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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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!

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Displaying Memories 36161 - 36240 of 36890 in total

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!
I used to live in Montreal Road, off Perth Road, and remember the bus-stop outside Smiths stationers. There was also a real butchers, greengrocers, shoe shop, Woolworths, banks, a small dress shop and later a Jewish delicatessen/bakers and a kosher restaurant. The photographer is standing with his back to the Gants Hill tube station on the Central line, and behind him to his right there used to be a taxi ...see more
This view brings back many childhood memories, I was born in the cottage on the right hand edge of the picture, in 1947, growing up on the farm there, and have lived within three miles of the area for the majority of my life.
I remember going to the Wimpy bar and having wimpy and chips and strawberry milkshake with my friend Vera.
Many many many, great holidays here. A very nice village. Sadly this place has now been knocked down and replaced with houses.
Always remember my grandfather (Bryn George) stating all through my child hood that he had worked in st johns for 44 and a half years
This is where I lived between 1966-1984,above the Read Brothers newsagent in Hall Road,there is only two shops there now,one is still the newsagent and the other is closed at the moment,the rest of the six shops are now flats for the disabled.
This is where I now live,backing onto the Rec,all the toys for the childen have now gone but new ones been put up over by the old tenns courts which is now an carpark. I have lived at Hall Avenue since 1989
My Dad, Eric Smith, opened a Greengrocer's shop at number 21 Lordship Lane in 1962. At that time there was a traditional butchers shop one side and a grocery shop the other side. Opposite was a piano shop, and that's about all I can remember. This photo is of the other end of the road, and on the right hand side was a motorcycle shop, which is sadly now flats. The pub on the left hand ...see more
My Mum's family lived on Barpool road (Nan and Gramps still do) and she often tells us how the kids in the street played together with giant skipping ropes made from the washing line that went across the street. Also about the mischief the gang of kids got up to (all innocent). My mum's family are the Reays, my mum is one of the twins (Shelagh). Do you have any memories to share about this time? Thanks.
In the early 60's the Old School House was used as the school art room. The sign on the right of the photograph belongs to a cafe known to pupils as "The Hags". When we had pocket money it was a treat to go to the Hags for hot buttered toast.
I remember being very happy growing up as a child in Paisley. One of my happiest memories was being given a golliwog outfit from the Robertson's jam factory. A certain amount was given out every year at Halloween by the factory. I used to enjoy the Library and Museum which I visited each week, and as I got older the visits became more frequent. I remember thinking how vast Coat's Mill was and how lovely the river that ran past it looked - sadly the mill has now been renovated into flats.
We got married at this stunning venue last year. I will always remember the children playing football on the grounds, and the Romeo & Juliet photograph; my husband on one knee, with an outstretched arm, whilst I'm standing at the balcony above!
It was a common site to see John Adshead cycling to work from Gawsworth New Hall to the Lonsdale & Adshead brewery on Park Green Macclesfield. There was a driver and car available at the house, but it was usually the bike that got John to work. The dogs ! No they were not running alongside the cycle, they were tucked into John's coat. The brewery was sold in 1950, about 10 years before this picture was taken.
My first memories of Durham is being taken be my aunty Audrey and uncle Alan. They had instructions to buy my sister and I a tartan skirt from the market. I remember having a boat ride on the river Wear. Durham is my 'Tara', the place where I need to return to to get my inner peace restored.
I have many memories of my time at Holmwood School. I joined as a day boy in 1968, when the Headmaster was David Glass and I left around 1973 when the Headmaster was Johnny Clegg. I remember the trips we had in the old school bus to Formby sands and Freshfield woods to see the red squirrels. My days at Holmwood were happy times in the late 60's, with friends and teachers that are now all but distant memories. ...see more
My grandparents (Alan and Doris Hartley) used to have a bungalow on Boat Cliffe Road, this shop was at the bottom of the road.  We used to go to Reighton Gap every school holiday and had some fantastic times there.  I think I recall a couple of ladies owning the shop and they had a black and white sheepdog called Meg. It is great to see the photo of the shop and some old photos of the bungalows and surrounding area. ...see more
William Tasker and Margaret Webster were married November 24, 1846 in the Parish Church, Stillingfleet, York. William and Margaret are my Great Great Grandparents. They emmigrated to Tilbury, East Ontario, Canada. They are both buried in Victoria Cemetary on Tasker Road in Baddertown, Ontario Canada.
The picture titled "Uplyme Mill 1892" is incorrect.  The location is Lyme Regis and is called Higher Mill along the banks of the River Lym in an area known as "Monkeys Rough" locally, opposite the original "Jericho" and "Paradise Fields".  The waterfall is still there and is at the base of what is now known as Woodmead Road.
I went to school at Felsted from 1960 to 1963. We had to do physical exercise every afternoon and because I was no good at sports I usually had to go for a run. This mill was a favourite destination. It took about 15 minutes to run here from the school. We would lean on the fence on the right of the photograph for a few minutes before going back.
This property is known as Flagstone and is at the foot of the Causeway, next to St Mary's Church. It is dated 1615 on the centre gable, this is thought to relate only to that part of the buidling. The main building may be up to 200 years older. In around 2000 the building was extensively renovated but retains its extenal apprearance and internal character. See more on www.hiddenhorsham.co.uk
The 1881 census shows my grandfather (John Smart) and his family living in this house.  He was the Landscape Gardener of the park.
My grandfather, John Wilson, is entered as being Captain of Steam Boat Ferry in the 1901 census of Fleetwood.  Although the ferry boat pictured does not appear to be steam, this sight must have been very familiar to him and his family who lived in nearby Pharos Street.
Ilford Town Hall is on the corner of Oakfield Road where I lived throughout WW2. The public Air Raid Shelter we used to sleep in was opposite the Town Hall in Oakfield Road. A very large department store called Moultons was opposite, in the High Street. I remember when Moultons was on fire one night & flames were pouring from its windows, the firemen looked so small on their ladders as they fought (successfully) to ...see more
Hello. I lived in Kingsbury from 1943 until 1962 when I moved to Canada. I lived off Old Church Lane. We walked to the pool with our sixpence and had to stand in line for what seemed hours - as they only would allow a certain number of people in the pool area. We had to wait until someone came out, before someone could go in. Were all PE teachers the same? She would also stand warmly dressed and ...see more
I was born in Market Street in 1939. Later, because of the war, my mum left me in Millom for my grandad and grandma Kirby to look after me. Mum went back to be with my dad in heavily bombed Manchester. I spent the war years here and they were very happy years. After the war I went back to Manchester, but came back to Millom for all my school holidays. Wellington Street was a nice shopping street and I used to go to the ...see more
This was the first home I ever knew and remains, to this day, the one I hold as the true definition of 'home'. Waterloo House was where I was brought as a newborn in June 1974, and where I lived so happily until 1980 when we were, sadly, forced to sell up and leave. I have countless memories, from toboganning down the fields in the deepest snow ever (which sometimes blocked the doors and entirely covered the ...see more
St Michael's Church, where I was christened in 1940, I was married there in June 1960. A beautiful church set in the countryside just out of the village.
This is the street where I was born in 1940, our house is just out of sight, but when I left school in 1955 I worked for a short while in the shop adjoining the post office. Sadly my father, who was in the Army, was posted to Colchester, Essex and so we left Sandhurst in June 1955. But it was a lovely place to grow up in and will always be home to me. I still have family living in the area.
My family and I lived at 157 Wilmslow Road, it had just been built so all of us who lived on the road moved in around the same time, and it was a wonderful. My parents George and Thelma Goddard, had the three of us then, Georgina, Elizabeth, Felicity and on Dec 31st 1955, my brother Roderick. Rod was born in the upstairs bedroom at 157 and I can remember Dr. Bailey coming to deliver him. Mum had a shop in the first ...see more
This is where I live, it is no longer a village post office. It was built in 1680, and we are returning it to a residential property.
Amazed I've found this. My great great grandad Samuel Jeffery served on this ship as a Ward R steward (1871 Census). Seeing this ship really helps to bring history to life.
This hotel was owned by my mother Patricia Woods till around 1959. Newnham was a busy place then. H G Zeal had a thermometer factory in the High Street. Above the hotel was a dairy farm run by A.Jones (Dean Forest farm). As a matter of interest, the name Unlawater translates to River of Sorrows and was from a time back in history when Lady Padget lived there and a member of the family drowned in the river. Best wishes, Rai Woods. (Captain)
I remember being sent to Selmes the Butchers to buy my Mother Mrs Dora Maynard, cuts of meat. The floor was covered in sawdust and there was a little cashiers office at the end of the counter. It always had a very friendly atmosphere although I used to cry when I saw the animals being unloaded from the lorries into the slaughteryard. Once or twice I saw them escape. Helen Swabey (Formerly Maynard)
My memories of Wilton are very fond and still are as my grandparents owned Levers the Butchers in North Street. Finding this site was a real pleasure as I can remember some of the later photographs from when I was a child. I would be really pleased if you had any photographs or history of the Levers as my grandparents are now dead and so is my father and aunt. I often visit Wilton just for nostalgia! If you ...see more
My Grandad William Geraint Rees was born in Brynamman in the year 1915 :o).
I will always remember nights sat outside the Black Bull with my parents and 2 sisters. Although it was August, the weather was chilly. There was a juke box out back on a sort of covered terrace and every time I hear 'Johnny Remember Me' by John Leyton, I am transported back to Barmston. We stayed in a tiny caravan on what is now the huge Barmston Beach Haven site and there was just one tiny shop.We had to walk into the ...see more
I used to help clean up the market on Saturday nights when I was a small boy, the church bells used to toll and one night sounded for hours. One stall holder was very small and when he drove his truck he had wooden blocks fitted to the peddles and could only see through the steering wheel.
Having left Australia on an open-ended working holiday to England in January, 1974 with my girlfriend, it was hard to imagine that within six weeks of arriving in London we'd be living on a leaky old narrow boat in Braunston near Rugby, and that six months later - still living on the boat - we'd be calling Leighton Buzzard home for nearly two years. The boat was called SADLERS WELLS, and in the ...see more
Hello! I am Arnold Chapman, my father was the minister of the little chapel (now a private house). I used to play with a lad called I think Ronald Babcock?? who lived in a farm nearly opposite. I think one time the barn caught fire. I recall going to the little school, sometimes getting a ride in a local farm cart!! No cars to worry about in those days. Another person I recall is Mrs Salmon who had bad ...see more
The photo shows the public house 'The Three Horseshoes'. It was one of three pubs in Great Ouseburn, the other two been 'The Bay Horse' & 'The Crown Inn', the latter is the only one remaining as a public house.  
The large stone in the photograph was used as part of the millennium seat, which is now situated on the village green. The building to the left of the picture is 'The Forge' - the Swann family have lived here for over 80 years.
Our Dad used to take us for a walk up to Mow Cop Castle on a sunny Sunday. We would set off from Talke with our bottle of pop and a jam butty and walk along the canal for a while then through the lanes in Scholar Green past the Three Horseshoes then up the steepest hill to the Castle. We would sit inside the round window at the front and try to see our house in Talke on the other side of the valley. We could see so much ...see more
As a child I was terrified of the churchyard, we had to walk past it to get to Wilson Way where my Nan Lizzie Grocott lived. It wasn't so bad in the summer but in winter when it got dark early we would get off the bus opposite the Church and it would loom up like a big dark monster as we crossed the road towards it. My sister and me would grip onto Mum's hand so tight we would get told off. The Church yard backed ...see more
Every year we would go to Pooles on the High Street to get yellow fishing nets so that we could go and collect tadpoles from ponds around the area. We would deliberate for a good while over what colour nets to get but we always ended up with yellow because our Dad said they showed the tadders up best. Tiko Bakery was at the top of Elgood Lane (Church Lane) behind the Swan and we used to walk past ever ...see more
For anyone who has lived in and around Poole the Hamworthy Lifting bridge provokes memories. In 1991 I met my first wife who was from "The other side" of the bridge and this necessitated regular trips to Hamworthy. The bridge lifts every hour, on the hour to let various boats through. The lift generally lasts about 15 minutes, although it can take longer. Therefore I would regularly find myself cursing my luck as I sat in a large traffic jam (particularly in Summer).
My memory goes back to the time my mother and father lived in Ponti and it was a very happy time. My father passed away in 1956, killed in Bristol and my father asked my mother to marry him in the bandstand in Ponti Park and they had a good life together. I have great memories of Wales and I shall never forget where I came from. We now live in western Australia, but there is no place like home. Kind regards to all of you with lots of love Caroline and William Watkins
I lived with my parents,  Ralph and Joan, "Bindy" and sister Judy,  on Birchway, off Ack Lane East, then we moved to 17 Atholl Road.  There were several families with children who my sister and I  spent a lot of time with - Johnny Catlow at the top of the road,  Elizabeth in the house opposite, Robert and his sister up the road,  and others whose names fail me!!  There were fields and ponds to the top right of the ...see more
Although I wasn't to be born for another 6 years, I remember my mother teling me about her wedding day here. My brother's name is Peter, I wonder if the connection is from this church?
The path shown in the picture was my route to the infants school which was then in Church House, down the steps to the right of the tower. Miss Cordell was headmistress, ably supported by Miss Hyde, Mrs Wooding and Mrs Price, whose sons Dominic and Christopher also attended the school.
In 1976 I worked for the Francis Frith Collection in Baker Street, and then in Charles Street, Berkley Square. In 1977 it was purchased by my then boss, and now friend, Mr. John Buck. We continued to work together from his home in Finchampstead for a short while. I then left to move back to my native Cornwall in October 1977. When I moved to Cornwall I brought with me about 20 framed Frith prints which I ordered when it was ...see more
This date Oct 6th, in 1945, while serving in the RCAF, I was married to Ivy Gillard in this olden church. It was a bright sunny day. Ivy came to Canada with our daughter Barbara in October of 1946. She loved Canada very much, and even though she returned to her homeland on a few occasions, she was truly a Canadian. Ivy was taken from us in 1979 at age 56. She was born with a ...see more
This is a fine picture of The Oxbode, with the Bon Marché on the right and the old Boots frontage in Northgate Street at the end. Barton Street it is not.
The WWI tank was removed because little boys used to enter and use it as a toilet. It exploded when the welder went to work on it because there was still petrol in the fuel tank, not ammunition. The welder flew across Kingsbury and landed, dead, in front of Ivatt's shoe shop (the signs are still up on the wall). The Rockwell has reverted to its original name (thank heavens), why are pub names changing all the time? The Hen & Chicks became "Big Hand Moe's", look what happened to it!
Fond memories of going to Amlwch Port to play as children and walking along Llancarw to Llaneilian with two or three younger children tagging along with us, and waving to the pilots as they moored outside Almwch Port.
Ref: Smarts Fish Saloon, Bishopstoke - it was as a boy in the early forties that we visited this shop to buy fish and chips and more often to buy a pennyworth of scraps which sometimes had a few chips in with them. At that time we had to take our own paper to wrap them in.  We then took them to the old churchyard to the large yew tree with a wooden seat underneath and finished them off. I ...see more
I started attending Bartholomew tipping, or B.T. in Stokenchurch, at 11 in September 1967 and left at 16 in July 1972. Mostly great teachers and a good school. Closed by idiots. Especially fond memories of teachers Mr. Parker (Plod), Hazel Groom later Szwierchynski (sorry if miss-spelt) and Audry Tattersall. I'd love to swap memories.
I have lived in Everton my whole life. I love the village. I am a respectable citizen of Everton and have lived for nearly 18 years in Frys Lane. I hope other people enjoy the atmosphere as much as I do. Makeala x
Julian's hunt story is almost right. I was living at the Chalk Pit at the time, and still do. It was about 1981, on a Saturday lunchtime, when the hunt came over the top, but it wasn't on Boxing Day.  The hounds were chasing Hares.  The leader of the hunt knew there was a main road so directed the hunt across the field.  The Hare was chased through a hole in the hedge at the top of the Pit, and the dogs followed ...see more
My first memories are of playing on the huge expanse of sand at West Wittering and the bombing tower which used to be there after the war. We stayed on the beach till late and were put to bed in the back of the car. Usually we travelled in convoy with two other families. We loved to paddle in the deep water of East Head. One summer my mother nearly drowned being pulled out by a 'rip.' We had ...see more
I was born on Queen's Road next to the off licence, past the Baptist Church. My grandparents lived in Farnborough from 1920 to their deaths in 1970's. In those days the Allied troops were stationed nearby at Aldershot.
My late mother told me that she was related to Miss White, daughter of the Rev. Richard Walton White. His daughter left the manor and or land to Captain Macpherson in 1911. Although we have no claims on this family, we have no first names of Miss White or Captain Macpherson's nephew for our family tree. Any historical history and or photographs would be great.
My mother was born in Fleetwood and lived in Pharos Street, just below the lighthouse. I was born in Lancaster but I remember having holidays at Fleetwood when I was a child, just after the end of the war. I particularly remember being fascinated by the marionette shows which took place in the gardens near the Pier. In 1894 my grandmother worked as a Stewardess on the Duke of York when it first sailed between Fleetwood ...see more
Many of my childhood summer holidays were spent at Sandown.  We usually stayed at Mrs. Woodnutt's hotel in Carter Street.  Mr. Woodnutt hired out the deck chairs on Sandown Beach.  He also kept ferrets and I was allowed to go and help him look after them.  One of our family's favourite places was the miniature golf course pictured.  It was called Brown's as was the canoe lake next door.  Browns made the most delicious ...see more
We used to visit Leigh-on-Sea by train from Dagenham on a Sunday. After a stop at the cockle sheds for refreshment and for us children to see the process of the boiling of the shellfish, we would then walk along the seafront as far as Southend East railway station because in those days the train home was as packed as most rush hour trains are today and we were assured of a seat on the train before it got to ...see more
I think it was 1949/50, I remember living along the canal side, Trafalgar Row it was called, over the other side from the Hope Inn.  Somehow I think it was further up than Somerfield almost opposite the Empire.  Most of my family used this pub as their social outlet for weekends, remember no TV, bingo or much else then.  I remember the landlord and landlady a Mr. and Mrs. Firth and they had a son I think he was called ...see more
I would travel to Tredegar to go to the bigger shops, bigger than Brynmawr. I loved the fashions of the 60's, and sometimes could get what I liked in Tredegar. It is just a small town but I had good times there. I especially liked going to the dance held in the Working Mens Club on a Sunday night - good times Tredegar, thanks.  Also I gave birth to my first daughter in St James’ Hospital in 1968.
I was born in the War Memorial Hospital, Crickhowell in 1949. I don’t remember that bit, but I remember traveling down to Crickhowell on days out just to sit on the bridge watching the water pass by - so peaceful, outstanding scenery, I thought it was beautiful.  We lived in Brynmawr, not too far away. Then years later I loved to go down to Crickhowell in my boyfriend’s car even though he drove too fast down ...see more
I loved to visit my Aunty May’s house in Rhonnda Terrace, Ferndale. She was my grandfather’s sister, a lovely jolly person always happy, and she loved us kids coming to visit. We had to do a good bit of traveling to get there, but it was worth it. I remember Ferndale was really hilly, really steep, you would be out of breath when you reached Aunty May’s house, but what a welcome, what a terrific aunt!  Then I ...see more
Brynmawr is a quiet little town on the edge of the valley roads. These photos bring back memories of all the hills I climbed, picnics on the mountain, paddling in the pond across from our house in Warwick Road. Snow 6ft deep in Winter. I remember the old steam train passing our house, I would wave to the driver and he would wave back to me standing on a low wooden fence. Everything was at a slow pace in the 50's. We would ...see more
I traveled to Barry Island every summer because it was the nearest seaside to Brynmawr where we lived. The excitement of seeing the sea was overwhelming, and every time I would be sick on the old coach taking us there.  We would first spend a few hours on the beach, then a walk around the shops, hoping for the biggest stick of rock possible. Then we spent an hour or so at the fair. I don't know how ...see more
Hiya Luke and Liam if your reading this then your probably on the phone to me .coming up at the weekend hope 2 see you then i probably will. ask nana if i can stay there if not ill sleep round hal's. 2005/2006 where the best years of my life at Ulleskelf. I lived with my nana and grandad. Graham and Karolyn Turner. I lived next door to the Ramsden family. Also i lived with my two annoying brothers Luke and Liam Dean. I had ...see more
Once the time had come for blackberry picking and whimberry picking, my lovely Uncle Fred took us down the valley roads, to get picking, ready for those lovely pies my grandmother would make. We would climb up beside these waterfalls, drink the pure water from them, lovely. Uncle Fred would walk for what seemed to me miles, me eating most of my pickings as I went. This was the early 50s, a lovely day out, lovely ...see more
It is lovely to see the old photos of Porthcawl. Our family used to go there every summer for a holiday in a rented bungalow, none of your mod cons then. But they were great times spent there, lots of laughter and fun. I’m talking of the early 50's, when building sand castles and a stick of rock were all you wanted. I’ve got some lovely photos of times spent there with my lovely grandmother and my aunts and uncle, ...see more
I attended Bentham Grammer School which was then located at High Bentham. I believe it has now relocated to Lower Bentham. My memories are many - attending the local church each Sunday Morning, and taking woodworking class at the local carpenters, who also was the coffin maker. Spending my pocket money at the local shops. We also had to do cross country runs around Bentham and on occasions we visited Ingleton Waterfalls. Peter Wilkinson
My name is Kerry & my favourite memory of Coalville when I was younger is my Grandad, his name was Jim Watts. He was a coal miner for quite a few years & he was also Mayor of Coalville. I remember going to the dog track with my dad, Alan & having to wait around for my grandad to come out. If I remember right, after there he would go to the Halfway House & 'just wet his lips' before he went home. I ...see more
The Micheldever cottage with the steps facing the camera is where my mother Evelyn Rogers (nee Chalk) grew up with her brothers Alfred and Charles, and sisters Maude, Ivy, Kate (Kit) and later Ruby Hansford. Henry Arthur Gale Chalk was my mother's father who died in 1908, the year she was born. My granny, Elizabeth, remarried to Arthur Hansford in 1912. We believe that the cottage was originally called Tudor ...see more
Osborne Road is where my Father was brought up in the 1930s. This street was very close to the Royal Aircraft Establishment and this generated my Dad's great interest in aeroplanes and flight. He was later to join the RAF and served during the Second World War.