Nostalgic memories of Lancaster's local history

Share your own memories of Lancaster 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 Memories 21 - 30 of 30 in total

Proper name is the Royal Albert Hospital, not as we used to call the "looney bin". It is the second Asylum in Lancaster, the other being the Moor Hospital, or County Mental Institution. I worked in the kitchens here. A very spooky place full of gloomy atmosphere.
Green Ayre railway station on the left, with the Greyhound Bridge curving across the river. The bridge is now a road bridge. Most of the station is Sainsbury's supermarket, car park, and a riverside park "heritage centre".
This is the Old Building, showing the Headmaster's house, and boarding house. The teaching part, "Big School" is hidden by the tree. The New Building was built across the road. The School has now expanded enormously, and is co-educational! Not when I was there!
This is Crook of Lune railway viaduct, between Halton & Caton. Penny Bridge is a road bridge, from Halton village to former Halton railway station.
I remember the bus station at Lancaster during and after the war. I found it, even as a child, somewhat evocative and I used to love the way the engines would throb while waiting to go and the places they were going, with magical names,such as Silverdale, Carnforth, Yealand Conyers, Nether Kellet. They fascinated me.
I remember living there in the married quarters when the war was over and my dad was posted there, must have been 1946. My dad was in the Kings Own Royal Regiment and we lived there for quite a short time and I went to school in Bowerham. I ived in Lancaster with my Auntie and Uncle who lived in Sulby Drive in Lancaster as well. My cousins were Brian, Leonard and Pat Redburn and I have lost touch with them competely I am afraid
The magnificent Odeon Cinema, an Art Deco masterpiece, became a multi-screen horror, then a Bingo Hall. Sadly now torn down (2010) to make way for shopping. The doors bottom right corner were where we would sneak in free after a friend opened the exit. At age 10 we climbed the fire ladders to the roof high above the city!
I used to work at Henrys store, in the stock room. It was my first real job. It was a great old place. In the cellar was a secret passage way to the castle, bricked up from when there was a farmhouse there, I was told. Christmas time was fantastic with Father Christmas and the grotto, and Father Christmas was my grandfather before I worked there - I sat on his knee when I was small and didn't know it was my ...see more
Each week, as a 15 - 16 year-old, I used to cycle from Morecambe on a Sunday morning for an organ lesson at the chapel of the Moor Hospital. It was uphill there and downhill home. My teacher was the organist there, also Director of Music at LRGS, and my lesson started after the Sunday morning service. As I progressed I was allowed to play the recesssional after the service. Every few years I come back to look at that ...see more
The 1881 census shows my grandfather (John Smart) and his family living in this house.  He was the Landscape Gardener of the park.