Nostalgic memories of Hanwell's local history
Share your own memories of Hanwell 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.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
Map Mugs are not available from our United States website.
Other overseas delivery options may be offered on our UK website.
Displaying Memories 41 - 50 of 51 in total
My striking memory of the Bunny Park was feeding the rabbitts lettuce and carrots. Later I explored under the Warncliffe viaduct. We played football there with the school (St Marks) also our sports day were there.
The transistor wasn't even heard of in 1953. Radios were big. Every week you took an accumulator out of the back of the radio and carefully carried it to the radio shop, and there for a small fee, perhaps 1p (old money) it was charged. Basically it was a lead acid, not unlike a little car battery, but in glass. Exide was the make I recall. I myself was lucky enough to have had my own ...see more
Bordeston school was pretty boring for many pupils. Woodwork was ok, and there was a school barge which you could work on instead of detention. There seemed to be a preoccupation with corporal punishment. The most famous ex pupil was a boy who was hung. When you failed the 11 plus and learned you were to attend Bordeston there certainly was no cause for celebration. There was a ...see more
The sixties arrived slowly. Stacies mans shop had Beatle and Mersey Jackets in the window. In West Ealing, Kays Court hairdressers advertised, jump on the E type bus and come down for a cut and dry in our new unisex department. F H Rowse department store closed. The Red Lion at the top of Studley Grange Road never seemed to acknowledge the sixties, sadly it is now closed. Of course 1961 saw the start of the ...see more
I lived in Studley Grange Road, and at the bottom was the Union Canal. This was a sort of green lung. You could go to Southall or Brentford by bike without touching a road, very pleasant. I went to St Marks school. Opposite the school was St Marks Church, which is now flats. I never went in the church. By the school playground were greenhouses, and in Green Lane was the cottage hospital. ...see more
I married my husband on the 24th October 1964 at St Mary's Church,Hanwell. I must say that it is really a lovely church and the stained glass windows are magnificent. I also attend Sunday school there as a child on Sunday afternoons. My brother Alan was a choir boy there as well. I would love to be able to see photographs of this area. I went to usual school on the Cuckoo Estate, Nursery, Infants ...see more
I first went to Cuckoo infants in 1952,this was in Laurie Road,and then onto the girls junior in 1953 until 1958 which was on Kennedy Road.And my last school was St Anns Secondary school for girls until 1961.I had many friends on the Cuckoo Estate and the area.I spent many a time at the bunny park as we knew it then some knew it as the monkey park,but I believe now it is called Brent Lodge.
I grew up ...see more
I attended Hobbayne from 1957 -1963. Who remembers Mr Ridley? Unfortunately I found myself standing outside his office on a number of occasions waiting upon the Headmaster's wrath for some minor misdemeanour!
I spent a lot of my free time at Churchfields and the Bunny Park and "loitering" on the green in Cuckoo Lane. A wonderful carefree childhood.
My grandparents Mary (Westbrook) Howard and John Howard rest in the Hanwell cemetery, along with Mary's parents, buried in the row ahead. It took me one and a half hours to find them, as cousin Robert couldn't remember where they were. I was disappointed not to find the grave of my aunt Kathleen McManus. I came all the way from America to find them.
I was born near Lords Cricket Ground in London in 1933 and came to Hanwell soon after where my family settled in Greenford Avenue. Hobbayne School was a few yards down the road so I started my education there.
In 1939 the Second World War started and we had grandstand seats in our house to observe the German Luftwaffe attacks over London. Northolt wasn't too far away and we often watched as the RAF fighters ...see more