Nostalgic memories of Shirley's local history
Share your own memories of Shirley 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 11 in total
I lived just across the road from where the photo was taken in Church Cottage as my dad was the verger sexton at St Johns Church. We would spend every day playing football in this park with the grumpy old parkie after us for bashing the ball in the tennis court fence. If we weren't playing football we were playing in one of the 5 woods around our house, Shirley woods, Bridle Woods, Penny farthing woods, Coombe Woods ...see more
I was born in Croydon in 1936, and lived In West Way, Shirley. My mother could not bear to part with us, so we lived at home all through the war. A bomb was dropped into the garden next door. After six months it was discovered it had not "gone off!" We were moved up the street while the Army defused it. We were told it was meant to be dropped on the docks. The whole garden was one big hole. I can remember leaning ...see more
I spent many hours in the park, not just playing, but the Scout Hut was there too. It was a wooden building with gas mantle lighting and a coke stove for the winter. In the summer the windows, which had metal bolted shutters over them, were opened to let natural light in. During the winter, you would arrive and it was like being in a freezer until the coke stove warmed the place up. We had a lot of fun there. Eventually, ...see more
I remember walking from Fir Tree Gardens on Shrublands Estate to Millers Pond with our jam jars and fishing nets , we also had a youth Club on the Estate I worked Saturdays in the Hairdressers in the parade of shops it was called Jan Terase, I think the pub was called The Goat, I had friends in Laurel Crescent, the Askews , mum was Margaret she had daughter Diane and son Michael, my school friend was Mary Casselden, ...see more
This is the entrance to my primary school. I was there from 1960 - 64. Most of the teachers were Welsh. Ryan Davies was very influential before he went back into TV and theatre so was Mr Evans, Mrs Davis and Miss Straker (the only English teacher!) Even the head was Welsh Mr Lewis.
Alan Dighton
I lived in Clinton Road, Shirley from 1950 to 1956 when we moved to Smethwick. At the time it was a cul-de-sac and we lived at number 95 right at the end. There was a wood next to us with a wide path though it to Widney Lane. There was also an old house halfway through the wood. The wood has now gone and houses built on it but the old house was still there the last time I visited in 2009. I don't remember much being so ...see more
My grandmother lived with her children at Badgers Hole, my grandfather went to war, they then moved to Fullerton Road in Addiscombe. Their name was Card, my grandmother was Minnie my Grandfather was Jesse, their children Gwendoline (my mother) Charlie, Jack, Jesse, Violet and Minnie. Does anyone remember them .?
I think this must be the Windmill by John Ruskin School on Upper Shirley Road. If I remember right there was a pub (The Sunrise?) nearby. Many an hour was spent on my old track bike in Shirley Hills and the tea shop.
Hi. I remember living at the 'Shirley Homes' for children in Shirley in 1947, I believe it was run by the old LCC (London County Council) It was a wondeful place to live, the staff looked after us as if we were their own, I lived at the 'Willow Cottage' but although the 'Home had their own school I attended an outside one, We were taken on a fortnight's holiday to Walton-on-the-naze in Essex,a Camping holiday, it was ...see more
I was born in Shirley in 1935. My parents had married a year earlier and moved to a new semi detached house (cost seven hundred and twenty-five pounds) in the new housing estate. They came from crowded row houses in London's East End so living in a new house in the suburbs with three bedrooms and a bathroom for the two of them and one baby must have seemed like heaven. Although my parents had bought a ...see more