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 2321 - 2400 of 36890 in total
CATERHAM HILL - High Street and Chaldon Road
I lived in 20 Chaldon Road and 5-7 High Street, Caterham Hill as a young child from about 9 years old. I went to the Infant school in Chaldon Road. On Friday mornings a Siren was used to attend school, I think an air raid siren. The Boys Brigade used to meet in the evenings in the school playground. I joined the Youth Club which was held in a hall in Chaldon Road, ...see more
This picture stirs memories, I stayed in two of the flats above the shops in the 70/80's, & also lived in a house in Merton Road, which is just around the corner from the library - now a betting shop.
First, 229a - the 2 bay windows above the van belonged to the flat, which was above an old fashioned ironmongers & a hairdressers. The latter now a vape shop. The front room was huge, ...see more
My Father Jack Fitch was born 1939 Manor Park. He trained at East Ham boxing club and went on to become ABA Heavyweight champion twice in the early sixties.
He also worked at the Royal Albert Docks ,I remember him taking me one day and being on the Quay side as the cranes were unloading the ships, dangerous for a kid of about 8 but those were different times.
Would be great to speak to anyone with photos of East Ham Boxing club Royal Albert Docks.
I used to live in Church Lane, opposite the ‘Nipp Inn’ cafe, having moved from Reeves Avenue (at 8 years of age in 1954), via Fryent Way (at the age of 12). I left Church Lane in 1971 and moved to Devon to get married. I have lived Australia since 1972.
Brian Hoare. 23/05/2020
This is the church where I was christened in 1946.
Kingsbury was my home town until l moved to Australia in 1972.
I was a pupil at this school from 1951-1958. The main building built in 1932, was extended at the west end (obscured in the photo by the trees) in 1954 and at the east end (asymmetrically!) in 1956. This photo shows no extension at the east end so this photo must be pre-1955 (and I think pre 1954). Futher buildings were built behind the school in 1957. School started at 9.15 on Monday and finished ...see more
The little white building in the middle is the Lamb & Flag. I spent many a happy lunchtime & evening there in the '80's. It was a Marstons pub, run then by Don & Sheila Jones, an Irish couple who I think had been there since the early 1970's. It had a tiny front bar, a slightly larger rear one, & a yard. You could always tell a new customer, as they would try & put money in the free ...see more
The photo of the Crown took me back to the late '70's/early '80's. I was a young Civil Servant, & the Crown, with it's real ale, was my offices favourite haunt at lunchtime on payday. As we worked flexitime, 2 hour lunches were not uncommon, or finishing work early on Friday. Wadworth's 6X & a big, shared bowl of chunky chips was a popular lunch option - I was friendly with one of the bar staff & she ...see more
I was 4 when this was taken and lived in Limes Road (the turning off to the right in this photo! Whenever I go back, everything seems so small!!
I went to Les Wildes on a Tuesday with a friend in the sixties.We walked there from South Ealing.Our favourite dancing partners were Patrick Daley and Alan Carpenter. Good memories from there. Sandra Plummer
I was born on this caravan site in 1945. The Second World War had just finished and the barbed wire for coastal defences was still coiled on the sand dunes. My father was a Tank Driver in the Royal Sussex Regiment stationed at Walcott in case of a German invasion. My mother actually lived on the Caravan Site. I would love to receive any information about the site or area around it.
Ron
I am wondering if anyone remembers this shop at 113 Beulah Road, right opposite the school?
I am trying to find some pictures of the outside of the shop as obviously now it has been replaced with flats.
The reason I ask? From 1968 to 1977 it used to be my home and the shop run by my parents.
If anyone has any pictures maybe you could please email me david.richards27@yahoo.co.uk
Many thanks
David
I was a pupil at Tongue School in the 50,s If I remember rightly the headmaster was Mr Farrington. Has anyone else have any memories to share. I lived on Oldham Rd. We had a Haberdashers. My maiden mame was Whatmough.
Hello all,
My name is Emily and I am currently writing up the memoirs of my grandmother, who would have been known as Cynthia Davies or Miss Davies at the time. She says she was a teacher for the first years, and taught a class of forty girls at the annexe in Balham, where the infants were in 1960-61. She also got married and then became Mrs Birkett. Any information or memories you have would be greatly ...see more
My Mum's family are Delieu, Albert, Fred, George, Eileen, Alice.
I remember the fruit stall, when I walked past to go to the Poly, I was always thrown a piece of fruit to take.
My Dad's family used to run Karl's Cafe, Wellington Street, where my mum used to work and met my dad theee
Can anyone remember the name of the church next to Boarshaw Primary School where we went to YPH.
Vaig viure a Aston Cantlow durant 4 mesos des del desembre de 1968 a casa dels meus amics David & Jo Edkins. Sóc de Barcelona i volia millorar el meu anglès. L'estiu del 2018 vaig visitar i dinar a The King's Head però vaig enyorar el del 1968 com també la meva época de juventut. Vaig anar-hi amb la Jo però mai més he tingut notícies de David Edkins.
Translation from Google below, Ed.
I lived in Aston ...see more
Today I found through old telegrams that my mother and father had their wartime wedding reception at the Cadena Cafe in Worcester I was so pleased to see this photo.My Mum was working at the munitions factory in Blackpole and my Dad was building aeroplane shelters that was in Octiber 1942.
This is the Offington Corner roundabout where the A27 and A24 diverge. I cycled round it every school-day for eight years.
I was born in Catley Lanehead in 1955 and lived in the back of the shop at the top of Smallshaw Road with my mum and dad. My nan Agnes lived across the road from the Chapel further down and not long after we moved a few doors down from her next to The Black Dog pub. I remember open doors in the street and freely going in to play. One day when my mum was having a chat and a brew with the lady in Brown Hill farm I went ...see more
I moved to Groombridge with my family in 1960, My dad worked as a railwayman. We lived in the Station House. I don,t really remember the early years because I was only 18 months old when we moved into the village. I had three Sisters and 5 Brothers me being the second youngest. My earliest memories are around the time that I started School in 1964, I attended St Thomas primary in the village. At ...see more
I was born above Beston's Stationers' shop, Station Road in 1953. The shop is on the left hand side close to the crossing gate and the bus stop was outside.
I attended St Augustine's C of E Primary School from 1957 to about 1960 when we moved to New Haw where I attended the old Primary School, long gone now, in Woodham Lane.
I can still remember living there and the small Fire Station ...see more
I sang in the Choir of All Saints when I was a Treble from about 1964 to 1967/8. Mrs Marjory Bird was Choir Mistress and her husband Ken sung Bass in the Choir. Mr Fisher was the organist and during my time at All Saints the Vicar was Father Norman Kelly who came from Northern Ireland.
I was good friends with Ian Morrison and his sister Trudy who both sang in the choir too. ...see more
My mother lived in Beaufort street 1913 - 1915,
Mother passed away 1997 and at some time had written these memory s.
Her next door neighbours were the Keys family related to Bishop Heddle who had a drapers shop in Southchurch Road (peculiar peoples bishop)
She remembered being taken to a protest when the people from the local sweet shop were taken for internment during the war the Pamphillion family ...see more
I remember my Mum and I staying here in the early 60s. Every evening the caravanners from West Sands would come over to the ballroom at the White Horse to be entertained by Mick Urry and his orchestra
I was born in Great Bridge in the 1950’s in Slater Street, I went to Fisher Street School until I was eleven. I remember Irene Edwards sweet shop and Teddy Grays on the the canal bridge just before the market. I loved Teddy Grays herbal tablets..My mom used to be the ice cream lady at the Palace cinema its nickname was ‘the Bug and Scratch’ I’ll leave it to your imagination why.From when I was five ...see more
I lived at 3 Dilston Drive with mother Margaret, father Taylor and brothers Jeff and Taylor. Anyone out there?
We went at least couple of times to Mountfield Caravan Park back in the early/mid 60s. I remember the distinctive and exciting smells in the site shop. We used to walk down to Colwell Bay with a picnic and spend the day on the beach. When the orange Townsend car ferry went out we would wait for the wash to come in, and jump over the waves. We would get Hubbly Bubbly from the beach kiosk - there were ...see more
Mum and I moved into Westbourne Rd in 1943 and I went to Feltham Hill School until I was 9 in 1946. I have picture of the Sports Day there in 1946 showing many children and parents. If anyone would like to have a copy to recognise themselves or friends get in touch: cdmayhead@llexan.com
Clive Mayhead
This was the first holiday of being away from my home in Hatfield Heath. We all went to church on Sunday, & I think this holiday was subsidised by the church to give local children a holiday which they wouldnt otherwise have. This was in 1960s. I was about 6years old?
Hi my grandparents lived in the house where the girl is standing - maybe my mother - I can't tell. There was a terrible fire that took out a lot of those houses and the ones behind. My grandparents lost almost all their belongings and had to live in small area behind Webber's shop for quite some time till Orchard Gardens were built - they were called Mabel and Jim Yeo. I was a little girl at the time of the fire. My ...see more
I lived in Mill Road during the war years until I was about 18 years old. We used to walk to Purfleet Primary School every day which was quite a stretch. I seem to remember that the infant teacher was a Miss Pond who I believe later became Mrs Paige. I remember Mr Springham was a head master at one time. We used to go down Tank Lane to collect leaves to take back to class to draw and paint.
I was a paper boy at ...see more
Hi David Rowe ,only just found this site ,so apologies.
Re W&C French, you may have remembered my father and my grandfather working at Frenchies.
My dad Ron Dent ,drove cranes and brought the first 20 ton mobile Coles crane to W&C ,he also drove the old Fodens ,which only went so fast ,so they used to throw them out of gear down hill so would even faster ,then he was on the Leyland or AEC 8 wheelers ,with ...see more
Many of my relatives worked here in this mill.
I am also trying to trace a photo of Albion Street, with the Brewer's Arms pub, which was at the rear of the White Hart.
I went to Tring Park (Arts Ed back then) from 1985 to 1991 - many memories of the beautiful mansion
Daniel Evans was my Taid and Thomas John Evans my father. Don Thurlow knew them both well. Many happy times spent at Tan y Marial farm. My name isMyra Prys- Owen.
I was born in Cowes, so many lovely photos! I left for Canada in 1957, Vancouver Island. Sidney, BC, reminds me of a Canadian Cowes. I know all the locations that you display. Things changed a bit over the years, but on a visit I bought a lovely sweat shirt at Atkeys Chandlers, and stayed at the Solent Inn. I saw the old Denmark Road School is now Condos. We used to go to the big air raid shelters in the ...see more
Hugh was born and bred in Glenboig; he was the son of John and Mary (Starrs).
In 1941 he joined the army and on 1 May 1945, seven days before VE day he was killed in action inPotrau, Northern Germany, in what was probably the last infantry battle of WW2. He left a wife, Hazel, and three very young daughters including twins.
I have no knowledge of the events that followed except to say that Hazel had very ...see more
I went to Kingsley between 1956 and 1966 teachers I remember were ,Miss Edwards ,Miss Fowler , Miss Sparks , Miss Davies ,Miss Knight, MissStradling, Mrs Hayle, Miss Willett ,Miss Wise. Mrs Nicholson. I remember the house gardens (down the left hand side of the “ playground” where the climbing bars were)we all had to help in , that may have been a punishment for losing house points. I was in McKenzie I remember the ...see more
This scene shows the road I lived in for 25 yrs from birth in 1947 at The Old George ,the lady in photo stands outside my Uncles builders yard “ A R Fear” Good times
I lived with my brother philip at 112. For 10yrs. 1953 to 1963. Lesley barley was my best friend. We played in the bombed out houses. Very happy memories. Jenny Dodd
Hello Christine,
I have only just seen your memory and I couldn't believe it. I remember playing with you at my house on Rykneld Street. We had a lot of fun in the village like you say, especially down by the canal. I also remember you taking me into the village police station to show me the jail I was fascinated with that. I now live in Lichfield having left the village when I got married. I still see Sally Fletcher ...see more
See - https://threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com/2020/05/my-ve-day-celebrations.html
So many memories of Rayleigh! We moved to Upway in 1953, no. 18, one of the first of the new bungalows, which my dad designed himself. I remember neighbours - The Wyatt family next door, and the Snodes up the hill (who later moved to Bull Lane). There was a corner shop where we would get our 2/- Neapolitan ice cream brick and Corona (different connotation then) lemonade and Lucozade (1d back on the ...see more
I lived in Junction Road, Romford from 1946 until 1954. We lived in the last house but one next to the Railway and Railway Bridge. There was a long drive leading to the bridge which was slightly uphill or downhill whichever way you were travelling. Together with my brothers and sister we used to speed down the drive on a home made go-cart and of course there was the inevitable accident. Me flying off at the ...see more
My parents ran the youth hostel at 26 east cliff until it moved to London road
I was a pupil at West Bank Primary School in Widnes. I was in the infants in 1954. I loved this school. I can't remember the name of the HeadMistress at the time but John Wilcox took over when I moved up to the juniors. My maiden name is Maegan Edwards. My dad ran the Angel pub. Some of the pupils in my class were Francis Forbes, Margaret Waring and Lynn Hewitt.I am trying to remember some of the ...see more
Hello,
Do you remember Gordon Hodges who worked in Charlton service station in the 60s, he was a very descent chap and very helpful.
If you do please get in touch.
We bought our house from Fred and Mabel Crossley in September 1970 for the princely sum of £4700 ! ( My father thought I was aiming a bit too high).
I never forgot Fred as he told me that he had been offered £9000 but he took to me and my future wife .
I remember meeting Jane briefly as I would come to “The Birches” to dig over the garden .
Jane was friendly with Denise Bryant through horse ...see more
This photo is of Epsom Road before it meets the High Street.
Thank you for the correction - it has been passed to our Archivist. Ed.
Must have visited this store. We spent many wonderful holidays in the early 50's staying in the caravan belonging to one of the friends of my parents.
I lived here with my mum and dad, James (Jim) and Marjorie Smedley from 1963 to 1974. Before that we lived at Tower Mills, Southwold Road, Wrentham where mum and dad had a millimg business I went to the Primary School and later the Lowestoft Grammar School. The building looks a lot different now with the exposed brickwork. I didn't realise the building was Grade 2 listed!
The Sandeman Family moved to Four Elms in 1950. We moved from Bexley Kent.
Winnie and Richard were my parents my brother Mark had just been born in September.
We moved to Wendy's bungalow, just on the corner next to the post office.
john Allman's butchers shop was opposite guarded by a lime tree, traditional protection from flies. Hands Stores was on the other corner with a baker attached. Brownings shop ...see more
I remember as a child being taken by my Uncle Aubrey from Greathouse farm in Southwater to the Cattle Market in the Bishopric, which I believe was paved with wood cobbles, to protect the cattle’s hooves. Can anyone confirm if I’m right about this, or is it’s figment of my imagination. I was born in 1939, but I can’t remember wether it was during the war or just after, does anyone know which year the cattle market moved from the Bishopric up to the station Yard?
Robin Charman.
I remember me and my brothers were all dropped off at the Cinema in South Harrow on a Saturday morning. It used to be early, so we could go in the sweet shop to get all our sweets. You could get four sweets for a penny. We used to be given sixpence each somgotmquite a few sweets. Our parents used to do the food shopping across the road. I seem to remember there was a Fine Fare shop. There was big metal ...see more
I remember going to the Tudor Cafe during the War Years in 1940+.I was about 10/11 years old at the time. It always served excellent food even with food being rationed. Toasted tea cakes was one of my favourites!
I lived in the nearby village of Newton where my family ran the Ye Swan Inn for a number of years.
This house "the Firs" was owned by Mrs Edwards. My dad was stationed at Wethersfield Raf base and my mum is originally From Lincolnshire. We filled this house up with love and people. Every weekend there were people staying over from on Base...and we had some of the happiest moments of our lives. I went to the local school and my two brothers, mike and Steve went to base school. My parents went to the "swan" on a regular basis and we became a big part of the community.
In the mid 50`s, I delivered groceries on a trade bike to places in Glen Faba, from Noyes shop, in Rye Road, squatters had moved into many places and were customers. They kept Alsatian dogs to keep anyone in authority away, they also scared me stiff, so much so, I asked my father to drive me there. He was fortunate enough, to have a small Austin 8 car, to take me there and take the delivery to the ...see more
I was born in 1950 in Brampton Grove on Barn Hill and spent a lot of time playing in Barn Hill park especially around the pond. We used to toboggan down the hill in the snow and I remember breaking my front tooth on the rail of the toboggan. I have had a crown ever since! I was a real tom boy and loved climbing trees there.
anybody remember forest road west with metal staircase to our bedsits ? No doubt all pulled down now but big high houses for us to live in while studying.
CKStudents
I lived at the very top of Ladyhouse Lane, in a farm cottage with two staircases, two large rooms and two bedrooms, one of which you had to pass through the other. No bathroom in those days just a tin bath in front of the fire.
I played cricket on the playing fields at the bottom of the road, and also at Armitage Bridge, Went to St. Pauls church with the lovely long driveway. I attended Berry Brow County ...see more
I lived in West Road next to the Park from 1948. i was born in the house. Spent half my life in that park, often running away from Parky ( the Park Keeper)
The last Parky I remember was Ken. He had two Alsations ex Police dogs and watching them perform had to be seen
I remember the old MillHouse but as I grew up is was deralict. I remember rumaging around the site before it was built on. Happy days
How on earth did I remember this morning (3rd May 2020]that I was there for a celebratory tea. V.E 1945?
I checked whether there had ever been an establishment named Boomerang and to my surprise found this photograph.
My mother, now 102 has no memory of it.
I even remembered my dress, a pale primrose cotton printed with tiny red v’s with puff sleeves
How old was I? I was born in July 1942 in Cwmcloch Isaf Beddgelert ...see more
I went to Standon School between 1959 to 1965 they were very happy days, Mr Butler was the Headmaster at the time I remember him playing cricket in the play ground with the boys some dinner breaks.
I also remember going on school journeys in 1964 and 1965 to Norfolk and Somerset, Mrs Cowan was one of the senior teachers, I know she made a collection of the books that everybody had who went ...see more
remember it well I worked part time on week ends and holidays when I was at school for alan I washed out the tins that the ice crème was put into I also worked at his café at the lidio swimming pool in droitwich making and selling candy floss alan used to drink in the Worcestershire vaults also called the tap my mother may haydon was a big friend of alans and he used to come to our our house for a drink at the railway crossing sadly gone now really good times . derek haydon
My name is Alan James I went to bosworth junior and infant school about 1957_1962then quarles secondary school for boys if anyone thinks they may know me please get in touch with me ajromford@hotmail.co.uk
My father Sid Ford used to take the Muirhead swimming club. He did it for years during the 1950's. My father was the Assistant Suprintendent of Beckenham Swimming Baths and worked there for forty six years until he retired in the 1970's.
My father was the Docter there in the 40s we lived in one of the farm cottages (Hollywood cottage ) I went to Denne road primary school, We moved on to mitford, then to kent
I was so excited to read the memories of Bob Day's shop. I spent many summers in Cossington. Bob Day was my uncle and I really enjoyed spending time with him in the shop especially being in charge of the penny tray! Unfortunately I don't have a photograph of the shop when it was a shop and would love it if anyone who has one would share it with me. It has been many years now since my Uncle Bob ...see more
I was resident in Plymouth up until 1963 when I moved to Exeter. However, between 1959 and 1963 I was a Red Cross volunteer at the Plympton Ambulance Station and did duties at weekends. The old Devon County Ambulance service was provided by St John Ambulance and British Red Cross and the latter ran the Plympton station.
The original station was in the stables of a large house next to where a modern ...see more
Does anyone recall the pole squatter who spent nights/ days in a barrel perched high overlooking the Arbouritum. It was around 1955. How long and what was his name. Was it the same man that did the same outside the Spring Cottage in Shelfield??
The other barbers shop was harky.leathems,same as wee Paul,short back an side weather you wanted it or not.he always left you in chair jumped up on bench to nosey out into kingsway.
Hello everyone, My great grandma was a business women in the transport industry back in the 1940’s. Unusual for a lady to have such a position back then. Her family name was Reilly, she had about 6 children one being a girl. Most of the boys worked in the brickworks before moving to transport the bricks around the place. My grandad was Matthew Reilly, one of his brothers was Tommy who would be about 70 ...see more
Hi, I'm Les Bouchier I was born at 83 Durham Road Tottenham now called (Kitchener Rd) I was the last of the family, 4 girls and 2 boys born to Minnie and James Bouchier. In the early 1950s our family moved to Dawlish road due to overcrowding in our previous house! I went to Down lane infants school and attended the same junior school followed by Parkhurst secondary modern school. Then after various jobs ...see more
I have just been going through some old photos of my dads. He grew up in Ambleside in the 1930’s and 1940’s. His dad was the local bank manager I believe. He lived in a house called Merewood Cottage. I was wondering if anyone knew where this is. He also mentions a house called Bank House. Any information anyone could share would be very welcome.
My parents ran the wine merchants Castle & Co ( became Victoria Wine) and I was married in August 1969 at St Peters Church. We lived just down from the Court House and I had my wedding reception there. Walked along the cobbled lantern to my wedding!!!!
Was Valerie Whittle and now Val Spencer-Watkins and live in Australia now since 1981
My earliest memories are of Aldringham. I was born in the Police Station on Mill Hill in 1937, the youngest of three children. My father was the local policeman, P.C. James McGuire. I often wonder now how my mother managed, with three children under five. There was no water electricity, gas or sewage. Water had to be carried from a well 100 yards down the road. When my father had the audacity to request that ...see more
W e kids called it 'The Double Mountains' I lived there during the war and in winter we sledged down it
dangerously and in summer in cardboard boxes which lasted about two goes. One of the boys broke his arm and lost a tooth there.
I was born in and lived in Beaufoy Rd from 1950 to 1966. Great memories of loads of mates, Runouts, Cowboys and Indians, football and cricket in the road as well as bonfires in the road on bonfire night. Remember the fire brigade having to put them out later on. Off Licence and phonebox at the bottom of street and chipshop at the top (Wiggy??) It seemed like a mile long. The courts the 137,45, 77, 77a and b. Walks to ...see more