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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Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:

  • How the location features in your personal history?
  • The memories this place inspires for you?
  • Stories about the community, its history and people?
  • People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
  • Has it changed over the years?
  • How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?

This week's Places

Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:

...and hundreds more!

Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.

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Displaying Memories 13201 - 13280 of 36925 in total

My name is Margaret Saunders. I was born at 3 Theobald Street, but at sometime we moved to 18a Theobald Street. I went to Furzehill Infant and Junior schools, then on to Lyndhurst. We lived over the shop that was the stationers, owned by Mr & Mrs Feeley; next door to that was Tompkins the butchers and then Freestones, the bakers. On the other side of the stationers, was a grocers and the hairdressers. At the ...see more
I remember the old Bussen and Parkins in Mildenhall High Street burning down. I was only young then but have lived in Mildenhall most of my life. It was the night it burned down I was with my parents, coming home from visting my gran in Gazley village near Newmarket. We was just coming up to Barton Mills and we saw this red glow in the sky, so my dad, who used to like taking photos of things happening, like ...see more
St Lawrence Church holds special memories for my wife and I. We were married there in April 1961 and renewed our vows to each other some thirty years later when we were holidaying and reminiscing from Australia. It is a beautiful church, we were made to feel very welcome by the congregation. It is sad to see the surrounds have changed so much though.
I recognize all the places you're talking about as I lived in Durham until 1970. I remember having piano lessons from Mrs Pratt, I was friends with Kenny. I now live in Cyprus, happy in retirement .
Worked at Bata shoe store in 1962 /1964 would love to see a pic of this store - was next to Mac Fisheries and near Craven A Cafe. I worked with Gloria Oliver from Wortley. On Sat nights we went to the ladies loos opposite to have a wash and brush up and change our clothes so we could go on our night out! great times.
By the way, my name then was Janis Furlong. I have a brother called Alan and some body may remember that my dad was an artist and used to hang all his work out on the walls on a Sunday :o)
My maternal grandparents lived at Old Rectory, School Hill, Alderbury (now called Court House). They were Charles and Elizabeth Sheppard and grandad worked at Longford as, I believe, a woodsman or carpenter? I still have 3 cousins living in Whaddon and try to see them at The Green Dragon for a reunion when we come over to UK as I have lived in California for 46 years. I remember well going across the fields to ...see more
My grandparents grew up in Collyhurst, when they got married they lived on Elizabeth Anne Street. They were Betty and Jim Butterworth - my dad Jimmy and aunty Maureen were born there. Then they moved to Blackley. When I was born we moved back to Collyhurst on Forland Ave. Some of our happiest memories are in Collyhurst.
Hi :) I was wondering if anyone has any memories of 127 High Street, Penge as a piano shop? A few people have said it was called Hicks but we have no images of the shop. Any memories or images of the piano shop, or even as the jewellers in 1960 would be amazing! Thank you, Charlotte
Hi I am trying to find the relatives of Peter Hutchinson who lived at the Manse, Wrockwardine Wood, Oakengates possibly just before/during WW2. I have no idea whether he was the Minister or a family member. If you know anything about him, I would be delighted to hear it. I have found something of his. Thanks Jo
I remember a slaughterhouse entrance tucked in the corner where the cattle entered. One escaped one day, charged up Chapel Street in a rage.
I am trying to trace a very old friend. She was Ann Williams and her father was the landlord of the Dyfryn Hotel in Caerau. Ann married someone ? from Clarks Shoe Shop in Bridgend in around 1953/54. Is there anyone out there who knows of her or any information they can give me. Thanks. Brenda Smith(Horton)
I was wee girl year 1982
I remember in the late 50s and early 60s playing in Priory Park and following the brook from Priory Park all the way to Westcliff, including going under the roads, and playing along the brook and swinging across on ropes, constantly falling into the water, lol, good days!!!!
Thinking of my time in the aforesaid Cadet corps I clearly remember an exercise on the Heath when we were playing soldiers. To make things realistic we were using thunderflashes. Unfortunately the weather was hot and dry with the result that the "bangers" set fire to the gorse and bracken and the exercise had to be abandoned. Red faces among the staff, great amusement among the cadets.
I went to Luton Technical College in 1948. I remember the balcony surrounding the main hall. We had to march all the way to Popes Meadow for our sports afternoon, quite a hike as I remember. I spent 2 years there. My main memory was the fact that you weren't caned there, you had to write lines instead, no fewer than 500 times. I can still remember one of the lines although I am nearly eighty, it goes like ...see more
My Uncle Fred had a watchmaker and Jewellers shop in Liphook Square. (F H Payne) Also my Uncle Percy (P W Brooker) was manager of the chemist shop also in the Square. (Smorthwaites)
My half-brother, Ian, was sent to a hospital after his accident. He was paralyzed from the neck down. He was only about 15 when this horrid accident occurred. It was Hexham spinal unit. Was it this hospital does anyone out there know - could you kindly reply back to me. I would like to know if any one worked there at the time. It was many years ago and appreciate that there were many people that came and went to Hexham spinal ...see more
Hi, my grandfather, Hans Major Embleton, was born in Sacriston 1895. He grew up with his brothers and sisters, 10 in total in Victoria Street. He went down the mine at 14yrs, a mine putter, he then signed up for the Durham Light Infantry June 1913, trained and went to war in France. He survived, taken prisoner of war near the end. He returned and went back in the mine, ...see more
We lived in Chalfont until 1961 when we moved to Leigh-on-sea. I lived up the footpath in a bungalow at the side of the garage, opposite The Pheasant pub. I remember putting pennies around the green, and shopping in Paynes shop, where they had a barbers in the back and Paynes paper shop. We spent a lot of time behind the church playing in the Misbourne, also dancing on the village green on May ...see more
Can anybody remember when you walked up the fells at Throckley, half way up you passed on your right a farm or house where a girl called Cheryl Lawson lived. Straight past that and carry on to the top and turn right, on your left was a row of terraced houses and further down was an old stone cottage. There was a bus stop there, right outside that cottage. Can anyone remember what it was called? I think it ...see more
We lived at Anton Mill House above Rooksberry Mill on the River Anton. My father kept cattle during the war in a field below the level crossing and I had to cycle after school to pump water for them in the field. The crossing only served the mill and came down from the Salisbury Road. Sterling Poultry owned the land behind the crossing house.
Idlerocksdeer park has a wind turnie and is getting 440 solur panles
My father was mill manager and a company director from 1937 to 1961, and we lived in the mill house. I was assistant mill manager from 1963 to 1967. My father ran the local Home Guard during the 2nd world war, and was in the auxiliary fire service. I have many happy memories of time spent there, with my brother and sister.
I lived in Lilly Street with my family from 1955-1961. Family name was Briggs. We lived in no 59. Mam's name was Laura. There were seven children in our family, but only six lived there. We went to St Edmunds school and attended St Edmunds Church, great times although money was short, we made our own entertainment. Great memories of Whit Week walks, although no photos, sadly, and May Day, making our ...see more
I was at Warnham Court school for 2 years, 1972 until '74, great friends, great teachers, great memories, the school did so much for so many.
Does anyone remember the children's home in Packhorse Road called Crosfield House? I lived there from 1952 to 1965. I don't seem to be able to track down any photos of the home so if anyone has any or even remembers the place, would love to hear from you.
My name at the time was John Hancock and I lived in Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville, Hampshire before Philip Road was built. With fields opposite my home and the Convent Church along the way, it was so idyllic. The horse and cart milkman and the Corona drinks delivery still in my mind. I went to the Waterlooville primary school with the tin huts along the main road and then on to Cowplain secondary School, that ...see more
Stan and Helen Vaughan met me at the Leicester Train station after my long journey from California. I had won a Rotary International Scholarship and the Vaughans were my host family. I was a scared young girl and I immediately relaxed when I met this kind couple originally from Birmingham. They told me we were going to their home in the village of Desford, Leicestershire and my eyes were taking in the ...see more
I resided as a child at The Cedars for 14 years. I would like to know the history together with details of other children that were there from 1953 to 1964.
I moved to Holme on Spalding Moor, just after Easter 1953. My gran had a pub in Hull called The Black Boy, and she retired to Holme to run the Railway Inn in Holme and as I then lived with her I moved too. I was very excited to live in the country, as I had always lived in Hull before, which was a very dirty and sooty place in those days. I went to school in Market Weighton for the last few weeks until ...see more
This memory is written on behalf of June knight. All my sympathies to Ja Ja's family. I have a lovely poem written in my autograph book from when we were at Arley in 1946.
When the V2 Rockets started to land in London, (June 1944) our whole school was evacuated. We did not know where we were going. We arrived by steam train at Doncaster and were taken to Skellow Village. Various households came and chose children from the tired little souls very late in the evening. I went home with Mr and Mrs Yapp to 60 Xfields Lane and met their son Raymond. I learned a lot from those 10 ...see more
My great grandmother was born in Little Waltham (Alice Eva Hart) and her sister married James Ennos (earlier comment from John) I visit their grave in St Martin's churchyard whenever I'm passing....I need to bring my gardening tools for next time ! Love the village and feel at home there
I first attended this camp in 1954 as a baby of 10 months of age and my first experience of the sea was with my father at that tender age. I attended for at least the next 10 years and learned to swim in the sea at Pagham and often played in the penny arcade and in the dunes behind the beach. I also used to fish for crabs at the old harbour and also fished with my father at the ...see more
Syd and Chrissie Harvey used to live in the flat above the archway when he worked for the town council as the foreman gardener. I lived on the other side of the building. To the right of the archway, on the ground floor, were offices. Previous to this photo there were lovely grounds and mature planting which had been removed to make a carpark?!!! what a lovely resource this was. We played and learned to ride our bikes on the undulating lawns in front of this building.
What was the old swimming pool called?
I was born and brought up in Maresfield and have wonderful memories of a very happy carefree childhood. Along with my brother and sisters we lived with my mum and dad and my dear old Gran. Gran had lived in the same cottage since she had married my grandad and in that 2 up 2 down cottage she had raised 8 children (it would have been 9 but 1 son passed away after an accident), my mum being ...see more
Moved into Long Riding in Jan 1957. I was 15 months old. I lived the other end, in the town houses.
HI Curious to see if anyone ever reads these memories- before I submit any!! Hate to be reader of my own memories! GEOF JONES EX Cowley!
My dad was at the children's home in Mere from about 1952 to 1957/8. I am unable to find any information on the home on the internet, I do know the house isn't there anymore as it was demolished to build a road, but wondered if anyone has any old photos they could upload onto this site. I know my dad would love to see them :)
Born in 1957, I was brought up in Hatfeild Mead near the George public house. Went to school, firstly at Willows nursery, then Morden Primary, then on to grammer at Mitcham. Can remember many happy weekends spent in Morden park, especially running up the big hill at the back of the park. Used to walk down to Morden Court Parade every Sunday morning with my dad to get his paper and my shillings worth of sweets, which ...see more
Got married here on 25th January 1975, wonderful church and I didn't have far to travel as I lived in Hatfeild Mead, opposite.
What I am most interested in writing about is how Highgate Village has changed so much since my school days, growing up there in the 1960s. Today most of the shops are coffee shops, estate agents & charity shops. But in the 60s there were all sorts of shops. There were 2 newsagents, both on the Haringey (East) side of the High Street, one of them is still a ...see more
My dad, Jack Stanley (born 1937 ) told me of a lion which escaped into a back garden when the train it was on was hit by a bomb. I have found a clip on pathe news so I know it happened, but can't find much more information. Would love to hear more about my dad's tale.
The houses at the end of the shopping terrace were my home for a number of years. They were called Giffords Cross Cottages. They were decorated for the Coronation celebrations. Attended Herd Lane Primary School and then the new school at Stanford le Hope called Hassenbrook. I played the part of Lysander in A Midsummer Nights Dream with the Hassenbrook Players for the Coronation celebrations in the ...see more
Hi, I'm researching my family history and wonder if anyone remembers Ada and Robert Smith. I think they owned a fish and chip shop but I am not sure where in Salford it would have been in the 1940-50's. Ada and Robert had a son William who went off to war and did not return in 1917. The circumstances I have found out were very sad. They may also have been related to Elsie Smith who is the person I am ...see more
Good times. No electric, log fires, paraffin lamps, everything cooked on the old faithful black lead grate which I had to clean every week. No running water - my job every night when I got home from school was to get the yoke off the wall and fetch two buckets of drinking water from a communial pump at the end of the lane. The water got to the pump from a fresh water spring a mile away, this was pumped ...see more
Back in 1958, me and my mate who was 4 yrs older than me also visited Gatacre Hall. I too was overwhelmed by the size of the library and the size of some of the books. I also saw the car. I think it was an old MG. I don't know who told me this or if it is true but I was told he got one of the maids pregnant and did a runner and just left everything. I think he went to India or Africa. I don't know if he returned ...see more
Hello. Just been looking at some of your letters. I remember Jack Hopes farm in Norton, my mate worked for him for many years and also Mr Clowes. I do remember him, I worked down Askern pit and I remember Alan working down pit as well. I started in 1964, after leaving Sutton Rd School on the Friday, went to sign on at Askern Pit the following Saturday. Stubbs Walden - when my mam ...see more
One of my best friends at school (Archers Court) was Lynn Amos who lived down Westcourt (?) Lane in Shepherdswell. I remember her mother died, sadly, I think whilst we were at school ...not sure. She had an older brother. Lynn would be 55 now, like me. I would love to hear of know how she is. Must be the same family.
Alfred Ellington. 01-06-2013. My earliest memorys are during the war when we lived in the rear half of the old Star public house. l would have been 11/12 and l remember helping father put earth on small fire bombs dropped by german aircraft the night Fountains Farm on the Benwick road was hit and set alight. A while later my mum and dad were given No.8 Ashbeach Drove and we moved, by this time l had ...see more
I remember two cinemas in Church Road, namely The Rialto and The Albany. The first having a balcony and the Albany being just one single floor. Does anyone else remember this? I lived there between 1930 till 1942. Family name 'Albone'. I am now 85 and the last Albone in line. I lived on Central Hill - number 178. Happy Days . . . .
I spent approximately 2 years as a messenger boy with the then GPO, based in two gracious old homes along Wimbledon Parkside. Their names were Gayton, and Martholme. I seem to remember the address being No's.74 and 76. I understand that one of these homes belonged to one of the Huntley-Palmer families, and the other to members of the Tate and Lyle families. How true these ...see more
The Tavern is a beautiful place to have a drink or bite to eat. This is because: a) it has a peaceful area around it, and b) it is a stunning building itself!
My nan and grandad lived on Wormelow Hill for many years with my uncle Ossy, they always drank in the Trump; have no pictures only memories.
I haven't been on this site for a while....it's soooo interesting! Does anyone know Pat Williams (sister of Irene and Jimmy) who lived on McCauley Rd? Or Valerie Bricknell, or Rita Hayward who lived on Montpelier Gardens? Or John Ward -- the son of Sid Ward of the removal company? These 'kids' have been on my mind so often, as in.....whatever happened to.....?
Had an after school job cleaning graves. Had the fright of my life when the bell started up.. fled in terror and never went back!
This was my school between 1962 and 1965. My memories are of separation from parents and friends, to live a regimented and mildly authoritarian regime at far too young an age. It wasn't awful ...but not nice either. The M4 runs through the playing fields where I suffered many a young humiliation. Thanks for sharing this picture all the same. Do parents still subject their children to this?
Remembering my childhood memories in Cossall, what fun we had. I lived on The Glebe from 1953 for 50 years. I remember the cold winters, waking up in the mornings with ice on the inside of the bedroom windows, going to Top School and waiting for the little bottles of milk to thaw out, playing on the frozen canal and sledging on a piece of cardboard down the hills where the new housing estate now stands. In the spring, ...see more
Gosh, how the years roll! I used to go to Uxbridge shopping with my Mum in the late 1940's, we used the 455 bus from Denham. I can remember precious tin toys from the Market House. And, yes, when the cash was there, we used to get some of my clothes at Suiters. Windsor Street and the Gardens in Cross Street were gems - Windsor Street had the most fabulous general goods store, the smell of which I ...see more
A dear friend, Miss Reumah Cockshutt, lived with her father, mother, brother and two sisters at 10 Whins Avenue, Sabden. It was a tragic life as her brother Stephen was killed by a kick from a horse whilst serving in the army. Shortly after her little sister fell ill and died and then Reumah's beloved father passed away. Understandably, she used to get deep bouts of depression and decided to ...see more
I need drawings or photos of the gardens at Felixstowe's shelter before it was pulled down.
We lived in Bulford Camp from about 1945 till father left the army in about 1947. Father was in the RAMC and was stationed at the MRS opposite the Kiwi School near to where the Catholic Church now stands. I attended the garrison school in Bond Street till they raised the school leaving age to 15 and we had to go to Tidworth Down School between Tidworth and Ludgershall. We were taken there in a canvas ...see more
I was born in Fishlake in 1952, I was the 10th Henson child born to William and Freda Henson. I loved being in Fishlake as I was free to roam around and everyone knew each other. Summers were spent collecting blackberries with mum's neighbours; mum would bake them into pies and crumbles, and make jam too. Next we collected rosehips for school - we got paid for them. We had no electricity, no hot water and the ...see more
I was born at home in North Street, Stilton; the house is the one on the left, just after the big white one (it was 19 North Street). I lived in many houses in Stilton - 19 North St, 55 North St, 6 Glebe Rd, 14 Norman Drive and 3 Manor Road before moving to Whittlesey. I still go to Stolton every week to see my mother who was a teacher at the school.
I went to the above pictured school. It was called Sir John Talbots Grammar School. One had to pass the eleven plus exam to be accepted there. Don't think John Thomas was even there! Nowadays it is known as SJT presumably standing for Sir John Talbot, the school is far from what it was. I have happy memories and don't think Sir John will be best pleased re his wrongly named school!
I remember being in the Beeches Prep School at the time. Anybody else remember the staff I wonder? Miss Lambert in Kindergarten and Transition, Miss Cutler - Form 1, Miss Reid - Lower 2 and Mrs Cotton in Middle 2. I was 9 when Queen Elizabeth, the queen mother, came to visit and we all learnt to curtsey to perfection. The streets were crowded and there was a lot of excited pupils and staff. ...see more
I recall my dad worked on this house possibly during late 1950`s; he worked for Kingsbury of Boxford as a bricklayer/plasterer.
I lived on Ellor Street for the first 16 years of my life. I went to John Street School followed by Pendleton High School for Girls. I clearly remember the Salford Hippodrome at the end of the street and frequent visits there to see 'The Pantomime'. I attended the Unitarian Church on Cross Lane and after the service on Sunday afternoon would go with my friends to Brays, just further along Cross Lane, for a hot Vimto ...see more
Next door to the outfitters was Glascocks television engineers; my mother cleaned for them. Also had place in Coulsdon.
My grandmother and mother were born at Adwick Le Street. Lucy Simpson in 1916, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Simpson. Lucy married John Sargent from Thyristor and my mother Joyce was born in 1937. They emigrated to Australia where our family is today.
It would be nice to know where my class friends are today and relive them days again. I would like to see Stanley Simms as he was best man 40 years ago.
My parents moved to Wimbledon Broadway in the 1950's. They had a restaurant next door but one to the Gaumont cinema. Between us was a pub and then the restaurant we owned, it was called the Elite Restaurant, if it had any connection to the Elite cinema across the road I am not sure. I do remember riding on the trams in the very early 50's when I was ten years old and they terminated outside the Town Hall then ...see more
I attended the 'boards' training school based at Harold Hill, along with 79 other apprentices during 1960/61... I shared lodgings at Collier Row for the first year of the apprentice training course where we made a basic tool kit and tool box all by hand initially, & from raw steel and drawings, along with relevant machine workshop training. After this we were dispatched ...see more
Our playground was everywhere, such was the wonders of growing up in the area. Hanney Road was lengthy and as is mentioned by others... what joy we had! I collected frogs from the pond with the help of Peter, a Romany gypsy boy, he had great skills in finding them. We would hold frog races on wet days in the ablusions huts. And the big coloured snails were another source of fun ...see more
I remember going to Gwytherin a few times when I was a little girl with my parents and gran in the 1950's. My gran's uncle, Thomas Edwards, used to run the Red Lion a very long time ago. After that his daughters, Kitty and Jinny had it. I never met them, but I remember the village overlooked by the church and graveyard seemed very forbidding at the time. Does anyone have any history of the Red Lion? My great ...see more
I remember living in a terraced Street close to 'Vikky Park' as a child. We used to visit the war memorial after standing in the freezing cold watching my Dad play football... sometimes you couldn't even see the game for the fog. I remember being astonished when reaching up to touch the flags inside the memorial one day, I discovered they were icy cold to the touch and made of stone. I remember I used to stand ...see more
I'm doing my family tree researching the Foster family who lived in Billy Row, Crook in the 1911 census. My mam' s great grandad, Henry Foster, headed the family with his wife Mary Ann. Their children included Robert E Foster who was a dentist and married a Mabel Ellison in 1912. Robert died in 1933 at the age of 43 in The Leases Nursing Home, Newcastle. Apparently Mabel married again and had a daughter, ...see more
Information on the removal of the Felixstowe shelter