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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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!

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Displaying Memories 32081 - 32160 of 36925 in total

1794 The year my direct ancestor was born in Bisley. It was not until I found my connection with him that I discovered that my roots started there. Abraham Davis for that was his name, was born, lived, married and came to a untimely end in the Bisley area. His death occurred on the 29th September 1851 when he accidentally fell in the canal at Rodborough and drowned. I ...see more
This is a photograph of two tramcars, Nos 6 & 7, at the passing loop above the Great Orme Mines. They are painted in the Dark Ochre livery which was only used for a few years after the upper line's opening in 1903. The haulage cables are clearly visible, these being of seven eigths of an inch diameter. They roll above ground on 12 inch sheaves and are guided by 'top hat' ...see more
The Great Orme Tramway is split into an upper and lower section at Halfway station. This photo is taken on the lower section at the middle passing place, situated on Ty Gwyn Road just above Black Gate. At this point, car 4 takes the outer rails to pass car 5 which passes on the hillward side. The roadway here is 'pinched' [ie it suddenly narrows] and has on occasion been the scene of ...see more
This is the old mill on the banks of the River Avon at Bathampton. It may have been operational at this time but by 1930 it was labelled as disused.
This is a view of the Bathampton Tea Gardens which occupied the old buildings of Bathampton Mill, and the picture is taken from Bathampton Bridge. On the O.S. Somerset sheet XIV Revision of 1930 with additions in 1938. The buildings were bought by my Uncle and Aunt, Stan and Gwen Burge, in 1933,  using money given to them by Stan's brother Alec who had a winning ticket on the Calcutta sweepstake. In spite ...see more
This view is a photograph just in front of the Ferryboat Inn at Shaldon - a popular haunt for the sailors and oarsmen taking part in the annual Shaldon Regatta.  As part of the week long programme of entertainments there was an evening of morris dancing and mumming by the Ferryboat Inn. It was a warn and dry August evening and crowds filled the tables on the beach in front of the Inn waiting for the ...see more
Towards the end of the Second World War my parents met and married while on active service in Egypt. As soon as my mother knew she was expecting me, the Royal Air Force sent her back to England on a troopship and she was welcomed by her mother-in-law who she had never previously met! They had a flat together in Walm Lane Cricklewood so when it was time for me to enter the world they found ...see more
My family lived in Hillingdon from the beginning of ww2 until 1953 when we moved from Biggin Hill. Our first home was a top floor flat in Pinewood Ave which was not ideal for a family with 4 children and then Grandmother descended on us with her 2nd husband. Amazing to think of todays children being prepared to share a bedroom with 3 others, however when child no. 5 came along we moved to ...see more
I was born in Norheads Lane before ww2 but sadly had to leave at the outbreak of war. The bungalow I was born in was called Burghill and my grandparents lived nearby at a house called Sheridan which has now been replaced by townhouses as far as I know. I also had relatives further down Norheads Lane. I haven't been down there again for many years and even the last time in 1980's it had changed beyond recognition. ...see more
I moved to Osterley from Hounslow in 1969 aged 5. Earliest memories include Mrs Thomas's sweet shop, the greengrocer shop and the fish van that I had to buy cheap fish from for our 2 cats. Riveting stuff eh?! Spent many happy hours playing in Jersey (rock) Gardens and visited there earlier this year. Not a lot had changed although the tennis courts were in a terrible state(and we wonder why we can't produce a decent ...see more
1948 was the year I was born and lived at 39 Taylor Street, ajacent to Thornley Crescent, School Street, Garden Street and John Street. In 1953 I attended the Thurnscoe Infants School on Houghton Road straight across from Stone Brothers garage I remember that some of the teachers were called Miss Davidson, Miss James and Miss Rose and the Headmistress Mrs Brown. 1955 came around and I moved up the ...see more
The caravan site on Lime Kiln Lane in Brid is still flourishing - I had no idea it had been there so long! We are fortunate enough to have a place there for our grandchildren to enjoy the full benefits of the sea-side. Its a very happy place.
Penhale Camp is situated towards the northern end of Penhale Sands and the Ministry of Defence owns this which is used as an army training area. In the summer of 1969 I had just transferrred to 39th Signal Regiment and was billeted at this camp which I remember as really great! Excellent summer weather helped of course. Off duty hours allowed time for sand, sea and surfing!! ...see more
Butchers Coppice. The site is still in good use by Scouts, the facilities have been vastly improved. We hear the Scouts from my house enjoying themselves, no matter what the weather.
My family purchased and converted an old single decker bus for us to have holidays in. It was parked on a small piece of land opposite the church. An old Gypsy caravan was parked just inside the gate to the land, I was told that it had to be burned as it was so rotten and infested! I can remember as a very small child staying in the bus and fishing in the stream which ran next to the land we were on. My family used to ...see more
I was so pleased to come across a site talking about 'my' family village of Hessenford. I was also evacauated to Hessenford with my mum and spent my 1st birthday there. This was the first of many August holidays with my Great Aunt Dorah and Great Uncle Dick (known as Farmer & Mrs Nicholls but who's surname was actually Nicholas) who were the tenant farmers of Hessenford Farm. The white porch of the farmhouse is ...see more
My father had holidays in Heacham in the 1920s. I visited as a young boy in the 1950s staying in an old railway carriage on the beach side of the station. My favourite activity was sitting by the station and watching the trains, rather than going to the beach. Mostly these were hauled by D16s - what a pity none have been preserved. What a pity  the line to Hunstanton was closed in less enlightened times - it ...see more
I can remember Coronation Day in Shillingstone, the weather was not settled and there were showers, I can remember watching the crowning of the Queen on a TV which was in Mrs Fudge's house at the lower end of the village. In the afternoon we had a parade of fancy dress and walked to the recreation field where a fete was held, with skittles and side shows. During the evening ...see more
In the forties, we would cycle past this pond on the left then turn left towards Gt Budwarth [think that's how you spell it], passing a small woodland with sandy banks, eventually arriving at Gt Budworth, down an avenue of trees to the school on the rightl and the Church on the left. I recall a Wishing Well at the bottom of the hill past the Post office.    Mrs Dishman, taught the little ones, she was ...see more
My greatgrandfather Patrick Matthews, his second wife Mary Ann (Smith) together with their daughter Rose sailed on the maiden voyage of the Majestic to New York in April 1890. Patrick was from Cootehill, CountyCavan, Ireland. In 2005 I found his descendants living in Florida. My husband and I flew to America for a holiday and met our new cousins.
My mother was born in Wallasey in 1931. Maureen Brown. She married a US Air Force Sgt. Jim Humphires in 1955. In my early teens we were stationed in Germany and my mother, brother and sister lived with my grandmother (Mary Brown) in the early 70's. We all attended school there for 6 months. I have never forgotton that experience. My mother was able to get back home several times but became ill and passed away last year. ...see more
My grandmother, Ellen Jane St. John, owned a cottage/cabin/ex-WWI Army Hut, appropriately called The Hut on Westover Road and it was my job when first arriving from Southamton in her Standard 8 car to cut the grass. Being a large area, for my young size, it took half-a-day to complete the task. There was no electricity, the place being lit with paraffin lamps when night fell. Besides walking along the beach to see ...see more
My mother was a waitress at the Royal Hotel from c1945-1952 Does anyone remember her? Her name was Rachel Jacobs k/a Ray
Orange rolling, Good Friday afternoon up the 'orange pit'. There used to be crowds of people all chasing little oranges down the hill. Never quite sure what you did if you caught one, I'm sure it wouldn't have been fit to eat! Is this peculiar to Dunstable? I know of cheese rolling, where they chase a double gloucester cheese down a hill in Leckhampton (near Cheltenham) but haven't come across anything else similar elsewhere.
My first memory of the Civic was that awesome ceiling, seen for the very first time at a do hosted by the then new Evening Post newspaper, for all the delivery boys & girls. Probably not long after the hall opened. The entertainment was none other than the Bonzo Dog Doo-dah Band. Next, the heady days of the 70's when the Civic was one of the best venues for what has come to be called Classic Rock. We ...see more
1960. As young lads most of us had started work and Friday/ Saturday night was our gang meeting night. Summer hols were good fun as the bay used to get a lot of girls, swap girls as we called them, on holiday from Sweden, the swap was a girl from the bay area would exchange family in Sweden and vice versa, but it was our swap if we had a date with one and did not like her, and would always meet in the fair ...see more
I have just started to trace my family tree and found that my mother was born in the pub in Patrington market place in the year 1922. The family name being Melbourne. Does anybody have any memories of the people who owned that pub around that time or even a little later. It would make interesting reading.
My best friend Barbara Harris, who I have not seen since I was 14 years old. Finally last week we re-united, thanks to my Auntie Olive who lives in Andover now. The years just rolled back an I recognised her and she recognised me, we could not stop hugging and looking at each other. This is a friendship which has survived an absence of 40 years.
I visited this site and was intrigued to find pictures of Slinfold. One of them, the village hall, recalled the time when I belonged to a village group called The Stane Street Players run by Mrs Knibbs. We performed plays there and at other village halls nearby. Not far away, on the other side of the road, was a sweet and tobacconist shop run by a Mr Pescod.. Further down on the same side was a ...see more
Does anyone know whereabouts in West Overton this cottage was and whether it is still standing.
I spent many a summer holiday as a child (between 1976 and around 1983) at Taylor's Rock on Beacon Road, Woodhouse Eaves. I still consider it to be the only place I have ever truly felt at home and I miss it dreadfully, even now! I have incredibly fond memories of Broombriggs Cottage Farm, next to Taylor's Rock, time spent playing in the Beacon - there was the most ...see more
This photo appears at the back of Essex Living Memories (pages 112 - 113) and in "I Remember When ... Memories of Britain (page 134)".  The two ladies in the foreground with the prams appear familiar - The lady on the left may be Mrs Peagram with her son Colin in the pram, the lady on the right could be Mrs Hockley with her son, Kenneth.  The couple with the child in the pushchair outside the butchers looks ...see more
I have found from doing family history that my great grandfather George James Andrews died at the Cornish Arms Hotel on 25 Dec 1919. If anyone has any info about the hotel at that time I would love to see it ,or hear from any relatives of the Andrews family.
In 1967 I enlisted with the Territorial Army and served five years with the Royal Corps of Signals. My basic training included learning to shoot with the 762 self loading rifle on the ranges near Hightown. My unit was the 42nd East Lancashire Squadron of the Lancashire and Cheshire Yeomanry which became part of 33rd Signal Regiment under the Army reorganisations about that time. I ...see more
Thursday 14th August 2008 was a sunny summer day for the wedding of a lovely Japanese girl, Nakki, to Ra - the son of one of the Heather and Gorse Clog Dancers - Jane.   Following the ceremony in Paignton, there was a barbeque party at Platway House which is an old mansion up the hillside above Shaldon with amazing views across the river just like the view shown here. As both Nakki, the bride, ...see more
I was a pupil at Whittlebury College 1962-1964 . The school was run by Major Meager and his wife as a sort of "crammer" for those of us who needed to get more help for O and A levels. The teachers were perhaps not the best in the county but did help many to get the O levels that were needed, including myself but not in my subjects as I was expelled before I could take three more O Levels. I was ...see more
I remember there was a shop that sold all kinds of coffee beans. You could smell the coffee a few doors before you reached it. It's in the centre of the photo.
Hello, my name is Jeane Moorhouse, nee Huxley, I started life on Band St, Hollywood area, in 1952, then moved to Hilton St. My only memories from here are the wash house and Hollywood Park where the fair would arrive and the carnivals. We then moved to Hesketh St in Heaton Norris, our back yard was shared with Bob Hillingworth who lived at the end house, I remember sitting on our back step shelling peas ...see more
Marazion celebrated 500 years of being a town in 1995! This shows the parish church for the town.
They demolished the shops on the left cos it was so narrow, then built the bypass! The Silvermine gift shop is there now.
St Michael's tea rooms in front, later the Giants Nose, now the Ferry Cafe.
Old rectory on right, since demolished.
Just below turnpike.
Does anyone recall the mansion house called Inholmes. It was at the very top of Cants Lane when I was a youngster (I am now 50). It was owned by Keymer Brick and Tile Company as I grew up and then sadly demolished to make way for the present housing estate. I would appreciate any photographs or memories.
Primary school teacher was Miss Barbara Chisolm. She married a local farmer, Jack Cumming, and they farmed Abbeylands at least until the early fifties. The house and farm buildings were demolished and several houses are there now. The local Post Office was also located in that building and was run by Mrs Cumming. At that time the Abbey was called Pluscarden Priory, a ruin around which children ...see more
Ffynnongroew was a place of happy childhoods, and the Garth Mill was a landmark. We could tell when the old watermill was working by the rate at which the Llinegr stream was running. We would play around the mill and in the woods behind, following the sticks we threw down the stream. The field adjacent to Llinegr farm was actually in the next parish. We called it 'Lordy's Field' because it was part of the ...see more
I moved to Glenboig from Moodiesburn, ten days before my tenth birthday. I was lucky to make friends easily and made some fantastic mates. Miners and steel workers were the life and soul  of the village. I spent many years there, with a happy, innocent life. Religion aside, everything was so simple. Chopper bikes and rope swings up "Inchnie" were a source of many a summer holiday. Happy days....
At the age of fourteen I moved from Rhuthin to live with my gran, Ketura Roberts, who lived in one of the houses opposite the Castle Pub. The bus route was up Llysfaen Hill and past the Semaphore pub, this at the time had a butchers shop integrated with the pub, and was also the first pub in the area to serve Wrexham lager. On one of the visits to get meat for gran, that may I add was very occasional,  I was invited being ...see more
I worked in a racing stables in Manaton, we used to exercise up on the moor. 3 other girls were there too and it was great fun. The yard moved to Somerset after and I went with it, wonderful days. Hi Sam, Hi Brian.
My great-grandfather was Samuel Marlow and a publican at the time of his marriage in 1897. His father was William Marlow and my family tree research has led me to the White Hart in Eversley Cross where there were two succesive landlords of these names. I can't help wondering if one of these gents posing in the Francis Frith view of the pub might be one of the Marlow landlords!
Hey there, can anyone help me please. My mum is trying to find a small church in Ongar which comes off the Ongar Road, it's on the right hand side and it has a gravel lane, the church is at the end of the gravel lane with a field on the left hand side.  I would be very grateful if anyone can help to offer me any information with regard to this. Many thanks. Sarah
Dad said 'We are going out for the day!'.  I can't remember much about anything at age five/six. What I so remember is coal or slag just about everywhere and a small play area with a big metal slide, Masey (Gran) making me a cup of tea and cake, only small memories? Yes, but it was enought to bring me home 39 years later! You know that feeling, when something is right? Every time I cross ...see more
My Great Grandpa Frederick Harvey was the beerhouse keeper who ran The Swan in George Street. Wish I could find some pictures of the pub (and my Grandpa, Arthur James Harvey, was born in the pub).
In the nineteenth century my Creasey family were tenant farmers at Gibbshaven Farm near Felbridge. Many of the family lived their entire lives in the area and the church was where they were baptised, married and buried. It is a beautiful area and many of the family pursued interests in farming, nursery gardening and coach making. My great great uncle Ernest Creasey ran a ...see more
My birth parents lived in number 51 Osborne Rd, glad I found a picture of the rd.
My memory of Lytchett Matravers is of the old school. It was a hundred years old in 1974 and everybody who attended the school at that time joined in the celebration. I was ten at the time and wrote a poem for my part in it all. Mrs Cox, the oldest woman in England at the time and resident of Lytchett Matravers recalled her memories as one of the first children to attend the school one hundred years ...see more
The van outside the shop is a Morris and it belonged to Mr Edwards from Cil Llwyn as he was the only one with a new van in that area in 1955, the Vron Farm had a Morris Cowley van the same colour, because when we went to Bibby's Feed in Denbigh he kept saying 'I should of bought one but it was too much money'. The gate in the near hedge was the entrance to the vicarage and had a great Pippin apple tree in the garden that ...see more
This was my first school after I was fostered out at Cil Llwyn Farm in the 50s. Also the old station is in the photo, from where we caught the steam train to the secondary school in Denbigh, "Caledfryn yn rhos". I have lived in Luxor, Egypt for the past 4 years and am wrihting my autobiography of my childhood, great memories thanks to the photos. Tony    PS  I wonder if any of my old school chums are still ...see more
This picture with the distinctive lighthouse is of Kingston Beach, behind it and a little to the left was a church hall where the 5th Shoreham Scouts met. I believe it is demolished now......the church hall that is.
Having been a choirboy at the only church that I knew of actually in Southwick that being St Michaels and All Angels and this is not a photograph of that church, could this be in Kingston.
The Research Into Lost Knowledge Organisation is an organisation providing a platform for the dissemination of hidden knowledge incorporated in myth legend, number and geometry, art and music, architectural proportion, megalithic structures and the geomantic layout of cities and landscape. Public meetings are held at the Theosophicl Society HQ, 50 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8EA on ...see more
I started my first job at 16 as a trainee food and wine waiter at the Percy Arms in 1960, and I lived in rooms above the hotel, in those days it was a first class restaurant. The head waiter was a guy called Bernard. The owner was a lady and she used to have dogs that would wander around the restaurant. I visited the hotel in 1987 and the hotel had change to a more casual fast food restaurant. I moved to Sydney, ...see more
I've come across a set of 6 postcards that tell the tale of a young sailor who was murdered by 3 other sailors that he met up with in the, 'Red Lion' at Thursley. Apparently the other 3 sailors accompanied him up to 'the Hindhead Hills' and murdered him and dumped his body in the Punch Bowl. Is this a well known story in local folklore?
Ahhh, glorious Penmaenmawr where I have spent some lovely holidays.  The sunsets over the bay to Puffin are really something to see, the Fairy Glen and Dwygyfylchi pubs to stay awhile and drink in the atmosphere.  The walks along the beautiful sandy beach and surrounding countryside.  We had a caravan there and spent so many happy times collecting shells, blackberries, walking down the many little lanes and ...see more
My name is David Jenkins. The photo of the village green 1931 is taken from the front of the house in which I lived. First time was during the world war 2. My father was working on constuction of a railway line from the Ordinance factory at Dinham. Looking for a place to stay, the village policeman suggested the owner of Harewood, the house on the green. He asked if his wife & son could also move ...see more
I lived in Moira, Roughley about 1955. I was born in Moira in 1950. It was when the hospital was open, my dad was in the medical corp. I always remember Lady Mountbatten coming to the hospital, my younger sister was selected to present her with flowers. They were good days, I often go through Moira when I visit Ireland. I went to Moira school. I remember when they had Liptons, mum used to shop there. They were great days. I would love to have some old photos of the old hospital.
I lived in the second cottage in from about 1984-1990 when both my parents worked at King Edward's School, my mum as a nurse in the San and my dad as a plumber in the boiler houses. I had an idyllic childhood here and used to play in the woods opposite and climb trees in the fields behind. Is the school tuck shop still through the snicket behind the house? Is the pond my dad and brother dug still in the garden? ...see more
I was born in Llanhilleth during 1944, but the last time I visited the place of my birth was during 1979 when my mother and I stayed with my Auntie Ethel who lived on the Hafodorthan estate. On one occasion I looked out of her front living room window across the valley for forty-five minutes. Auntie Ethel could not understand this and remarked that there was nothing to see. I had to remind her that I had lived in ...see more
The Rhaglen Cymdeithas Lenyddol is a Welsh Society who meet at the address shown below:- The Rhaglen Cymdeithas Lenyddol C/o Eglwys Bresbytaraidd Cymru 289 Lewisham Way Brockley London ENGLAND SE4 1XF Tel: (020) 8300 6415 - Gywndaf Evans (Hon. Sec) Email: Gwyndaf.sidcup@btinernet.com We meet at 2 pm prompt on the first three Tuesdays of the month from October till March inclusive. Visitors welcome!
I was born in my aunt's [Ciss Smith] house in Caefelin Street, Llanhilleth, during late 1944, early in the morning.  At the same time a girl named Angela [Simpkins] was born in the house opposite at the same time.  My Aunt Ciss was holding me up at the front upstairs window to show the family that I was born whilst Angela's relations was doing the same thing in reverse. One of my earliest memories was when I was ...see more
Sadly we see very few ships passing down the Manchester Ship Canal these days. When I was a kid I lived in Latchford not far from the locks. We used to spend many hours watching the ships pass through the locks on there way to Liverpool or Manchester. We were occasionally rewarded by a pack of cigarettes or sweets thrown by the crew to us kids. Happy days.
I remember as a youngster my mum and dad talking of the Queen's forthcoming visit to Warrington and how the statue of Oliver Cromwell was to be covered so as not to upset her. They eventually moved the statue to a less visible place and the side of the Academy.
I was born in Islington in 1968. When I was 12 we moved to New Southgate and I fell in love with the whole area instantly. New friends introduced me to Southgate and I was shown the Minchenden Oak for the first time. I was overwhelmed by the size and age of this beautiful tree surrounded by a bench to sit on and think. I attended Arnos School (now Broomfield) and used to, on occasion, sit daydreaming ...see more
I recently found a photograph of this chapel among some old family photos and have only today discovered its identity. For many years we were told as children that our grandfather John Davies (also known as Dadcu Ffynnon Lwyd) had been the master craftsman who did the  interior wood work of a chapel in the Glanamman/ Brynamman area. The photograph has prompted me to investigate further as to whether this is 'Capel ...see more
I was born in the cottage in the courtyard, the youngest of three. My brother, Tony, sister Sheila, who now lives not too far away from Matlask, and have some wonderful memories of the Hall. Summer days seemed endless, building houses out of the hay bales in the fields, playing on the old tree stumps down by the pond, opening the gate for the delivery man from Rusts and getting a 'wagon wheel' as a ...see more
I've got such fond memories of my mum pushing me up and down Daccombe in the pram and putting me on the horses at Henry Fogwell's farm where she kept her horse Danny. There were a lot of horses down there at one time and everyone knew everyone, it was great. Hiding out in the hay loft I used to get away with a lot down there.  Scrumping from the orchard across from Manor Farm and paying the bus drivers with ...see more
I also remember Meadvale Garage as Stan and May were my grandparents. I spent a lot of time there as a small child. I also remember the local shops at Meadvale and my parents Bill and Heather also were landlord and landlady of "The Old Oak" public house in the 1970s. There was also another shop opposite the post office called "Berry's" (I think) and we used to buy sweets there on the way back from school, St John's, we used to walk to and from school through an alley way.
As far as I was concerned, at the tender age of eleven, I belonged to a Norfolk family having only known Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, my birthplace. The untitled photograph of Hyde End House that hung in my grandfather's hall was an enigma and so intrigued my mother that she had to find out its relevence and where it was. After giving my grandfather a grilling, it transpired that this was our family's old ...see more
My mother's family came from Builth, many from Builth Road, with several of the men working on the railway which was just beyond the front garden (they had a little house in Railway Terrace). I remember being taken to visit older relatives of the Bebb family, and in particular Auntie Beattie letting us try her home made wines - cowslip, rhubarb and others. Then out to watch the steam trains ...see more
This building, now a museum was in the 1940s the home of a famous old Andover gentleman Mr A C Bennett. He wrote a book about Andover St Mary's Church and played the organ in the church. He was also my piano teacher at 2 shillings a lesson(10p) and I don't think anyone tried his great patience more than I did. I remember well as a lad of 11 years walking up to that, what seemed, huge door and ...see more