Nostalgic memories of Dorchester's local history
Share your own memories of Dorchester 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 17 in total
I did my apprenticeship in Kay’s ,I was 15 years 3 months when I started in 1965, so there is a very good chance I was working there when the South Street photo was taken. My boss was Mr Roy Collins who became Mayor of Dorchester. His mother in law used to have one of the barrows in South Street.
On Monday evenings it was Model night when some poor person had their hair done by an apprentice. While they were ...see more
Channon's garage at bottom of High East Street.. good memories of my mother buying me my first car...a MGB ... when I qualified in medicine in 1967. My father had been a good customer of Channon's, but had died in 1963.
My nose would have just about been level with the stalls given my age at this time! What one didn't grow in the garden,one could purchase on the stalls (not that it emulated Covent Garden). I haven't lived in the area for 45 years but I do believe it was a centre for a good old gossip!
Between about 1956 and 1963, every year, my Mum and I would holiday in London for a week and then visit Auntie Claire in Cerne Abbas for one week. Claire lived in Acreman Street a direct reflection that the Cerne Giant took up an Acre of land. It was a 'must' to visit the Giant every year. The memories are vivid and glorious. The beauty of Cerne and Dorchester have lived in my memory ever since, and I have visited many ...see more
I moved to Dorchester in 1949 with my parents and lived at 2 Castle Row, North Square. I have nothing but fond memories of growing up in Dorchester and even though I haven't been back since the early 60's and have lived in Canada since 69, through the medium of Google Earth I have been able to ‘virtually’ visit the town again and was not surprised to see that most of it hasn't changed, after all why ...see more
My earliest memories are of the married quarters, well into the interior of the barracks of the Dorset Regiment. My father had escaped the poverty of the East End of London in 1923. By 1937 he was a very formidable sergeant of the Second Battalion of the Dorsets.
I used to run through the archway of the keep every morning to the Grove School and I was all of about six years old. ...see more
My most treasured memories are Christmases in the 60s. I was one of a family of 6, me being the only girl. Christmas eve was always a very exciting time for us, there was always something going on. My mum would be in the kitchen preparing the vegetables for the next day, and making a huge pot of broth. The smell was glorious and filled the whole house. We didn't have a lot as my dad was ...see more
Wasn't this building once called Wollaston House wherein were educated the first two years of Hardye's boys? I was there in 1953 - 54 when Mr Hale was head of the lower school. My first form mistress was the Duchess.
We used to go in there often, and I remember one time being very confused when asked whether I wanted lemonade, cherryade, limeade or Whipsnade, 'cause I knew that was a zoo and I didn't quite get the idea of puns. Another time, being sent to the greengrocer virtually opposite there for a pound of grapes, I was asked whether I wanted red or white and I replied that I'd like the green ones! The age of innocence?
I recall being taken to JJ's on many an occasion over the years during the 1960s /70s by my parents and great aunt Chris, went back in late 1980s or early 1990s with my mum, son and step-daughter and the waitress that worked there when I was a kid was still working there, which was amazing. As kids, Frances and I used only to manage starters and puddings.
