Nostalgic memories of Leiston's local history
Share your own memories of Leiston 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 all 10 Memories
Oh My goodness just found out my great grandparent is PERCY please reply if you are related, but of a long story to tell
My wifes great great grandfather was a Blacksmith who lived in 14 Eastwood Ho,could he have worked at the old forge,or may be there were more than one. His name David Lankaster.
What a coincidence, as around 1910 the Smithy was owned and run by My Grandfather also named James ,(a family tradition) there exists a buisness directory in the longshop Museum ,listing many Leiston Buisnesses, showing a picture of the Smithy at that time, timber fronted and sign written with his name and listing the many services available a photograph at that time was a special occaision,and the picture shows My ...see more
My great grandparents (Ada and Percy Curtis) lived in Leiston - their house was called "The Firs", I think on Sizewell Road. Would love to know what it is called now as I would love to research the house.
This is really to try and find out if anybody in Leiston may rember the late Mr Robert Wood Stewart. He married Miss Doris Clouting in the late 1940's and had two children Robert John, and Christine Edith. Sadly he gassed himself in the kitchen of their council house on 19 August 1961. Does anybody out there remember him? Sadly he was drinking heavily and seeing lots of people. We are trying to trace any siblings he may have had. Sheila (Sutton).
My father, Alexis Alfred Hare, was born at 88 Sizewell Road Leiston in 1916. He lived there with his parents Marmaduke and Kathleen and his brother Alec. He was an apprentice printer for the local newspaper. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers them. Thank you.
My Granddad William Anderson bought the forge when he moved to Leiston from Surrey after the war with my Nan and three children, my mother Yvonne, aunty Ivy and uncle Billy, where he shod horses in and around Leiston, then he turned his hand to iron work, which enabled him to carry on working until sadly nan died around 1960 when I was about 10, about a year or so later, sadly my granddad passed away also. My uncle ...see more
My name is Halina West. I lived with my parents Gordon and Zosia (my mother was Polish) and my brother Antony in St Andrew's Close from about September 1961 to about March 1963. I went to the local primary school for about 6 months when I was 5 until we moved away. I used to walk there, so it must have been quite close to our house. I have very vague memories of Leiston. I do remember the house which had only ...see more
My husband's great-grandfather David Deal was one of the police constables for Leiston and is mentioned in the 1901 Census aged 39 living with his wife Marianna and two of their three children at Valley Road, Leiston.
My husband remembers being shown the house in Valley Road by his father Harold Deal, himself a policeman. His grandfather William was indentured by David as an apprentice engine turner at Garretts in Leiston.
I would love to hear from anyone who might know of the Deal family.
Aerial photo AFA77116TR: "Leiston from the Air 1959" Is a view taken looking toward the East and clearly showing the Garrett's "Bottom Works", which formed a large part of the town centre at that time. This very old facility, part of which is now preserved as a Museum, housed some of the main manufacturing facilities for the "Richard Garrett Engineering Works". Garrett's were the towns main employers and were ...see more