Favourite Memories
Reconnecting with our shared local history.
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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Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:
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How the location features in your personal history?
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The memories this place inspires for you?
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Stories about the community, its history and people?
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:
...and hundreds more!
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Displaying Memories 1451 - 1500 of 2029 in total
My family lived at Trelights. My Uncle Reg was a school teacher in London although he was a Trelights boy, when he came home in the summer holidays in his old Austin 6 he would often take us to Polzeath, they were special days. Off we would go loaded up with sandwiches and apples, oh and don't forget the little primus stove to boil the kettle for cups of tea and the wooden boards for riding the waves. The ...see more
My mother & I were rushed into the cellar of the 'George Hotel' which was opposite Woolworths which took a direct hit. We came out afterwards and I was rushed home from what seemed quite an adventure for me, but it was 35+- years after that I had a sudden flashback and realized how lucky we were, as several people were killed that day. Not long after another bomb dropped close to us on a ...see more
My family lived at 'Bryher' New Polzeath. I went to Hoiliday House School, Harry Edwards was the Headmaster. He lived with his wife and children in a cottage at Porteath Farm. What better place could there be to grow up. I still keep in touch with Melville Coad, we were at school together, his father was the local butcher. We had some great times; apart from the evacuees, the war never ...see more
Coming across this picture sparked memories of such happy times I had as as a child spending my summer holidays in a chalet at Seaview. It was not unusual to stay for four or more weeks in one of the chalets and spend practically every waking hour being on the beach or walking into either Whitstable or Herne Bay. I remember rummaging along the beach finding bits of pottery from the houses that fell into the ...see more
My family moved to 121 Midland Road during the winter of 1946 as my father worked in a local paint factory till 1948. There was a huge monkey puzzle tree in the front garden. I was 7 and my sister was 10. We loved that house. We used to belong to the Boots Booklovers library in the town and were allowed to go and change our books on our own. I remember going to the Wellingborough Zoo for ...see more
I was born in Trench in 1948; my father worked at the Granville Pits. We moved to 'The Old Yard' when I was about 4 years old. We had such a good community, the homes were bungalows and houses. We lived in a little bungalow with no heating other than a big old black leaded grate. No running water in the house, just a cold tap in the outhouse, where mum did her washing every Monday by lighting a big copper boiler to ...see more
I went to school here in the 50s/60s; it was known as Wroxeter and Uppington C of E School. There were just two classes, the big class run by Miss Thomas the Headmistress and the little class run by Mrs Saltmarsh. Our dinner lady was Mrs Habberley, after lunch two of us used take the left-overs in a bucket to the buildings next to the school and feed it to the pigs. We went to Shrewsbury swimming baths once a ...see more
We used to walk down to Red Wharf Bay on the first night at my aunt's who had a house in the village at the bottom of the steep hill called Journeys End. It was wonderful to go to the paddly bridge as we called it and gaze out at the bay, knowing this was the start of our six week holiday. We went here from about 1950 to 1963.
Hi All. Den from St. Helens. Summer in Anglesey, first car, first boat, first meetings with young ladies of Llangefni. It could have been 1969, I'm not sure now, a group of mates from St Helens set out on holiday in a Triumph Courier Van in grey, Reg No 837 EDM. On top was a polystyrene white boat and inside a top of the range tent, all belonging to Prescot Camping. The weather then was always ...see more
I was born in Eastbourne Road, in a house opposite the sand pits and the common. My name was Wendy Mitchell. With my sisters and brother I would spend hours picking bluebells and primroses and climbing trees there. At the bottom of our garden across a small field was Leigh woods which had a stream running through it. We would cross the stream via a fallen tree at what was known as Diana's fountain ...see more
I have very happy memories of Hazel and I looking after the Eight Bells for Jack and Sylvia when they went on holiday. This was for a few years in the late 60's and early 70's. Most sadly, my lovely wife Hazel, 'nee' Cook, died very suddenly just a year ago today, 26 March. My family came together with me last Sunday, 25 March 2012, and the new Vicar, Andy Wolton, said a few prayers for us after the service, at the ...see more
My family are the Frees from Leiston. There are too many to mention but my dad is Harry and my Uncle Sperry is mentioned in a few people's memories.
We were so fortunate to be able to spend all our summers at Uncle Jack Fryer's cottage. We stayed there from the 1960s until he sadly passed away. Jack was always smiling and nothing was ever a bother. Living at the cottage was basic but oh so comfortable, the log fire in ...see more
During the war we lived at 4 Sunnyside Terrace. At one point during 1942 Mr Chaffey, the coalman, could not deliver coal because his horse and cart could not get up the hill because of ice and snow. We were rapidly running out of coal. I suggested to my mother that I go up the hill in the middle of the night and cut one of the trees down that were growing in the copse. I did this and sawed the tree in sections ...see more
I remember well the parade through the village on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee. My mother and several other mothers dressed six of us young boys as toy soldiers and we had to march in the parade. However, the best thing in the parade that I can remember was a model of the Queen Mary. It was loaded over a car. You could not see the car, only the majestic liner floating through the village. It ...see more
This photo brought the memories flooding back. My parents moved to Verwood in '57. My dad worked for the De Havilland Aircraft company in Christchurch. I'm searching my memory but I think the building on the left had a stationers called Nellie Hopkins. More interesting to me was a fish and chip shop just opposite the car photographed there. In front of Nellie Hopkins was Shearings Garage, selling Esso ...see more
My family moved to Handley in 1947 and I spent the rest of my childhood there. Our family name is Harris and my parents were Drs Paul and Zoe , they had five children. We lived off the road to Deanland. I never could work out all the Day family, there were an awful lot of them! A Mr
Violet Day and a Mrs Elsie Churchill, helped Mum. I agree all the Frith photos shown seem some what earlier than the ...see more
I can remember Coronation Day in Shillingstone, the weather was not settled and there were showers, I can remember watching the crowning of the Queen on a TV which was in Mrs Fudge's house at the lower end of the village. In the afternoon we had a parade of fancy dress and walked to the recreation field where a fete was held, with skittles and side shows. During the evening ...see more
I was at Mount Pleasant School as a boarder for 6 years from 1946 to 1952. The school was in Dalmeny Road but apparently was taken down in 1965. I have been trying to find anyone who attended this school. Before going to school there I lived in Southern Road during the last 3 years of the war and remember all the American vehicles parked down our road probably preparing for D-day. I have been back many times ...see more
I believe the girl walking on the left is my mother Joan Outhwaite (nee Urwin). We have a similar photo of Mum in Redcar.
I spent my early years playing and later working in the fields in the valley between Hambledon and Shillingstone hills.
At one time I worked for Mr Harry Watts and later his daughter Jo. I can remember once Harry Watts and Mr Reg Tucker were building a hay rick when the local vicar and doctor walked by, they called up to the men on the rick "could you do with a hand up there", they replied "Yes we could, but ...see more
I lived in Thicket Grove which had the Thicket public house at the top. Crystal Palace Park was a very short walk away. During the school holidays we would spend our days in the park. Mum would pack us a picnic of a jam sandwich, a packet of crisps with the little salt parcel in and some powdered lemonade mixed with water for our drink. We were told to go to the park until tea time. Although we ...see more
I spent several holidays in a chalet with long verandah which was one of the first on the right just after a burnt out house and just before the caravans started in Mill Lane during the late 1940s and early 1950s. I remember getting off the bus from Chichester with all our luggage and there were an assortment of men with bicycles with various trailers attached and for a small fee cases and bags were loaded on and all the ...see more
By kind permission of the Lord Ashcombe, the Holy Trinity Junior Boys Club, Wimbledon, camped for four weeks every year on Ranmore Common. Most of us were choirboys, so we augmented St Barnabas's choir for their services twice each Sunday. Lord Ashcombe read the lessons. At that time there was a dairy next to his house, Denbies, and he gave us our milk. (The estate has since been turned over to a vineyard.) The two ...see more
The smell of coffee probably wafted out from the shop at No.10 Duke Street. Basil Harrison was the town centre's grocer for many years who specialised in coffee. His coffee grinding machine stood just behind the shop window from where he could watch the passers-by and the town's changing life. He left diaries of all the observations he had made over the decades. Many of his earliest memories were put ...see more
This photo was probably taken soon after the newly built Civic Suite was officially opened for use as public offices. The town's population was expanding rapidly as the local big industries attracted more and more workers from far and wide. Chelmsford Borough Council was incorporated in 1888 and in its early years the small number of employees worked in rented rooms or buildings. In the late 1920's the building to ...see more
In reply to Keith Hawkins' appeal to anyone that knew of F.W. Hawkins shop on Hosier Street, Reading, I used this shop during the 1950s as a small boy while spending the weekends with my Nan & Grandad who lived at 61 Hosier Street.
My Mum & Nan referred to Miss Hamkins as Fanny, I have no idea if this was her real name. The shop was very dark inside with gas light brackets on the walls. On entering ...see more
My dad, Eric Berry, used to clip this hedge - BY HAND!
When we're little, things always seem bigger than they really are, but my recollections of watching my Dad clip this hedge on the days he did the gardening at St Anne's church, were pretty accurate. It really is as big as I remember!
I also recall going to St Anne's Hall ( a bit further back down the hill?) with my Mum, to collect our ration ...see more
I was the Head Teacher of the Cranborne First School from 1974-1978. The school was situated just off the square. It was a delightful little school and I have happy memories of my time there with my two teachers: Mrs Barbara Bayes and Mrs Gawman (who succeeded me as Head). Lord Salisbury was the Chairman of our Governors and occasionally I had to go to the Manor to discuss business with him. It was quite an ...see more
My father, who worked for Philips Electrical (Mullard Amplifier Division) was the Sound Engineer at both the Wembley Stadium and Pool during the entire Olympic Games of 1948. He had to work very long hours not only during the events but also during the daily rehearsals of ceremonies. I went to one of the last events, with my grandparents, which was equestrian. After the Games finished, my father continued as the ...see more
Lovely memories of the High Street, mum pushed us in the big old coach built double ended pram; me and my brother Mike. In them days you stayed in prams way into toddler years, mum's didn't make you grow up too fast! As we got a little older there was the shoe shop at the end of shops (I think its the bank now,) Kim my sister, Mike and myself used to do the Harry Worth star shape in the shop window as it was mirrored, ...see more
My great-grandfather, Thomas Newton Croft, a member of the family that founded the Fleetwood to Knott End ferry, managed it for the local council from c.1896 to his death in 1915. I am told that my grandmother, Alice, used to do cartwheels to entertain the passengers waiting for the boat to come in. The service was re-privatised a few years ago. Being involved in marine business myself I like to refer to it as "the family shipping line"!
I think this was the year. I was sick with chest problems, I loved it there. Getting all the new people's hair washed in little basin and watching all the fleas fall out. Having naps after lunch, sometimes in the dormitory, sometimes in the field. Listening to teddy bears picnic at Sunday tea time. Going down the clift steps to the beach. My name at that time was Frances Smith, I was only little at the ...see more
I went to NGS in 1939. It was a great school. Those school dinners cooked on site by Annie the cook and the smell coming up the corridor about 11o'clock. I remember when they started building the air raid shelters at the top of the playing fields. Headmaster Harrison, for Latin. No messing about at that school, or Saturday detention! Still have the stamp album I bought on the market after school. Was sweet ...see more
I was an office boy at Franklin Barns. One of my jobs on a Wednesday was to go the cattle market and collect messages that where left in desks of the back room of The Market Tavern.It was a wonderful place; farmers, drovers, sheep dogs all doing business (not the dogs!) I can remember taking Cyril Franklis tea every morning at 10.30 in his office where he had a model of the new Franklin Barns building to ...see more
I spent my first five years 1924-1929 in Blindley Heath, possibly the nicest years of my life. I may have gone to the school there. I clearly remember Gibb's store when I spent six glorious weeks in B.H. in 1934,: a very modern shop with lime (?) trees and a chain fence surrounding the periphery. It had a modern overhanging spring-loaded carrier system, whereby payments could ...see more
At the house where we lived from 1928 until 1935, (No 24 Barracks Road, Burnley, now called Cavalry Way), it was called a 'back to back' row cottage. It comprised of two bedrooms upstairs, one just about able to fit a double bed, and one very small room for two single beds. This is where my sister and I slept until seven years later when we moved house, after my brother was born (we were all born in Burnley ...see more
Living on the island was like living in paradise - it seemed like a constant holiday! I remember walking from 'Danehurst' along Pitts Lane across Binstead Road and up Cemetary Road to school every day. I loved walking to the beach through the woods near Quarr Abbey and through to Fishbourne. I loved going to Sunday School at the Church of the Holy Cross and being in the choir when Mr Wrigley was Rector. My ...see more
I am not sure which grandfather it was (how many greats do you want?) but the old part of my family, the Strevens, have lived in Broadstairs for the last five hundred years, and have the honour of having erected the post in the middle of the bay. This was one of five snubbing posts that allowed the barges to warp right up to the pier where they loaded tar and coke from the gas works at the top ...see more
Perhaps someone will correct me on the year. It was the year when Billy Graham was doing the crusade within the Ipswich football stadium. Many times I'd pass my time away at the docks. I would fish for eels or any fish that would take a bite. One day, a man with his two sons and one daughter came to do some fishing - although they had fishing gear they had no idea on how to tackle up. I was to help them ...see more
My grandad, Joseph Woodgate, was the builder that built a lot of early Wannock Avenue's houses and bungalows. He built Wee Cott - one the first houses to be built which had a very large monkey puzzle tree in the garden, until the hurricane of 1986 and my dad was born there. I have pictures of Hazel Grove under construction and my dad, Ernest Hazel, was named after it. I also have pictures of semi detached houses in ...see more
I had a wonderful childhood in Lower Willingdon - we lived, my brother and I, in a bungalow in St Annes Road and went to the village school in Upper Willingdon where Mr Morrell was the headmaster. I remember in the playground was a stone shelter left over from the war where we used to play sometimes. I remember one of the previous contributors, Peter Miller, was the first boy I kissed, in the said shelter. ...see more
Oh, my goodness, the memories come flooding back when I started to read some of the stories. Yes, mine was very much the same as most of yours was. I was taken to Victoria Station and put on the train with a nun. I remember sleeping in the dorm and wetting the bed. Eating dry boiled potatoes that made me gag. Walking one direction along the sea with the wind blowing so hard they made my cheeks red raw and on ...see more
It is quite possible that the the little boy to the right in this picture is me at age six. My family used to stay at a friend's caravan in the park above the cliffs. During the summers of 1954 through 1958 we stayed there most weekends in the summer and even a few in the spring and autumn. St. Mary's Well Bay was not a good beach, a lot of rock and bladderwrack seaweed, which does give a satisfying ...see more
I remember the large ham and bacon slicer at the back of Newbury's and always worried that someone was going to slice their finger off when I was watching. When I was about 3 my mum was doing her shopping in Newbury's, with me in my pushchair with a cover over it. When we got outside she was mortified and had to go back into the shop and apoligise because apparently I had been doing some shopping of my own and helping myself to things and hiding them under the pushchair cover.
Allendale - 'Happy Memories and Great Days'
In about 1973 an 'interdenominational' group of dedicated visionary young people, many from Tyneside Youth for Christ (Elim Church), based in Newcastle upon Tyne rented the disused and empty fairly large 'lower floor-part' of Sinderhope Chapel, Sinderhope, Allendale for a peppercorn rent of £1O per year, from the Allendale ...see more
Pop was at it again with his mates. To the front of this picure the Tudor faced building...THE BEEHIVE PUB, there was a fella called Stumpy (well known older gentleman). He was a gentleman with one leg, who propped himself up against the downpipe of the pub, and who would challenge anyone to put the money down on the path and try and kick his remaining leg from beneath him to win the pot. As he then would give ...see more
I went to Kirdford school for about two or three years in the 1960's until 1968, when I went to Horsham High School for Girls. The higher roofed part of the school was Miss Dadswell's class and the lower roofed part was two classes partitioned; these areas were Miss Dodsworth and Miss Hever's classrooms. Each was heated by a coke burning stove. There was a tiny room off Miss Dodsworth's class for her to use, as head ...see more
I used to have holidays in Graffham with my Great-Aunt, Lottie Bridger. We loved climbing the hill; collecting eggs from the chickens and even the adventure of visiting the outside toilet. My family lived in Graffham, going right back to the 1500s, and I still have a wonderful feeling when I visit the village. My aunt had no running water, except in the wash house outside, where the ...see more
My family and I lived in the post office and stores when this picture was taken. I am Christine Sheldon, one of the twins of the Sheldon family. We loved living there, my dad was the baker and the shop sold everything - and even had a tea room. My twin and I lit a fire in the attic once with straw and set fire to the roof. Coolham is a wonderful place and we were very sad to see that the shop had been ...see more
My house backed onto Wyndham Hill and I spent my childhood playing over there. My cousin and I loved to watch the steam trains passing by and sometimes (if our parents weren't nearby) would run onto the bridge at Pen Mill station and hang over to get lost in the smoke - the things kids do! There was also another smaller field beside Wyndham which had three horses; Penny (a chestnut), Dusty (a dark grey) and ...see more