe we used to love to play over there - cowboys and indians, we must have gone home stinking. We were never ...see more
I remember in Oxlow Lane a shop called Wrights, they sold flour from sacks on the floor, and a 'penny a lb' of broken biscuits. Also a furniture shop - can't recall the name, oh and then the launderette was opened, was that a life saver or what, no more peggy tub and washboard. My mum, worked at the Eveready battery factory, on the corner of the Eastbrook Oxlow Lane traffic lights. I used to go swimming at Leys open ...see more
I used to live in the Heathway, between Eastfield Road and Alibon Road. My grandparents moved there in about the 1920's, my mum was a toddler. There was a church round the corner in Osborne Road where my brother and I used to go to Sunday School. My friends and I would congregate round there on a Saturday, to watch the weddings. Also as there weren't many cars about then, we would play skipping across the road. ...see more
This postcard brings back the memories of my first Saturday job in Woolworths on the right hand side of this picture. I almost recall being paid 13 shillings for the day and all legal deductions were made. And this history, along with other jobs I had was very important when I came to claim the minimum UK pension when I officially retired at 62. When the weather was hot, the store manager had an ice cream ...see more
I went to the village infants school, I can remember the outlay of it as if it was yesterday, sadly its now a car park. I remember my 3rd year teacher, Miss Martin, she taught me how to plait hair, she had a plump face, rosy cheeks and her hair was always in a bun..she was lovely. And I remember my 4th year class was a building on its own in the far left corner. If anyone reads this and they have picture of the village infants school I would love to see them...
Have just read about the gentleman who worked for Ledgers. I lived in Exeter Rd, and used to play with Joanne Ledger. I also remember going in the van with bench seats. I vaguely remember it being something to do with the church, either sunday school or similar. I went to a little Infant School at the end of the parade of shops. There was a sweet shop on the corner where I was allowed to buy a three old ...see more
We moved to Dagenham from Plaistow in East London when I was two years old. We moved to Leys Avenue, on the Rookery Farm estate. It was out in the sticks then with the remainder of Rookery Farm still in business with cows and horses. At the end of Leys Avenue the road continued for about a quarter of a mile down to the Sanitorium. I don't know whether the Sanitorium owned Rookery Farm and sold part ...see more
I remember this place well, we were taken here, whatever the weather, by school to have swimming lessons. The big event was to swim a mile, I did this and received a seasons pass to swim for free, which I was very proud of. My name then was Folley. When we went in a group of friends, the highlight was the hot drink of bovril and slice of bread and jam. Whenever there was a polio case about, I wasn't allowed to swim ...see more