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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Stories about the community, its history and people?
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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
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Displaying Memories 35441 - 35520 of 36925 in total
My Grandfather, Clifford Taylor, was a Civil Servant at RAF St. Athan during the Second World War. He could not join the Forces at all because he had club feet and was rejected at his Call Up Board. He used to be involved with giving out the uniforms, as well as other duties, which obviously changed when Peace broke out in 1945. Grampy had a fantastic sense of humour and would sometimes be allowed to bring one or two of ...see more
Does anybody remember my Great-grandfather on my Father's sdie of the family, Police Inspector William Hole? He had a few children, one being my grandfather Walter Trevor Hole, another being Police Sergeant Harry Hole. I know William Hole was in the Tonypandy Riots as a Policeman and Harry Hole was a Policeman in Tonypandy sometime after 1935, as my father remembers him. I would be greatful for any memories people are prepared to share with me. Sincerely, Caroline Scott.
My Great-great-grandmother on my Mother's side of the family was a cousin to William 'Mabon' Abraham, the miners' leader and first President of 'The Fed'. I was wondering if there was any way anyone out there reading this may be able to help me fill in some of the blank spaces in my Faniky History, please? Or perhaps point me to a local Society in Cwmafon/Llanfabon where I may find what I am looking for? My mother ...see more
My parents lived at Sprotborough and were great motorcycle and sidecar enthusiasts although by 1968, the Triumph Speed Twin and sidecar had given way to a Morris Minor, later to be replaced with a Triumph Herald. On Friday or Saturday evenings their favourite outing would be to Bawtry. Parking in the Market Place as in this photograph, they would simply sit and watch the huge variety of traffic ...see more
I was brought up in Tennyson Avenue off Sprotborough Road and at weekends in the Summer would cycle 20 or so miles all around south Yorkshire. If on the way to Conisbrough, Barnbrough or the River Don we would pass the Ivanhoe Hotel which, to a 14 year old in 1950 looked to be a very grand place indeed. If a cricket match was taking place on the large field at the back of the hotel we would often ...see more
This may not be relevant to many people or even to this photograph, but Laura Torn, sadly, brutally murdered, a resident of Owston Ferry, was a good friend to many. My main memory of Laura is biking down the village to the shop with her. She was a great girl, fantastic friend and super sister. RIP Laura - you will never be forgotten nor will our time in Owston Ferry as kids, playing on the reck, camping out, and ...see more
I lived in Erbistock till the age of 20, that was in 1981 when I emigrated to Australia. My mum still lives there, my dad passed away a couple of years ago, he was born in Erbistock and lived down Groves Lane for nearly 70 years. I remember the peace and quiet, the harvest times driving the tractor and helping milk the cows. My grandmother lived in the council houses, where my uncle still resides. I use to attend ...see more
This picture looks as if it is looking down the street with the church on the right hand side. The Post Office in 1940 was opposite the entrance to the churchyard. Every Saturday morning I would run to the Post Office through the churchyard to receive my weekly packet of sweets and comics that my mother would send to me from London. I would then run back to the Severals and lie in the field opposite the ...see more
This is not a memory as such, however I have been researching my husband's family tree. When speaking to elderly family members I have found that his grandmother's family, the Thorogoods, come from Shalford. I would like to know if there are any Thorogoods still in Shalford. We can't wait to find out more about your village and discover my husband's roots.
In 1962 I was in Cledwyn Evan's class at the primary school. In the Summer terms Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother used to visit King Edward's School in Witley, and Mr. Evans led his class to the roundabout to see her go by. He was enthusiastically ragged about it by the other teachers! We all stood just by the walnut tree on the left of the picture. We waited, but not for long. The Rolls-Royce came whispering ...see more
This is Church Road, 200 yards north of the church, not Haslemere Road. The building on the left of the photo is now a club. In the 1950's we children used to call it "The Wobbly Man's Club".
This picture is of Mousehill Green, Milford. You haven't a title for the picture, so I thought I'd let you know. I remember it from 1953 onwards, but this picture obviously predates that. The green was often used for fairgrounds. The shop by the road was the Delicatessen, now a craft shop I think, not sure though.
Many of my 'Huxley' ancestors were 'hatched, matched and dispatched' here. A most beautiful church in a very special place. Well worth a visit.
Now a busy crossroads controlled by traffic lights and with a Tesco garage/shop on the near right hand corner. Whilst many of the shop-fronts have changed the upper half of many look just the same.
A new housing estate, Chawn Park, was just being built on this field when I came to live nearby in 1970. The spire on St. Mary's Church has long since gone.
This would have been an everyday sight for my ancestors who worked in the paper mill at Hendon and for the NE Railway.
On the right was the Baker's shop. On the left the bus took you into Gravesend town. At the top of the hill was the crossroads known as Pelham Arm's where I once fell off my new bike on the way home from school!
So many memories of attending church here throughout my childhood, of shopping in all the little shops and of cycling to and from school in my Secondary years. Youth Clubs. Meeting old friends and making new ones. For a while it was the centre of my world!
A 1d bus ride brought me to Northfleet library just off this picture. Also off to the left I attended ballet and tap classes during my Primary school years.
I WAS BORN AND BROUGHT UP TO THE AGE OF 12 IN ERBISTOCK AND I LOVED IT. THE BOAT INN WAS RUN BY THE WILLIAMS'S. I PLAYED WITH CAROL AND TIMOTHY IN ALL THE OUTBUILDINGS. I WENT TO SUNDAY SCHOOL IN THE CHURCH AND THERE WAS A LADY CALLED MRS ASPREY THAT LIVED IN A LITTLE COTTAGE BY THE RIVER NEXT TO THE CROSS FOXES. SHE KEPT PEKINESE DOGS WHICH YOU COULD HEAR FROM THE ROAD BUT NEVER SEE. I CAN REMEMBER ONE HOT DAY ...see more
This was the year my son Kevin was born, we all used to go here usually on a Saturday. Paul has just died , he was so special to all his family. While he was in hospital he opened his eyes and said 'I have just been to Dunstable'. He used to work at Waterlows printing factory now long gone so did dad Bill Harris. Remembering them all with much love also Nobby and Nellie clarke, Cyril and Alice Collier.
I have traced my family back to Yelvertoft in the mid 1700's. My family name is York and we are descendants of Thomas York who married Elizabeth Perkins in the late 1700's in Yelvertoft. If you can help me go further back or are related in any way please contact me. THANKS
As I remember, the main building in this picture was the Lloyds Bank. The manager lived above the premises but his name escapes me. The other shops were Walkers the bakers where we used to buy a bread roll prior to going to school across the road, St.Marys Primary (we would have had our breakfast at home first!!!!). Then there was the greengrocers, Mrs.Hobbs, I remember that well as I used to deliver the ...see more
Around 1954 my Mother took me to Watford shopping and the market. We lived at the time in South Oxhey, we would catch the train from Carpenders Park Station and get off at Watford High St station which was the lower part of the high street. This particular day I remember walking up the high street holding my mothers hand and I remember a lot of people running and panicking. My mum held me tight and rushed me into a ...see more
Between the tree and the cinema you can see the roof and top floor of one of the blocks of flats in Armfield Crescent so we did not live far from the cinema. When we were small we were given a shilling to go to the Saturday morning pictures - The ABC Minors we were called. We even had a song we sang before the films began. Sixpence was used to get into the cinema and we had sixpence to spend on lollies or ...see more
The Fair Green was one of the first places my sister Valerie Cooper (nee Hook) worked in her capacity as an apprentice horticulturist for the Mitcham Council. When she went for the job they told her that she would have to do the same work as the men. If it meant climbing trees and pruning them , she had to do it too. If it snowed and the roads had to be cleared she would have to go out with them with the shovels ...see more
This photo looks like the 'Swan Inn" at the Mitcham end of Figgs Marsh where I caught the bus to Tooting Broadway to get the Underground to London. The trees of Figgs Marsh Common can be seen in the background. The road split in two here, the east side to Streatham and the west side to Tooting. The common was used for Football (soccer) matches on Saturdays and demonstrations in huge tents. I remember going to one ...see more
I loved Port Isaac from the first time of seeing, which would have been early 1990's. Since then I have been several times when visiting Cornwall - not so easy when living as I do in Australia.
TRYING TO FIND ANY INFORMATION OR PHOTOS OF MY GREAT GRANDADS FACTORY ?
When we went to "Dick's" for lunch, there would be me, my kid sister, my parents and my maternal grandparents plus Mum's youngest sister. She was only 5 years older than me- "Auntie Betsy"- and more like a big sister. She was the prodigy of the family, learning to play the piano, and Grandma always used to pressure a reluctant Betsy to play something on the pub piano. This was at the time when Fess ...see more
When I was a kid in the 50s, we often used to walk across Shipley Glen, having first travelled on the Glen Tram, to "Dick's" for Sunday lunch- it was always very popular- and catch the bus home from the bottom of the hill- the terminus was the Acorn Inn. A special treat was to go by bus to Bingley, where there was a fleet of vintage Rolls Royce taxis outside the railway station, and the whole family could pile into one taxi for the long uphill ride to Dick Hudson's.
I remember Rye Lane in Peckham as a very busy shopping centre. I was born in the area and lived in Mcdermott Road in the prefabs (it is now a Charlie Dimock Garden) until I married in Blenheim Grove Church (behind the station)and moved away in 1963. I remember shopping in Jones and Higgins (in this picture) - to us children it was an aladdin's cave with all its different departments. Later on I worked in ...see more
The building on the right of the photograph with the sign above the door is, I believe, the Bowes Arms Public House. My 3xgt grandparents, Martin and Ann Bell, were the licencees. When Martin died in 1883 Ann took over the licence until she died in 1903 when her youngest daughter then took over the licence. Eventually Martin and Ann's granddaughter became the licencee until the Bowes Arms closed. My ...see more
My family moved from Moreton to North Weald in 1939, I was 9 year old at the time. My father was called Thomas Yeldham and became the local cobbler, my mother was called Maud. While still at school I had a Saturday job at Churches Butchers, then when i left school at 14 I went to Churches as an apprentice butcher. While there, in 1948 I was called up for my ...see more
This is indeed Hamsey Green. The view is from the Good Companions car park. The two shops with awnings to the right of the image no longer exist, as the Coop built a shop there. One used to be a bike shop (left) and the other (right) a place that sold head stones for graves. The tall trees in the background were a grove of Horse Chestnut trees that covered much of the land as it dropped towards ...see more
William Stockdale, a corn merchant and my great grandfather, married Margaret Baxter in Austwick many years ago.They had 5 children, Robert, Ellen, Clara, Fred and Maude. The latter, born in 1880 was my grandmother. Clara and Fred emigrated to Canada in the early 1900s. Robert, who never actually married went to Giggleswick Grammar School, got a degree from Oxford, then taught at Leeds Grammar School. He was ...see more
I lived at the Swan from 1936 to about 1943 - below are some extracts from my memoirs. I hope you find them of interest. In about 1936 my father resigned, or to be more accurate was forced out of his company, a story in itself. My mother was getting concerned about the rise of the Nazis in Germany and the very real possibility of a war starting and wanted to leave the ...see more
I bought my favourite car in Hatch End from the Cornwall Garage in 1970. It is on the right of this view beyond the row of shops and the crossroads of Uxbridge Road and Cornwall Road. It was a 1966 Triumph Spitfire, pale blue with two black "racing stripes" up the long bonnet over the hard top and down the boot! It cost me all of £465 in April 1970. I rather ...see more
My grandparents, Frank and Amy Hazzard, lived in Templecombe in Somerset. They lived in Lilly Lane Farm and then later in Yew Tree House. My grandfather, Frank Hazzard, was a farmer. He was blind, but was one of only three blind bellringers in the country. He was also a very good carpenter and I can still remember visiting him in his workshop with the wonderful smell of wood shavings. I still have a box that ...see more
I worked as a staff nurse at this fine hospital for several years in the sixties. I was hired to work in the Renal Unit-however, it had not yet opened when I started. I was put to work wherever extra hands were needed until it did. I worked Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights as I was married with a baby. I remember my husband driving up this approach to drop me off for night duty. It ...see more
I lived at the house on the left - The Chalet. I lived here from 1938 -1959. The eastern end of the house was the village shop and was known as Top View Stores. Records of the house were traced back as early as 1784. When the roof was recently refurbished, the original timbers and roof joists were un-trimmed and had the branch stumps attached. The footings for the walls also consisted of large boulders dating back ...see more
Good morning from Waterloo, Canada. I was absolutely thrilled with your site and stumbled on it quite by chance. I was born in 1943 at my grandparents house at Yew Tree Terrace just off Station Rd. I grew up in Shepley, attended school there as well as being in St. Paul's Church choir. I sat on the wall at the bridge opposite the Black Bull as a teenager visiting with friends and when we weren't at the ...see more
My mother, Valerie Evans, worked for British Railways southern region from 1957 -1960 at Deepdene House. She was a shorthand typist and remembers Deepdene House to be a beautiful building with extensive grounds. She has happy memories of friends in the typing pool. The building hadn't changed much since 1891 although I don't believe there was a conservatory in 1957. During her lunch breaks she would play tennis, table tennis and netball or just sit out on the grass and enjoy the scenery.
I remember breaking and entering on a Friday night in February. Mr Doyle the local policeman rounds us up on Saturday a.m. in his house that doubled as a police station. Father went crazy and ripped up Wales-Australia tickets and threw them on the fire! My family went on holiday in the summer and left me behind with a neighbour. All for a few .22 bullets. I shall not name my co-defendants. This aint my ...see more
This was the year that I and my family moved into the Post Office where we lived for the next 9 years. During this time I saw lots of changes to the buildings accross the Framfield Road. My father changed the inside of the Post Office. The old wooden counters were removed and replaced with open shelving and self service shopping. There was a sorting room inside the Post Office which was busy each morning as ...see more
I was a pupil at this school until about 1960 when I went to the technical school. I have fond memories of the headmistress and her blue-rinse hair do. Whilst I was there Miss Cauldfield left and a Miss Hackwood (hope this is correct) took over. To a child's eyes it all seemed to change.
Scarborough holds so many happy memories for me as most of my family holidays were taken there. Having a kindly aunt and uncle to stay with made it the most enjoyable place to be. I still like to visit the old haunts whenever I am able to visit the town and unlike many places, it does not seem to change for the worse.
This picture reminds me of wonderful school trips to the west of England from a school based in Oldham called Fittonhill Secondary. This hotel was our base for the weeks holiday and we went out daily on organised trips to Chepstow, Symonds Yat, Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust, Tintern Abbey among other glorious places. Living in a built-up area like Oldham this seemed heaven even as a 13-14 year old. I came on the ...see more
This view has hardly changed, I have recently took a photo from about the same place and it is almost the same. The wall running in front of the church as gone now but the park on the left and the school wall on the right is still intact. There are more road signs on the corner. I remember going round this corner on my bike when I was about ten and being stopped by a policeman and told off for not signalling. I ...see more
In 1953 I attended Bradfield Primary School which in this year of 2007 celebrates its centeniory year. I have fond memories of many cricket matches during my time at the school playing against other local school teams. Mr Martin the Headmaster had lots of fast cars, to the delight of all the children. There was always a scramble on match day to see who would have ...see more
I can remember shopping with my mother at Mr Hill's shop until sometime in the 1970s. We believe that he was one of the last butchers to wrap the meat in newspaper and to have sawdust on the shop floor.
2006
We saw when we visited Altrincham
Way home from Picadilly
We used to catch 255 home from here
I remember seeing the Queen when she visited Oldham - I was born there in 1950.
Whilst I lived at Mattishall near Dereham in the early 1960's I became a regular visitor to the area in Summer and Winter, having use of a small boat at Burnham Overy Staithe. Fishing and full days out at Scolt Head became a regular feature for me, my mates and our girlfriends. We looked for a local pub to drink at and the Victoria at Holkham (Public Bar!) became just that. There were ...see more
WHEN I WAS A KID THIS WAS THE SITE OF A FARM IN THE 1940s ( I think it belonged to farmer Copley). THE BIG HOUSE IN THE BACKGROUND BELONGED TO DR MARJERY. THE HOUSE IS STILL THERE BUT THE SURGERY WAS KNOCKED DOWN, AND WAS RESITED NEXT TO ST THOMAS' CHURCH.
Paul & Jacqueline- Wedding 24th March 1984
William Russell Wilson Bligh came to Australia and was living with his Uncle Sir Maurice O'Connell at Tarmons in Sydney in 1845. I have a copy of a letter written that expresses her concerns about her 18year old son and the way he is neglecting his family duty by not paying his uncle his due from his newly earned wages. He joined the Civil Service and was appointed the 1st Clerk of Petty Sessions in ...see more
During the war my uncle was in the army with a man called Bert Sprake. When they got out of the army Bert opened a butchers shop in the parade almost opposite Plough Road. I used to go into his shop and help him make the sausages. I never got paid for it but it was great fun. I lived in Oakdale Road for the first 19 years of my life so that shopping parade I just loved. I used to wait for the 468 outside the sweet ...see more
At the top of the town towards the flats is St Mary's church. I used to attend St Mary's school which was situated behind the church. One day when everyone turned up for school it had been burned to the ground, I think I was told one of the teachers left an electric fire on. I can only remember the infant class, where the teacher in winter used to put our bottles of milk around the boilers chimney, also at ...see more
I spent my childhood in and around Thirsk, although living in the nearby village of Sowerby. Thirsk was where I went to secondary school. It is where we shopped and went to the cinema (there were two of them, The Regent and The Ritz). Teenage years saw me and my friends attending dances at the local town hall. Sometimes we had visiting well known bands such as Kenny Ball. It was a fun time to be living in.
This picture evokes happy memories of the village where I was born and lived for the first twenty two years of my life. I have visited it often over the past forty years whenever I was in Yorkshire, and I still find it a lovely place to be. Maybe it has become just a little too pristine, and unfortunately not improved by the many cars which line its avenue.
I visited Newbiggin for the first time in January of this year, in search of my ancestors, who I hoped to find in St. Bartholomew's church. It was a bright but extremely windy day when we arrived, but I was delighted to discover the gravestone of my Gt.Gt. grandfather and many of his family. The stone was propped up against the church and we could have missed it. My visit from Australia was greatly enhanced by the discovery of the Harbottle family headstone.
I am a former pupil of Chaigley, where I spent several happy years. I remember the little school house on the left side opposite and a little further up from the post office where we used to sit and have an illicit smoke. I also remember the Rose Queen Carnival. My memories of the village are of a place that almost seemed as though it was somehow more remote than it actually is. I have returned a couple of times as an adult and found it much the same.
This is Alan Edgar Fullwood's memory and the reference to Slinfold is right at the bottom of this narration: Edgar Fullwood was my father. He was born in Birmingham England in what is to me the beginning of our history in 1875 on October 31st, and he was the grandson of Joseph and Ann whose birth and life times are unknown to me. His parents were know to me as a school boy; Henry, his father was born in Birmingham ...see more
IWAS FIVE IN 1964 AND IN THE HIGH STREET WAS A LARGE SHOP CALLED CHATTIN AND HORTON. IT WAS A WONDERFUL SHOP ESPECIALLY AT CHRISTMAS TIME WHEN FATHER CHRISTMAS USED TO BE THERE WITH HIS SACK OF TOYS. YOU COULDN'T HELP YOURSELF IN THE SHOP YOU HAD TO ASK ASSISTANTS BEHIND THE COUNTER TO GET THINGS FOR YOU. DOES ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER THIS SHOP?
'The Oak' is the only pub and hotel in the village and in the fifties our next door neighbour was the cleaner there. She would cycle to the village from the farm on a heavy green bicycle in a slow and ponderous manner that has stayed with me to this day. I must have been about nine when the awful event happened that haunted me for years. Police came to the village school one day to ask our neighbour's daughter ...see more
This was where everyone waited for the buses that took us east to Pangbourne and Reading or west to Newbury, our main shopping town. Newbury had a thriving market twice a week and buses were frequent, eight per day. The Well House did indeed have a well beneath it and following a tragedy at the Royal Oak pub in which our next door neighbour was killed, the building was renovated. Originally it was an open ...see more
When I was ten years old this old tree was a delight. Ancient and hollow inside, we children were able to crawl inside while mother did her shopping. We watched people pass on their way to and from the blacksmith, the grocer or the butcher, firmly believing they had no idea we were there. If we were lucky we would have been bought an ice lolly or a sweet to eat in the tree. It was often thought by visitors ...see more
I first knew the hospital when I was admitted there in 1956. It was a beautiful building. I have seen photos online of how it had been left to go to ruin. I have also heard it was going to be demolished for a housing estate. I find it quite sad that a building that has done so much could be just dismissed. I'm sure it could have been put to a worthy cause. When I was in the hospital I do remember one nurse - STAFF NURSE MARSDEN. I look forward to anyone else remembering this place. Sue.
This is taken from by St Andrew's Church looking back towards Cheadle Hulme. We lived on Hulme Hall Road at that time. One or two years later I attended Sunday school at St Andrews and also Junos which was an organisation similar to cubs that was held in a hut at the back of the church. I remember the petrol station and further on towards the corner of Buckingham Road?? was RS McColls newsagents. Turn down ...see more
This is a picture of Station Road with Snapes's hardware shop on the corner. The petrol pump was no longer in use by then but the paraffin one was. Opposite Snapes's is Oak Meadow where we used to play on our bikes and climb trees. Working back along behind the camera on the same side was the Elycian cinema. Lovely little picture house. I saw Where Eagles Dare, Carry on Camping, the Jungle Book etc there. ...see more
I was born in Newton-le-Willows in 1946 and 21 years later married Jackie Emms from Newton-le-Willows also. During that time we would often spend the evening having a drink in the "Leigh Arms" cocktail bar (see photo). In 1967 we married at "All Saints" church and held our wedding reception at the "Pied Bull" Newton-le-Willows (see photo N149027). We are still married, now live in Devon and next week will ...see more
I was at Mid-Cheshire College in 1976. I got to know The Greenbank rather well!
Chester for me, in the 1960s, was, first, the Museum. It was a full day out. The C4 or C3 bus from Overpool or the C6 from Rivacre, small pack of sandwiches and some orange squash in my school haversack and I could spend the day with the Roman Army. Having a very eidetic imagination (I think in pictures) it was easy for me to see those Roman Soldiers marching along. Later it was rowing with E Port ...see more
The 1901 census shows my grandad was living at 49 Durants Road Enfield with his wife and two children. His occupation is shown as Clerk at Electric Lamp Works. Does anyone know the likely name and location of the Electric Lamp Works?
The Waterton Arms, in Church Street, used to be owned and run by Mary Elizabeth Mulligan. Her grandson Andrew Robert owned the house next door and the Pharmacy attached.
The teachers were `Zorra` Hardy,`Percy` Noble, `Gunner` Meadows, `Musha`Pitt and Harry Firth. The Headmaster was Mr Hewitt. Ken Barkworth used to come home on leave from the army and take us for PT in the hall and I used to box him. My class mates were Donald Backhouse, Donald Levick ,Frank Taylor, Gordon Blake, Bert Mellors and Frank Wilson. I played football for the school in goal. The ...see more