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.
Search for Local Memories
Search for your favourite UK places and read memories of the local area in days gone by.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
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.
Subscribe
Join the thousands who receive our regular doses of warming nostalgia! Have our latest blog posts and archive news delivered directly to your inbox. Absolutely free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Displaying Memories 19281 - 19360 of 36887 in total
I personally do not have any memories of Combe Down, but I do have my mother's memories and a photograph of the Convalescent Home, Combe Down, where I was born! In 1941 my pregnant mother left London due to the bombing and moved to Newton St Loe to stay with her parents, dad was in the air force. Shortly before my birth she was admitted to the home which was apparently being used as a maternity ...see more
My aunt Dorothy Whitlock was a collector of seashells and black sand. When you enter the Castle Inn you may notice on your left hand side the mural created by her of shells and black sand. I myself now collect shells mainly from Sanibel Island in Florida and use them with a combination of calligraphy to create pictures.
I was born in 4 The Nursery in 1944. My gran Elizabeth Bayles, my mother Emma Bayles. I went to Millbank School at age 4yrs. I can remember my first teacher there Miss Watkins. My Mother worked at Lockeys buses as a bus conductor. I remember Walter Wilsons shop. Reas my half cousins had an ice cream shop next to the WMC. The Nursery was Gaunless Terrace. It was changed due to the amount of children that lived ...see more
I only have great sunny memories of Halifax as a child.
A lot of these photos in the 1960's show the sunshine... just how I remember it. My granddad worked on the buses and in the photos he may have been on one of those! His mate on the buses was called Arthur Crowther and me and my brothers used to call him "Half A Crown". I went to Trinity School and the teachers were great. Much more humane than the ones I had ...see more
We lived in Wisteria Cottage - my married name was Bowers then - which adjoined The White Horse Inn, which you can just see on the left towards the end of the picture. There seems to be another building in front of our house! Not sure what that is. Our three boys loved the house we bought; three levels of interesting and ancient rooms dating back to 17th c., and we would often walk the few ...see more
Every year, from about 1943 until 1951, I and my brother Robin used to spend at least a fortnight of our summer holidays with our grandmother (Edith Holmes) in Falmouth Street.
We spent hours in this park, if you swung the swings to the full extent you could look over the wall into the stables. There was a paddling pool there, but not sure if it was the same. We used to attend church at St. Mary's and my parents ...see more
I am Reg Bright, born in Roman St, Seaforth. Moved to Thornton around 1951,courted Sheila King, Muspratt Rd, Seaforth 1953 ish, married her 1958. We now live in Bardsey near Wetherby - moved here in 1967 for the company Chadburns Bootle. Retired 1999. We both have lots of memories of the area - Sheila went to Waterloo Sec Modern, I to Christ Church Boys then Bootle Tech. We got married in St Thomas's (now houses). ...see more
I was born in Fiddington in 1947, in a very old thatch cottage, so I was told. we moved to Northway in 1950 to a new house in Elm Road - number 6. It was a three bed and living room and kitchen, we felt very pleased compared with the cottage. My gran was using the front room for herself and me and my brother and mum and dad used the rest of the house. We had good days and bad as we were still on rations. ...see more
Living on the Barlby side of "the bridge" it seemed to dominate your life. If you had to catch a train, you set off a good deal earlier than normal in case you were "Bridged" ie in case it had to open for river traffic. I was born the year this photo was taken and my grandmother had a pram built for me at Silver Cross in Bradford, which was shipped to Selby by rail, and it is said it was so big they had to widen the ...see more
As a small boy, my father-in-law Derek Munson was evacuated with his siblings to Crawley. They stayed at a farm house (which was later owned by Peter Butterworth - any further info on this would be much appreciated) but used to go to Tillgate Mansion for their baths once a week. He was very sad to hear that it had been demolished.
I spent a lot of my teenage years in "The Cottage" as it was known in the family with my Aunt Ella (Jenkins). Her Father in Law was Sir Thomas Jenkins OBE, Mayor of Burton 1910.
Shortcuts through the Church, The Crown bowling green next door giving acces to the canal - used to drag my canoe through to the rage of the bowlers ... was rethatched in about 61, I think, by Carl Bull a thatcher of note. Him and his wife ...see more
I went to Meonstoke School in 1976, soon after moving back to Hampshire from Cornwall. We lived for a while with my Gran Tricia Howe at Govers Cottage, who still lives there today! The School always smelt of Germolene!
I was born in Windlesham down Broadley Green, 30th June 1973. I have memories that make me smile from ear to ear, playing in the corn fields, going to the jumble sales up Chertsey Rd Hall, playing man hunt up the rec. Fruit and veg man driving his grey van down our road, shortly after the ice cream van on a Sunday. My mum was born and bred in Windlesham, as were her mum and dad and so on, all buried now up the ...see more
I lived in Harold Hill from 1952 till the early 70's. My first school was Bosworth Junior, the Headmaster, a nasty old man named Gridley and our form teacher the great Miss Worril. When I left there I went to Quarles where once again the Headmaster was an overbearing bully named Mr Laws - the only salvation being the Deputy Head who I believe was Mr Gerard. Our form master was a skeletal man and the science ...see more
I was fortunate to spend time during the war at Chevithorne Farm, the home of the Gale family.
I have some photos and would be happy to share them and memories.
Cordially
Bert
Terry Watson worked down the old pit as a coal hewer until his untimely death in January 1964 at the age of 53. I used to have a drink with him and his long time friend Jimmy Walker who was our Lodge Chairman at the time. We spent Sunday mornings in the Stirling House on Saltwell Road. Terry lived only yards away from the pub. Another Terry Watson was married to my cousin Pauline May many years ago but sometime in ...see more
In the 50's / 60's I remember visiting Aunty Agnes , Uncle Trevor and Derek Hughes who I believe were relations of my Mum's. Uncle Trevor was in a male voice choir .....
Aunty Mary, the sister of Agnes lived in Llysfaen with Uncle Joe (surname Hodge) - We visited there often and always went home with a car full of Lilac from her garden. I remember climbing a mountain opposite their house . Maybe it was only ...see more
I am trying to find out about number 12 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent. It was at the High Street end - a small alleyway led to a couple of small houses behind the shops. There was a toy shop called Bakers opposite St Marks Church. The houses were demolished in the 60's but there is now a gate where the alley is. My grandparents lived here, Walter and Rose Jarvis. They had 2 children, Tom and Dorothey. They ...see more
Mr McKnight my old dentist. Durigs much missed.
Being aware that our family name was unusual, I was told by my brother, Philip Glentworth, that a village called Glentworth existed quite near to his home in Gainsborough in Lincs. Quite soon after I visited Glentworth, and looked around the church graveyard, looking to see if our family name was there, none could be found. We were both born and brought up in Hull; our deceased parants were George and Jone ...see more
I was working at Hamsterley colliery in 1963 to 1967, pony driving and putting tubs. Putting was sometimes hard work. All the pitmen were honest and good workers, pit ponies were our friends as they made the money for you, they say hard work never killed anybody, but go and look at any graveyard in northwest Durham and see the ages that they died - all for coal. The lads that hewed the ...see more
My parents Phyllis Bramley of Falmer Road and William Davis of 1st Avenue Bush Hill Park were married in St. Andrew's Church in the 1930s and both I and my sisters were Christened in St. Andrew's Church in the late 30s and early 40s. My parents, once married, purchased a house in Hillside Crescent, close to Hilly Fields for the sum of 400 pounds. It is quite frightening that coming from two large Enfield ...see more
My sister Roberta and I used to walk from Ellington Colliery to the school at Ellington Village. My Nanna would wrap our dinner money and savings money in a handkerchief and see us off from the top of the first row. In autumn there was a tetty field and a turnip field along the road and we would watch the women and kids picking vegetables and then they would carry them to the horse and cart. The farmer would ...see more
Grandparents lived in Farrington Gurney and my father was born there in 1922. Grandfather was Rees West-Gaul, father Geoffrey West-Gaul, does anyone know the family?
I'm sure my mother has pictures of this place - didn't it used to be called Fredley House? My grandmother worked there in service, probably about 1930-ish.
If anyone could shed any light on the subject I would be most grateful.
Hello,
Does anyone remember Fred and Queenie Brown? I know Fred worked at Sunnydown around 1950 and I think he was an auxiliary fire fighter during WW2. I would be grateful for any information no matter how small, thank you, Julie.
What memories I have of that lovely church and the drive up to it, lined with Horse Chestnut trees, in full bloom in the spring, and bearing all those beautiful conkers in the autumn. I was Christened at the church. My sisters married there, and both my parents are burried there. together with my eldest sister and her hushband, also my nephew. I haven't been back for years, but will never forget it.
My memories of the above are vivid in my memory, I remember Shawhead from about 1959 when we first moved there, when we moved in there was an old railway line that ran in front of the shops which then were the Co-op, Bennetts, and Leslies, the only one left now is Leslies. There used to be an old wooden bridge just opposite Leslies that took you over the railway line to "the other side" of ...see more
I was a Cub and Scout Leader with the 3rd Sevenoaks Scout Group in the 1970's and remember a hot summer camp in 1975 at Broadstone Warren. It was at the end of July and we took the younger Scouts off to Summer Camp at this National Scout Activity Centre in the Ashdown Forest while the older ones went on a more adventurous (and expensive!) trip to Switzerland! We had a ...see more
Does anyone recall the curious window on Boots the Chemist? The glass was curved and one could not touch it, always a highlight after crossing the barrel bridge passing Lidiard the butchers.
I worked in Huntingdon and this picture brings back so many fond memories, I left in 1958...
My husband and I lived in South Woodford for four years. We are Americans and were working with an American Mission Agency. We would visit the Chariot Restaurant in Loughton frequently and the food was delicious. We have tried to search for it, but it must have closed down. Have they renamed The Chariot, or is it non-existant?
I started at St. Peters School South Weald in the Infants class with Miss Clough in 1950. She was a lovely lady. My first few months were very worrying as I was a shy only child and I cried a lot as everything was so new. However, I was soon made welcome and found a friend who was a bit older and she took care of me! Yes, having read other people's memories, I also recall the toilets and ...see more
Though the summers were often cold and the on-shore wind very cold, it was great fun working as a lifeguard in the late 60s and early 70s at the Rhos on Sea Swimming Pool. In the mornings after sweeping the terraces and pool and emptying the litter drums, it was off to Sheard's deli in the village for milk loaves, filled with salad coleslaw and salami for breakfast and lunch.
Crowds ...see more
Ryhill Reservoir was the place where my sister Mary took me in the summer months, mainly on Sundays, and at that time there was a small shop which sold ice cream and pop and also fishing nets attached to a bamboo cane; there were plenty of sticklebacks which one could capture and put into jam jars. There were also rowing boats where one would have to pay about five shillings (25 pence), not as though either of us had any ...see more
I also remember on the way home from Leverington Primary School, sometimes watching Jack Henery in his blacksmith's shop. It was really good watching him shoeing horses, and making and repairing things, bikes, farm tools etc.
Does anyone else remeber the blacksmith's shop? It would be nice to know your comments.
There is a story about a ghost that haunts St Nicholas, Laindon. The story goes that centuries ago, a young woman on leaving the church on the arm of her new husband, tripped and fell down the steps outside the church. She broke her neck and died. Legend goes that her ghost watches every wedding and she tries to trip up every bride. True or not? I don't know, but doesn't it sound good!
Bill Miles was in the Meonstoke football team. I seem to remember an older Miles with a peg leg. I think Bill lives nearby still. Ask Ernie Styles who lives in Harvestgate Cottage, a Stocks Lane.
Ernie Styles and I started work on my stepfather and mother's farm (Patrick and Annette Lawford) when we were both 17 (1957). There was also Reg Whittear (mechanic/tractor driver, John Spreadbury and George Langridge. Bert Tyrell did the pigs. Shep Frampton, who had known Patrick at Lichfield Farm, near Sutton Scotney, must have been in his 80s. He walked up from the village daily and was known to ...see more
Apart from a weekend visit to see a football match some ten years earlier I had never been to Glasgow so you can imagine that it came as something of a shock to be offered an attractive job in the city in 1975. My prospective employers were keen to impress me so they flew me from Heathrow to Glasgow Abbotsinch airport and put me up for two weeks at the Bellahouston Hotel on the Paisley Road. I worked in ...see more
I was born to the sound of German bombs in St. Helier Hospital in 1943. I lived with my parents and grandparents in Leominster Road. That was a good place to live because of the 'forest' opposite' . To us little'uns it was a huge great place to play, I don't know whether it's still there. I think it was called 'Morton Green'. My first 'girlfriend' was a girl who lived in the corner house in Merrivale Crescent. We ...see more
I always played on Barnies Hills, there was a big hill, we called it the hill, it had a big dip on top where you hid which we often did when we heard our mams shouting us to go in. Then there was the rafts we made to go sailng. In winter you could skate on the thick ice.
I remember Caddy's, that was our weekend treat. I tried to get one of the rounda seats that went around a pillar. The ice cream in pop was my favourite "ice cream soda" with the long glass and long spoon. Then a look in the toy shop window next door. Can't remember the name of the toy shop.
I am currently collecting records of memories of members and relative memorabilia of those people who attended the youth club at West Byfleet. If there are any members out there who would like to contribute to the exhibition that will be held sometime in April onwards, please contact me at arfairlie@ntlworld.com or phone me on 01932 343618. Thank you. Alan Fairlie
Which years did you live in Gisburn??
My Grandfather had a riding school and livery stable just off Mathew Bank near to Jesmond Dene, I was born in Newcastle not far from the Blue House on the North Road in 1936 but my family moved to Richmond Yorkshire when I was six weeks old.
My mother worked in Fenwicks on Northumberland Streetin the early 1930s.
I had many a happy holiday staying with my grandparents, saw Pantomimes at the Empire also ...see more
I lived in Richmond, Yorkshire and Darlington was our nearest large town. I remember buying second-hand comics in the indoor market in the 1940s.
I also did a 6 month stint as an apprentice mechanic in Motor Deliveries Garage, in 1952/3. It is no longer there.
I trained racehorses on this beach from 1967 t0 1970. My stable was behind Beadnell House Hotel and I and my family lived just off Swinhoe Road in a cottage which was just behind the Dunes. Happy days. I also spent many a family holiday in Bamburgh and Seahouses in my childhood, I had an uncle who was Golf Pro at the Seahouses Golf Club in the 1940s. I was born in Newcastle, my family moved to Richmond, Yorkshire in 1936 when I was 6 weeks old. My dad trained racehorses in Richmond unti 1951.
My wife and I lived in one of these Lodges from Jan' 1965 to July 1967, when I held the post of Stud Groom on Dunsborough Stud. which was the property of Charles Hughesdon. He was married to Florence Desmond who was a well known Music Hall artist and Film Star in the 1930s and 1940s.
I was a pupil at this school from 149 to 1951
Holidaying at Morecamble Holiday Camp July 1956 was the beginning of a holiday romance that has lasted 56 years to 2012. Walking from the Camp along the Promenade at Morecambe, my two girl friends and myself were adopted by 4 young guys from the Camp. My partner on the Amusement ride has been my husband now for 52 years in June. We were inseparable for the 4 days before home. Then Colin went in the RAF for his ...see more
I was in Mill Chase school and I remember students' names like Dennis Osmond, Bill Phillips, Bill Pike, Christopher Bowers, Sam Moory and Susan Moory, Sandra Dent, Sandra Johns and Elizabeth Coyte. How I would love to hear from anyone of these or anyone from that great time at Mill Chase. E mail me please, Steve at norththompsonradio@hotmail.com, I own a radio station now in Canada and and am ...see more
My memories of Heswall children's hospital?
An imposing building. Actually very intimidating to a youngester. They did not get 'person centred care'. I can recall a nurse on the the Cleft Pallete and Hare Lip ward smacking a Welsh lad on his bare bum in front of the whole ward as he had thrown a blange (these were inedible) out of the ward window. Unfortunately it landed on a gardener who ...see more
My friends, the 'Bartups', lived at No.1 Lycett Road. John, the father was an accountant who worked for ICI. His wife Isabella (Bella) was a Scots lady from Kirkcudbright, I believe. Two children John and Jean. John went to the Wallasey Grammar School and I think that Jean went to the Girls High School. After Father John died, they moved to Leasowe Road. That would be about 1960.
I lived in Moreton, at 12 Stuart ...see more
I remember the Blitz and losing family at 43/45 Belville Street. I was only 7 then didn't fully realize the overall mayhem of these two nights in May 1941. My dad moved us all to New Lanark where we stayed for two years before returning to Greenock. Old enough then to chase troop trains and watch all of the great liners come into the Tail of the Bank.
I loved school. There was one teacher, Miss Castle, she lived with her sister in a house attached to the school. One day Miss Castle gave us all a small Union Jack flag and told us to stand beside the school wall as someone important was coming by and sure enough along came Winston Churchill, we all waved our flags and he gave us the V for victory sign. The purpose of his visit was to inspect a railway gun (The Bosche Buster) which was housed in an old railway tunnel further up the road.
Hello to anyone who may be interested. It was delightfull to chance upon this site. I lived in Storrington from approx 1952 until 1968. The first picture of Storrington shows the cottages which my parents bought in the early 1960s. At that time we moved from the corner sweet shop in Church Street to what was known as 31- 35 Church Street. My maiden name was Murphy. Parents were Michael and Pauline Murphy. The ...see more
I remember starting Tettenhall School. I remember playing hide and seek and hid in the coal shed at the back of the school then being dragged in front of the whole school at assembly for having a black face and clothes from the coal.
I remember a bus crashing through the fence off the Wergs Road which we could see from the school playground.
I remember taking a sledge all the way from Claregate to ...see more
I am searching for photos or maps as it was such a happy and carefree time. I have three photos.
I attended this beloved school from Sept.1979-May 1980. It was called International University High School or I.U.H.S school. It was a co-ed back then. I was 15-year-old Canadian boy and was dropped off there by my father. Great memories of the grounds, sunny, foggy, and at night. The girls never walked the grounds or into town alone. I sure grew up fast. The whole after dark experience (walking around the school at ...see more
My uncle Joe Wolff was an American Soldier during WWII and spent the summer of 1942 stationed in various places in Wiltshire including Tottenham House. Although he was a private he was very well educated with a degree in History and English. He was invited to visit the college during his stay and wrote fairly extensively about it. I will enclose some of his observations from ...see more
During the summer of 1942 my uncle who was an American soldier lived in several place in the Savernake Forest and eventually was billeted in "the big house" (Tottenham House)and kept a wonderful journal. I will cut and paste a few short passages as space is limited. "Yesterday we did a little moving and as a result I’m now living in the Big House in a small room, one of the two hundred odd. I suppose ...see more
This photo may have been taken from Wraysbury (on the opposite of the Thames from the Bells of OUSELEY) but the Bells of OUSELEY - not Ouzeley - is, in fact, in Old Windsor.
Today I had a wonderful experience at the National Trust property, Arlington Court. The stewards on duty allowed me to play their grand piano in the main hall and it was a wonderful instrument made by Collard & Collard around 1830 - 1850. The staff opened the piano lid, and the tone sounded superb! I played a piece from memory as my sight reading is not good and thoroughly enjoyed myself - a memory to remember!
Ouch! Someone mentioned the old Library in William Street. On the way home from Langley Grammar a few of us used to go to the Library to do our homework before travelling on (me on the 460 to Wraysbury). Outside the Library was a newspaper board and I vividly remember that the board showed that the Manchester United team had been involved in an air crash. Having seen the great Duncan Edwards play and, like a lot ...see more
The four pinnacles on the tower were removed after WW2 because a bomb dropped in Wraysbury Road made them unsafe. I was born in '45 (and baptised in St. Mary's) and was still living in Wraysbury Road in 1960. I do not remember the pinnacles being demolished so this photo must have been taken much earlier as they would have been removed in my early childhood.
My Mom and my aunt were placed in care in St. Joseph's. My mother never spoke of it and my aunt only started telling us (my sisters and me) shortly before she died. We believe their mother and grandmother were financially unable to care for them. Their names were Agnes and Eleanor. They were probably placed in care around 1929.
I can remember fishing this bit of the Welland many times, but not as early as this photo was taken, we (being myself and my brothers) were allowed to fish it when Mrs Mitchell was then the owner. It was an unbelieveable treat as the river then was full of really big chub and no one was allowed in there. My dad Jack used to be painter and job man for Mrs Mitchell, I'm not sure when he started working for the ...see more
I was born in Nottingham in 1947 and left when I was 19 to join the RAF where I stayed for 25 years. I have some happy memories of the place - the Palais on a Saturday and the boat clubs near the Forest ground where they used to have live music in the early and mid '60s. Looking back they were death traps and there would have been very little chance to get out alive had there been a fire. It's a miracle that there ...see more
I went to school in Love Lane from1969 /1974, my first teacher was Mr. Cowell, others included Paddy Rice, Mr Stowell, Mr Morris, Mrs Abbey, Miss Close, Mr Napier, Miss Norman, Mr Mumford. I am in contact with 2 girls from my class, Susan Butler and Jane Malpass,. I knew the Carpenters from Church View, when I was 15 I went out with Albert Carpenter ('Chippy'). I also knew Lennie Tubby, Tommy Hearn. I was ...see more
I was born at Bakers Gate, (which is oppsite the "research station), in 1939. I moved away in 1959. My parents continued there until they retired and went to live at 3, The Terrace in the village.
Bakers Gate was my world, until I went to school at Pirbright in 1944. There were no other children to play with, my cousin Margaret came with her grandfather sometimes, they too lived in the ...see more
I have heard about the beautiful countryside around Greenock from an old friend - contact now lost. He moved from the Gorbals with his family when he was 12, in 1961ish. I think his father worked in the shipyards. Does anyone remember Steven? He left school at 16 after 'O' levels and went to work in the tax office at Cumbernauld but found office work not to his liking. I knew him when he lived in Surbiton in ...see more
I was stationed at Kenley in the RAF and used to go ice skating nearly every day, walking down from Kenley. I still ice skate, I have been to all the London ice rinks and Hampton Court and my regular one at Guildford. I am 84 next week.
Further to my initial comment:- I was at Valance in 1949 and was there as a delicate child, having been transfered from another such school "Wrens Warren Camp School" which closed down. The head teacher in 1949 was a Miss Hoad who was very fair but strict. Mr Punch ad been the headmaster at Wrens Warren and possibly still had a connection with Valance. When I left Valance (about 1 year there), my ...see more
I remember January 1951, my second year at Croydon Parish Church Infants' School, I was six. I was beginning to wonder where about a quarter of the class had gone. Then I fell ill and Dr Schofield (not sure which one, there were two brothers, Dr James and Dr Robert) said, "It's scarlet fever!" I was taken, with my Ration Book, to the Isolation Hospital at Waddon. I was there three weeks, and found out where my ...see more
Immediately on the right here was Eton College's Rectors House (?), mum's mum was cook, she was a WWI widow with 5 kids and walked daily from a railway slum in Stoke Gardens Slough. When mum left school in the 30's at 14 and was too young for work the rector's wife said to gran to bring the girls along (Nell, mums older sister), mum was "tweeny" (in-between stairs maid) and hated it. Rector took them all on a "holiday", ...see more
Dad always called this the burning bush, I assume it was the first public lighting they'd seen.
Langley, We had our wedding reception here in 1968
Back in the 1950's I can remember living in No 1 Bertrey Cottages, Single Street very near Berrys Green. I can remember the Berrys Green Post Office where we could buy sweets by spending as little as a farthing. A little greengrocer shop opposite the Old Jail pub and all the old characters that lived in that area. No 2 The Webbs. No 3 The Fovarges. No 4 Wakefields. Others in the Street that I can ...see more
Walked past here daily to W Penn Secondary school, rough but the first school to take any interest in me.
