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.
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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:
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Displaying Memories 32801 - 32880 of 36893 in total
I had a couple of holidays at Broadstairs, staying at the Convent at Port Regis. I attended St Philomena's in Carshalton Surrey and I think they owned the Convent at Port Regis. I can remember Broadstairs and going to Margate. I now live in Sydney, Australia but will be in England in September and I hope to get down to Kent (amid a very busy itinerary) and relive those memories. Bette Schoots (nee Miller).
I lived in Surrey but used to travel to Doune to visit Margaret & George Paterson who owned Watston Farm in Doune. Living in a city I loved going up to the farm for holidays and had my last visit to them in 1973 when I came over from Australia with my husband, son and daughter (where I moved to in 1963). I am visiting Scotland again in September 08 and look forward to revisiting Doune, Kippen and Stirling where I have happy memories of great holidays. Bette Schoots (nee Miller).
My Grandfather Blaskett ( my mother Sylvia was the second daughter of his second wife) owned property in Reading and was a spec builder and for a while our family lived at 24 Bath Road. He had a property I think before the War called Rotherham Grange but I don't know where in Reading it was. I will be over in England in September (I live in Sydney, Australia) and hope to find Rotherham Grange. If anyone can help me ...see more
I lived on Auchmead Rd from 1957-79 and now I live in the States. Life has not been bad, but there's never a day goes by, that I do not think of home. When we were weans, we used to have concerts in the backyard, singing, dancing anything to feel like a star. It's a shame children nowadays don't have that attitude. Summer nights we got to stay out till midnight, boy we thought we were something. We would walk to ...see more
The shop on the right was run by my great-uncle Charles Johns, and the sweetshop next door by the Steps brothers, with Triggs shop on the left.
I lived in Rawmish, and as a special treat my dad's mate Tony Williams got his mate the caretaker to let me have my own personal look roun't castle. My dad used to work at the pit offices in Denaby. When I used to go and see my dad in't olidays I'd go train spotting to the station and then ride home making sure I went via the castle.
We spent three years in perfect holidaying mood in Mrs Greig's caravan, the first time ever having a jelly mould, 1955!!!. Caravan site run by the Philps, had Yates round salted butter every day on our rolls, had fruit in our caravan and loved going to the post office for toys. Went on the boat out to sea, mum wasn't happy as they stopped to pick up balloons and bottles in the bay. We had visitors every day ...see more
To start with, I do not know Harworth, but my grandparents lived there for a while around 1924. I am told they taught at the sunday school, but I think it might have been at a chapel, not the church. Does anyone have an idea if there was a Methodist chapel in the village at that time, and if there would be any records from that period in existance? They were called Knight and lived with relatives called Williams.
We lived in Upleatham, my gran, grandad and my mum and dad. I was really young and my grandparents had lived there for a long time. We lived in a row of houses as the centre of the village and my grandad worked in the local saw mill and had other jobs. We had no electricity and no running hot or cold water. We had an outhouse at the back of the house up a hill. It was really cold going up there in winter! No bathroom ...see more
This picture is of the shops in Leeming Road and not the main shopping centre in Borehamwood, fondly known as the village. Leeming Road shops are in fact about a mile away from the main town. I would love to see any photos of the "village" if anyone has any.
I was born in Medomsley in 1957 in the big house top of Fines Rd, Fines House. I lived in Medomsley till 1973. I've got some great memories of the village when it was a small village, Mrs Finlay's shop, the old school, St Mary Magdeline, the snow when the buses couldn't get down Fines Rd because the road was blocked from the Hat & Feather.
I used to live in Churchfield, my old house is the only one left standing amongst a maze of flats. It was a council house in those days and we shared it with another family, the Caines. I went to Churchfields Primary and Junior Schools, as did my two sisters. I have wonderful memories of my time at Churchfields and me and two friends went back there recently to have a look and to our amazement there ...see more
I think it was about 1959 when a new Vicar arrived in the village of Yapton he was the Rev. Nelson. I was 12 at the time, His wife who we only knew as Mrs Nelson decided to start a church choir. So with a few of my cousins and girls I went to school with off we went to see what it was all about. Mrs Nelson had at least two daughters that I remember and we were all welcomed into the Vicarage for choir practice which ...see more
I remember this school so well, my first born went to this school in 1983 and so did my daughter, it's a shame they pulled part of it down. I remember walking the children over to what is now the infant school to use their swimming pool, later when they pulled some of the old school down the children were moved to the infant school in South Wigston, on the Countesthorpe Road, where all three of my ...see more
I moved to South Wigston in 1978 as a newly wed, I lived on Marstown Avenue which then was a two way road, and very busy, and I remember using these shops all the time. I used to do my shopping in what is now called Jacksons and is a Sainsburys shop. I notice looking at the picture of the 1960s that not a lot has changed but the end shop on the left of the picture is now a fish and chip ...see more
I lived at Lowfield Park Lodge on the Charlwood Road (from the long-disappeared Lowfield Heath) from about 1950 to 1962, and I believe the house was demolished around 1965(???) to make way for the expansion of Gatwick airport. My dad and I used to fish for carp in what we called the Brickyard Pond about a 5 minute drive from (I think) the pub that Dudley Wickens' dad used to be landlord of ... or have I ...see more
My memory - in 1964 I left Henry Harbin Secondary School, aged fifteen, the world was my oyster, well that was the theory. I spent two weeks laying on the sand at Sandbanks, until my father took me to Bluebird Caravans and I ended up in the cabinet shop. After a week my dad's words came flooding back - 'Your best days are at school'. I hate to admit it, he was right. Well I met some really nice guys, they became good ...see more
Hello I don't have a memory as such. I am one of the current owners of the Saffron Hotel and am looking into its history and would love to hear from anyone of their memories and also any insight they can provide on its history. I have a certain amount of information obtained from census information but any other information would be greatly appreciated. We are asked so many times for the history ...see more
What a dump Iwerne Minster was to a school boy of the 60's sent from London to that boarding school in the middle of nowhere. The locals spoke in a strange unintelligible dialect, the air was sometime thick with the stink of manure, and you had to be 14 to buy beer from the off-licence at Tarrant Hinton! Now, 50+ years on, it doesn't seem such a bad place at all. In fact, its quite nice down there. The beer is not so bad after all.
I was born and lived all my life till 24 in Oulton. It was then a small village and everywhere I went someone knew me or a family member. Back then we could play in the street and roam all over the village. One supermarket Grandways which closed many years ago now. My mum still lives in Oulton and three uncles live in Woodlesford. I however moved to Castleford and have been there for 20 years. I go back all the time ...see more
My great grandfather lived at 49 Chapel Hill, Highweek, Newton Abbot. He was 39 then and he had a wife called Susan and 6 children. He was a policeman in Highweek and I am trying to find out more about him and his mother and father, his children were Mary Ann, Susan Ann, William, Samuel, Elizabeth M and John Henry who was my grandfather, he I know joined the 1st Life Guards in Windsor but I am ...see more
I was born in Epsom in 1936. Apparently, when still in my push-chair, I trundled down the bank shown in the picture and ended up in the water!! Later when 10 or 12 we used to sail our model yachts on the pond and in our teens spent a lot of evenings in the park chatting up the girls! Happy, happy days. I must admit there was a tear or two in my eyes when I saw all those lovely trees felled by the great storm.
I was born in Llawog LLandyrnog in 1946 and attended the local school. A small school the headmaster being J H Archibald Jones and teachers Miss C P Lloyd, Misses Crabtree and Rowlands, they were happy times and the sun always shone - it always did then didn't it ? Like everywhere else the village has changed over the years - the shop having been re-sited, lots of new houses built - with people my age having ...see more
I was so pleased to see this photo, as the caravan by the brick building was my grandparents'. We had another one right opposite this one. I had many a happy time on the site. I was born in 1949 & used to be down there every summer until it closed in 1972. My grandparents had them well before I was born. I can remember all the men getting the chairs all in a line, this was the people with tents who didn't ...see more
Meads 1894
I used to live in Sundown Ave, just around the corner from these shops. My friend Michelle lived to the right of the bus. My Mum used to work in the sweet shop at the end of the parade to the right. There was a supermarket on the far left with a chemist next door. I remember buying my Mum some rather stinky Yardley perfume there for her birthday one year for about 1/6d I went to school at Downside ...see more
My best friends father used to be Vicar here back in 1960's (Rev J Gaunt). Sabrina and I would hang around Hatch End at various places getting up to all sorts of mischief. I had my confirmation at this Church under the guidance of Rev Gaunt but carried out by the Bishop of Singapore who was visiting at the time. When Rev Gaunt moved on the fabulous Rev CLive Pearce took up residence. Clive carried out my ...see more
Another view of The Fox, one of 5 local 'hostelries' which was frequented by the Debden Royal Airforce crowd, including, most likely, my dear mother, Elma Rivis,a WAAF.
More than likely The Fox was a popular watering hole for the pilots, mechanics and WAAFs at Debden Aerodrome during the war.
The Saffron Hotel, quite possibly where my life began in the wartime summer of 1942.
I have no doubt that my lovely young, 23 year old mother, Elma , a WAAF stationed at Debden fighter aerodrome, during WW2, cycled this lovely lane at some point. It was around here, in the summer of 1942, that my life began when my mother and still unknown father 'sparked' me into life. He apparently named John, according to one source, guarded a radio transmitter from a small hut out in the Essex countryside, ...see more
While studying at Westminster Technical College, Hotel School just off Victoria Street in London I became good friends with Andy Gardiner whose parents ran a small hotel, probably one of these pictured here, in the North Parade of the front at Skegness. Andy invited me up at some point to meet his parents and sister, he being accompanied by his then lovely French girlfriend of whom I was ...see more
Savernake Forest is significant to me because this was the chosen halfway point on our family's mid+ 1950's long road journey from Hereford to Portsmouth for our annual summer holidays. Here, my stepfather, Lt.Colonel H.R.W*****, MA,RAEC, future OBE and general SOB, would pull the old Hillman off the road among the massive roots of this ancient, historic forest's huge oaks and my ...see more
London's main railway stations truly are wonderful and Charing Cross was the one that I frequented the most as I travelled every weekday from Woolwich Arsenal in SE London to Green Park Underground, near the great Victoria Station. The sounds of the whistles, doors slamming, the hum of the electric trains...the overhead announcements reverberating in the cavernous domed roof... "last call for Waterloo, ...see more
The shop on left hand side is White Fuller (Kent) Ltd, 68 High Street, Deal. My father, Cecil Prime, was the owner. Our mother, Phyllis, my brother John Prime and myself lived there. John and I were both born there he in 1948 and myself in 1947. We spent all our formative years here. I have been looking for photos of this building to include in a memory book for my brother's ...see more
My parents were married in St Nicholas Church in 1960 - Valmai Daily (my mother) grew up at 234 Lower Road with her brother, Adrian and parents Dot and Drew. My Grandfather was a local electrician who spent all his free time at Effingham Golf Club and my grandmother (having retired from midwifery) was for many years the nurse at The School of Stitchery. I spent many of my early years in Great Bookham and then ...see more
I think it ought to be mandatory, for every person of English heritage, to pass through Westminster Abbey at least once! Returning from Canada and, later, the USA , for only the second time in 35 years I took my teenage son and daughter to tour Westminster Abbey. There we joined the throng as it somehow wound its way through the crowded abbey. As much as I have become a North American, it surprised me that ...see more
As a frightened 7 year old, in 1950, I was plunged into an unfamiliar London life when my meddling and self righteous aunt unfortunately reminded my stepfather of fulfill his promise to my dying mother to 'take care of Jimmy'. He had since remarried and brought my sister and I together again after we had spent three years apart,my sister with his parents in Chester and I, happily in ...see more
Before my time, of course, but this is still a very familiar view to me . Not only did I intern (from Westminster Technical College Hotel School) at the Charing Cross Hotel on the right but also passed through the station 5 days a week for two years. On occasion I'd stay too late at a party on a Friday night and have to get the 'milk train' in the dawn hours. I loved walking the streets of ...see more
The first time we visited Aberaeron, apart from the road bridge, one way of getting across the river was by the Aeron Express. Propelled by some sort of pulley arrangement, it looked like it could seat about 6 to 8 people. It wasn't actually working when we there; we've since been back quite a few times & it seems to have been taken away altogether. Can anyone throw any light on this, please? Thank you. Trevor.
Hello I'm hoping someone may be able to help me. I'm trying to find anything to do with my grandparents /fathers life, especially old photos of the area they lived and worked. My grand father was called Joseph Millington and he had a place of work/ factory in Hawarden. All I know was that it went under the name of Ellis & Millington. He was married to Annie whos parents had a farm at Llong. They had ...see more
Hello I attended Brown Rigg from 1960-1965. My best memories are the horses and the Sunday afternoon rides around the countryside, do you remember Bent Toe? The hours trying to learn side saddle. The hikes to Grassy Bridge? I have lived in Canada now for 34 years and have returned to Bellingham to visit and remember the memories of this place where I spent so many years.
Hello me again. As I have so many lovely memories of Manningham, which I could reminisce about all day, I've decided to start by concentrating on what I think were local land marks. The Saddle Bar stands out vividly in my mind. Situated on Carlisle Road opposite the Malborough Picture house, the shop incorporated a wagon into its counter complete with wheel and all the associated horse tack etc. The smells were ...see more
This the South Est Corner of the junction on the A4 known as Everret's Corner. Just around to the right from this position are some lock-up shops that I remember from the early 1950s which included a Gents Barbers. Further along still was the Essoldo Cinema and Ballroom (known locally as Dollies). Opposite this corner was a row of brick built shops which included a Post Office. The road running North from ...see more
This is Everret's Corner approached from the West. The road is the A4 and it is a good distance North of the real Cippenham Village. The main bus-stop for buses coming from Slough was right diagonally opposite the photographer's position. To his left would have been the Bishop Centre (seed merchant and landscaper gardening - Bishop's would later take over the "William Woods" garden centre).
I used to live in Sir John Moore Avenue, Hythe. This small estate was built on the site of the School of Musketry. We went to Nova Scotia, Canada, to see my wife's family. While there, we visited a tourist attraction. I found myself at a bookstall, picked up a book that I liked the look of, turned it over to see what it said about the book etc. The book was written by Thomas Head Raddall, born 1908, in ...see more
This is the church where my 17 year old son was christened. This is also the church where I spent most of my childhood. From about the age of 10, my friends and I would go grave rubbing. We actually spent more time cleaning the old graves with an old twig and reading about who was in there. As we got older, about 13-ish, we would go into the graveyard for a sneaky puff of our cigarettes, and hide any spare ...see more
The Dee View Hotel was one of our haunting grouds in our courting days
During my last two years at school money was raised at Christmas time and Christmas presents were bought for the children who had to stay in hospital over the Christmas period. One little chap I remember was Tony. He was in hopital for a few years and he would now be about 32 years old.
The Anchor Inn was one of my Mum and Dad's favourite haunt. When my husband and I were courting in 1984 we went in one evening and there was a gentleman (quite inebriated) perched on a stool, cigarette in one hand and a whisky in the other. He fell backwards, stool and all, and landed with cigarette and glass of whisky still intact clutched in his hands.
I attended here circa 1969/70 for one year. I hated every minute. I lived about 3 miles away and we had to get a bus there every morning.
May 2008, and the city of Winchester hosted a festival of music and dance, with the streets closed to traffic and thronged with entertainers, market stalls and happy crowds. I was part of the band playing for Whitethorn Morris at this event and enjoyed my visit to Winchester. As I walked from the station I passed by the clock in the High Street shown in this Francis Frith view of ...see more
My mother's name was Gladys Letton, she lived in Eden Grove, Horfield, she was in the WLA. Is there anyone out there that would remember her?? A great web site, thanks for any help. Carol.
My great-grandparents lived in a place called Western Square, Clifton. Anyone have any memories of this place?? Their name was Simms. I was told that there was a pub and a sweet shop there and maybe only 6 large houses, any help please. Thankyou, Carol.
My parents lived in Tandridge Gardens, Sanderstead in the late 1930's and up to the mid 1940's. I was born in Purley Cottage Hospital. Have lived in Australia since 1963 but am visiting England in September 2008.
I attended St Philomena's School from 1951 - 1960. I have been living in Australia since 1963 and am visiting England in September 2008 when I will be attending the OGA Reunion at St Philomena's on 13th September.
I lived in Redford Avenue, Wallington when the road was a dead end with the old Croydon aerodrome at the end. I attended St Philomena's School in Carshalton. I came out to Australia in 1963 and have a son and a daughter and two grandsons. I am visiting England in September 2008 and will certainly walk up Redford Avenue with memories.
My parents and I used to stay in a bungalow owed by a Mr & Mrs Tidy and I was made to keep it tidy! I loved the sandy beach and remember playing deck tennis on the sand. Next door was a family with three girls, their father was the local postman. I will be back in England in September 2008 (I have lived in Australia since 1963) and hope to revisit St Mary's Bay and ride on the railway.
I remember 'guddling' for trout in the Teal Burn in Auchtertool. Most of the lads in the village tried it at one time or another. When we caught one we would measure it by placing the nose of the trout on our finger tips and the tail along our arm towards the elbow. The aim was to catch one that reached all the way up to the elbow but of course we never did. After all we were growing lads and each year ...see more
How many people remember the picture shows which were held in a hut at the top of the hill. I was one of the London evacuees billeted at Minions, and some of us would walk to the pictures and back again - how far was that! We were at Upton Cross school and I can recall the class being told to bring a lunch to school one day as Mr Bartholomew, our teacher, was to take us up on the moors, I think towards Sharp ...see more
Pitsea will always bring back happy memories for me. I was born in my gran's bungalow during WW2 & remained there till I was 3, when my mum took me & my brother back to London, where she had been bombed out. But I always went back to Pitsea, throughout my childhood, to stay with my grandparents. The freedom I felt there was wonderful (unlike London). I spent my days walking through fields, going to the ...see more
My great-grandparents lived at Hangmans Cottage sometime during the late 1800s or early 1900s. My dad Robert Mitchell was born at Friary Cottage in 1904 which is a short walk from Hangmans Cottage. He used to tell me about his time spent with his grandparents at Hangmans Cottage when he was a boy. Sadly I am not sure as to whether it was his paternal grandparents which would have ...see more
My paternal grandmother lived at No.3 and my maternal grandparents at No. 38. I now live in Sydney, Australia , I will be in England in September 08.
My father, Reginald Miller, took me to Minster where my grandfather and great grandfather came from. I now live in Sydney, Australia but am coming over to England in September 08. Can anyone tell me about the Miller family in Minster? (I believe my father and his brother Bernard were billetted with their grandparents in the First World War). Please reply to bette02002@yahoo.com.au.
Hello everyone. I have fond memories of visiting Allens in White Abbey Road, Manningham, Bradford. It would be usually while walking home from school, St Patricks on Rebecca St, or after mass at St Patrick's Church on Sedgefield Terrace. I distinctly remember it was unlike any other place I had ever been in. The large shop window would be glowing in the dark drawing you in where it was warm & quiet. It ...see more
My wife and I moved to Powick in the 1980s. Dating back to the late 1500s the whole row of (now four) houses were used by Cromwell as a hospital during the Civil war. It had no central heating and during our stay there we added that, changed the old drafty windows, put in a damp course including new flooring in the kitchen and lounge, had the roof re-tiled replaced some of the rotten roof beams and timbers and the ...see more
The Priory was my playground from 1936 untill I started work in 1948. My father was Nip Turner, and he worked for Sir Edward Bligh as his chauffeur/gardener from 1920s untill 1972. I was born in 1933 at Lower Daltons. My parents moved to Swanley in1936, and from then on my father cycled to the Priory twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the afternoon. I spent all my holidays at The Priory, ...see more
I feel I could write a book as the memories were brilliant! We used to spend the whole summer there and I cried when I had to leave. I remember the boatyard which was run by Mr May, his son was called Billy and he was my brother's best friend. My mom used to give me 6d to go into Lathams and buy maggots to go fishing, and I would sit all day by Mr May's shop and watch the boats struggling to go under the ...see more
Wonderful memories of a very happy childhood. I am St. Dennis born and bred, and for me there's no place like it. My father Stanley Grigg and his partner had a cycle shop and repair business and I remember well the American G.I's bringing my mother tins of fruit and meat during wartime. I would get the odd packet of chewing gum too. The summers seemed much longer then and I can remember how I would wait for my father ...see more
My name is Sandra Faure nee Cartlidge. I have wonderful memories of my childhood in Long Whatton, especially those when I was at the Primary School. Anyone remember Mrs Sharpe and Mrs Varnam? Mrs Sharpe was a lovely person and I feel that we all got a good start in life having her as our teacher. She taught us so many things apart from the normal lessons. I remember how happy she was when I became ...see more
I live in this house now, have restored it to original and I love the place. How unbelievable to find 2 pictures on this site. Sam
Memories of my husband and I as managers of The Dragon in the early70s, our staff were Mary Lambert, Val Lovely (I think she has changed her name)and Pam Verges, and the lovely football players from Lincoln City, especially the Percy Freeman one, if you're all still out there I would love to hear from any old customers and friends. Ann Browning
Burtons the Tailors. I remember going there to buy a suit but found nothing I liked. I then went to a tailors nearby and had my first made-to-measure suit made, barrelbacked and knuckle length in a sober grey Glen Check with a red line in it. Besides Burtons is the Rialto which was one of the many cinemas I went to at this time and later in both in Enfield and Waltham Cross. The Savoy for choice, the Rialto if I'd ...see more
This photo brought back memories of 'swimming' of which mostly was done under water. I had a bit of trouble co-ordinating arms and legs. The height of adventure was to use the slide (shown in the photo). Splash into the water and then a desperate sideways crawl back to the side of the pool. Blue lips and a shivering body was revived by a cup of Oxo and a slice of bread in the cafeteria.
My memory of the donkey path on the promenade. I used to walk from Old Colwyn to Rhos on Sea nearly every sunny day during the summer school holidays. They were the best Swimming Baths I have ever swum in, at Rhos. The donkey path ran alongside the prom, below the railway embankment. Primroses blessed the grassy banks in the spring. The path meandered through trees , it was wonderful. Fond memories of my wonderful childhood.
Denbury May Fayre started with a procession in fancy dress from the local school children led by the May Queen and May King. All the entertainments took place on the village green and in front of the Union Inn. There were plant stalls, traditional village games, a Romany caravan, teas and a display of clog morris dancing by the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers from Combeinteignhead. ...see more
I attended this school from 1954/55 - 1960. This view is taken looking towards the Infants playground and entrance to their classrooms, with the main dining hall in the background.
I lived next door to the police station which is just to the left of this photo from 1952 until 1959 when my father (the local police station sergeant) retired. This photo is very evocative of memories I had as a young child living in the town centre. I well remember the buildings opposite my home including Munts cycle shop (they sold good fireworks!), Broadwater Press (kept my mother awake at night when ...see more
My mother originated from Nelson Village and took us for our first visit when I was twelve years old. Her father (Joseph Heslop) worked down the pits, sadly he passed away before I was born. We met another couple, Mr and Mrs Kenny, who were very fond of my mother as a child. They were so pleased to see her and made us all so welcome. No one comes close to the friendliness and generosity ...see more
I grew up just off Regent Road and Oldfield Road in the Langdale House flats. We lived in D17 and had many memorable neighbours who we shared many happy times with. I remember the Bergens ice cream cart that was pulled by a white horse, the trains shunting in the coal yard and going shopping on Regent Road with my mum. If I was good we would visit little Smith's toy shop and my mum would buy me plastic cowboys and ...see more