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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Search for your favourite UK places and read memories of the local area in days gone by.
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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:
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How the location features in your personal history?
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The memories this place inspires for you?
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Stories about the community, its history and people?
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:
...and hundreds more!
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Displaying Memories 17921 - 18000 of 36915 in total
I lived in Great Wakering (Twyford Avenue) from 1960-65 although my mother had been born and raised there as had her mother and grandparents. I attended the junior school and then the secondary school. The secondary school was the best school I ever attended and was very well equipped for sport, domestic science & technical subjects. Mr Prince was the headmaster at the time. The fish & ...see more
I am wondering if anybody might have a memory of my uncle. His name is Douglas Walters, he was born on 29th August 1936. His father was also named Douglas Walters and they lived at West Brook Cottage, West Brook road in Godalming in 1944. I love to hear from anybody who has any memories or information on him.
I have lived in Stapenhill on the estate. I met a friend there and now he is a part of my life. Had some good times and bad but the best was going to my grandma's for tripe and oinoins and she lived in a bungalow in Stapenhill.
Hi
Does anyone remember the old fashioned style local shop half way down Brook Street in between the Coylers Lane and Belmonth Road junctions?
The shop is still there but in a very diffferent form. The shop I remember was an old farm type shop where the rather large man with a tash served you.
They was the only shop open on a Sunday in the 80's and I remember many a time being sent there for Milk.
Tracey
I read about a contributor who went to Joyce Williams School of dance and memories came flooding back. I recall Mrs Bigwood making all the costumes and her daughter being one of the older girls in the school. I went to Manor Junior with Neil Bigwood. We danced at the assembly hall in front of someone famous but can't remember who. I recall the Whit Monday walk to Southend setting off from the ...see more
I lived on Farm Road behind the police station facing the court house. There were so many lovely old buildings on the Square that I remember. The most prominent one for me was the sweet shop, it had such beautiful glass cabinetry and brass foot rails. Loved that shop. The other was the Chemist on the corner opposite the butchers, it was full of old oak fixtures and huge glass jars.
I saw the old ...see more
While wild-fowling on Frampton Marsh in the winter of 1954, I met McKenzie a well known Poacher. He showed me a curlew he had shot, he had it in a poachers pocket inside his coat, a jovial sort of fellow. He became a well known painter of wildfowl, he was a great friend of Peter Scott another painter of wild-fowl. Kenzie lived at Sutton Bridge.
My father, Michael Vinton, turns 70 this year and I am looking for people who knew him during his younger years, either from the schools mentioned above or out and about in Sidcup. Names of people he regularly mentions are Jack Taylor, Billy Beattie, Colin Friend, Antony Godsill, Fred Nash and Jeff Hughes.
If anyone would like to get in touch please email me on michelle.vinton@yahoo.co.uk.
I lived in Lynmouth Gardens. Names I remember:- Mrs. Hutchings, Head of Perivale Primary School.
Charlie Nevill, Head of the Junior school with his green sports car. Crystal Andrews who regularly showed us her green knickers. Robin and Colin White with Joey Kingston. Malcolm Tucker, Peter Mantrip, Michael Woodington, Robert Benett, David Patchet, Alan Graves, whose little brother Billy disappeared and ...see more
Hi. My old firm, Harry S. Fairhuirst and Sons, were the architects who designed the YMCA in Peter Street. In the 1970's I took over responsiblity for the R & M of the building and this contiinued until my retirement.
Who remembers the bedrooms for single young men coming to the city to earn a living ( girls were not allowed through the doors at that time ), the relatively inexpensive food, the running ...see more
My grandparents, my mother's parents, lived in Vicarage Road, Plympton until 1962 when they moved to Moorland Avenue. As children we always spent our holidays with them and I have early memories of accompanying my father or grandfather in the 1950´s to the road bridge overlooking the station to watch the trains go by. Bells ringing in the signal box and then signals moving into the "off position" ...see more
Anyone wanting some info on Shotton Colliery, join facebook and type Shotton Colliery (I live or have lived there) you will get all the craic past and present on there, cheers Dave
I was in home 8 for over 5 years. Many memories, some good, some bad bad bad. Had the cane off Vardy (the super ) many times. Had a few good friends, if anyone remembers me please get in touch, cheers.
I'm researching my family and have come across a reference to a Catholic seminary for foreign missionaries in Newby Bridge. The person I'm tracing would have been there in the late 1920s. If anyone has knowledge of this place, I would greatly appreciate hearing about it. Thank you.
My memories of a happy childhood: living in the farm house and the horses, goats, hens, geese, dogs that my father bred for the police, and the wonderful summers and freezing winters..and my dad self employed selling wood logs in winter, fish in summer, fresh from north shields quay, rags and woolens, around whitley bay, but it was all to come to an end when they made the new motorway in what would be ...see more
Grinsdale Bridge was built to take road traffic over the railway line going into Carlisle. It was always a driving hazard. The main claim to fame of the area was Ron Morton's Auto Wrecking yard. He supplied a treasure trove of used parts which must have kept thousands of cars running a few more miles. He was in an elite group of two when it came to working on cars, especially Jaguars, the other being my father ...see more
I lived in Farningham, but being a teenager, came to Dartford for entertainment. I also went to Dartford Grammar School until 1959 and my best friends were Veronica Gill and Jennifer Yates - Jennifer's parents owned a little grocery store up East Hill. As a teenager, I hung out in the Greenery Cafe, you would buy a cup of coffee or tea and make it last 4 hours! I was in love with a guy called Jimmy Knight who lived ...see more
I am not sure of the date, but I remember very well being friends with Sheba who lived in this old house with her family, and being taken round to play a couple of times. We were in the same class at Leverington School. Although she probably doesn't remember me, I remember that house so well. It was beautiful. My maiden name was Piper and I lived close by on Roman Bank.
How these shops have got a lot busier now - looking at this photograph, it seems so quiet then. Since this photograph was taken there has been many changes of owners. On the green, next to the old butchers shop, now has a doctor's surgery in front of the garages - the third garage along was my father's - he had it for many years. This area will always bring back memories to me.
I worked further down the road in BHS at this time as a Saturday girl. I thought it was great and earned about £1 which bought my dinner and stockings and bus fare and I still had money in my pocket.
I remember there were two cinemas almost next door to one another. I think the seats cost 9d and 6d for kids on Saturday. We used to go to the chip shop at the top of Gipsy Hill on the way home and use our bus fare for the chips.
I worked in Woolworths in 1961 - it was very Victorian looking in those days .
I was 10 at the time this picture was taken and my friend Ann lived in the shop with the car outside. Originally it was a junk shop and later became a greengrocer's shop. Her grandfather and aunt had a very small grocery shop at the bottom of Hamilton Road.
I was born (1940) and raised in Mildenhall, in one of the old flint cottages in Kingsway, (now the Mildenhall Museum) almost opposite the fish and chip shop (Snushalls?) and after a couple of moves left Mildenhall in 1955 to join the RAF and travel the world. The cottage where I was born ('Fern Villa') has long since been knocked down to make a rear access to the shopping mall in the market.
I am pretty ...see more
I worked in Curtess Shoe shop at the time this picture was taken.
Does anybody remember Muirhead Vatric fatory in Elmers End, near the railway station? I worked there in 1989 (ish) just for a short while, but my Dad worked there during the WW11. Did anybody else work there during the war who might remember my Dad - Frank Hyde? If so would love to hear.
I was lucky enough to ride some some lovely ponies and horses stabled on The Avenue. My mum and l would ride out over Epsom Downs, Walton Heath, Headley Heath and Mickleham Downs. It was a wonderful way to experience the countryside and l remember the sights and sounds and smells so vividly. Sometimes we would stop off at the Sportsman pub for a shandy, tethering up the horses outside, and in the ...see more
My dad (RIP) used to work for Airflow Streamline Far Cotton, Northampton most of his life. 1970 onwards and I can remember standing outside the main gates, waiting for him to sneak me into the factory cos you wasn't allowed, but I was an exception. When you got to the last gate on Main Road there was a prefab of the kitchens, and my dad used to sneak me in that way. I remember the building, and ...see more
I was born inNnorthampton in 1963, and I left Northampton in around 1981. I've seen a lot of changes in Northampton - buildings being pulled down etc.. roads now unrecognisable - a lot has changed to the town.I know we can't stand in the way of progress but it's a shame so many things from the past have disappeared forever and can never be replaced. If anyone has memories of Tralask, Dallington 1968 - Egerton ...see more
I was married in Dunblane registry office on 5th May 1976. Afterwards, we had our photos taken in front of the cathedral, just across the square, to make it look as if we had been married there! Then we went home to our rented cottage in Kinbuck, a couple of miles away, for a party with our friends (we were both students at the University of Stirling at the time).
This is the title of my memoirs that I published in 2010.
I was born in Woodside Nursing Home, Woodford Wells on 30.11.30. My father was Dr.David H Smith, a local G.P. and we lived at 22 Primrose Road, S.Woodford until 1938. We moved to Vicarage Rd. Woodford Bridge, off Roding Lane, where we lived at St.Breock, through the war years (with many never-to-be forgoten experiences- especially the Battle of ...see more
Does anybody know where the Old Hall was in Helsby in 1911? My great aunt, Eva Jane Wharton worked there, it was in Helsby, not Frodsham.
Is there anyone in Frodsham or the surronding district that were related to the Wharton family in around the 1890's 1900's?
Just a little way down Fir Tree Road from where this was taken, was the home and surgery of my childhood doctor - Dr Smallshaw. I remember him as a kindly man, and his surgery smelt of surgical spirit and his waiting room had dark leather chairs.
I have very happy memories of tugging a little plastic boat on a piece of string on this pond. Often sail boats would become becalmed in the middle of the pond and you would have to wait patiently for them to reach the shore. I remember this willow tree very well.
This is the parade of shops as l remember it from my childhood. I remember at the top of the parade, a butcher's shop, Leila the hairdresser (run by my friend's mum Joyce), which was next to the optician, a grocery store, the post office, and at the very bottom used to be the Fir Tree tea rooms. Beyond that was the garage, and then the Drift Bridge Hotel where l spent many a Saturday night nursing a rum and pineapple in ...see more
To the right-hand side of the flats was another parade of shops called Eastgate. Here there was Mrs North, the fishmonger, and Apps, the papershop, as well as a hairdresser and greengrocer and petshop where l had my first Saturday job. Eastgate always seemed quieter and more out of the way somehow. My Dad, would come home to Banstead station on the commuter train from London Bridge and my mum and l would meet him at Eastgate, ...see more
It was just past the garage l think, where Joan Field's dress shop was located, where my Mum used to love to spot a bargain. To the left of the garage (out of view) was Hookham's grocery store, that l remember, before it was self-service and Cornish the bakers that did lovely crusty loaves and gooey cream slices.
This is Nork as l remember it so well. On the left somewhere was the paper shop called 'The Surrey Library' who delivered my Dad's Telegraph and my weekly 'Princess' magazine. It was run by a man called Mr Lacey. When people say they always remember where they were when Kennedy was shot, for some reason it is Nork parade that l think of, so l think there must have been news placards out that made an impact on me.
This is the church in Warren Road where l was christened in 1956, and sat through many a Sunday morning service. The vicar's name was Mr Carey. I used to attend monthly church parades with the Brownies and then the Guides, and my brother was a 'server' there for a short time, bearing the cross in front of the choir as they entered. My favourite time of the year was early November when the 'Parish Market' was held - the ...see more
This photo was taken before 1950. My father built a house by the church where it shows outhouses (now No 76), and the light coloured house was owned by my uncle, and in my lifetime there was always a porch on the front.
At the right hand side of the photo is a huge horse chestnut tree, that stood in the front garden of the house on the corner of Nork Way and Warren Road. As a little girl, l would walk to the shops at Nork with my mother, from our home in Roundwood View as we had no car back then. Sometimes, we would get caught in the rain and would shelter under the tree, so it became known to me as 'the umbrella tree'- it also gave ...see more
My father Robin Anson, was the second son of Violet and Lawrence Augustus Anson. Lawrence was brought up by his grandparents who lived in one of the cottages opposite the Triton pub. His mother Beatrice, was a maid in Bridlington but married in Oldham Lancs in the 1920s. Lawrence had a cousin Reginald, born to Annie Francis, daughter of Mary Anson also of Brantingham (no father's name though). Violet and Lawrie were ...see more
I lived in Canfield Road, Woodford the very last house on the left hand side, right next to the cricket field. I went to the little mission (The Bridge) run alongside the tie factory. I remember Grants the shoe shop, that was also along there, and Days the florist and fruit shop, I think. I went to St. Barnabas School but sadly my mum and dad decided to move, so I wasn't there too long, but made a ...see more
Searching through Scotlands People for the details about my grandfather Mr Thomas Watt McLean, I have found that he was a gamekeeper staying at South Lodge,Kirkpatrick Fleming,Mossknowe round about 1920 to 1922, maybe longer. His wife was Jamesina and there was two sons, one named Ian and the other Tom. I would appreciate any further information about him, as I have a gap from 1919 to 1936 that I am trying to research.
The garage was owned by Mr Cassare, I lived next door to him on Victoria Crescent.
I remember moving to High Wycombe with my Mam and Dad from Wales, I would have been about seven years old. We were coming to stay with my father's uncle and his daughter. Always remember seeing a bottle of orange juice on the doorstep, I had never seen orange juice in a bootle - only milk. My father's uncles name was Bob West and his daughter was called Dilly West, it may have been Dilys. She ...see more
Pip Parkinson's memories are so similar to my own that we could have been on the same holidays. I first went to Shaldon with my parents in 1952 and we returned for one week at Easter and two weeks in August every year for the next nine years. We met the same families each year also - the Lees and the Parkers - there were six children in total and we did pretty much the same things that Pip did, including the mackerel ...see more
I used to go along to Ffynnongroyw to play with my mate Mark Mellor at his parents which was the chip-shop. I remember playing on the beach and the old dock/railway buildings for hours on end. One day we found lots of 'jelly tubes', which was marked with 'explosive' that had washed up on the shore. Naturally me and a guy called Paul, (incidentally, whose house was demolished to make way for the widening of the ...see more
Getting up in the morning, before your mum & dad, meet your pals at the corner, head around Kilarnie Farm going to the River Devon to guddle some trout. We sometimes found a waterhen's or duck's eggs, so we would build a fire, gut the fish on a barbed wire fence, roll them up in mud, put them by the fire, find a can and boil the eggs in the fire. If you were lucky the tatties were ready; you could roast them ...see more
This magnificent brick built church must surely be the finest example of brick architecture in the country. My nephew, Nick Arbin, and his bride Johanna chose it as the venue for their wedding on June 2nd 2012.
It is an absolutely superb Grade 1 listed building that has been the subject of a restoration since its de-consecration. Some eighty or so guests attended the wedding conducted ...see more
My Mother and I arrived in 1974, from a divorced Warrington and the dilapidation of the north-west. Merrily drinking tea and eating custard tarts in the bare miners' cottage living room, sitting in a deck chair and eating from a camping table, food cooked on a camping stove. The 'village children' always formed a free to roam daily mass of fun and squabble and dirt who were always at play in the safety of our rural ...see more
I was born in Rothwell and am a true Rodillian. My birth certificate shows the registration district as Lower Agbrigg, and I was christened at Woodlesford church. I can trace my father's family tree in Oulton back to 1759. My family, going back to that time, were miners either in Rothwell or Oulton. I can remember the pit ponies and have photos of me with them, when they came up top for a few weeks in the ...see more
I have enjoyed reading the 'Memories of Knaphill' contributions, and though I have not lived there myself, my Payne family did, so thought I might share a few of their memories! In the 1890's, Captain George Payne and his wife Eliza, lived in Victoria House, 1 Victoria Terrace, near the Inkerman Barracks. George was a master grocer and baker. He later became a Lieutenant in HM Army. He was one of the ...see more
We rented 14 Fore Street from the Jecks-Wrights from 1971-1973. My husband, was stationed at RAF Bentwaters and he used to work evenings at the Trust House Forte Hotel. Mrs Jecks-Wright would stop by almost every morning and take our daughter, Helen, with her to the market. I was always surprised at the number of people who knew Helen, "our little American lass", when I'd go to market in the afternoons! ...see more
My mother, Gillian Mayes ran a boutique in Northampton throughout the 1970's named Calico Casa. It sold beautifully handmade women's and children's garments, including long flowing gypsy skirts and crocheted tops. My mother, would dearly love to get in contact with anyone who remembers Calico Casa, and has any memories or photos to share. Perhaps someone still has one of her garments tucked away in their wardrobe somewhere. Please get in touch. Thank you
My father Robert Williams, owned and ran a hardware shop in St Mildreds Road from 1963 until his death in 1977. His three sons, of which I am the middle, used to help in the shop when we were not at school. We sold a huge range of hardware and ironmongery, as well as fireworks and 'beach toys' in due season. The shop, which is now an undertakers, was fronted by a very old ...see more
I too, was in Alton Hospital in about 1955 for approximately thirteen weeks, or so I was told. Again like most on here, we didn't see our parents that often as most would have travelled by public transport, mine coming from Tadley (at least two bus rides). I do however remember being out on a balcony of sorts and also the Easter Sunday that it snowed. I can't really remember what ward I was on as I was only ...see more
I went to the little school in early 1960's when Sedge Fen had its shop, and the 'once a week' bus. Happy Days... I also remember the Parr family, who had farm.
I went to the school from 1976-81, my brother from 71-76. Mr Hay was still there as Head of Humanities, I'm afraid he wasn't given the respect he deserved. I still remember his lesson about the three legged stool representing God. I'm no believer but that has stuck with me.
I was born in a house in Oaks Way, which joined Oaks Road. We used to play on the green, but it was too slow and slopey for ball games. Every Saturday we were sent down to cross the railway and get fresh rolls from the bakers, on the other side of the railway line.
I was born in Kenley and went to the Primary school. I used the station to get to and from my first full time job in Waitrose, Caterham. My best friend lived opposite the station in Kita Ruma.
Please can somebody tell me what the building is with the sign on the top of the wall? I have a honeymoon photo of my great grandparents taken on a horse and coach around 1890. The sign says .....ish's Family Hotel. The first part of the sign is obscured. I'd love to know if that is the same building some twenty years later, and where it is - if it still stands.
Yes we were bad lads who went to Stanhope. The first words Mr Bowles said to me was "I tame lions and tigers just like you" then slapped me across the face. Remember that? As for the teachers: Glendenning Mctavish, Mellody Maddison, Stewart Wheeler and Headmaster Bowls and Miss Fergison. Yes I think most of us will remember them, some for good some for bad. The first three years was just growing up. ...see more
My daughter's great aunt lived at Nazareth House in Northampton and died there a spinster in the 1970s. I have contacted them several times but have never got a reply. The lady's name was Margaret Durden and she was a servant all her life after leaving the workhouse as a teenager. I'd love to find out more about her. Does anybody recognise her name?
I lived in Lemington untill 1954 approx and we lived in the front row of the Pit Row houses. We could stand outside and watch the trains going past full of coal and wave to the drivers, playing on the pit heaps, wouldn't like the washing now.
There was a few rows of these houses. All lived in one room, kitchen sink in a small space off the back door and cooking at the bottom of the stairs. The street was called Loyyd ...see more
In 1944 I was three and was placed in a boarding nursery in Newbold. It was managed/owned by Miss Crott (or similar) and her sister. It must have been a large house with a big garden. One day some American servicemen made a goodwill visit and gave all of us a piece of gum, probably to the horror of the Crotts. We all gave it a brief chew and swallowed this wonderful sweet and ...see more
The pictures in Francis Frith nostalgic photos, bring to mind the Cannock I remember. Even the pictures from 1955, the year of my birth, show places I recall. I would go with my grandad and John Brogan, in the old open backed van, to Cannock station to collect the newspapers to be delivered to other newsagents and to the shop on St John's Road. My 'Uncle Reg' would sell the papers from the doorway at ...see more
Can anyone remember the one legged swimmer who use to enter the sea near Trustville Holiday Camp in the 1950's ???????
My grandfather, Frederick William Crossland, lived in Newton le Willows for many years running the village shop. In circa 1962 we attended his 80th birthday, possibly the only time all the family came together as my cousin and his young family moved to New Zealand.
I started at the school in 1969; you can just see it at the end of the Co-op. Loads of memories, too many for here, but it doesn't seem to be a school any more. What happened? My last teacher was Mr Hardington. I have displayed my maiden name to aid recognition if anybody from the class of '75 is around! I remember getting done for carving something in the desk at the back quite deeply. Then we ...see more
I remember moving to Perham Crescent when I was about four or five, with my parents Betty and John Mcrae. I lived at number 29 Perham Crescent. It became a family crescent eventually: Ken and Enid Beard lived at 17, 22 was Alicia and Eric Saunders, 23 was Len and Laura Gellard, 28 was Eric and Peggy Gilbert and I remember loads of others that lived in the crescent. I moved from the crescent when ...see more
This photo is of the shops in Western Parade, Woodhatch, Reigate. Also in the picture, partially obscured by the trees, is The Angel public house. Woodhatch is a suburb of Reigate, about 2 miles due south from the town centre and separated from Reigate by the "Infamous" Cockshot Hill. In the early fifties cars would break down regularly in the summer on Cockshot Hill due to over heating, most cars did not ...see more
I attended (sometimes) Kenyngton Manor Secondary Modern School. I lived at 149, Vicarage Road (opposite the Hare and Hounds). I loved Lower Sunbury. The river, the weir, Wilsons Ferry, the Locks were my growing up and lasting memories of my life. As a very young boy I used to swim across the river to the coal Barges with a whittled piece of wood in the valve of rubber inner-tube of a car tire. My Dad used to ...see more
I lived with my parents and younger brother, Ian, at Glendoll, and attending Clova School where the teacher was Mrs. Conicher with a son named Rab. My dad used to take us to school and fetch us at night. He was Gamekeeper/Deerstalker for the Thorntons who owned the estate and lived some of the time at the Lodge leading to Jocks Road. My best friend was Evelyn Petrie who ...see more
Boynton Hall, near Bridlington
During the war (1939-1945) the French Convent school, run by Catholic nuns, was evacuated from Hull to Boynton Hall.
I remember the day war broke out - my sister was sent to Boynton - she was very happy there.
When I was 5, I joined my sister - there was a small number of boys there.
It was a very well run school in which the interest of the children came first. ...see more
Can anyone help me? I was in the Royal Pioneers in 1955 to 1957 and would like to know if anyone has a photo that I can have a copy of.
I was born in the village and raised by my grandparents. My grandfather was John McPherson who owned the petrol pumps in the centre of the village.
Keith Mallinson.
Warborough Green is a beautiful setting, and I enjoyed my childhood there. We lived in Quaker Cottage next to The Six Bells Pub and my maiden name was Noakes. I was in the Brownies and later on in the Youth Club. Even when I married in 73 I stayed in the village for a few years. I live in the next village now but often return to Warborough because my heart is there.