Nostalgic memories of Rayleigh's local history

Share your own memories of Rayleigh 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.

A couple at a laptop

Add a Memory!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin

Tips & Ideas

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!

Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.

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So many memories of Rayleigh! We moved to Upway in 1953, no. 18, one of the first of the new bungalows, which my dad designed himself. I remember neighbours - The Wyatt family next door, and the Snodes up the hill (who later moved to Bull Lane). There was a corner shop where we would get our 2/- Neapolitan ice cream brick and Corona (different connotation then) lemonade and Lucozade (1d back on the ...see more
Anyone remember a private school in Rayleigh High Street run by Miss Abbott. I was there from 1953
I was born at home in Avondale Rd, Rayleigh Essex in 1958. We moved to Canvey Island & then in 1963 we relocated to Australia. I only have a few memories of Rayleigh & the most predominant was Snows Farm where I began horse riding at the age of 18 months. There were 2 horses that I rode called "Joey" & "Pee Wee". My Mum rode a brown & white horse called "Hawthorn. It would be so great to hear from anyone who remembers the riding school & knows any of its history.
I read the piece about Bull Lane and the stream on the left hand side,we used to collect Frogs spawn from there, and Old Farmer Snow and his Farm, because as kids we used to go Horse riding there, I used to live in the shop in Hilary Crescent moved in there in 1957, I was 10, it was a Grocery and Provisions,my Dad bought it new for my Mum, and we moved in when I was ten from Eastwood Road, we lived in the Bungalow ...see more
I remember a narrow brook in Bull Lane running along the bottom of the houses left hand side walking from the high street. My schoolfriend and I used to jump over it and try to push each other in. I sometimes think this is something I dreamed up, but I can still see it. I recall walking through the gardens of Grove Road, bungalows all new without any fencing, going up to the Grove Road shops. Buying Vinegar ...see more
I remember the cottages which were very near the road,coming down Eastwood Road from High Street. I regret no photos but remember the last one farthest from the High Street was used as a Cobblers workshop and the buses that went by were city bus company in brown and cream.If you went to Love Lane Infants school you may remember the Walnut tree opposite the police station which we kids used to raid.
55 years ago I went to a private school in Herefordshire, and during the breaks I used to stayed with Webb family in Rayleigh, Essex county. Aunt Mary was my guardian while being over there. She had two children, William and Ann Webb. I left the U.K. In May of 1960 to come home to Canada. Their father, William and my dad were in the navy during WWII and came into the port of Saint John, N.B. Canada. I would ...see more
My family have lived in and around Rayleigh since the early 1900s. I was born in the early 1960s and just about remember the High Street being two-way. Woolworths has now been replaced by ASK and Grants by a card shop, general store and pizza place. Holy Trinity (the church in the background) was built in 1280 and is still going strong with a lively congregation and recently restored tower and windows. Restoration ...see more
I recently visited this 'dutch cottage' again (after taking my mum there in the 1990's) and the girl who lives there and is the also the guide, is full of good information about this. She was surprised when I said that my grandad used to walk from Canning Town, East London to here! His nan lived there for many years in the 1800's to early 1900's. When I checked the census for them, there was at one stage 9 ...see more
I lived on the Lower Road between Hockley and Hullbridge between 1950 and 1967. Rayleigh was our local town. Before Woolworths was built, there was a garage on the site. I think it was called the Waterloo garage. My father bought a wartime ex-army Commer utility vehicle from them (in the very early 1950s). He used this for his mobile greengrocery round around Rayleigh. There was ...see more