Nostalgic memories of Kingston Upon Thames's local history

Share your own memories of Kingston Upon Thames 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

Displaying all 7 Memories

Bentalls was a big shop, especially if like me you'd grown up in small villages & army bases. I can remember seeing a bespoke luxury car being parked between the escalators. Not having a TV at my aunts house in Raynes Park, where we were living for a few years, Cup Final day would see me catching buses to Kingston. That was, I think, the only day they would have the volume turned up on the demo sets ...see more
I remember being fascinated by these as a child in the 60's - was like the hall of mirrors at a funfair as they distorted your reflection! There used to be an intriguing facade of an old vicarage built into the side of Bentalls, this was unfortunately lost when the place was structurally altered to make a shopping mall. I assume being a facade it wasn't under same protection as a complete ...see more
Started school at st peters infants i think it was Hawks rd .it wasnt far from cambridge gardens .my father was Philip Healey and mother was Vera Healey (nee Butler)Dad was an engineer in various places and my gran had house in youngs buildings .
I was born in Kingston in 1946 and moved with my parents to Bookham in 1961. My family connections to Kingston go back centuries and I am having great fun tracking them back. I am sure many people will remember my father who was Percy Parslow. He worked in the Jewellers and Siversmiths in the High Street from the age of 15 until we moved. He was well known among the market stallholders and also as being the ...see more
As one who was born in Kingston Hospital before WWII, I grew up not far away in Long Ditton. My job in the late 1940s was to go to Kingston Market on Christmas Eve and buy a goose for our Christmas dinner from Follets, when they auctioned them off. Kingston has certainly changed but it is nice to see some things remain the same - the Market House, the statue to Shrubsall's Bank, etc.,
This pub was a venue for jazz enthusiasts for as long as I can remember, my friends and I used to go there most weeks while we were still at school. Happy memories.
thames