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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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:
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Displaying Memories 29041 - 29120 of 36960 in total
My great-great-grandparents came over from Ireland in the potato famine in 1840, and they lived at Quarry Cottages in Wideopen-Weetslade. My great-great-grandfather was a stone-quarryman in Wideopen.
I was born and lived in Forest Hall 1952-1968. I had relatives that lived in South-Shields, they owned the cycle shop Hornsbys. I used to go on visits there with my grandparents for tea, I remember we used to go down to the beach, when we were there, weather permitting. I have nice memories of the place. Brenda.
The photo of the main building and swimming pool brings back wonderful memories of the summers spent at Rustington. The TT competitions, childrens activities.. I even remember the Springfields playing island of dreams. Sadly the camp has been demolished and houses built. I'm so grateful to my Mum and Dad for arranging the holidays there.
Just on the edge of the Commercial Road car park is the building on the left where I, and just about every other teenager that couldn't afford to go to London to socialise, spent our Monday nights. I an remember paying 5/- to see Tom Jones just after he'd released 'Delilah'. The place was heaving and nobody could move. There was also a small bar in a cellar area where we drank Cherry B's. There was also a dance hall at the ...see more
Does anyone remember FOLIE? Back in the 1950s when I lived in West Park there was a well known man, usually located at the end of the castle walk near Portnahapple, who was famous for his ability to see into the future. Folie was a very quiet person, well liked, who went about his business and bothered no one. I have been searching the web to find any information about him but so far been unsucessful. Did ...see more
I discovered the swimming pool during a bike ride with a friend and we thought ourselves very daring for cycling through the park even though the park attendants were watching. You didn't have to lock your bike in those days and there were racks and more racks for bikes outside the entrance to the pool. Those lovely ladies in the changing rooms were always smiling but woe betide you if they caught you avoiding the ...see more
I was born and brougt up in the village of Garboldisham in Norfolk and have so many memories of when I was a child - I always felt safe and everybody knew each other, a real village. One of my best memories is of the village shops - the General PO & Stores were looked after then by a lovely mixed race family called the Fades. However, the shop dearest in my memory is the little tiny cottage shop set ...see more
My parents owned Mount Brioni in the late 1950s to early 1960s, I was just a baby, I had 5 sisters and 3 brothers who all lived there. I remember the Doneys who owned the cafe on the beach and spent many happy days on our beach.
Sorry, but this slightly worries me. My uncle was John McFarlane, who for my memory taught at Stainsby School as the Head of Bell house. But I have heard of people describe him as 'Spanky'. I don't know if he worked at High Bell, but it's very possible. Interestingly, I now work for the firm of architects who are building a new school on the Stainsby site.
My grandparents Annie Holland and Alfred John Heeks became engaged to be married at this spot. Both from Cheltenham, they were soon after married and emmigrated to Canada and settled in Manitoba, then finally in Alberta. My grandmother had so many wonderful stories about growing up there.
It appears that my contribution to "memories of Aldershot has been erased. I never lived in Aldershot however I have good memories of the town. Can you explain to me why a contibution in good faith isn't allowed on the "Memories of Aldershot" site. lsmy59@aol.com
My 3x great-grandfather Robert McMeakin was a farmer in Moygashel during the potato famine before emigrating to Liverpool in about 1866. He married in Derrycortreavy church in 1847, right in the middle of the famine, so I don't think he was really poor, as he managed to have 5 children before coming over to England. It was great to read the memory left about the sewing in Moygashel. Being a ...see more
My mother was in the early 1940s called Nancy Southgate, her father ran a paper round from his house. If you leave the village with the church on the left, over the bridge, the row of houses on the left, the last house was where mum was born. Mum was there when an American war plane came down, I have seen the memorial to that event, Mum said it nearly took her head off. I had many great holidays there in the summer, working ...see more
My mother was a cook at Canford School. I remember her Christmas parties being held in the great hall. It was/is such a magnificent house. Oh - happy memories.
I spent my honeymoon here with my husband, Howard. It was truly idyllic and we were the only guests staying at the time. The stay was a wedding gift from a friend of my husband and his mother, we were on a tight budget at the time and would probably not have gone away at all. It was so peaceful and the history of the building made the whole experience even more special. From the uneven floors, to the ...see more
Just before I left school in July 1948 I with my mother, cousin Isabel, and aunt Hannah travelled down from Gateshead to visit my aunt Susie and uncle Don who lived in the dolly houses in Little Oakley. I recall there were a number of prefab houses nearby. I haven't been back since however several years ago I wrote about this visit to the Harwich local newspaper (Harwich and Manningtree) and I received ...see more
Hi, name Theobald, we - mother Ivy, 3 kids (Mavis, Fred, Ivy) lived in North Bank House in 1939, we were evacuated from London with Aunt Ada Smith, Uncle Vic and Aunt May. We went to the village school, went back to London in 1949 or 1948. We had a big goat called Mary, she butted all who came to the house, she ate Gran's flowers and we laugh so much. We always pick potatoes on the farm in the village.
This was the year I started school and my mum took me into the top shop after school for some sweets for being a good girl at school (I think it was called Berrys) and every Saturday my nan came over and gave me sixpence to spend at the top shop for sweets and they would have to last the week. AsI grew older my mum let me go on my own, I never moved from the village and I could do all my shopping there as well. We had ...see more
My great-grandparents owned a grocer shop in Penycae in the 1890 - 1920 era and the name was Thomas Francis, and had eight children, four boys and four girls. One of their daughters married a music teacher called John C Powell of Rhosllanerchrugog. A great-uncle of mine was Fred Williams who was headmaster of a Penycae School in the 1920s. Does anyone remember a family member, grandparents? I should be very grateful to learn some more of my family history.
My grandfather was the Head Gardener at the Grange and my father was his Under Gardener prior to the Second World War. I am not sure of the years but remember visiting my grandparents around 1950. I have a vague memory that they lived opposite a Boys Home in the village. In later years my grandmother lived in a cul de sac of bungalows just outside the village. Both my grandfather and my father were called John but my father was better known as Jack. Does anyone have memories of my family?
1950s and 1960s in Malltraeth... The summers were always long and hot, we went swimming on the beach when we were younger, and as we got older in the 'corbwll'. We went out collecting birds eggs, the odd apple or pear would disappear too. I remember playing cricket where the bungalows in Pen Parc are.
I lived in Britannia House, Garden City from 1962/3-1970. This was one of the Dr Barnado homes inside the Garden City. I went to Roding Lane Infants then Junior school. I then went to St Barnabas Secondary School. I still look back with great fondness on Woodford Bridge and when able to, I visit. I no longer know anyone in Woodford but do visit all the places I knew and liked. This includes visiting two school friends whom are buried in St Paul's church.
It's just great to look at the old pictures of Blakeney's High Street, it seems almost like yesterday when I used to walk from my gran's house in the row of cottages where the railway bridge used to be. We used to go on holiday every year from our house in Haverhill, Suffolk. I remember it used to take nearly all day to travel by train to Gloucester, catching the early morning milk train. My cousins still ...see more
Margaret lived at 20 West View in 1951 and came regularly to Gateshead. She had a friend who lived near Saltwell Park. When I was called up to do my National Service on 4/10/1951 we were pen friends but she stopped writing after a good while. I went down to Washington for the first time in many years in 1979 and walked up to the door where Margaret lived at 20 West View but I didn't knock. 20 years later I was in ...see more
I sang in the church choir here in the 1960s. I loved singing at weddings, seeing everybody dressed up. As it was a small village many of the weddings would have elder siblings or relatives of school friends, who would have been a guest or bridesmaid. We used to get paid for weddings, I think it was sixpence.
The building on the left used to be the school canteen. I remember the crocodile of children, me included, walking down from the school for our dinner.
The white house shown was the house I grew up in. If this photo is 1960 I would have been living there at the time it was taken - how fascinating to see this. The street at the time was the main A2 and very busy. What memories this has rekindled.
I grew up in boughton in the 1960s. This is exactly as I remember it. I used to sit on this bench as a teenager with friends. I am sure we drove the residents mad.
My great-grandfather was Edward Alfred Mannooch who owned the furniture shop at 28/30 Nuxley Road, Belvedere. After his death in 1954 aged 90 the business passed to two of his daughters - Frances Adelaide and my nan, Lily Priscilla who chose to sell toys in one half of the shop and china in the other. Frances (who was known as Flo) was very active in the village with groups such as ...see more
I was good mates with a lad who drove a big white van. He was a salesman and had a fairly good standard of living. I met him while drinking in my local pub, the Springwell Inn, in Wrekenton. One Saturday we went to the dance hall in Chester-le-Street and had a great night as I loved dancing in those days with the Oxford galleries my regular haunt. We met two lovely ladies and found out that they ...see more
In the late 1950s and 1960s we used to stay in a field halfway down the road into the village of Amroth and a lady called Connie owned a small farm, so we called it Connie's field. At first we used to just camp then later Dad got a Dormobile van, then later we stayed in a caravan just behind the pub, it was a Bluebird van. I have so many happy memeries of Amroth - Dad getting us up so early to catch the tide going out ...see more
I vaguely recall my late father and mother telling me that the family made a temporary move from Wallasey, Wirral to Pantymwyn during the Second World War, renting a house (part of a farm) owned by a Mr Jones. It was a vain attempt to get away from the nightly bombing of Merseyside since (according to my late father) they soon discovered that one or more 'dummy' factories had been built a couple of valleys ...see more
I moved to Cowdenbeath from Lochore in 1959 at the age of two. We lived at 3 Alexander Street (house long since gone). My mum, dad and me. I attended Foulford School for one year. I remember the walks home alone every day by the burn. Around the end of 1962 we moved to 49 Arthur Place in the old miners rows and my brother Harry was born. My dad worked for many years at Cowdenbeath Workshops (Jock Campbell). Happy ...see more
Is there anyone out there who can help me with a family that I believe lived in Old Sodbury House at the 1901 census? At this time William Charles Willcox 52, lived with Mary J Jones 40, who later became Willcox. Annis Louise Willcox was 15, and later married Frederick William Bennet. They are all buried in one of the Old Sodbury churchyards, which I'm yet to visit. William died in 1916, Mary died ...see more
After opening Seacroft town centre, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited my family in Kentmere Avenue. I have lots of pictures. Steve Lyons, Canada
My grandfather, Albert Clements, was a coachman at Shendish Stables at the time of the 1911 Census and so may have been a work colleague of William Scott (as posted by Barbara Gill on this site)
Does anyone else have any memories of 'Bottle Alley'? I think it was on the Promenade and it was a covered walk (built in Victorian times, I believe) of concrete encrusted with bottles, mainly the bottoms, in all sorts of patterns. Some of my family lived in Ore and I used to visit as a child. My other lasting memory is of the beach with the old fishmarket and 'the old man in the tub'. He was something of an eccentric ...see more
My wife's great-grandparents were married in the church on 31st July 1870. Their names were Richard Trembath, born 1844, m Elizabeth Thomas by the Rev Henry Stuart Fagan. They migrated to Bendigo, Australia in 1870. Richard Thomas, first of four children, was born Bendigo, 7th Aug 1872. He later became Chair of Bendigo Stock Exchange and later settled in Melbourne and established a stockbroking ...see more
I was evacuated from London to Blewbury Healm-wic Boarding School in 1941 (the thatched cottage shown in the photograph). The Williamson sisters ran the school, owned I believe by their brother, a naval architect (submarines). They opened the school for refugee children, teaching many subjects including Maths, French, English, Literature, Art, Geography and History. My sister and I spent many happy years at ...see more
I am looking for a church called Heringby or St Ethelbert Church where my ancestor Hugh Atte Fenne was buried in the chancel next to his mother. He bequeathed money to rebuild the tower, roof and porch around 1474 when he died. He also founded a college and an almshouse for the poor. Could this be the same church? I have been searching for it. My e-mail is sjlatshaw@comcast.net ~Susan
When I was a child I lived in foster care in Hartest and one of my fondest memories is of riding my bike down Harvest Hill. Many years have gone by since my carefree, days of feeling the joy of rideing that bike and the fun I had going down that hill. I now live in Biloxi, Missouri in the USA on the Gulf of Mexico.
Dad booked a lovely green chalet, with the above name (Sherwood Chalet). He died in 2002, but I remember him saying he paid 30 shillings for the two weeks.T he chalet slept 4. The noise from the steam trains was deafening as they carried thousands of holidaymakers to Rhyl and beyond. I remember the film shows for us kids, John Wayne in 'Apache' etc. The films were shown in a club near the camp. We went ...see more
I lived at Manor Farm and remember the boy next door, his name was Nigel Swatton. I wonder what happened to him. Then there was the Cripps family and Joan Berry, I wonder what happened to all of those. I would love to look around the farm to see how it has changed.
There was music shop on the Thornton Road in the mid 1950s, run by a Ada Lilian Rose who lived there with her three children. It's a bit of a long shot but I'm actually trying to trace someone called William or Bill Black who was a trombone player in The Billy Cotton band, who we think lived in the area and visited the shop around this time. I also know that he worked as a motor mechanic, possibly locally; ...see more
There was music shop on the Thornton Road in the mid 1950s, run by a Ada Lilian Rose who lived there with her three children. It's a bit of a long shot but I'm actually trying to trace someone called William or Bill Black who was a trombone player in The Billy Cotton band, who we think lived in the area and visited the shop around this time. I also know that he worked as a motor mechanic, poissibly ...see more
Hello, my name is Christine Parsons but I was known by my maiden name of Morley when I attended Warnham, it seems like only yesterday I was there. I was sent there seemingly by the Greater London Council as both my parents were sick and at that time found it difficult to care for me, although all turned out well after I left school. What a wonderful place it was and Mr and Mrs ...see more
We lived in Sparkford, but 4 of us were born at this hospital (the last one was born at home in 1956). I am not sure how Dad managed to visit Mum as he certainly did not have a car! We visit Somerset annually but this year we stayed at Barton St David. The small villages with narrow streets were quiet and picturesque, it reminded me of when we lived here in the 1950s. I remember the bread van coming round almost ...see more
HELLO I also lived in Crosfield House and loved it My email address is gayeclifford@hotmail.co.uk and then we could reminisce about our time there I would love to hear from you. MY MAIDEN NAME WAS EDWARDS Gaye
My name is Margaret. I was born in Park Road, Sittingbourne on 18.4.45. My parents were Flossie and Cyril Neaves. My dad worked as a machine man in the Sittingbourne paper mills and my mum worked fruit picking in the early days but worked for Shell Research Station later on. I attended the Holy Trinity Primary School then moved onto Westlands Secondary. After leaving school I worked at Chatham ...see more
Hello, I'm writing from across the Pond. I have been able to trace my paternal ancestor "John Parish" to Nether Hall in 1841. Does anyone have any suggestions how I might get information that is older than 1841? I even have a painting done by one of my ancestors of the ruins of Nether Hall. Cheers, Tom
We moved to Bradwell in 1961, my dad worked for Stan Fowler, we had moved nearly every two years, but we stayed in Bradwell. I've lovely memories of times and people I met at Bradwell, even now I have to go to Bradwell as I put it to charge my batteries up. Bradwell you love or hate, but I loved it - the dances we had at the village hall and at Tillingham, we had live bands, it was great, the times. I walked home ...see more
Can anyone remember the old windmill in a field just off Olney Road? It was blown down in a very strong gale in, I think, March 1948. I seem to remeber that 2 sisters by the name of Little, used to live in a house very close by. It was in the area where the original houses in Mill Road were built
I was born and grew up in Neilston with my twin sister and brother. My mother had also been born there. Although I moved to Barrhead for a few years I spent so much time going up the hill to Neilston I thought it was time I moved back with my family. I'm glad I did. My husband and family love the village as much as I do.
l too was a pupil at Walsh Manor, unfortunately my memory of the school was not such a happy one. After l left l also went to St Michael's in Uckfield, which wasn't much better, although l made some life-long friends there, who l still keep in contact with and see. It would be interesting to compare memories with others who also remember Walsh Manor at that time.
I moved to High Lane with my parents when I was 15 in 2000. It was a tiny old fashioned village, so tiny infact that there was only one house and everybody in the village lived there. There was one village shop (run by Tubbs and Edward) and this doubled as the village police station,school,church and pub. The local mayor was also the village bobby,vicar,schoolmaster and pub landlord. The local fire brigade was ...see more
My memories of Trefdraeth in Bodorgan Mr Lewis the vicar - respect and fear. Washi Bach - the tramp - dread The Grocery van coming round on a Friday - fantastic, fresh bread, picking from a selection of penny sweets from the enamel bowl. The lady butcher coming round in her van - her red lipstick Band of hope group in the school room in Bethel - practicing singing with Marylin for the Church ...see more
My parents met in Hurley at the church; they were thrilled when we were able to take them back there on a visit many years later.
I was brought up in a girls' Catholic orphanage, ran by nuns, St Joseph's Home, Carmel Road, Darlington. I was six years old. My father had died so we all got sent to homes. It was ok, I suppose, lookingback. I had a good friend (not in the Home), Gloria McGann/McCann? I often think of her and would love to get in touch with her. God willing, she's still there - I'm 60 at Christmas, so it's a shot in the darkm but if ...see more
Not that I was around in the 1890's, but that is when building of 55 Cottages was started in CHEQUERS LANE. Built for workers at SAMUEL WILLIAMS, who were based at DAGENHAM DOCK, which is where my father, BERNARD MILLER, my Aunt, Florence (Flossy), her husband Earl Cecil Barringer and my grandfather John Miller, all worked. I am fortunate enought to still have Floss to talk to about 'The Lane' and at 94, she is ...see more
I have extremely fond memories of holidays staying here, for some years with the family who were great friends of my mum. There were endless cats and two goats called Sue and Jenny. Life was very different from our life in South London. I have many photos taken over the years, the most fond one is one taken from the main road, as was then, as one approached the hill from Whitchurch and looked up to the left, to ...see more
I was at Rashwood from approx. 1961 and my name was Sue Andrews. I well remember the teacher who had a farm as I also went there. Mrs Boffey was the teacher and I think the farm was called Cherry Trees and was at Tardebigge. I didn't know I remembered that! Mrs Boffey was Welsh and she taught us the Welsh National Anthem (now long gone from my memory). I remember some sort of competition to win a 'raggedy ann' doll ... I ...see more
My name is Elizabeth Bonner, but then it was Elizabeth Esnol. I lived in Cottage 3 with Agnes, the Mcdonalds and Anne, Margaret, and Josephine Murray, and Aunty Irene Munzy, Aunty Anne (House Mother), and Mrs Mac the cleaner. The absolute best years of my life! So happy! so loved! and so safe and protected from the outside world in the most beautiful place I ever lived in with the ...see more
According to the 1891 Census, No. 24 was the Chemist, No. 23 was an outfitters, and No. 25 was a Drapers
I worked with the ponies and donkies in the mid to late 1960s. Sometimes we would take them home to their field via Seagate Road, there would be about 4 or 5 of us riding ponies and the donkies would follow but quite often they would stop and chomp on people's flowers, especially roses. They would lean over the walls and tuck in, many a time someone would come out and shout at us. Sometimes if the ...see more
This is the Hospital where I was born
A churchyard is a place where families can be near their deceased loved ones, a calm and beautiful place surrounded by trees and flowers, but that is not the case in Bamford churchyard. The grass and weeds are taking over so it is impossible to walk through the graves without being entangled or tripping over the fallen headstones hidden in the grass. The odd grave is trimmed and tended by ...see more
I can't see what all the fuss is about, about having an 'inland seaside', its a bit 'old hat'! US LOCALS had a real one, well over 50 years ago, it was great, wherever you dug there was almost pure white sand, where was it? BEACON LAKE, we used to swim or just walk across to a lovely clean 'beach'. You outsiders probably think I'm 'a mad liar' but if our calm little town wasn't ruined it would still be our 'getaway'. ...see more
My great-grandparents Lived at Oak Farm, Oak Lane, Kingswinford. Their name was Bradley.
My ancestors lived in Jetty Street around 1890 and at one time had a chocolate shop at No 8. Next door at No 6 was a shoemakers, I believe (now called Jacob's Rest). The family name of my great grandmother (Emily nee Newman) and great grandfather (William Harry) was Gower. My great great grandfather, John Newman was involved in the building of Cromer Pier and he was married to Jane Jacob in 1848. My great grandmother ...see more
I first visited Trevose and Mother Iveys Bay around 1969/70 with my grandparents. I was 7 or 8 on my first visit. I have continued over the years to visit, first with my husband-to-be and sudsequently our children, and we will return as a couple this year, our boys having grown up and talking of visiting this wonderfull place with their partners. Mother Iveys Bay and the surrounding area is truly in my soul and I ...see more
Nobody seems to have mentioned memories of the grammar school. I attended the school during the Second World War when it was shared with a London school who were evacuated there, we used the classrooms in the mornings and the others used them in the afternoon. I remember taking Avril Harrison, a classmate to the cinema one day - my first daring encounter with the opposite sex. Nothing became ...see more
We lived in a council house adjacent to the Star Brush factory where my father worked for some years before we moved to Peppard. While our house was very modern by some standards, we had no electricity for some years, but we did have flush toilets. I remember the beech trees being hauled into the factory for cutting up for making the backs for brushes which were then sent to London to be shaped and the bristles ...see more
I have fond memories of our family holidays in Chapel St Leonards in the 1950s, it was also where some of my relatives lived and worked. I remember the giant fish that was washed up on the beach and I have a few old black and white photos of my family, including my grandma, sitting on the steps at Chapel Point, my grandma all dressed up with her coat and hat and my dad in his suit, ...see more
I have many happy, if rather boozy, memories of Downderry! I first went there in 1983 until my final visit in 1996, where I had 12 fantastic holidays there, most of the time in glorious sunshine. I went with my parents each year (apart from one) and I was amazed by the beauty of the place. That stunning sea view as you take that sharp hairpin bend on the road from Torpoint is just purely magical, and is something ...see more
We were one of the first families to move into St Mellons. My first momory was the smell of the building site and my mother taking me to Trowbridge nursery. I was knee deep in mud. And my mother still lives in the same house.
My mother, father and I moved into an old Victorian public house in Shipley. Life was different living in a pub and travelling miles to school in Bradford.
My great-grandfather had a gift shop, number 1 The Wharf, St Ives, and an artist studio.
I have fond memories of Earl Shilton around the 1950s. My first school was in Wood Street where I lived in a little old cottage, now knocked down. I remember celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's coronation at the school, wearing a red, white and blue paper dress my mum made for me. We moved later to Weavers Road where I attended Weavers Road School. I have memories of 'Harry's' (or the flea pit) picture ...see more
Having been a resident of Calne from 1944 to 1962, I often walked across this little bridge, mainly on the way to the recreation ground. There used to be (and possibly still is) a plaque commemorating Dr Priestley's discovery of Oxygen in this place. I believe the pond was situated just behind Harris' factory but when I last visited the town there was a supermarket there.
When I was 15 I left Bletchley Road Secondary Modern, and went to work at MOSSES, in Fenny Stratford, I thought it was great to earn £3. a week, I done a lot with that, I used to go to lots of 'dances' a week, there was the PALACE at Wolverton, twice a week, MURSLEY village on a Friday, WILTON HALL, on Wed and Sat. We had a job deciding where to go, it was mainly WILTON HALL that won, because it was in walking distance ...see more