Nostalgic memories of Padgate's local history
Share your own memories of Padgate and read what others have said
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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Displaying all 8 Memories
At the age of 17 (now aged 90 ) I entered Padgate as a young lad for my basic training. The barrack room was long and cold with only two coal fire stoves in the room. We were a mixed bunch of young lads from various towns etc but we soon settled in to a routine. There were two Corporals in charge of our training, I can see there faces but now there names evade my memory, One name has just been ...see more
We actually lived in Orford in the 1960's very close to Padgate camp and we often used to walk through to Padgate where there was a nice pub and my Mum and Dad would have a shandy while my sister and I would have a lemonade and a packet of crisps. Afterwards we would go for a walk round and I distinctly remember some old wooden stocks which used to fascinate us. No one else seems to remember them and I am beginning to doubt ...see more
I started work for J R Ashall Ltd. in April 2nd1956 Easter was early that year and it was snowing as I reported their offices.I waited outside in the snow I was wearing hand me downs that was all except my under ware, I had not top coat I was cold and suddenly an apprentice bricklayer didn't seem such a goo national service lads doing their 13 weeks training. The job was replacing the wooded piers supporting the huts ...see more
I don't know if this picture relates to my family or not! I am a descendant of the Whitlow family of Thewall, in the mid 1700's onwards. There is a large ground stone in St Marys churchyard in Rostherne, about the first row and 5 stones back from the the church, with a lot of the names of lost ones (my uncles Harry and Mick went there in the 1980's). I would enjoy hearing from anyone related to this rather ...see more
The opening on the left of the photo is the entrance to Padgate Cottage Homes. I first went in there in 1948 as a 6 year old and finally left in 1953 as a 12 year old. The events that happened in there over those years were to shape the rest of my life. Although life in there was quite tough, you have to remember that it was tough for most folk at that time. The good memories vastly outweigh the bad memories. ...see more
I remember walking down Green Lane from my home in Eric Avenue, Padgate to Woolston with my new girlfriend in the snow just by the Cottage Homes. We cuddled together to keep warm, she was 16 and I was 17 and had only met a few weeks earlier. We married in 1958 and had two children. In 1966 we came to live in Australia where we have lived ever since. She died in 2005 and I have returned to Woolston every year since then to ...see more
Seeing this picture braught back memories of 3rd January 1951, when I, and around fifty others, ambled down this lane from the rail station to RAF Padgate, to start an 'adventure' which would remain with us for the rest of our life. Bill.
The next turning on the right is Willow Crescent (I think it's a cul-de-sac now) if that's how you spell it. Yep, this is where I grew up, we had 1 bus, the 81 Dam Lane. If I remember right it used to turn up every hour (with no digital display as well). I had some good times and some bad, but more good. If only we could turn the clocks back, eh. I remember the local bobby dragging me home by the ear because I was ...see more