Nostalgic memories of St Ives's local history

Share your own memories of St Ives 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 10 Memories

I think in this difficult year of 2020 our thoughts go back to happier times. I was searching for Pednolva House, St Ives when I came across this link. My family and I spent all the summers from 1980 to 1986 with Miss Johnson at Pednolva House. She had converted the family house into two upstairs flats whilst at that time living downstairs. Although the flats were very basic they were perfect for a young ...see more
In 1969 we visited St Ives in Cornwall for our annual summer holidays but on this occasion due to it being a last minute decision we had not booked our accommodation. Travelling from Bedfordshire in those days was considered by most to be a bit of a trek and it was usual to stop-over but we chose to plough- on arriving in the early evening. After enjoying a quick cuppa we set out to find a B&B but we were ...see more
This granite archway (just off the Digey) once marked the entranceway to an old Manor House belonging to the Hicks family. The area beyond the arch is still known as Hicks Court.
The alleyway to the left was known as "Pudding Bag Lane" (only one way in and one way out!). The correct name was Capel Court however. The area ( to the everlasting shame of the town council), was swept away in the 1930s for 'redevelopment'. The area it occupied is now a car park at the rear on The Sloop Inn.
I come from Camborne so we went to Porthminster all summer as a child. Between 1966 and 1972 I went with the Sunday School to the tea treats at Porthminster Beach, our families all came by train and rented the beach tents and deck chairs for the day, and the best part of all was the tea treat bun, the bottle of pop, the Sunday School sing song and scavenger hunts.
I found an old postcard of Porthminster Beach recently in a charity shop in Devon. I was intrigued by the message, it was addressed to a Miss Johnson at Pedn Olva House and something tragic had obviously happened as it talked of being 'verily verily sad' and 'great sorrow'. I would love to know more, or even to pass it on to the family.
My great-grandfather had a gift shop, number 1 The Wharf, St Ives, and an artist studio.
The man on the step here is a distant relative of mine, possibly my great-great grandfather. Another picture that I have known of for ages but never known its origins.
I've known of this photo for a long while. The man in the middle of the photo is my great-grandfather who as well as being a Lifeboatman, won many sailing trophies.
St, Ives born and bred, my family had lived in a couple of houses upalong before moving to 22 The Digey ( the middle door ) sometime in 1967. I remember having my 6th birthday there.  At the time there was a credit squeeze on and my parents could only afford a tiny downalong cottage even though they had sold a large house in Alexandra Road.  Back then the cheapest properties were around the harbour and my ...see more