Nostalgic memories of Ilford's local history
Share your own memories of Ilford 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 48 in total
Born wells gardens 1952 grew up in and around ilford until 1976 my friend Peter still lives on Balfour road. How times have change the buses ran on electricity, no supermarkets. Going to ilford shops with my mother to do the weekly shop. Does anybody remember the greengrocer that drove around in a lorry that was his shop, you don't see the now.
I remember Ilord townhall we used to go dancing (ballroom) every saturday night that is when we had live bands.I lived in hainault does any body remember going dancing at ilford townhall.I now live in herfordshire.arnold.
this is a strange but true story and I hope that one day I can meet the family of the above man.
Arthur Warrington was born in the village i believe, he went to war in the first world war and also returned after the conflicts were over, he was my wife's father, however we are told to never trace where he came from and I think that this was very unfair on my wife of 52 years, we are both in ...see more
Hi there.
I'll always have fond memories of Valentines Park, those beautiful swans and Canadian cygnets at the Cranbrook Road end, Gants Hill Odeon, library, the bird cage in Valentines Park, the boat lakes, the brass band on a Sunday afternoon in Valentines Park, Valentines Park lido, walking down Ley Street, Plesseys and those yearly Guy Fawkes nights with their perennial cartoons before the ...see more
I'm trying to locate information about the Polish Camp in Hainault Road that was there after the war where Polish servicemen stayed. Does anyone have any memories of this or any information? Any memories of the Polish and Irish communities in the Ilford area during the late '40s early '50s? I am trying to gather information for my family tree. My birth parents would have come from these communities in Ilford.
I was a young child with my Mother and sibling stranded at Romford Station on the night Harrison - Gibson burned down, after a visit to GrandMa because the power had also been turned off to the overhead power lines on the railway behind the store putting a stop to the electric trains. Think we ended up taking to the buses via the Eastern Avenue. Coincidentally one suffered a similar fate after a ...see more
I remember when I used to catch a trolley at Fanshawe Avenue and go to Ilford Broadway and then go for a wander around the shops in Ilford. If I recall, the trolley bus ride was about 2d each way. When it came time to go home I caught a bus outside Harrison Gibsons which took me to the top of South Park Drive, that was the turning that I lived in. Those days were amongst the happiest of my life. I remember a sweet shop, ...see more
The time was late 1950s early 60s. At the time I was on drums and vocals with local Ilford groups. Most Saturday mornings would find me with a mix of local band people chatting in Ron's basement with Chick and Joey Dormer working for Ron( who usually was upstairs with the vinyls). Joey, a brilliant technical drummer (liked Louis Bellson and Art Blakey, etc) would demonstrate stick work and finger and ...see more
The Pantomime Cinderella was performed at the Ilford Hippodrome from Dec 28th 1942 – Jan 4th 1943. When the pony hauling Cinderella’s coach stopped on the stage it went and dropped a load of poo - the children all thought it was great fun, including me. Sadly, the Ilford Hippodrome was destroyed by the Germans when a V2 rocket landed at the back of the theatre on the night 12th Jan 1944 during a performance of the pantomime Dick Whittington – many were killed and injured.
The Pantomime Cinderella was performed at the Ilford Hippodrome from Dec 28th 1942 – Jan 4th 1943. When the pony hauling Cinderella’s coach stopped on the stage it went and dropped a load of poo. The children all thought it was great fun, including me. Sadly the Ilford Hippodrome was destroyed by the Germans when a V2 rocket landed at the back of the theatre on the night 12th Jan 1944 during a performance of the pantomime Dick Whittington – many were killed and injured.