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.
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Displaying Memories 36081 - 36160 of 36887 in total
This is the park where Sam and I had our first kiss! xx
I have a picture of a double fronted butchers shop in the corn market. Over the door it says L.Pugh, outside is the butcher and his wife and probably their daughter Marie. A family story was that a lad from the family when asked who he was replied "Jack Pugh, Leominster, kill sheep" I assume there was an abbatoir behind the shop.
The picture is in an album of my parents around the 1920's. Any information please email me at bpmann@ntlworld.com Thank you.
As a trainee aircrew member of the RAF I was posted to Bridgnorth in 1943. I don't recall the exact location of the ITW (Initial training wing), but there we learned radio and morse code procedures, aircraft recognition and gunnery during an eight week course before going on to active training. My most vivid memories are of the huge number of pubs, both in low town and high town - in those days filled with service man and women from all branches of the services.
Nev Robinson
I was evacuated to Balcombe in 1940 along with the Stanley Technical College pupils from south London. At first, 3 of us were billited at Monks, a large and beautiful home some 3 km out of the village. At that time the Johnston family owned the house. This was a fantastic experience. We were taught at the village school and the log-cabin scout hut was adapted for our engineering workshop practice.
Later, I was billeted at a ...see more
My Grandparents lived in Oakbank Road, My Aunt lived in Laurel Road. I can remember going to work with my Nan in the evenings. She used to be a cleaner for Knaptons Bookies and Malizias Bookies (Bridge Road).
My Aunt worked at the Home & Colonial along Victoria Road, my Grandfather, Uncle & Brother worked in Thornies, and another Uncle worked in the Fruit & Veg shop two doors away from Claspers toy ...see more
My earliest memories of Broadstone stem from about 1937 when I was five years old. We lived in Southbourne at the time and frequently went to Broadstone at weekends to visit my "aunt Flo" and her family who lived at Lower Blandford Road. She was my mother's sister and their children Roy and Rex Cannings were about my age (Roy and I were born six days apart and Rex was a bit younger), also my Dad's brother ...see more
Researching my family history I have found the sale papers for the Bricklayers Arms. It was sold by my Great Grandmother, her husband was Frederick Easom Robinson. It was sold on Friday 8th august 1890. The sale was for Brewhouse Blacksmiths & Wheelwright shops, two Brick Built & Slated Tenements, an orchard, and 4 acres of land intersected by the railway, formerly the Brick Yard.
The building behind the church is where I went to school from 1955 1961. It was called Central Preparatory School and the headmistress was Miss Caulfield.
All I remember when I was a child was going for Saturday ice cream at Mr Spinelli's shop. Oooh those were the days!
I was born in 1928 at Woodhill, Gressenhall and moved to Dereham at the age of 6yrs and left when I married some 20 years later.
It was a happy childhood in spite of the war years, in fact it added to the excitement of those years, dashing out to crashed planes, collecting shrapnel, army badges etc and of course the generous handouts from the American troops of chocolate, gum, cigs plus the grub when we went on to the ...see more
This photograph was obviously taken when the road bridge was nearing completion in 1961. My husband grew up nearby, and tells some gruesome stories about the plague of rats they experienced when the undergrowth was being cleared in the early days of construction. The family cat would bring home several rats each day, and local gardens were over-run with them. Worse still, they got into outhouses and sheds, under floorboards and even into houses.
The white building on the far right of the photo is the Royal Albert Bridge Inn, at Saltash Passage on the Devon side on the river. A relative was born there in 1920 when his father John Augustin R. Stoneman was the landlord. Prior to that the landlord was John Watts Stoneman, father of JARS. His other grandfather was William John Bronte, who told his grandson that he had been told by his mother that she held him in her arms as a baby, standing on the bridge at the official opening in 1859.
This photo is actually taken from the Devon side of the River Tamar, in St Budeaux, looking towards Saltash on the Cornwall side. In photos taken after the road bridge opened in 1961, you can tell which side is which, as from the Devon side the rail bridge is on the left. Before then, it depends on the angle of the photo i.e. if the railway line comes into view from your left and curves to the left in the ...see more
Hi there,
I was married in The Church of The Holy Cross on November 1st 1958. It was a very cold day as you would imagine, being Winter time, but it was a lovely sunny day. I remember walking up to the big doors on my father's arm and feeling so happy. There were loads of friends and other people on each side. My father owned The "Danetre Fancy Bakery". He was "Simply the Best". He made and iced my beautiful wedding ...see more
I am not entirely sure of the year, but I am told that one of my great grandfather's brothers owned this Inn at one time. I would love to hear from anyone that can shed more light on this.
I have drunk at The Bell in Woodham Walter all my life, nearly 70 years. I have seen many things from the ghost sitting in the corner by the side of the fire to the changes of managment running it, and it unfortunately being sold to the wrong person, who has no interest in the place whatsoever. My friends and I used to meet there every night, we used to have a really good laugh either sitting inside by ...see more
I was born in Lumley, so was my mum, so I was very happy growing up there. My grandad worked at the pit, his name was Thomas Moore and he lived at 26 Lumbley Terrace, my grandmother was Bettrix Basey [Moore] and my mum Marjorie Vera Ward. If anyone in the village knew them, it would be lovely to hear from you.
I attended Storrington Primary School in Spierbridge Road, and we all looked forward to our last year at the school, because during the summer seniors were taken to Church Street as part of a local history lesson. Of course, we all thought it would be a great excuse to lark about and pop into the sweet shop which used to be on the corner of Church Street going into the High Street. How disappointed we were when we ...see more
THis was the village newsagent. We lived to the right as you look at the photo, and traded as Premier Garage.
Well actually it is any dates up to & beyond 1960. Born in 1951, I recognise the view of how the avenue looked before all the bungalows were built on the west side. We used to walk to Cleveleys through the 'paddy fields', full of buttercups & mayflowers. When we reached Rowlands Farm (Rowlands Lane now) we'd risk our lives cimbing in the tumbledown farmhouse & make dens. Great days.
I used to spend happy holidays with my aunt and uncle and cousin Barry who have all now sadly died. They used to own the bakers shop, and I can remember the delicious smell of baked bread and being able to have sweets and pop while watching the TV at night.
I was 14 years old when I spent holidays with my cousins Tony and Ivy Webster, they have now both died and I remember them with much love.
I have fond memories of my granny who is buried in the churchyard.
I have fond memories of Dunstable from when I was 9 years old, going to the market on a Friday with my mum and Aunt Nellie. The market was held to the right of the picture.
The lady in the picture is probably Dorothy Emery. She lived on Devonshire Drive with her parents, Reginald and Edith Florence (nee Bishop) Emery, and her older sister Elsie.
First saw this house and street when I was a baby. Noads House was Mr and Mrs Browns house. It is still there in 2006 looking just the same!
My father came to Townsend Farm as the tenant in Sept 1940. The farmhouse is shown on the left in the picture titled Townsend. At that time I was only 15 months. My earliest memories are of the later war years. We had evacuees from Bristol living in part of the house. I also remember sitting on the garden wall which was alongside the main road and being thrown chewing gum by the American soldiers billeted at the ...see more
I remember going to School in the village when I was 7 - not much has changed here since then - amazing - except that the tardis on the right hand side is no longer there! The School is still in existence and I have many fond memories of those days, and with days from my twenties when I frequented "The Dog" as we called the greyhound pub. Rumour had it that George Harrison had a house there, as did Ronnie Corbett I believe.
My grandparents live just off shot, and have lived there for as long as I can remember!
My grandad has sadly passed away but is still nearby, he is buried in the church yard! I remember when I first met my husband, and we went to the "fenick" for a drink while my grannie got dinner ready - my grandad was a real character! I used to go mushroom picking in the fields, and walking across the fields to the river, I don't ...see more
This was taken the year my son Kevin was born. His brother Stephen was 2yrs old and we spent many happy days walking to the sweet and paper shop with my mum and dad, Bill and Joan Harris and also my brother Paul.
I lived in this house until I was 21. My father had already bought the property when this photo was taken and I was also born in 1955. My parents had no hot water, low ceilings, no bathroom or electricity when they moved in. He did all the renovating himself...yet we had a wonderful, rich childhood. There used to be a picnic area across the road by the river...now there is a noisy dual carriageway there. When ...see more
I was 9 years old when this was taken and I was friends with Susan Day who lived in the white house on the right known as Days Motors.
We left England that year for Australia. It was April, I was 12. All my friends left behind, playing in the park near the River Crouch. I don't remember names, it was long ago. I can see myself walking to different places, I wish I had more memories.
I have lived in the pretty village of Cartmel all my life and I love the quiet, calming atmosphere we have here. Once a friend and myself used to walk through the village with a nanny goat called Nancy and her 2 kids, we'd arrive in the square and rest at the market cross with the goats playing on the "fish slabs" which caused a lot of amusement to the visitors, who in turn must have thought we were slightly mad!
Near by is ...see more
The building to the right hand side has gone but the long wall remains. The church spire in the distance is all that remains of St Marks Church near to the Carfax. The rest of the church was demolished to make way for the new Royal & Sun Alliance offices that form a bridge over the inner ring road. This development took place between 1975 and 1991.
Some 99 years later and little has changed. The lodge house which is behind the photographer to the right is currently up for sale (Oct 2006). The property at the end of the drive, Denne House, has been divided into apartments which fetch in excess of £300,000 when they come onto the market. Catherine Howard stayed at Denne House in her late teens in 1536.
This scene has changed little in the intervening years - apart from the double yellow lines on the road. I think the man has gone too! You can compare this with today's view at http://www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/hh/frith3.htm some 99 years later.
Leonard John Yeoman (my grandfather) always claimed that he was the young chap carrying the buckets in this photograph. He spent his whole life living around the Malborough/ Hope Cove area. Therefore, it's quite plausible that it is indeed him in this photograph. He went on to serve in the RAF in Malta, Egypt and Palestine during World War II. From his childhood up until his last few years he was a central member of the local church choir. A real character.
My 2nd G/Grandfather, Robert Milner (1794-1870), married Mary Ann Norton on 25th April 1821 in St. Peters Church, Middle Rasen, winessed by Thomas Miller, Nicholas Danby and Frances Popple. They had ten children, all born in Middle Rasen, and the family remained there until my grandfather Christopher Miller (1865-1937), grandson of Robert Milner, moved to Grimsby and later became ...see more
In 1942 I was 9 years old and lived in Long Eaton during the war having previously lived in the West Riding. We had no radio and in those days no television and I was either at the outdoor swimming pool or in the library with my nose in a book. When I visited the library I took out the maximum number allowed until I had read the entire childrens' section. At this point the librairian said I could choose from the adult ...see more
I lived in Morden somewhere around 1952, but don't remember much about it. I went to a school called The Willows. My only memory is walking down London Road, (?) crossing a footbridge and getting to the area of the school, full of beautiful Willow Trees. Jean Philip (Kushner)
I was born in 1945 in High Wycombe (which I don't remember!) in a nursing home called The Shrubbery... Has anyone heard of the place, know where it was, have any pics?
My father, Joseph Martin and Ruth, my mother, are buried at Ludgvan, together with his parents (Joseph and Sarah). The latter died in 1949/1950 and had lived at Castle Gate (Badgers Cross). My father attended school in Ludgvan and worked as a journalist pre-War and until 1952 on many local papers including The Cornishman, in Penzance, sometimes writing under the pen-name of John Penwith (Leaves from a Cornish ...see more
Just a quick message to say that the cottage on the left that comes down to the road in the photo is ours. It is now called the Quillett, we have restored it back to its former glory, and makes a wonderful home. Thank you for the wonderful photo from your collection. Regards, Graham Jinks.
Suzanne and I used to play truant from Sunday School... This is the exact spot where we got caught by my mother (What are YOU doing here??!)...There was Goldstein's deli, where we used to buy the most delcious sweet & sour cucumber straight from the barrel, wrap it in paper and eat it in the street. On Sunday's my dad used to get smoked salmon; went up the street a bit to buy fresh bagels at Ben Jacob's.... mmmmmmm (nee Kushner)
Saturday morning pics - mostly with Suzanne! Used to walk up and down Watford Way with Helene, our hair in bunches, bright pink lipstick, carrying paraffin cans (have no idea why!!). Jean Philip (Kushner)
That's where we lived - above the shops in Queens Mansions! I am sitting here bawling my eyes out from nostalgia!! Downstairs there was an optician and just a bit down the hill there was a hairdresser's shop where gorgeous David worked....On the left side, there was Woolworths and later on one of the first Wimpy Bars...Jean Philip (Kushner)
This School was in Love Lane but has now been pulled down and houses have been built on the site, this has only been done in the last 4 years or so. My brother Andy Brown went to this school before going up to the bigger one, the school then became part of the Thurrock Tec in the 1980's.
My mother and father worked for Mr Read between 1966 and 1987, most of the time around the Hall Road shop but later in the mid to late 1980's also up in the High Street shop, which has been pulled down and a new shop built. Mr Read died in the late 1990's and since then the shops have been sold - the High Street is not the same now.
This is the occupational therapy workshop of the Rehabilitation Centre in Farnham Park. It was operated by the Slough Estates Medical facility.
This is the Barleycorn on the green. This was a turnaround point for the 62 Thames Valley bus to Chalvey and Slough.
This pub was called The Swan, on the village green.
This post office was called Muttons. It was run by Dorothy Mutton. I used the store to buy crisps and sweets on my way to Westgate school.
While we were living in Colchester between 1955 and 1958, I was confirmed at this church at Lexden, Colchester. I had little memory of the church, but then while looking through the photos for Colchester I came across this photo much to my delight as this was where I was confirmed. Colchester Castle grounds was a beautiful place to walk through. Every year the Army Tattoo was displayed in the grounds too.
Paddock Wood, in particular Beltring, the home of the famous Whitebread Oasts, was the centre of the Hop Gardens of Kent.
The Gardens were set out with rows of elevated wire tressles which were supported at intervals by poles. In the spring, from each hop plant, which was cut back to ground level every year, the shoots were trained up, known as "twiddling". A new hop twine which was tied to a metal hook in the ground ...see more
You can compare this image to an up to date photo at http://www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/hh/frith3.htm
The second building on the left is now the home of Horsham Museum. The bay window has been removed from the nearest building. The view is from the top of the Causeway looking towards St Mary's Church.
The drinking fountain to the right-hand side was erected in 1898 to mark the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Victoria. It became a traffic hazard and was placed into storage for many years before being re-erected then moved again. See the full story and a 2006 photograph of the fountain at http://www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/36/36.htm
It was built in 1897 and was designed in the Queen Anne style by the architect Frederick Wheeler FRIBA who had offices in Horsham. It is now the home of the NatWest bank. The bandstand has been moved slightly to the right. An engraving above the main door, now a cashpoint area, reads: Erected 1897 the 60th year of the reign of Queen Victoria. You can see an up to date version of this photo together with more history at http://www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/7/7.htm
The second shop on the left was Jury Cramp's jewellers, now occupied by H Samuel. Mr Cramp was a well-known figure around Horsham and operated an alcohol-free hotel in Market Square. The giant spectacles just visible in the photo now reside in the nearby Horsham Museum. See current photos of the shop front on http://www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/34/34.htm
The Parade, Southborogh, was where my mother, Ivy, did most of her shopping. At that time you could buy pretty well everything you would need in the Parade. Trips into Tunbridge Wells were only taken if there was a need for something very special or the "sales" were on!!
Just round the corner in Pennington Road was an Off Licence called "Fisters" which is where we bought our rationed sweets - usually ...see more
This is before the road was made up. The main property to the right was three dwellings and is now one, known as Minstrells. A lamp post remains in the same position but the property is now tile hung.
It does not look like the Causeway to me. At the time of the photos, 1898, this road was fully populated with the exception of the Vicarage Garden. The photo shows open field so is perhaps one of the lanes leading up to Denne Park, beyond the Causeway or Denne Road.
This is the Fish Pond at Holden Corner, Southborough. This was one of the two accessible and popular places for boys to go fishing in Southborough - the other was the Great Bounds Lake, near Bidborough.
As a boy in the 1940s and early 50s my dad, Jack, bought me a fishing rod and my dad and I would go down to the pond to go fishing.
As I recall there was very little change from when the photo was taken. For a time in ...see more
The Parade Cafe & Amusement Arcade is on the left in your picture, My Father bought it for 5000.00 in 1956. It stayed in the family until my brother-in-law Billy Burrows sold it in the mid 1980's. Business-wise it was a goldmine, in those days it was one of the safest beaches on the coastline for 7 miles in each direction. They were still finding land mines all along the East Coast from World War II, ...see more
I have found over the past few weeks that nearly all my relatives from my fathers side began in Polesworth. There was James Scarratt Clifford 1780 married Sarah Bullows in 1803, my ggg grandmother was Caroline Clifford who gave birth in Poleswoth to John Ordish Clifford (he saddled me with the second name Ordish, this I am trying to find out why?) who was a policeman (inspector retired) in 1850 in London. ...see more
The year this picture was taken I lived in a flat above the Rendevous Cafe in the building directly behind the statue. Owned by Pat and John Harvey, this was home to a newly arrived American family, and this town has lived in the hearts of my sister and me ever since. I love to return whenever I can and am happy to feel right at home again each time!
I played for the first Sudbrook Cricket Club football team. We came second in the East Gwent 2nd Division and got promoted. I played with: Dave Clements, Mike Keogh, Paul Little, Ivor Baker, Tony Cochrane, Bobby Noade, Darren Noade, Phil James, Terry Bryant, Phil Smith, Carl Evans, Mark Stocker. If anyone can add to the list or would like to contact me on the above address. We had some great times as we built up the ...see more
While I was growing up in Sandhurst, the grounds of the College was open to the public and we could walk from the village of Sandhurst through to Camberley. This building with parade ground in front is famous for the white horse which always entered the building up the steps when the passing out parades had finished. In front of this building are beautiful grounds with a big lake which was often ...see more
I arrived in Gravesend in 1958 on the back of my boyfriend's motorbike, we had travelled from Colchester in Essex. My father, who was in the army, had been posted to Gravesend so we all had to move. We crossed the river Thames on the Tilbury to Gravesend Ferry and so landed and rode off the ferry and up the High Street to find the house where my parents had moved into.
My great grandparents, John and Margaret Williams, lived at Llansadwrn and they and my grandparents are buried in the Church Yard at Talley. My grandparents, Evan and Florence (Dolly) Williams lived at Dan y Graig. Many happy days spent there with them in the 60's. My grandmother worked very hard to make ends meet as unfortunately my grandfather, who had seen active service in the trenches during the first world ...see more
It was built in 1897 and was designed in the Queen Anne style by the architect Frederick Wheeler FRIBA who had offices in Horsham. It is now the home of the Nat West bank. The bandstand has been moved slightly to the right. An engraving above the main door, now a cash point area, reads: Erected 1897 the 60th year of the reign of Queen Victoria. You can see an up to date version of this photo together with more history at http://www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/7/7.htm
This is the view from Denne Park above Horsham. The outlook will have changed but much of the green land remains to this day
The building shown has since been replaced but fell into a state of disrepair in the 1970s. It was converted to offices in the 1990s and remains as such today. You can see some 2006 photos here: http://www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/3/3.htm
Most of the church was demolished to make way for Royal & Sun Alliance to put up their offices. The church was 'relocated' to a site further out of town near Holbrook Primary School. This is the view from the Carfax.
If you stand outside Toymaster (in the Carfax) and look towards Boots this is about where this photo was taken. The big building to the right remains; King & Chasemore but the buildings to the left were demolished in the 1940s to make way for Sterling Buildings which now houses Toymaster, Burger King etc.
This is the view from near the iron railway bridge (built c1859) looking back towards the town. The pyramid shaped roof was in place up until the end of WWII. Between then and now it has been removed but I do not know why! Have a look at www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk/9/9.htm to see how it looks today. The site is occupied by Sussex Blinds.
Although naturally I do not have any recollection of the event, I was christened in this church in 1950. Though I lived away from Wallasey for many years, I now live in the Village once again.
Facing the viewer is the George Public House, which I believe still exists; behind is Wanstead underground station and an open area of grassland leading to Redbridge Lane and my then school, Wanstead County High. The High Street is facing us and leads to Snaresbrook, also with its underground station and also a magistrates court!
The library was adjacent to the swimming baths where I swam regularly. I understand that the glass in the library "beacon" needed to be replaced in favour of heat-deterring glass. But before that happened it could get stifflingly hot!