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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This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 36241 - 36320 of 36887 in total
I remember visiting my Grandparents orchard which was on the bend at the bottom of the hill leading into Upchurch coming in from Gillingham, and opposite was a cattle farm owned by the Jenkins family. I spent many a wonderful weekend there up until probably the early Sixties when Grandma Young (I think her first name was Maude) moved into Rainham.
Does anyone else remember these times and ...see more
My Great Grandparents Albert Wells and Edith Ann Judson married in this church on 24th December 1912. Edith was born Judson and was born at Holme and so may have been Baptised in this church as well.
My parents married in this church on 10th December 1960. I was christened here in 1962. My father's ashes were scattered in the churchyard in 1993. To my family this is a special place.
I lived in Naburn at Chapel House. My Aunty Mary Walker lived in this row of houses on the left. She lived with the Tweedies family. In 1949 these houses had big back yards where they collected refuse and recycled it.
I was born at 23 Howard Close in October 1963. It was a lovely place for children to grow up. A large green and a playground, little traffic, dogs and other residents. Everyone looked out for one another. I attended the infant school and then the junior school in Breech Lane. I was married in Walton church on March 5th 1988, a cold bright day, it snowed in the morning. It is the very best place for riding. ...see more
My great grandfather, John Foster Merril (1840-1844), was the innkeeper at the Kings Head Inn in Addlethorpe. His son, John Booth Merrill, wrote this in his memoirs: "I, John Booth Merrill, was born at Addlethorpe ... at the King's Head tavern on July 6, 1866. My father's brother Thomas Merrill visited us from the USA. It was said during the celebration I got very drunk and my mother decided a tavern was no place ...see more
I can still remember the day I started school. My Mum walked me from Isington to Binsted, I didn't know exactly where I was going and when we got to the school we had to go up these steps that were overhung with trees, it reminded me of a green tunnel.
I was shown my coat peg - it was a red ball! Then my Mum left me, she never told me where she was going or why I wasn't allowed to go with her. I felt really lost ...see more
I along with very many local girls over the years helped out at the Tea Gardens during the school holidays. I remember going to the front door a few times to ask if they had a job for me and being so scared I came away with an ice cream instead. I need not have worried as Aunty Vi and Don were so lovely. I enjoyed several happy years with them until I left school and the village to work away.40 years later and I still look forward to seeing Aunty Vi when I go "home".
First of many visits to Lichfield which led to my affection with this city, that my fther had spent time in during his RAF days at Lichfield Drome in 1942. Many friends and contacts were made here. A lovely place! There are many changes now in 2006. John Yarnall, Rugeley.
The photo is similar to one in my personal collection. The two gentlemen in the forefront of the picture are my Grandfather & my Great Uncle, two of the ladies behind them are my Great Aunts, the other became my Grandmother.
This was the town I grew up in until I was 8. There is one day that stands out in my mind. My mother had been informed that the local fruiterer had oranges. His location was about half a mile from our house. England was still in the grip of heavy rationing. As I loved oranges, our Mother decided that I should go with her instead of one of my three siblings. We left the house and had walked about 100 yards ...see more
My father worked at the marine colliery for over 20 years. His name was Jack Bedford, from Brynmawr, a hard working man. There was a pitfall in 1964 where a friend and workmate was killed, he brought this poor man to the surface. I remember him coming home crying. I had never seen him cry before. Those miners worked in awful conditions, up past their knees in water, with a pick and shovel. I’m always going to be ...see more
I lived in Wigton for the first 8 years of my life, so 1955 is a mid point!
I have happy memories of the town. We lived in West Avenue when it was known as 'the avenue' - an unmade up road and for years I thought that if a road was called 'avenue' it was full of puddles when it rained and dry mud when it didn't. We played on that avenue all the time - 'dens', climbing trees, hooa hoop! I remember being bitten by a dog ...see more
Charles Wilson Aked b.1859 was joint proprietor of this mens' outfitters shop. He had married Florence Edna Wadsworth in 1895 and they had 2 daughters Florence Gertrude and Constance, later Mrs Cockcroft. Charles sister Kate Helena Aked had married James Mitchell my grandfather and had an Accountants, Estate Agents and Insurance Brokers business which a few years later moved into premises nearby at 15 Commercial Street, Halifax.
I spent many enjoyable school holidays in this town. My Uncle had a store called Staggs the Drapery and clothing store. Back then we used to spend many an hour wandering over to the Quay & the Priory. We also used to take the ferry over the Avon into Southbourne where my Aunt lived. Then we would walk to Hengisbury Head. Sometimes we would fish in the Avon. It was a wonderful little town and when I ...see more
This is now famously the most exclusive shopping street in Dublin & Ireland too. The 7th most expensive rental prices in Europe with some retail outlets actually beating the world records making them more expensive than Paris or New York! This is the most popular place for Buskers from all over the world to display or perform their acts.
The street was officially renamed O'Connell Street in 1924 after Daniel O'Connell as Ireland moved forward as a free state! Nelsons Pillar seen in the distance (middle) was destroyed in the early morning on the 8th of March 1966 by unknown persons (yet many have claimed to have done it). It has now been replaced by a strange "Giant Pin" or "Spike" that's 120m high (3m wide at bottom & 10cm wide at top). A ...see more
My family Ken and Joan Blake owned the Church Hill Stores (opposite the Church) from 1945 to the early 50's then we lived in the village until 1957. I have many memories of my time in Finchingfield and many faces and events come flooding back. This picture shows a row of cottages known to me as The Causeway where in my time there was an ice cream shop. The lane opposite - The Pikle -(spelling ...see more
I moved to Combpyne when I was 4 years old with my mum, dad, brother and sister. We lived in the house in the centre of the village called Clock House. Its garden backed on to the churchyard. I spent many happy hours on the Webbers' farm next door to the church opposite the village pond, I remember we had an old dingy at one time and had fun on the pond. I have been back a few times since leaving in the mid 70s but it ...see more
I went shopping regularly for my Mum to the butchers called Brightwells that were along this parade. Most Saturdays I had to ask for half a leg of lamb, fillet end for 18/6d for our Sunday Roast.
This pub was at the end of Scotland Bridge Road where I lived all my childhood from 1952 to 1974.
I married in this church in March 1974 my maiden name was Whittle in those days. I also attended the youth club in the hall that was behind the church for a few years.
I used to live at 1st Nicholas Place and use the shop in the photo when I was a child growing up in the village. The memories I have of the village were of good times.
I have just discovered from resaerching the census results that my Great Grandparents ran the Odfellows Arms in Witton Gilbert round about the turn of the last century. His name was John McCormick and he was also a coal miner or coal hewer, running the pub in his own time. He and his wife had 5 daughters named Mary, Ellen, Alice, Rose and Ena. Alice was my grandmother. I would love to know if there is still an inn there in Front Street and if anyone has any memories of it! Alice Potter
Born and bred in Red Houses (then Red House Estate) at a time when everyone took time and effort to keep their home and gardens beautiful. Everyone knew everybody and it was a community that looked after each other. I remember going down to the infants' school (just off from cricket field) having a birthday and being given a cardboard cake by the teacher to open and take out sweets. Before Dale View was ...see more
My father bought the land on Barrow Hill, and built a house called Carrick Lodge (1961). I am not sure that everyone at the bottom of the hill were totally impressed with the house although it did not effect the view. We did have our dogs poisoned however with rat killer! I used to cycle to and from the station down the Avenue as I was nursing at Epson District Hospital.
The fields adjacent to the house had ...see more
I had a message late Sept 2006 from Lilleshall resident of 60 years Anthony Ardis saying he was unaware of the statue. I replied to you Athnony but the Frith system did not want to accept it. People are welcome to email me direct at pweaver@westnet.com.au Kind regards, Paul.
As a small child I used to visit my Gran & Grandad in Shirebrook - Annie & Seth Oakton. I'm told they lived in Byron Street and they had a grocery shop which was part of the front room in their house. Grandad also kept pigs on some land on the opposite side of the road. My Mum Eileen Oakton moved to Leicester in the 40's and married my Dad, Ken Jordan. I remember Grandad smelling of Menthol & ...see more
The shop at the top left (now the Kebab Shop) was, I think, Wards the Greengrocers, the second shop down was Graingers a card and toy shop, later a pet shop (now Pendley Estate Agents). (Thanks to Rodney Grainger for the correction to my original post). It was managed by Mr and Mr. Gadd. There is also a brick built well in the back garden (who used it I don't know as this was probably a field). The ...see more
Came to Minstead for a weeks break to help my wife rest and recover from breast cancer. Stayed in a very nice thatched cottage. We live in a village in Saddleworth that is beautiful, but Minstead the village the people and most of all the church just made it so nice. Just to sit in the garden of the Minstead cottage at night and look at the stars in the calm night was so nice. Although it can't cure my beautiful wife's ...see more
I remember fishing here with our mini bottles. Catching minows with wine bottles with the bottom knocked out ( hard to find ). Remember once being trapped under these arches with the river rising and being surrounded by the cows that came down from the field. Very fond memories - shame kids don't get the chance these days to experience such things.
We used to park our caravan in the last field along the lane, near the River Brue. One holiday we arrived in the early morning and just parked up in the field. We were awakened by our caravan rocking and looked out to see the cows coming in for their milking. We had parked where they usually walked 'home' and couldn't understand why we were in the way. We had to go out and shoo them round the caravan. We had lovely ...see more
We spent many a happy holiday in the Bridgwater area, sometimes staying on a farm just outside Bridgwater and in later years in a flat in the holiday village in nearby Burnham on Sea. Many wonderful memories of my dead parents and dogs!
Billingham Campus School consisted of four halls - Bede, pictured in the foreground, Davy behind and Faraday furthest away. The fourth hall, Stephenson was about 800 yards away, not pictured. There was a sports block with a swimming pool which can just be seen to the left of this photograph.
I've been researching my family history and have found that an ancestor of mine known as James Faunt used to live at a place called Packet Beerhouse, in fact he is in the 1891 census as being the "beerhouse keeper". He lived there with his wife Sarah. Is the building still in existence today? Are there any Faunts still living in the Coningsby area? I've been trying to find out more, but so far no success. ...see more
My then husband Derek Schwier and I bought Laurel Farm in 1963 from Jo Watts - a wonderful jolly character in her dung-coloured dungerees and mucky boots! All her cows were lovingly tended, and her retirement was a sad loss to the farm.
But it was our gain and for personal reasons we re-named it "Pilgrims". Our children had great fun playing in the orchard - now built on - and having their first ponies. ...see more
I can remember being taken shopping in the High Street, to Sainsbury's before it was a supermarket. There were tiled floors and walls, wooden counters with cheeses, cold meats and bacon, and the assistants wore their hair in nets or hats. There were seats for the elderly customers and nothing was ready-packaged.
C&W Walkers Ltd Gas & Constuctional Engineers - I worked here from 1964- 1976 when I did my apprenticeship as a welder/fabricator. Unfortunatly it was demolished in 1993 and turned into a housing estate.
I was born in Shere in 1942 to the youngest child of George and Margaret Bryant. The Bryants were a well-known Shere family, my father being the eldest of nine children born and raised in the village. I had a very happy childhood in the village, attended the village school as did my older brother and sister and several cousins. I remember the Shere bonfire nights which were very enjoyable. I left the village in ...see more
I lived in morden from 1948-1965 and I have wonderful memories of Morden Park and the bandstand that always had a band paying on Sundays and teas in the big house, not sure what it was called or what it was used for. My mother always insisted I wore white gloves and my best dress and as it was Sunday I was never allowed out to play so going to the bandstand was such a treat. (How times have changed.) Also I remember a ...see more
I lived in Guildford as a child, and every spring my father used to take me to St Martha's to pick bluebells in the woods at the foot of the hill. It was a sheet of blue, and however many we picked it looked the same.
In the 1940s I attended the Girls Grammar School in Guildford (opposite the Royal Surrey County Hospital). I sang in the main choir and in the "small" choir. With the latter I went to St ...see more
The church has been extended in recent years by a 'block' (blot?) on the nearest corner of this photo. Although a nice building in its own right it does not fit in with the style of the church. St Mary's C of E primary school now occupies a site to the right of this image. To the extreme left is a plot in the graveyard devoid of headstones. This is where the bodies of hanged convicts ...see more
This view has changed little over the intervening years. The church, St Mary's, at the foot of the Causeway is Horsham's only grade I listed building. In the background there was a multistorey office block which has now been removed to be replaced with modern but fitting office blocks occupied by Royal & Sun Alliance.
We used to go on bike rides from Meopham and always went through Longfield Hill on our way. I do remember my brother entering in to a pool contest there with adults and winning the contest and getting a new two piece cue. It was a great resting place and a chance to get some liquid refreshments after riding/walking up the hill to the village. We would spend all day riding our bikes out to New Ash Green, ...see more
The early Rochford church next to Rochford Hall was our highlight. Continue to guard your priceless community.
My great aunt Emilly Still lived in the bungalow in the background and we as children spent many happy summer holidays in Fontmell Magna. She and Tom (who I never knew) are buried in the church graveyard.
I remember travelling from our home in Kent to Fontmell in the winter of 1963 during the worst snow storms in living memory to help my mother's aunt.
If anyone reads this I would love to find out more about Tom and Emily. I have visited Fontmell in recent years to put flowers on the grave.
This is a picture of Albert Terrace where my mother lived at no 3. THe Bates family. I'd be interested in anyone who has any information.
My family and I, Ernest Aspey, regularly holidayed here in the early 1950s as my grandfather, Henry Slaughter, was the Assistant Lock-keeper at the time. This photo is significant to me as I was led to believe that the man in the foreground of the photo was my grandfather and we have a copy of it at home. My most vivid memory is of the time I fell in the lock and was rescued by an employee ...see more
I attended a presentation at St George's Hall as a youngster, where I received a beautiful certificate in recognition of an essay I had written. I have no idea what I wrote about but since the RSPCA awarded the certificate, then I assume it must have been about animals.
As a very shy, not-at-all-confident child, I remember nervously waiting and waiting for that moment to come. At last, I climbed the ...see more
My great grandfather, Henry William Peckham was a fishmonger, mentioned in Brown's Directory of 1882. He is reputed to have owned some land on the coast/beach/promenade at Douglas. Here fish was sold 'on the front' from a table.
My father was born at Douglas in 1896 and stories have carried forward of his sisters, or aunts, still selling fish there in early 1900's.
The old High Street, before Marlowes Town Centre was built.
Dance Hall and Cinema
Financial Area, banks etc
I was born in Hemel Hempstead in March of 1957. My parents came from Portsmouth and County Durham. They met in London and moved to Hemel Hempstead, which was a new town, in search of good housing, school for my 5 year old sister and work prospects. We lived in Vauxhall Road when I was born. All my memories of Hemel are good ones and I still have family that live there, I still visit often and have seen many ...see more
Parrog has changed very little in the 4 decades that I have been visiting and probably for decades before my arrival. I first visited as a child each year and now take my own daughter there each year too. The houses remain the same, only the faces change (some of them anyway - we're almost all repeat visitors). It is totally unspoilt by the modern world yet has everything you need. The activities my ...see more
On July 31st 1927, my grandmother Mary Alice McGroarty was born at Brynderw Bungalow, Gellilydan. xx
This building is still known as Tree Cottage, Old Lane, but the postal address has been changed to Barnston Road which causes a lot of confusion. I have lived here since 2002 and traced the previous owners back to 1851, but apparently the cottage is much older.
As young children my nanna would frequently walk my sister and I up to the Arno to play in the rough ground behind the rose garden. That was way back in the 1950's. She would sit and spend quiet time in the gardens whilst we ran and played like banshees. Later on we would go there with friends to play in the hills and bushes away from the watchful eyes of adults. My last visit as teenager was on the day we ...see more
I am researching my family history and HANNAH WILKINSON was born at TUNSTALL in the early 1800s. Does anyone know of any information regarding the family and where in the village they lived. Regards Pam
Hello I am researching my family history. The Sedgewick family lived somewhere in this village in the early 1800s. Does anyone have any further infomation regarding this family. Regards Pam
I would love to know of any information regarding the Aungiers family who lived in Middleton Tyas in the 1800s. I know the address for John and Hannah was 5 Cottage. Father of John was James. Any information welcome. Regards Pam
Just look closely at the picture, sitting on top of the fountain was half the fun & excitement of coming to the pool. Water wings under my arms and the supervision of Granddad Russell I made my first attempt at learning to swim. Getting really daring swimming to the back of the pool, climbing out would lead to the open sea where only the brave would swim. The pool was accessed by steps from the road at the ...see more
Many fond memories of Longleat over the last 46 years: the freedom we all enjoyed as villagers to roam across the estate - the sixth Marquess was always very generous in this respect. The remains of the American hospital were still much in evidence then; dad would drive the car to one of the old stone ramps so that he could work underneath it! We'd walk across the park from Corsley before the reserve was built, ...see more
My lasting memory of the majestic cinema was going to Saturday morning pictures: with my sister Linda and all our mates watching Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, Superman, The 3 Stooges and all the cartoons. I still love Tom and Jerry now! The funniest part was going up in the gods and dropping our lollysticks on the kids below, and spitting on them - charming kids eh! And all for sixpence. I saw my first ...see more
I was known as Digger Dawson back in the days. My mates and I used to have a crafty fag on beehive bridge when in our early teens. I will always remember Armfield Crescent, Fair Green, the cricket green, leo's lollies, broken biscuits, St. Marks School. The place has changed a lot since then. Last time I was there I got lost! Trams were running and my mate Dennis Brown was being a right anorak and taking down bus ...see more
I spent most of the summers of the mid 60's in this pool and learnt to dive off the platform board in 1967. I swam all of my major medal and cetificate swims in this pool. The fountain was a place to play when not swimming.
Our first home was a ground floor bedsit at 40 Castle Corner opposite the castle. The old part of the road formed a hammer head and had three parking bays. One dark rainy winters night my husband parked outside and ran in to get his wallet. When he got back outside the car was gone. He ran out into the road and saw that it was in fact parked between two cars in the hammer head. He must have left it with the ...see more
I moved to West End in 1966. My family owned the Wheatsheaf from 1964 until about 1967 and my auntie still lived in West End so I often visit. I was 11 in 1964 and my earliest memory of the village was seeing the Gordon Boys walking around the village in their uniforms of tartan trousers. navy military style tunics and little hats . They looked wonderful.
The village was always friendly and I used ...see more
My dad Rowland Cook took over Lasts butchers in 1985. I grew up in The Maltings which was attached to the shop and is the house on the right hand side of the photo with the big bay window from the age of 11 until I left home when I was 20. My parents ran the shop for 10 years before it closed and they moved on. The shop has since been demolished and a nasty modern house has replaced it which ...see more
Mr & Mrs Potter managed Bon March shop and they had two young boys, Robert and Edmond. My mum, Edna Griffiths, helped to look after the children and, being pre-school age, I used to go along with her. Mrs Potter used to bring us pasties from Jones' Bakery (where the Chinese takeaway is now).
On the way home we used to collect paraffin from Dowlings (where Tom Bounds is now) and sweets from Kate Teagle in ...see more
I was born in Worcester and brought up in G Witley until I left in 1976. I remember the days at the school, cricket and football; the Easter Monday Red Marley Hill climb; walks in the hills and visits to the court; days in the sun; cycle rides, fishing on the court pools; then the return off leave and the nights at the 100 house. What fun, what a care free existence. Visits are filled with happy memories and the occassional sight of an old familar face.
I was born in NW London. My first visit to Woburn Sands was about 1950 when my Uncle Ted and Aunt Ada moved here. They lived at the 'Dene' Aspley Hill. Aunt Ada did the housework for Mrs Russell the owner of the 'Dene' and my uncle drove a lorry for Marston Bricks. My school holidays were spent here cycling around the district. Then in 1955 my father Charles Batham bought 'Quarry Cottage' in Sandy Lane, Aspley ...see more
My memories of Benson started in 1946/7 when we moved to Sunnyside, which in those days did not have the recreation field. Nor did the village have street lighting apart from a couple in the High Street, one of which was on the wall of Franklin's Farm. The shops in those days were Slaughters Stores, High Street & Chamberlains Stores, Castle Square. There were 2 butchers in High Street (Wm. Lee & the other ...see more
My father died just before I was born and my mother had to put my brother and I into Reedham orphanage. I was still on a potty as I remember complaining that I was now old enough to go on the toilet and have some privacy. I remember a row of potties along a wall oposite the tiny 'grown up' toilets that had curtains not doors. I remember a little baby called Paula being shown to us. She was a black girl and so ...see more
It was my first ever job and I think I recieved about five shillings a week. The newsagent I think is still there in Victoria Rd. But I'm talking about 1947. The shop was on the west side of Victoria Rd and the last shop before the turning into Portsmouth Rd.
Leaving the shop I went along Victoria Rd and my first delivery was the Works Canteen at Thorneycrofts. Then up Obelisk Rd and some of the roads of the side ...see more
I lived at Corbieton Cottage for 22 years between 1939 & 1961 and this is the view I saw as I came down the hill to go to school, to Sunday school, to Scouts, to the Kirk, to the pub, the Hall, the bowling, the dancing, the concerts et al. On the left hand side, just out of picture is the big tree under which there was a seat and we all congregated there, young & old to hear the crac and put ...see more
This is a view which I know very well as it is taken from Hardgate School playground - the school that I attended from 1939 to 1946. The little cottage on the left was occupied by Peter McAlister & his family and the next property was the School House. Mr Macnab, Mr Souter & Mr Forsyth were the headmasters living there during my school years. We went there to do our gardening - a kind of "dig for ...see more
My sister, Joan, lives at No.52, and several years ago she gave me a copy of a book prepared and published by one of her (recently deceased) neighbours. This man, with friends and acquaintances all suffering from the postwar housing shortage, formed an informal group committed to developing a new neighbourhood for themselves and their families. As masters of their own destiny they didn't have to wait interminably for ...see more
When I was at school I did the history of Loftus. The market place was used for the market stalls, I think that it should be like that again. Bring back the meaning of Loftus market place - if anyone agrees let people know. Even if the shops that we have bring their products out to the stalls we might get more people coming and put Loftus back on the map and not just known as a trouble town.
Hi, I am Louise Brown of Australia. My grandmother Ellen Maud Edwards (married name Jefferis) lived with her parents Samuel and Alice Maud Edwards (Searle), at the cliff Cottage on the Peek Estates around the early 1900's, he was the gamekeeper there. I have a early picture of the house, Lady Peek was very interested in my grandmother, as she was partly deaf. She contributed to her ...see more
