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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This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 35201 - 35280 of 36925 in total
My parents moved into Station Rd in 1963, as a newly married couple. There was a terrace of new houses built in Station Rd in 1962/63 & theirs was the furthest house down the road, the end of the terrace, I think No.28? I was born there in 1965. I used to go to playgroup at the old Scout Hut at the other end of the village & remember one very embarrassing event when I was about 4..... My mum was ...see more
My grandmother was one of Lloyd George and Lady Lloyd George's land army girls. My family were very close to them.
My family of four childen, my husband and I, moved into part of a large country house known as 'Ravenscourt', standing in 3 acres of land: we named our semi "Little Ravenscourt'. Within our back garden stood a beautiful large 'Indian Bean Tree' (catelpa), which the children loved to climb on: in the spring it was covered in small orchid-like scented flowers which attracted ...see more
I lived in Bolingey as a child, until 1959, and this picture has strong memories for me. My family had a cottage somewhere to the front and right of the chapel on the hill. The location was called "Crow Hill" and I think the cottages may still be there today. For some reason I was afraid of the large forbidding Methodist chapel! Years later I used to visit the Bolingey Inn and I'm glad to see that it is still there now. Haven't been there for 30 years though.
I was married to Colin at this church in 1971. My maiden name was Sadler. We had our reception at the Otter Hotel in Ottershaw.
Year 1955 because it's central to the time we lived just a few doors down in a new bungalow (Khandala), from the Thorpe's café (it was west towards the roundabout, north side of the road) and one of my cherished memories as a child, is of walking down to the dliff steps (steep then) and standing halfway down in very thick mist (couldn't see the hand in front of your face), feeling almost totally ...see more
childhoood
I was born 1953 and lived in No 94 Main Street until 1966, which is one of the small cottages on the right of the photo. The big house at the bottom of the road was known as "General Jack's", he being a veteran of the Boar and First World Wars. This road was great in the winter of 62-63 when, because of lack of traffic, we could sledge all the way down. As you can see there were not many cars, only a total of 5 car owners in the whole of Main Street.
My dad, Maurice Marsden, started work at the age of 14 in Lynns shop in 1937, after serving in the RAF and Fleet Air Arm during the war. He returned to the shop to work and finished up as manager. The shop closed in the 70s.
We first went to Guernsey in June 1979. The first thing we noticed as we drove off the ferry was that the pace of life was a lot calmer then here in England - mainly because of the speed limit of 30 mph. My husband spent 30 years in the Metropolitan Police Force - a very stressful job and has always said that Guernsey is the only place where he can totally "switch off". We stayed at a holiday apartment in ...see more
I lived in Quainton in the 1950s, on the corner of The Green and Lower St. My family had the drapers shop. I remember bonfire night on the green, rolling down Mill Hill, Christmas carols, ballet lessons in the church hall and sitting the 11+ exams at school and of being sent to the Sportsmans Inn for a packet of Woods or Weights cigarettes for my father. With my parents Ray and Sylvia Wheatley, my ...see more
I purchased this picture for my mum for Mother's Day. She and her sister (who now has sadly died) used to play at Danson Park when they were young - my mum has a good memory of her sister swimming the lake.
WE LIVED IN FARM LANE FULHAM SW6, IN A LOVELY O'L PREFAB. OUR LOCAL CHURCH WAS ST JOHN'S.
We moved to Hatfield "new town' from the east end. Went to Howe Dell School and lived on Meadow Dell, off Cavendish Way. It was still a small country town then. Happy Memories. Sue
When I moved with my family from North Boarhunt we came here to Portchester. Little was I to know, but I would be getting married in the beautiful church in the castle grounds. It was a lovely setting, with the lych gate and castle as a back drop. My husband-to-be had been in the choir a few years before and so when we came out married, the choir held up their prayer books to make an arch. I have moved on since then and now live in Southampton but Portchester is still in my heart.
I had family who lived in Droxford, that was my Uncle Peter, Aunty Dot and my cousins Susan, Christine and John Miles. Sorry John if you are reading this, it's your five mins of fame. I loved going over there and was always made welcome. I went to Droxford school with Mr Bark? and his wife. She was ok but he in my eyes was not, but I am sure I wasn't the only one who thought that. All kids think their head teachers ...see more
My mother and father moved to 1 Birch Hill Cottages when I was in arms. I went to the tiny school in Newtown by mini bus which was really a Bedford van with seats in the back. I played in the field with the swings and on some Saturdays watched the football played there. My Uncle David used to play for Wickham, those were the days when shorts were below the knees! I played with the other ...see more
I was a boarder at St Michael's from late 1947 to 1953. The church was bordered by the Golden Valley on one side and woodlands on the other. I remember sketching Tawstock Church and getting a commendation for my efforts. We used to be taken to the church about once a month and added our treble voices to the congregation's praise. If one had to be away from home, the school did offer a different life; but only ...see more
My home town was Willenhall. Every Saturday my mom and us would go to Willenhall market to do our shopping. We used to love it because we could choose a treat, like a tube of Smarties or a packet of Polo. Even though I have travelled to Oxford, Harrow, Wembley and now living in Spain, Willenhall is always in my heart. If anyone mentions it to me it gives me a great joy that I was born and bred there.
I lived in Halfway House, Common Road, Great Wakering (near Potton Island), from 1957 to 1963. I lived there with my parents, two sisters and three bothers, all older than me. The primary school was a small red brick building in the middle of the village and the County Secondary school was where the current primary school is now (near the post office). As we had no lights or brakes on our cycles (not legal) ...see more
Going to the Eccles market in the morning putting lights up for the stall holders for two bob, that was after doing the shopping for my mum and sister for half a crown. That was more than enough for the ABC Broadway ticket, or your mate could go in and open the emergengy door at the back. They put on at least 7 films, some cliff hangers, and lollipop sticks went flying through the air. The place was packed every Saturday.
I remember the strange triangular shaped building where my Mum and I used to walk down the back, down the cobbled road to Fishy Moores. We used to have to join the queue outside until the lady on the door called us in when there was a table free. There was a section up on raised platform inside, and I used to think only important people were allowed to eat their fish and chips up there! Happy days.
This was the Red Funnel ship Noris Castle an ex tank landing craft.
Just by the road bridge on the Yarmouth side was a pub with a long grass garden which went down to the river, on the bank was a post with a notice on it which read "Don't disturb the water otter" and tied to the post was a rusty chain. Now the road to the bridge was like a grandstand overlooking the garden and people in the garden would encourage a friend to pull the chain and the people on the bridge, who ...see more
I grew up in Driglington late 50s/ 60s and remember going to watch Roy Rogers and Hopalong Cassidy, now that was another lifetime ago. As I got a bit older lots of us drig lads used to visit a coffee shop in the main street - cannot remember its name, and met lots of Birstall girls there. I also remember the first 3d movie I saw there, it was the House of Wax, we had to wear those red and green glasses.
There was an ironmonger's shop on Patricroft Bridge ( the Eccles side) owned by a man called Richmond, whose daughter May attended Eccles Grammar School - though she was too nice a girl to have anything to do with a yob like me! Over the other side of the bridge was the Majestic Cinema (later the "Talk of the North" club). St. Joseph's Home was not always the happy place your correspondent remembers - my ...see more
The year I was born at Ashford Hospital my mother and father were tenants at the Hope public inn. June and John Nicholson and June's mother Beatrice Porter lived there and brought me up. Mrs Porter had once lived at Cheltham Villas, then the Hope pub. After 9 years here they moved to 130a Hithermoor Road for 10 years and then 19 Benen-stock Road for 10 years which is where I ...see more
I was born in Northallerton in 1952. My father was a cousin of the Smirthwaites and therefore worked in the garage that was once where Argos now stands. My mothers family were Atkinson's and they lived in South Parade. There were 6 children in the family (2 girls and 4 boys). They lived there during WW11 and my mother has fond memories of the time she spent in that house. Her parents were McCabes and lived in ...see more
The cottage nearest to the telegraph pole was my grandmother's. My uncles Ted and Bob lived there with her until they moved to Woodbine Farm, Langtoft. After they left, gran moved in with my family at the other end of the village, Meadow View, and Uncle Cliff and his family moved in until they in turn moved to the farm at the bottom of the village. We think that the cottage at the forefront of the photo ...see more
I was born in wigton in 1951. We lived at 19 Brackenlands, a friendly housing estate where everyone knew everyone. My early years were spent at Saint Cuthberts school and at the age of eleven attended the secondary modern or affectionately called the whitewashed cow shed. The school has been replaced by houses now. On leaving school I went to work for Ike Wilkinson as an apprentice carpenter on Market Hill the ...see more
I remember being at Nethergrange with Jean Newbigin, and remember when she met her husband to be, and the building of their boat. In fact later , when we moved to Ravenslaw in Alnwich (in our third year) Jean and I shared a room as I was also a student at Alnwick Teacher Training College, living at Nethergrange in Alnmouth for our first two years. Like Jean I also met my husband to be in the village. He lived at ...see more
Hi i've just found out that my family originate from Great Waltham...the name is 'Hornsby'...I found this out through the ancestry website and looking at old census records...i'm hoping to come along and visit Great Waltham with my father who is a 'Hornsby' and discover where they used to live on..'Broads Green'
Born at Peniarth Isaf, attended primary school where the first headmaster was Mr. E.L.Jones, followed by Mr. Bamborough. Local life was centered around Bethania Chapel and events at the Village Hall. In those days, the 2 shops were owned by Mr. Llew Roberts and Mr. G.J. Owen. The Railway Inn was run by the Astley family. Best memories would have been home life, heavily involved in farm work ...see more
You were born on this day c1955,is't it amazing how people and the world around you change,but a bet you can still remember the good old days.Well there's one thing that will never change so I will tell you now ,just to make sure you hear me,that you will always be The Best Mother In The World. Happy Birthday Mum My Love always LEIGHxxxx
All our family holidays when I was a child were taken at Scarborough, where my parents and I stayed with two spinsters who were old family friends, in Whin Bank. I suppose I first went in the early 1960s, and my last visit was 1973. I loved those holidays, whether taken during the summer, or occasionally at Easter: roaming along the cliff top birdwatching, or with a bucket-and-spade on the beach and ice ...see more
My brother and I had holidays in the chalets on the top of the cliffs along with my parents and maternal grandmother. It always seemed hot and sunny and the whole two weeks was spent climbing along the cliffs, digging in the sand and swimming. In the evenings we played board games or took a walk to California Sands. Dad took us into Great Yarmouth on the Wednesday of each of our two weeks. It may seem very quiet and ...see more
I had a wonderful week's holiday based at the Bay Hotel in the first week of August 1968, when I was eleven, with my godfather and his wife. Got slightly tiddly one night on shandy: played Rummy for the first time: roamed all over Anglesey - or so it seemed! - birdwatching, which was then my new hobby, and has remained a faithful friend ever since. Waders and terns galore, and my first Great Crested Grebe....I was ...see more
My ancestor, the Atkinson family lived in this house on the 1901 census, other family members controlled a lock in Leeds
As a pupil at Launde School it was compulsory that we were taught to swim at Oadby Swimming baths, for those of you who know Oadby today it wasn't the newly built baths on Brabazon Road, the baths were in the centre of the village, it looked like an old theatre or cinema on first glance. The boys changing rooms were on the side of the baths themselves the girls were upstairs and across a balcony. The bath was ...see more
Right on the end of this barn, hidden from view was a small irregular building with it's own door. It had been a small butchers shop some time before my Mum and Dad bought it as a hairdressing salon for my mum to use as a little business. It had no heating, just two yellow sinks and chairs, a couple of work stations and a telephone table where the phone, appointment book and till sat. ...see more
This is Sacred Heart RC Church, in Accrington. It has now been demolished. I have many great memories and some not so great from this sacred place. I felt like I had to share this info, with you when I saw this picture. When the church was being knocked down there was a last service mass held and it was a ticket only event. I couldn't go on that evening and therefore missed it. The church holds many ...see more
My Great Great Grandfather was born William Honey Cann. Born: March 12, 1845 in Topsham, England son of John Cann and Jane (Hill) Cann. (William Married - Ann Pidgeon, from England also!). Looking for more information on Cemeteries in this area. John Cann was the son of Samuel Cann & Charity (Arscott) Cann. Looking for information on location of where they lived in Topsham, or worked.
I stayed here in the 1950s but i dont know why i was there
I moved to this village in 1967 aged 14. The main building in the centre of the picture is a bank, I think it was the National which later became the National and Westminster Bank. Beyond the bank and to the right on the corner was a Post Office. Hidden by the bank in the same row as the Post Office was a fish and chip shop, the owner used to give us free bags of "bits" from the fryers, usually bits of batter. ...see more
I loved Valence swimming pool, I used to have swimming lessons there with Grafton junior school and still remember how cold that water was first thing in the mornings. My father used to buy me a season ticket which cost 7shillings & 6pence (37p) which allowed me to go swimming when ever I wanted. I was very sad when they closed it, the then new Dagenham swimming pool was never the same. A few years ago ...see more
I have just discovered that my great great great grandparents came from Rye so could anyone tell me if a place called Fishers House still exists, and also what a farm baliff was expected to do, or what kind of job did a fly catcher do? Are any family called Wenham still living in Rye?
Would anyone remember the name and exact location of a hairdressers/barbers shop in Kettering Regent Street area? Looking at late 1920's onwards.
I was bought up in Dagenham and went to Valence swimming pool regularly with my school. If you had signed up to go swimming at the start of the school year you had to go - whatever the weather!! I always had a cup of Oxo afterwards to warm me up!! When Dagenham indoor pool was built in the early 70's it seemed like sheer luxury!! What a shame it has become so run-down now.............
The George Hotel was newly decorated and it re-opened with a special day around 1985. The horse drawn Whitbread Brewery dray arrived and the newly painted pub sign was unveiled by the mayor. Everything looked great and a good day out was ensured by a dazzling display from the dancers and musicians of Whitethorn Morris - a team of clog wearing morris dancers from nearby Harrow. They looked fine in their ...see more
Hi there. My father-in-law was born in Gilfach Goch but left when he was a child. It was not long ago me and my husband took him back and he was quite shocked to see how much the place has changed. The address he used to live at is no longer there, not even a road. Anyway before we left Mr Raymond Cook (my father-in-law) wanted to know what Gilfach Goch is in English as he cannot remember. Please help. Thanks.
Richard, I am one of the current owners of the rectory (now The Old Rectory) where you came to visit and review the house you had lived in as a child and pointed out which room had been your bedroom. Strangely though, the 27 rooms that you remember seem to have shrunk to a present day 12 (plus 2 loos and a bathroom)! Combpyne has remained a "working village" though, unlike many of the surrounding ones, with many ...see more
Hi - I have a couple of photos of my great-grandmother taken by Wragg, a photographer in Wigan and Leyton Arcade, Southport. I'd like to hear from anyone who can help me date the pictures by comparing the frames. The pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicdafis/468472134 http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicdafis/468483717 Many thanks.
There doesn't seem to be many memories of the Trevethans - anyone help?
This is the road my mum lived in in Gilfach-she is Cynthia Purnell
My Grandparents, Harry and Hannah Young lived in the first cottage on the left as you enter the village. I spent most of my school holidays there with them and my Mother and I were evacuated to live with them during W.W.2 for a period of time. I attended Stebbing school for about 3 weeks, then was moved from there to a small village or church hall in the road behind the now Bowls club (my great ...see more
The lady with the white coat and shopping basket on the right hand side of the photo is my grandmother - Clara Billington - and lovely to see her in print!
Where we first met
September 22nd 1984
The building on the extreme right of the photograph used to be the Ring o' Bells Public House, owned by my great grandfather, Jesse Laver Difford. It was initially called The Grapevine Inn, or was called that when my grandmother was born there, in 1880 and its name changed to the Ring o' Bells at some time later.
I moved into this cottage in 1953 with my parents and older sister. I remember very clearly looking out of the large window in the centre of the cottage wishing I was old enough to go to school with my sister. I was also very envious as she came home from school with a Coronation mug of the Queen and Prince Philip. When we first moved in, there was no inside bathroom or toilet and we got our water from a pump in the ...see more
In the 1840's Magors and Menadues migrated from Mithian to South Australia, and I am the product of the marriages between the families. If anyone would like to correspond with me on this page I have more details and would love to learn new ones. I live in Adelaide South Australia and am visiting Mithian in May 2007 to learn what I can. Thankyou Ruth Gates nee MAGOR My father's mother was a MENADUE
I remember my grandmother telling me years ago, that I was distantly related to the Marquis of Bute. His wife the Marquess had an illigitimate child, who became my grandmother. And I am also a descendant of Alexander Wilson (a Welsh Artist on my father's side) who has art displayed of ancient Cardiff and Barry, in Cardiff Castle, but most are at St Fagan's Museum. His family owned the ...see more
Married at the wonderful old church of St. Peter's Walton on the Hill, 5th July 1972. At this time, my parents were living at Tudor Court, Walton St. Walton on the Hill, and Mum, owned the shop below, Anne Cleeves. I had been over in NZ for almost two years on a working holiday, and came home with a Kiwi in tow, strict instructions from the parents, if you want to marry, please marry at St Peter's so we did. Loved ...see more
Spent my childhood in Valleyfield Road. Streatham. attended St. Helen's school for Girls. Streatham Common North side. (mind you there were a few lads there as well!) Spent hours playing on the Common, walking through the Rookery, down to The White House and back through the common, in those days, it was considered SAFE. A group of us would do this, spend hours on the Common. Happy memories of my ...see more
We moved to Abridge in 1948, I was 8 years old, with mum and dad Pat and Stan Walker. We lived at no 41 Pancroft Estate later re numbered 45. My early memories of the little villiage was of Brighty's shop and cafe where all the cyclists use to stop for refreshments. It was the dad Burt and son Fred and I think it was his mother who looked like a gypsy. She used to sit behind the counter ...see more
I have very fond memories of the childrens pool in Lee-on-the-Solent where I used to live between 1960 to 1966. Many summer days were spent at the pool which was located adjacent to the beach. I remember I learned to swim here, I remember the snack bar and all the fun my friends & I had here. My fondest memories are of my time here, in late october 1966 we emigrated to Canada (30 miles west of Toronto ...see more
My family lived at the Book Shop in the middle of the photograph from 1961 to 1981, it was a shop that seemed to me to sell everything, newsagents, sweet shop, chemists, haberdasherers as well as selling books. I was 6 years old in 1965, I can remember looking up at the jars of sweets in awe, mouth watering at the thought of jelly babies and sherbet lemons. Harold and Nora lived in the Post Office next door and ...see more
I remember Tonis Ice Cream, Rosins the Baker, Genners toy shop, Pegglies Bike and Sports shop, Endines for Leather, Wilsons the Green Grocer and the long line ups for those ever so rare oranges, Watlings the tool shop and of course the Co-Op. I remember the shot down Messerschmitt displayed at the corner of Watling Avenue and Orange Hill Rd opposite Watling Park. I was able to sit in it because my mother ...see more
On The High Street, Neston as you look towards Liverpool Road with The Cross just behind you you may still be able to see two alleyways. One used to end in a shed where a man had a bike shop. It was an Aladdin's Cave stacked with spare parts. My Dad bought me bikes. We had the lawnmower fixed there too. The second alleyway had the doorway to a ...see more
My memory of West Chiltington as a child is of a sleepy little village where everyone knew each other. As a child I could wander with friends and not be afraid as all the village people knew everyone else. A pleasant stroll up Church Hill on a summers evening is one memory that springs to mind with Mr Gumbrell who lived at the top of Church Hill wandering across to the church to lock-up. Yes, the church was ...see more
The Three Horseshoes is an attractive pub facing the village green and the war memorial at Letchmore Heath, a beautiful place between Elstree and Aldenham just outside Watford. This pub regularly attracts morris dancers and one of the local morris sides is Whitethorn Morris who often perform both there and in the village hall. The dancers, plus the Whitethorn Band, form up in the narrow road ...see more
The Rochester Sweeps festival celebrates the traditional May Day holiday that chimney sweeps used to enjoy. It is a glorious mixture of dancing, music and dressing up with visitors from all over Britain bringing their entertainment to Rochester High Street each year. The festival attracts morris dancers and musicians who are delighted to perform in front of the huge crowds ...see more
Hello friends! I am very interested to find out as much as I can about the former Our Lady's school which used to be on Church Road in Formby. I'm interested more about the boys side as apparently boys and girls were seperated then. My Father went to that school (not sure on the year?) and he has no memory keepsake whatsoever! So for Fathers Day I would love to ...see more
My name is David Effer and we lived in Ticehurst from 1954 to 1968 when we left for Australia. We lived in Springfields and I had 4 brothers and two sisters. My father worked at Ticehurst House as a chef. Mum and dad have passed on now and one sister lives in Sicily.
Working for Thomas Wallis seen here on the left, it was a large department store selling all household goods, from tea towels to carpets and furniture. Oh how I loved my job. In those days the shops used to shut Wednesday afternoons and I wanted to stay there I loved it so much. My Mum, "Collie" as she was known, was in charge of the female staff there and it was a privilege to work there with her, she is 82 now. ...see more
My friends Carole, Linda & I would go to this roof top garden for a glass of orange juice. We were only 12 at the time and this garden was on the top of Harvey Department Store in the High Street. We would sit at the seats in this picture and watch as there were many goldfish swimming in the water there and made for a very relaxing sit in the sun.
What happy times, on holiday with my parents and my brother Ray in a little caravan site just down this road over looking the Creek itself. Next door to us 3 lads from Birmingham had come to stay, us being from Surrey it was quite amusing to hear them talk. I was just 15 when Derek asked me if I could go for a ride on his motorbike. My dad went to talk to him, as they did in those days. We ...see more
It was always my understanding that the person buried had asked for a fig to be put in one hand and a plum stone in the other and if there were a God, the fig would grow!
Here in Helperby we have hosted a great Hidden Gardens every July. And this year it will be even better. Last year was great , the weather hot and the strawberrys were very tasty. But we wanted to share more of Helperby with everyone. so we made a village website, for the people who live there. They can add what they want. Talk in the forums and post events in the calendar. Please have a look, as currently we are ...see more
I was a pupil of Upper Hale Junior School from 1969 to 1971 when I transferred to Heathend Comprehensive. When I was there the Head Mistress was a Miss Carter and my teacher was Mr Macknight, a very talented Artist who taught me and others to draw. Mr Macknight also held unusual classes of of what would be termed E.S.P: he would send a pupil into the adjoining cloakroom with a pen and paper, draw a ...see more