Nostalgic memories of Dockenfield's local history

Share your own memories of Dockenfield 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 5 Memories

I was at the school 1943/44 and I think the headmaster was a Mr Hastings. I remember watching all the air transport planes and gliders crossing for D-Day. We have a very pretty teacher who would occasionally allow us 9 year olds to brush her long blond hair- unfortunately she had a Canadian boyfriend.
My elder brother Peter was at Dockenfield School around 1944 and has similar bad memories of abuse whilst a student there. He had been placed in the school by well meaning parents to avoid the bombings of south east London where dad had a transport cafe. Apart from the canings and early morning runs through snow and ice clad only in shorts t-shirt and plimsoles; he recalls that monthly food parcels of a ...see more
I was a student at Dockenfield Manor in the 1940's. Looking back, the entire faculty should have been arrested for child abuse, fraud, and a host of other charges. At the time, the Headmasters name was Dr. Hastings, other teachers included Dr. Franks, (whose every second sentence was "Oh God, please help me"), Mr. Nehoff a Dutchman that may have been a Nazi in disguise, a Miss Saunders (Dr. ...see more
During the war years Dockenfield Manor was a school which I attended as our home in London was destroyed by bombs. For some reason I seem to remember the school was transferred from the Isle of Wight for the duration of the war. I used to help a local lad from the farm next door bring in the cows. We were both around 7 years old. One day we saw a V1 heading towards our school then it turned off and we ...see more
I lived at Manor Farm  and remember the boy next door, his name was Nigel Swatton. I wonder what happened to him. Then there was the Cripps family  and Joan Berry, I wonder what happened to all of those. I would love  to look around the farm to see how it has changed.