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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Search for your favourite UK places and read memories of the local area in days gone by.
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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 1901 - 1950 of 2029 in total
I have so many happy memories of growing up in Weaverham. My young friends and I making our way through the woods off Northwich Road near Walnut Avenue. I think it was known as Beech Wood or Hazelwood. We would follow the path and the stream that ran through the wood, in those days the water was crystal clear, all day paddling and splashing, sitting on the embankment and enjoying our picnic. We could spend all ...see more
This photo stirs memories of West Somerton, my 1940's and 1950's childhood home. We kids trying to fish with bamboo stakes, string and worms, sitting beside serious fishermen on these banks. Then there was the time the river froze, we investigated and my sister went through the thin ice. We were wary of the river, since few of us could swim. In summer we bathed in Somerton Broad, just up the river on the ...see more
Visiting the Grace Darling Musuem, then her grave in the churchyard opposite, was an annual event while on holiday on the Northumberland coast. Peering through the bars around the tomb I was often reminded of how my grandmother had pulled herself up, slipped and put a metal spike through the base of her chin. As I could never spot a scar between the wrinkles I doubted the veracity of this tale. It was however ...see more
The Blitz started with the Sirens wailing in the early evenings, to warn of the approach of enemy planes. Then complete silence for quite a long time as we waited with mounting apprehension in the passage way, mother, myself, Dennis and David with father watching at the front door, John would not get out of bed for anything.
The drone of approaching bombers heralded the beginning of the air raid. Then the thunder of ...see more
I was in Heswall Hospital a number of times in the late forties, suffering from Bronchiectasis. I always went into Hugh Owen Thomas ward. It was a long ward seperated by sliding doors, the girls one end, and the boys the other. I remember sleeping out on the verandah every night unless it was raining or foggy! On fine days the nurses would pull our beds out onto the lawn. Every other night ...see more
I remember when a very young kid, walking down Banks Road with my mother to the slipway and buying fresh shrimps from the Evans boys.
The shrimps were caught in the Dee and cooked on board the boats on the way back to the slip. The fishing was a thriving industry in those days.
Annual Outing to Walton on the Naze from Upshire in Essex. In the early days we travelled by train from Waltham Cross, one train picking children up from stations along the line and taking us all out for the day to Walton. In the later years it would a coach or double-decker bus from the Princesfield Estate at the top of the lane leading to the Gospel Hall. The outing was the highlight ...see more
When I first came here the NHS hadn't begun, I think my mum was asked to pay 7/6d per week! Visiting was 2hrs on the 1st Sunday of the month only. Just as well really because my parents had to travel from 3 miles south of Dorking. I laid flat on my back for most of the 3 years with my left hip in plaster, a strap across my chest, and weights out of the end of the bed holding my left leg still. In fact when I came out of ...see more
Hi all old inmates of LMTH.
I was in Connaught Ward block 3 (boys), at the tender mercy of Sister Smith, from about end 1951 aged 6 until December 1954. I had neglected TB in the knees and (then unknown) lungs. I remember Wilfred, who carried us about either in that grey wooden handcart or the electric trolley and who made wooden toys for those of us who had little or no visitors at Christmas. Mrs Caravan (I think) was ...see more
I was a student nurse at Lord Mayor Treloars from January 1962 until January 1964. Those two years orthopaedics were affiliated with other hospitals which allowed us to start training before 18 which was the minimum age for General Nursing commencement, when the students moved on the 3 year general training was reduced to two years.
The hospital was a very happy place because many of the patients were long stay, ...see more
I spent several months in Treloar with Polio. I was five years old and from what I have been told, at deaths door. Can't say that I remember much except the nurses smiles and the pictures of Micky Mouse on the windows. I would like to thank the staff for whatever they did to save my life, as from being paralyzed from my left arm across my body to my right leg, I went on to have a fantastic life seeing the world and having children and grandchildren. Thank you.
I was a patient in this hospital in 1955 when I was ten years old. There were very caring nurses and also a hospital school which helped me immensely during my stay of about two months. At that time I believe it was named The Lord Mayor Treloar hospital for Crippled Children. Not very "P C" by 21st century standards of description! Anyway, the nurses were truly excellent and they needed to be as so many of us were ...see more
I believe I was in LMTH from 1953 until 1962 with breaks in between. This was due to polio which meant many operations on my right leg. I can recall a Sister Smith. I do recall going outside with our beds, and shunting the beds around the ward in the evening to be closer to our pals to play games. I also recall, due to boredom, we somehow managed to tie a fishing line to the on/off switch to the large radio ...see more
These memories actually date back to the summer of 1967 as well as that of 1968. Sometimes, there was no work in the fields, or I needed money because I was such a lazy fruit picker. So I left Leverington and applied to be hired at Smedley's in the evening after tea. It was marvellously quick and simple to get work, there were no formalities, no red tape at all. We seasonal workers just got a clocking card, and I am ...see more
During WW2 the pupils were evacuated and the school turned into a temporary Maternity Home. The Doctor attending the home was only part-time, but always on call. The Doctor lived a few houses away and at night time he hung a length of string from a bell next to his bed and out of his bedroom window. So a nurse could run to his house to raise him if he was needed. Such was the case at 2:30am on the 10th of June 1942. I was born shortly thereafter.
John E. Hutt, now living in Lewiston, NY, USA.
We moved to Southampton in early 1950 just after the trams had stopped running - some of the rails were still there. Above Bar along with much of the town had been badly bombed in the war and there were many bomb sites on both sides of the road. Woolworths was a large wooden hut reached by a bridge across a crater. Gradually during the 1950s new buildings sprang up amid the bomb sites until the scene was as ...see more
I have just been reading on the times of the floods in Dovercourt. My sister Rita and myself, known as (Rita and Mary Kelly), were brought up by the Salesian Sisters at the convent from babies until the time of the floods. The convent had to close, and we were then moved to another convent in Hastings called Sandrock Hall.I believe sixteen children made this move. It was ...see more
I vaguely remember the bad winter when snow was still laying in June, black snow where people had thrown ash onto paths and roads. There were holes cut into the banks of snow so people could cross the roads. Then in the early 50's, the weekly trip with barrow to the gasworks in Pier Road for a load of coke 'cos we couldn't afford coal. Saturday morning pictures at the Grand or Odeon cinema's I recall getting day ...see more
I have told you of my memories of the Gillingham bus distaster 4th Dec 1951 when me, Bob Dunford and my school friend Peter Gerard could not march with the Royal Marine Cadets because our suits never came in and all our friends died.
Well just think of this. My brother, John George Dunford was in the Naval Cadets in July 1929 when they had the Gillingham Park Disaster when all ...see more
In 1940 at age 1, I was moved into 123 Nelson Road with my parents and older brother.It was to be my permanent home for the next 20 years.
Nelson road was split into two parts by Weston Park, the scruffy end between Tottenham Lane and Weston Park, where we lived, and the posh part up to Ridge Road where my grandparents lived at No 84. My maiden aunt, who lived with them, had been engaged to a flyer who ...see more
My name is Barbara Tucker & I spent several happy years during the Second World War at Pilton in Somerset. I was in the women's land army and can remember those wonderful days working with the animals and milking the cows at 6 am and working in the fields. I worked at Abbey farm and knew Paula Turnball & Flossy Billing. I would like to make contact with any land girl in Somerset. My contact details are
E-mail : simontuckerpgapro@yahoo.co.uk ( her son)
Telephone : 01823 400733
My father, Lenny Griffin, used to put these out every morning and store away in a shed at North Lodge Park every night in the summer. I used to go with him and when they got the smaller binoculars I was allowed to carry one. The big telescopes my fther used to carry one on each shoulder.
The mother of my work friend, John Wallace, owned the flat over what used to be the Pedlar's Pack. We often rode to Cromer from Leicester on our motorcycles and spent weekends there. On one notable occasion John's bike would not start after being ridden along the beach, and we spent all night with it in the flat's entrance hallway trying to get it started, fortunately with success. I don't recall ...see more
I'm not sure whether this church was called Christchurch or Christ's Church; but as I recall it was originally a Presbyterian church which merged with, the then Congregational Church in Holmwood Gardens to form the United Reformed Church. Christchurch was then closed and remained empty for many years until it was sadly demolished to make way for Sainsbury. Incidentally, seeing the old concrete lamp posts in this ...see more
My family lived in Reigate Way, Wallington, Surrey. My twin brother and I used to stand outside our house to listen for the aproaching buzz bombs. On this particular day, one glided in and fell on the playing field and allotment killing a Mr Hunter, our local DIY shop owner.It also nearly destoyed our house, a terriblble time, we were only 13 at the time. My father managed to get us in to the Anderson shelter in ...see more
I was baptised by the Rev. Brenn in 1945 and was sent to Sunday School from the age of about 4. I remember being scared to death by the head, the formidable Miss Hoof, who would give a loud blast on her whistle if anyone dared to mess about. My favourite day was the Tuesday after Whitsun when we all went to Bognor Regis for the day. We had to attend a 'short' service, which seemed to last ...see more
I went to Wallington County (no, we weren't 'Wally Boys' as people say these days), from 1957 to 1964. When our son followed me some 40 years later, I found the school very lttle changed from my day, apart from a new science block. They even still referred to the old science block as the 'New Block', and the new science block was therefore the 'New New Block'. Whilst I usually coped with academic lessons okay, ...see more
I lived just behind the Duke's Head from 1945 till the late 60's, and I believe this was where my parents met before World War II. My dad was working as a part time barman and my mother was sent by my grandmother to inform my grandfather, that it was time for him to drink up and get himself home for his tea! Mr Parker, the pub landlord in the 50's used to keep a dog called Duke. He was a friendly dog, ...see more
We lived over the Express Dairy (opposite the Odeon) My early school days started in 1937 when Bandon Hill Infants were at Milton Road - we moved to Milton Road in 1935. The 654 Trolley bus route was nearby and sometimes the conductor would take out a long pole from under the bus to relocate the overhead poles to the cables above. When our class went up to the Sandy Lane school the Second ...see more
My father, Leonard Griffin, worked for the council as a gardener and helped build these gardens. He then helped maintain them until he retired. My memory is being allowed to run from one garden to the next and then the next but having to wait for my Mum at the end. I don't recall these as the rock gardens but as the sunken gardens.
I used to go along to Ffynnongroyw to play with my mate Mark Mellor at his parents which was the chip-shop. I remember playing on the beach and the old dock/railway buildings for hours on end. One day we found lots of 'jelly tubes', which was marked with 'explosive' that had washed up on the shore. Naturally me and a guy called Paul, (incidentally, whose house was demolished to make way for the widening of the ...see more
I have just read an amusing story about the Walls ices girls and how pretty they were - I was one of those girls - I can't quite believe someone has written about us! What fun we had. We all worked in the school holidays in the beach cafes, hard work sometimes but such good times.The beaches were packed and we sold lots of Walls ices!
The cliffs on this photograph were the source of much competition as we ...see more
I remember arriving in Morecambe in 1967, with a mate of mine, to work the Summer at Pontin's in Middleton but, due to a clerical error, our job's were no longer open. So, on the way back to Morecambe, (on the bus), we spotted what we assumed to be an Old Folk's Home, ('cos of the number of 'old folk's' we saw), but we decided to apply anyway...and am I ever glad we did!.
Turned out to be 'Pensioner's ...see more
The view is looking over Holborn Hill towards Black Combe. Holborn Hill is old Millom, the new part of Millom was built when iron ore was discovered in 1855 at Hodbarrow and the iron works was built and Hodbarrow mines opened. It then became a prosperous town with a population rising to 10,000 people. My memory is of Holborn Hill and a five year old girl who was evacuated there at the beginning of the war. She ...see more
When I was born in 1939 we lived at 97 Shelvers Way, but my very first memory happened in 1944. It was a lovely sunny day and my mother, Doris Parker, was going to feed the chickens at the bottom of the garden. I was playing outside when mother called out to tell me to go inside and into the shelter as there was a "funny" thing in the sky. I never did get to the shelter, only the dining-room and the next thing I ...see more
I remember from the mid 1970's I was planning to have a career as a Town Planner (ended up training as an RMN at St Francis) and was always writing studies on post war Haywards Heath. Needless to say, I was delighted to come accross the offices of the architect Douglas White who designed the very distinctive classic, of their time, houses on what was originally called the Harlands Farm Estate as well as ...see more
I used to play in the old Clair Meadow and remember the drinks machine which sold pink milk in a wax carton by the tree at the footpath entrance to 'the rec' on Perrymount Road which is still there...I spent many a happy afternoon there and remember well the lovely old green and cream buses going in and out of the old bus station, which to me at age 9 epitomised Haywards Heath as we had ...see more
In the early 50's many streets in Uxbridge were still lit by gas. So "lighting up time" had a whole different meaning. The iron lampposts were much lower than the lighting masts of today and were more widely placed along the streets. Street lighting then had a different function because the lights were to illuminate the pavement, not so much the roadway. I lived in Frays Waye which was entirely lit by gas and there ...see more
Browsing Ampthill, for the first time, I came across the above photo. On the left just above the logo is a shop blind that used to protect the meat in the window display from sunshine (when it appeared). That blind was the bain of my life in 1952/3/4 when I was a so called "butchers boy". It never ran correctly on it's tracks, and I caused many a car to swerve my long pole manipulations putting it up and down. ...see more
When my father, Cllr John Wood, was Mayor of Ealing in 1976 I enjoyed the treats that I got! Every weekend in the summer we would go to fetes, fayres etc and dad would open the events and my sister and I would be given some cash from him to spend on the stalls to show our support! I used to love, as a 14 year old, riding in the Daimler to and from functions... The driver was a great man and if he saw me waiting at ...see more
I used to live in Grove Place which of course is no longer there. I remember Mrs Jones fish and chip shop a couple of doors from me where you could get a bag of crackling (yum). Then round the corner in Western Road was Den the barbers, we used to go in and buy sweets and the men were always in there playing crib with matchsticks. Outside Dens when we go older (albeit only 11) you could buy ten No.6 ...see more
I moved to Windsor Road in Ealing in 1962 when I was 11. I remember the Grove with fond memories. All the shops! The tailor's shop and the barbers. The sweet shop which always had a bowl of water for the dogs outside in the summer, the butchers (Mum used to send me there on a Saturday for a piece of beef costing about 3s or 3/6d (15 or 17 1/2p) The man that ran the butchers along with his 2 sons also had a cafe a ...see more
My God! I remember the baker shop fondly as it was opposite the Ealing Studios, and we used to hang outside Ealing Studios loads of times as kids, hoping to see someone famous - and we did. I've said "Hello" to Hattie Jaques, she was so lovely and warm, I remember her just walking over to my sister to say hello and ask why were we there, we explained we lived in Northolt but our nan and grandad lived in ...see more
My dad was posted from Strensall in Yorkshire to Nescliffe in the beginning of 1959. We took a steam train to Shrewsbury, then a bus to Nescliffe. At night the family of 3, plus cat in a basket, plodded across a field to the married quarters there. It was a hot summer and the Everly Brothers were playing "wake up little Suzy". We had a charabang to Lake Verny - 12 of us. We also went to the ...see more
The winter and spring of 1958 I was an ACC cook in the hospital kitchen. On one night duty I contracted tonsillitis and was put in the ward upstairs where the ghost of 'Sister Aggie', as she was known to us, was supposed to haunt and give comfort at their bedside of those who were about to slip away. She did not appear to me as I was not about to die. I had to sample our food which was sent up from the kitchen in ...see more
I was a choirboy at St Luke's, we met for choir practice once a week. Mr Hatton was the choirmaster and took a register and we were paid for attending. Weddings were the big earner - we got two shillings or half a crown. It was all added up and given to us at the end of the quarter and I used to spend money on buying old coins at the shop by West Norwood Railway Station (opposite the Horns Tavern), which also sold ...see more
As a child we used to visit Margate on a regular basis, before the war. We used to have a tray of tea from the Nayland Rock Cafe which had a special smell and distinctive china. I would love to obtain a photo.
My memory of this great and very popular market was during the late 1970's as a young kid and was every kids paradise. My mum worked at what must have been the world's largest sweet shop/stall - Jim's Candy Cabin. Every Saturday my auntie used to take me along for the day (and you could spend the day browsing around). 1st treat was having a different Matchbox toy bought from the the big Wood's toy stall at the far ...see more
When I was in my teens I had a Saturday and school holiday job on Newboulds bread van, and although I went to other areas of Yorkshire, I was more often than not on the Dewsbury journey. Our major customer was Knights, who had several shops next door to one another on Ravenhouse Road. They used to take four /five trays of sliced bread - twenty four loaved per tray, plus loads of other types of bread ...see more
I was born in 1965 and I remember the 'Nativity' being at the gardens at Christmas time. I used to love looking at the different characters; the shepherds, the three kings, but best of all I used to love looking at the 'manger scene' at the far left hand side with the baby Jesus. The characters were the same every year but the enjoyment was always the same. I have a 19 year old son and I have never been ...see more
