Nostalgic memories of Potters Bar's local history
Share your own memories of Potters Bar 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 Memories 1 - 10 of 15 in total
I had many a dodgy haircut, and a few good ones, at De Sallas (?) In Darkes Lane.
And my father and mother used to love the Embassy Club.
My father used to take me wrestling at the Ritz. I saw Mick McManus, Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Kendo Nagasaki, and Adrian Street there.
I used to like the Bridge House and the Conservative Club for an underaged Double Diamond or Skol too.
My name is Colin Dickins and I stumbled on this recollection by Arthur Brown and thought I would add some of my memories. While I don't recall the name we must be about the same age. I lived in Coningsby Drive and went much the same route. I also was a pupil of Mr Warren and Miss Thompson. To add to the description of Sainsbury, it had a central aisle with sections each side for the various foods like ...see more
I lived in potters bar all my life, until marrying in 1973 and moving to ware. My grandparents had lived here since the twentys, my dad joined the RAF in 1942, to serve his country during the Second World War. I remember well the Ritz in darkes lane, went there five days in a row to watch the great race, I was only eleven years old! Wylotts manner, thurleys toy shop mount grace school, all fond memory's! All so long ago ...see more
My name is Arhur Brown and I moved to Potters Bar from Tottenham when i was about eight years old along with Mum Doris Dad Arthur and sisters Sylvia and Jeanette and two years later my brother Stephen arrived on the scene.I went to Oakmere School where my teacher was MR Warren he was a brilliant teacher and instilled in me a love of history which i still have today.i then went to Mount Grace lower school ...see more
I grew up in PB, lived in Manor Road and went to Mount Grace from 68 -74. Worked a Saturday job in Delmars and remember standing outside Nethercotts with my Guy Forks doll in an old pram thinking I'd do well standing right next to the chippie. Needless to say I am still broke but proud to be a 'Potter' :-)
I was born in Potters Bar in 1957, my grandad owned Potters Bar Fur Stores, his name was David Kantor. I used to visit as a little girl, it smelt of moth balls, and my jewish aunties, Sadie and Fay worked on the sewing machines. I can't find any history on this shop, but would love to hear some memories? We moved to Hertfordshire in 1961 but I still visited the shop and went to Delmars and ...see more
My mother Gwen Clayden worked at the Ritz cinema during the war years, and spent many evenings on the roof doing fire watch. As a teenager in the mid sixties I remember many shops along Darkes Lane including Woolworths opening (in the late 50's I think) Delmars Record Shop and the Embassy Club. Boddies Sweet Shop, Baldwins Bike Shop and a very old fashion chemist on the corner of Manor Road. Thurleys Toy Shop, Singer ...see more
I was born in Laurel Avenue in 1936 and lived there until 1959. During the war we were bombed out of our house following an air raid during the night, when German bombers were trying to cut the main line between London and Edinburgh. A large bomb fell on No. 46 Laurel Avenue and totally destroyed that, and severely damaged others nearby. That night, my mother, sister and I were sleeping under a bed in the front ...see more
Before 'The Potters Bar' was built, the site was occupied by 'The Railway Hotel', a red brick building. This was demolished in the 1930s and replaced by the present building and called 'The Potters Bar Hotel'. This pub was very popular during the days of the Second World War, with sing-songs and amateur entertainers mostly on a Saturday night. It was also very popular with the American forces stationed nearby.
At the end of Darkes Lane, on the corner of Byng Drive, the Ritz Cinema was built and opened in 1934. My father was the cinema foreman from then until 1939. It had an elevated organ and songs were played on it with the words displayed on the cinema screen. In spite of numerous air raid warnings, as far as I know, it never closed. The National Anthem was always played at the end of the evenings show. ...see more