Recent 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.
Search for Local Memories
Search for your favourite UK places and read memories of the local area in days gone by.
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
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:
-
How the location features in your personal history?
-
The memories this place inspires for you?
-
Stories about the community, its history and people?
-
People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
-
Has it changed over the years?
-
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!
Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.
Subscribe
Join the thousands who receive our regular doses of warming nostalgia! Have our latest blog posts and archive news delivered directly to your inbox. Absolutely free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Displaying Memories 31121 - 31200 of 36893 in total
While staying with my Uncle and Aunt in Uley during the school holidays, I bought an air-pistol. To be on the safe side I bought a Gun Licence from the Post Office in Dursley. Ken Cook
I attempted to walk parts of the Cotswold Way in the late 1970s, but didn't get very far. Instead I spent time at this Youth Hostel, walking to various villages nearby, lunching in some lovely pubs. Good memories. Ken Cook
I remember as a young lad, cycling to Keston Ponds from my home in Nunhead, my brother's fishing rod tied to the cross-bar. I was disappointed not to catch a fish. Ken Cook
Just before Christmas in 1953 I was admitted to St Giles' Hospital in Camberwell, south London. It was thought that I had TB. I was allowed home for Christmas, although confined to bed.
After Christmas I was taken by ambulance to Highwood Hospital in Brentwood, which my parents told me was a 'convalescent home'. One of the boys on my Ward quickly disillusioned me, as of course all of the patients had varying ...see more
Soon after the end of WW2, we stayed in Frampton on Severn, at the home of my Uncle Percy and his wife Mary. My Uncle Percy worked on an Estate, possibly Frampton Court. With some of the local lads we liked to visit, what they called "the Hock" where we walked along the edge of the River Severn when the river level was low. During that holiday I fell and broke my arm (probably while trespassing in the grounds of Frampton Court) and had to be taken to hospital in Gloucester. Ken Cook
My paternal grandfather, Joseph Cook, lived at No 24 Newbridge Road, Pontllanfraith and to avoid the bombing where we lived in South London, we stayed in his house. I was too young for school, but my brothers, Joe and Pat attended the local primary school, during our stay. I recall my brothers setting fire to the gorse bushes on an area of land which the local kids referred to as "the common", and that the fire engine was called to put out the fire! Ken Cook
I have recently aquired a picture (thanks to Lyn of Elton History Society) of the cottages in Well Street where my ancestors lived but sadly they were demolished in 1930.
This railway ran along Thamesside Promenade in the 1940s and 1950s. It was operated by Harold Judd. The line runs between chain-link fencing and an iron fence, and the train, approaching the camera, carries a number of children. There were apparently two 10 1/4" gauge lines.
This photograph features someone sitting on a bench in the foreground of Orford Castle. It is a strong possibility that it is my Uncle Jim (James Ellis) Smy. This was his favourite spot and he could be found sitting there catching up with his friends. There are several legends attached to Orford Castle. The most famous is that of the Merman. Villagers allegedly caught him in fishing nets and imprisoned him in the ...see more
My memory is of Barnehurst Avenue, where I was born in Number 48, and I had a great childhood from then on. I remember playing in the road as there were not many cars, going to Martins Grove swimming and playing. I had lots of friends when I was growing up who all lived in the road, we had a great time. I remember waiting for the ice cream man on a Sunday, and playing in the allotments behind my house at the bottom of the garden. If I could buy a house down there now, I would.
My great-grandfather Hugh Bell (born 1854) was the 13th child to be baptised at the then new church. He was later married there in 1874 to an Alice Gradwell from Preston. One of many children of William Gradwell (born 1818) and a descendant from the famous GRADWELL family. I, Brian Freeman, was a painter and decorator and served my apprenticeship with John Corbishley and Sons, 170 North Road, Preston from 1950/1956, ...see more
My dad was the manager at this pool and I used to spend all my time here with him, until he sadly died in 1972, when I was only 8 years old. I still love swimming today and it is a very big part of my life. I would love to know if anyone has any more pictures of the pool from 1970-1972. Or if anyone remembers my father, Tom Turner. Many thanks Lynette Turner
Love is ... Lympstone in 1960, a village girl called Vera, me, a young marine who did not want to be a marine, a real family called Stone, the smell of the Exe, a kiss under a tree during a summer thunder storm, glow worms in the lanes as I walked back from leaving her home, a last kiss goodbye, a silver ciggie case given to me as a present, going back in 2008 and seeing Vera, again a last kiss goodbye as it should have ...see more
My mother Iris Woods was evacuated to Penny Bridge during WW2. She first stayed at Penny Bridge House with the Stanley sisters - Franny & Alice? She then was moved to Mrytle Cottage to live with Fred & Ellen Stanley. She has very fond and happy memories of her time there. I'm trying to trace some information for her with a view to visiting in the New Year. If any one can help we'd love to hear from you, my e.mail address is rebeccajwoods@blueyonder.co.uk many thanks Rebecca
My family built a chalet in Newgale in 1943. This was in the middle of the Second World War. We had many holidays there over the years and were joined by friends on many occasions. After 33 years the chalet needed replacing and this was done in 1976. During the war, holiday workers came to the area to work on local farms and were housed in various properties in Newgale. On the Sands Cafe car park a dining ...see more
My father was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford 1949 to 1953. My brothers, Peter, Michael and myself, Mary, went to the village school. My older brother Richard went to school in Steeple Aston. I remember the two rooms, the infants with Mrs Jones in the small building and the Juniors in the other. We had a teacher, a Mrs Kearney, the same surname as myself, who lived in the teachers house ...see more
My mum visited Southend-on-Sea during her childhood years. She was born in 1917. Her family made a day trip there once per year, on public transport. They could only afford one visit per year because they were poor. I was more fortunate and visited there regularly with my parents throughout my childhood, sometimes with other relatives in tow, my aunts and uncles and young cousins. I ...see more
I also have fond memories of Erith, the Odeon and of Brook Street School - a fine school with fine men teaching, many just back from the war. The school motto was 'Integrity' and they set a good example (save for two miserable music teachers who shall be nameless). They did well by us ... several in my class learned to read and write. I left the school aged 15 in 1955 and served a five year apprenticeship at ...see more
This photgraph brought instant memories of when, as a teenager, I regularly walked with friends, Barry, George, Eric, and others, from Portland Street (Near the Royal Infirmary) to Crookes Valley Park. There we hired racquets and balls for an hour, and played tennis on the court to the right of the bowling green shown in the photograph. We were 'The Young Ones', full of energy and careering around the ...see more
My great-grandfather bought Heathway in Sheath Lane in 1925. We lived there from 1945 to 1953 when my father built Winterbourne in Goldrings Road on Crown Land with a 99-year lease. I went to Oxshott Primary School and St Andrews Sunday School in the old village hall. I can remember the milkman and the rag-and-bone man driving horse-drawn carts down Sheath Lane, and the walk through the woods to ...see more
My father Cornelius Henry Johns (Naily to everyone who knew him) was born in the little Round House on the left of the photo. He was the youngest of a large family, and there were 11 people living there in 1899. They then moved to Caragloose Farm, where his father and older brothers worked for Colliver Blamey. Colliver lived at Pennare Wallace. As soon as he was old enough my father started work on the farms ...see more
I have seen some more great memories of Harringay at the local community site, Harringay Online. I think you can find it through Google. Loved reading all your memories. Hugh
This is the best picture yet of that great old tree that I have found. I sat on its roots at the age of 5 years back in 1939, and all through the war it was a great place to sit out of the rain. I have a picture of it when it was young, and a picture of its stump full of flowers. Its branches were held together with chains and very few kids could climb it. I haven't seen it since 1952. It would be great if someone had a picture of the complete tree.
I have a picture of the cottage that my grandfather lived in with his family. His name was Cecil Stafford. His father was a thatcher and hedgerow maker as I understand. The picture I have is of the family in front of their thatched cottage that my grandmother said was right across from the church. I would love to know more about the town and if anyone knew the Staffords. I know there were 10 or eleven ...see more
I used to live in the first house on the left side of the photo 'Thurlestone Cottages 1890', in 1969 for a number of years. The house was then called 'Thatchways'. The smaller cottages attached to the main house are now missing; I believe they were destroyed many years before. We did however discover the old flagstone floor under the front lawn!!
Well, this is just a thought , but school dinners have come to mind. I was like some who said they didn't like school dinners even if you hadn't tried them, in the early years of school this was a good excuse for going home for an hour. I don't know when I started staying at school for dinner but I certainly don't regret it. I remember some of the menu and if I have missed anything off please tell: mince and ...see more
My father and I had boats on the river for many years, on the moorings in the picture. The boat with the cabin sporting a port hole in the side belonged to me. I spent most of my childhood on Wareham's rivers, fishing and boating.
I was born in the White Horse pub in Calne in 1952, at No 1 Wood Street. My grandparents, Alec and Dorothy Poole, were landlords at the time. I loved to stay there as a very small child and my room was a cosy room in the attic with a window to the street. They had a budgie called Joey and a dog whose name escapes my memory. I also remember a birthday when I was given a doll nearly as big as me. There was a ...see more
I visited Boynton Hall during my year long study abroad as an English Speaking Union Scholarship recipient to Wrekin College, in Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, during the academic year 1974/1975. At that time an architect, Mr Cooke and his wife were the owners of Boynton Hall. I had written to Mr. Cooke prior to my visiting the Hall at the suggestion of my elderly cousin ...see more
I was 11 when this photograph was taken and lived in Buller Street. The land where the Gypsy Moth was built had previously been a green space where a bonfire was held every November.
Top right side - corner flat. Wimpey Homes 1986 - Clydebank's Centenary year - flats collectively renamed Centenary Court
As children we used to play in the half demolished Tay Mill, and fish for tiddlers in the mill lodge. Our parents used to tell us to stay away otherwise Granny Green Teeth would get us.
Hello, my name is Andy Murfet. Thanks to this site I have just made contact with my school mate Martin Chapman, I am sure we will now stay in touch with each other. Martin has joged my memory with some other school mates, Rosemary White, another girl with the surname of Shaw, and a drama teacher with the surname of Jogo. BUT IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WAS AT THE SCHOOL BETWEEN 1963-70 PLEASE GET IN TOUCH, ...see more
This photograph is of St Edmund Hall, affectionately known as 'Teddy Hall', which by common consent is the oldest seat of learning in the University of Oxford. Founded in the early 13th century by St Edmund of Abingdon, who lectured in the old church of St Peter in the East, which is now the college library. St Edmund later became Archbishop of Canterbury. Scholars of St Edmund Hall are renowned for their prowess ...see more
I went to Downshall school as it was then. It is vastly altered now. On the left of picture was a row of shops. First on the left was a greengrocers. Then the fish andd chips shop. Then Alberts Cafe, Balls the chemist. Then Leslie W Hubbard the hardware shop. Correct me if I'm wrong but that's not a bad memory going back to 1955. I lived round the corner in Norfolk Road at 128 and was late for school most ...see more
I had forgotten that the buses used to use the area in front of the abbey as a terminus. I lived in Selby from my birth in 1954 until 1972. I frequently caught a bus from the corner of Buller Street & Flaxley Road to school on Abbotts Road. Most of the buses in Selby were green, but the East Yorkshire buses were a regal shade of dark blue with a cream stripe.
I was a pupil here from 1960 to 68. Who can add to the following list of teachers? Mr Crossland (headmaster) Mr Taylor Mr Perry Miss Atkinson Miss Read (everyone was affraid of her) Miss Booth (she was not a teacher, but was loved by everyone) Miss Wormold
This photograph brings back so many memories. As a child I lived in Buller Street until 1972. I spent many happy Saturdays at the Ritz cinema, seen here in the right background. How civilised this looks. I recently went back to look at my "roots", Flaxley Road is now a traffic nightmare and the whole area is in decline. The only street which retains its charm is White Street.
What a delight to find this site and the photographs of Sutton Coldfield. I too have memories of a children's home but mine were of Watson House. From what I remember it was a big beautiful Tudor-built house, with the biggest in and out drive I have ever had the pleasure of being permitted to walk on without being chased off, the sound of the gravel beneath my child sized shoes always amused me. I often think ...see more
Hello, I have lived in Llanrumney most of my 55 years and would like to point out that I think the photo of Rumney rec. and Llanrumney Ave is the wrong way round.Viewed from where it is the avenue would bend from left to right. Regards, Nigel Coles
I saw the memories of the lady whose grandparents owned Levers butchers. I remember my mum taken me there when I was tiny to get steak and kidney etc. My mum died in 1974 so it was a long time ago.
I remember taking a walk in the Wynnstay Park in 1976,the famous drought year. I still live in Ruabon, but a lot has changed.
I used to sit and wait for the Number 11 bus, if I remember correctly on the bench facing the post office, and I am ashamed to say I never really took in the names on the war memorial or realized what they had done for us all. I now live in Holland and the next time I am in Stopsley for a visit I will look again at the names and remember.
I would love to hear from Sybil Merryweather's daughter, I don't know what happened, I did answer you, and any others who remember that time. Irwin Parker.
Hi Rosemary, Once again I found you very heplful, you sent me info on Princess Mary Homes. I followed it up and found them very helpful, only trouble is other people on same page (not covered by freedom of information) will have to wait for another couple of years until the next census to find out where she went when leaving the home. Thanking you once again for taking trouble to answer. Regards, Shirley (Ken Epps)
My husband and I used to go dancing in Cwmdu library, it used to be packed with people and we listened to live bands.
I remember Gittens high class grocery shop when it was in Hill Street, it then moved to 10-12 High Street, moving into Shakespears hardware shop. What I remember most was the aroma of the coffee being ground in a special machine. The staff were always friendly. The shop was taken over by Ernest George. I remember 'Minnie with the glasses' who I identified when I was about 5 years old, she had worked there for ...see more
I went to live in Nash in 1955 as a foster child. I attended Nash School from 1955 - 1958 when Mrs Jones was the headmistress. The school sadly closed in 1958 and we were moved to Burford School near Tenbury Wells. Life at Nash School was idyllic and we used to run through the lanes to school every day. When it snowed badly we stayed at home or were taken in by tractor! I still have a photo of us all on the day ...see more
My name is Steve Whitfield, we lived in Whitecroft (on the Crossroads) and that is where I grew up. Went most of my time to boarding school with my two brothers, dating back to the 1960s. My father was employed as Chief Accountant for Jas. Williamson in Lancaster (remember them?) and I have so many wonderful memories as a child, cycling down to Condor Bottom, or catching moles with dear old Mr Fox. John Cousins ...see more
Hiya to anyone who was at Langley School from the 1950s to 1961. All in all I spent most of my school life there. My friends there were Hilda Makin, who sadly died in the 1960s, Margaret, I think it was Green, Denise Holt, Lilly Clark, just to name a few. Also the boys, Partick Sisck, Trevor Jackson, Cyril Oxsey, Stanley Cordenly, Gerald Peel, Allan Jowett. I also remember David Both and not forgeting ...see more
William Leech moved from St Martins in the Field, London to 20 Duke Street, Chelmsford in 1794. There he started up his gun maker's shop. Later he moved to 3 &4 Tindale Street, Chelmesford. Percy Leech, the last family gun maker, trading under W Leech & Sons, sold the business about 1948. The new owners continued to trade from the shop in Tindale Street until 1984. W ...see more
Does anybody remember Julie Warren's dancing classes in the Lopping Hall? I was her cousin, Barbara Warren, and used to go to tap and ballet lessons every week. We used to have many concerts. Julie lived in Smarts Lane, and her dad Len was my dad's (Herbert) brother, and we lived further up in Smarts Lane, and my nan and grandad used to live at 80 Smarts Lane. I would love to hear from anyone who ...see more
I lived in Seaforth Avenue for many years living opposite the Elim Gospel Hall. I worked at Chessington Zoo for a while after leaving Beverley Central School, then worked at Carters Tested Seeds in the small seeds lab dept before joining the Royal Navy in 1949. The family left the area some years later for Shoeburyness/Chelmsford where some of them are still located. I am trying to obtain photos of Carters, a ...see more
Have written memoirs of boyhood of my 2 brothers and myself in Falconwood, Eltham and Welling. Did local newspaper rounds for Hutton's at Falconwood Station and carried his moneybags to Martin's Bank, Eltham High Street through the golf-links several times without problems; delivering papers in the dark near the cemetery was more scary! Later used to frequent the many pubs in High Street and ...see more
My family, the Coopers, lived in Spaldwick from 1800-1900 if not before. My great-great-grandfather, Daniel Cooper, was a baker, corn seed merchant and the registrar for births, deaths and marriages in the Spaldwick area. There are stained glass windows in Spaldwick church dedicated to him and his wife, Susan Jellis, and their children and four very prominent gravestones in the churchyard. His son married Ann ...see more
Absolutely loved my time at Mayplace County Primary! It is sn old cliche but they were best days of my education! Great atmosphere at the school - I remember two teachers, Mr Jakeways the headteacher and Mr Cooker my form teacher. We lived in Bexley but used to cut through Shenstone Park and in the summer go to the open air pool near the school (Martins Grove). I now live in NW England and work as ...see more
I spent my first Christmas away from home with the Murdoch family as I was invited by their daughter, Monica. I was in the ATS and a colleague of Monica in Ibex House, in the Minories. It was quite an experience for me and my first time going to Midnight Mass (at home my parents went and I had to stay home with my younger brother). It was frosty and I believe it had been snowing, but Mrs Murdoch made sure I was well ...see more
Who can forget the grim start to 1947? I was one of those arriving at RAF Padgate in March when after barely 2 weeks induction we were all sent back home and the place virtually shut down. No heating, washing in ice cold water and the country in the grip of a postwar fuelless and austerity freezeup. Hence my arrival at RAF C B in May and the subsequent mindless squarebashing months as ACH/GD lasted ...see more
I was born in Lower Shillingford (Shillingford Abbot) in 1939. My grandparents Francis and Jane Wakely lived in Rectory Cottage, Higher Shillingford (Shillingford St George). My grandfather was gardener at the rectory. He was also the sexton at the church, gravedigger, bellringer and caretaker at the church. At Christmas time we would walk from Lower Shillingford to Higher Shillingford a distance ...see more
My uncle and aunt lived here from roughly 1948 to 1958. We lived on Oare Common and visited them at the Castle regularly. In the living room was a large hook and apparently someone in the past was hung from the hook and has haunted the castle ever since. Another aunt lived at the top of the Castle, she was deaf and dumb. I remember lots of adders around the grounds.
My gran, Mrs Evans, used to live at Glansevern Lodge, a loveley old sandstone building with trees all around it, and big rhododenderon bushes. It was a long wallk from the pump we used to get water from up to the house. We used to have an old outside toilet 20 yards from the house, which was very cold to get to in winter. At the rear was a smallholding and a sheep dip on the back lane past the river and on up to ...see more
I was at the old Salfords school from 1951 to 1957 just before it moved to the new site in Copsleigh Avenue. We started in Miss License's class where I remember playing in sand trays and writing on slates. She was a very kind teacher. The playground was small but we used to play all sorts of games there; conkers, marbles, making house layouts from leaves and racing cars. I remember one very icy day we ...see more
We lived with my grandmother who was not in good health. My dad worked at Lebus Furniture Factory in Tottenham and would cycle every day to work. Then he came into some money and bought a car. In the harsh winters of those days he would stick a small oil lamp under the car so that it would not freeze. Horror - he even stockpiled petrol in the shed during the Suez Crisis but only a small can. Christmas ...see more
On this picture you can see the steps used by the ferry man from the 1920s to the 1940s. He used a pole to steer the punt from the Bury bank to the Amberley bank. The punt was attached to a chain which stretched across the river lying on the bottom. The fare in the late 1940s was a theepenny piece. The ferry man was my 'Uncle' Bob Dudden, who took up the duties of ferryman when he left the Navy after ...see more
My father Ron Burchell worked at the shop seen in this photograph. The Burchell family had lived in the village for generations. The owner of the shop was Edward Grinstead and his wife Millie who was my godmother. We lived at the thatched Old Cottage behind the hedge on the left. My dad had been a shop boy here before he joined the RAF in the 1920s. When he left the RAF in 1946 he worked ...see more
My family the Beards used to run the mill in the 1800s. They also had the shop on the green which was there for over three hundred years.
My memories are a little vague but my family come from Tillingham. The family name is Hammond and my great-great-grandfather had a blacksmith's shop there in the High Street, it was there untill fifteen years ago but has now been redeveloped. I have many personal photos of my family but would be interested in anybody who had more photos or memories to share of this wonderful Essex village.
My good memories of Whitton are of Woodlawn Crescent, I had a good friend who lived there and I used to help him repair cars. Mike sadly has passed away now and I have lost contact with his wife, Sheila. We used to have a great time together. They had a Vespa and I had a Vauxhall Cresta. We used to go down to Swanage where Mike's parents lived. Well sad but I wish I had contact with Sheila again. Allan Stevens.
I can remember my Aunt Marjorie working in the Home & Colonial in the Marketplace. I used to sit in my pram outside and she would bring me something nice. I can still remember the smell of the cheeses and hams.
I was born in May 1945, in Green Street Green - Highfield Avenue, and moved to Woodside, Chelsfield in 1949. I lived there until I married in 1966, so I have clear memories of Crown Road. Two roads led off Warren Road up to Crown Road, they were Edith Road and Albert Road. I have a clear memory of the house on the corner of Edith and Crown, owned by a family called Liberter? Mr Liberter had green houses where he grew ...see more
I left school in June 1969 and worked at Albert Watter's farm in Dalton Pava . I delivered milk with one of his sons - sorry, can't remember his name. The delivery vehicle was a horse and cart. I can remember the horse's name though, she was called Dolly. We used to deliver milk to East Herringthorpe.
I went to Woolsery School for a few months in 1948. We lived on a farm called Little Walland, and walked to school, about a mile. I went back this year, after a 60 year gap, and remembered the school immediately. I found the farm, with help from the villagers, and once again remembered it straight away, little change having taken place to the house. The old cow shed is still there, even some of the cob walling remains. Sadly no photos that far back. Ken Elliott
My family used to travel from the countryside of Lanarkshire into Glasgow almost every weekend to visit our Granda in Carnwadric. I loved going from the centre of town out to Carnwadric in the tram and being able to 'turn' the seats for its return journey. Happy days.
I have a long line of ancestors from the Jarrett and Maisey families who were born in Long Hanborough. James Maisey, born in 1852, was originally a game keeper who became landlord of the Bell Inn in the late 1880s. He and his wife Mary Ann (my great-great aunt) had at least ten children. Among them was Frederick Thomas Maisey, who joined the Police Force and worked in Romford, where he met his ...see more
In 1949 I was a pupil at Wrens Warren Camp School near Colemans Hatch. The school was housed in long huts which I believe to have been used in the war. It was a school for children who had been ill and needed some form of convalescence whilst still able to attend lessons. The headmaster was a Mr Punch, and the head for the girls was a Miss Hoad. We slept in long dormitories and the whole place was quite austere. I would love to hear from any other member who was there.
I was in school in Long Sutton and worked part time for Phillip Stow the butcher. I had to go round customers' houses in the morning and take orders for their meat requirements. I then went to school. After school I had to deliver the orders on a trade bicycle with a basket on the front. The local supermarket was I believe Fine Fare. I always remember a little three-wheeler coming and parking ...see more
I used to work in the florist across the road from the police station. Did a lot of window shopping on the way home.
I remember living in Cowbit and went to see jailhouse rock in the Odeon cinema. Never saw the end of the film because the last bus went to early! I was in the Gleede boys school in 1960-1961 I then moved to Long sutton and the Peele school.
I lived at No 3 Llanfaes Estate from being 6 weeks of age. Our home was one of thirty prefabs built after WW2 for workers at the Saunders Roe factory that was built during the war to service and modify flying boats. As a child I remember the later torpedo boats and mine sweepers and their launchings onto the Menai Straits. I loved the countryside there and still believe it is scenically the finest part of Anglesey. ...see more