Favourite Memories
Reconnecting with our shared local history.
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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Search for your favourite UK places and read memories of the local area in days gone by.
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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:
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How the location features in your personal history?
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The memories this place inspires for you?
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Stories about the community, its history and people?
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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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!
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Displaying Memories 1701 - 1750 of 2029 in total
On the lead up to the Edinburgh & Glasgow holidays, my friends and I used to prepare by building our own 'bogeys' out of some pram wheels, then on the Saturday`we would arrive at the train station and wait for the train to come from Newcastle with the Scots, we would ask the passengers as they came out of the station where they were going to stay and offer to take them and their luggage 'on the ...see more
I remember the Town Hall at Cowbridge. In those days there was no one way system around it like today. The school boy interest was the Merryweather Fire Engine that was kept in a garage at the side of the Town Hall. Great fun to see it being driven out bell clanging and the firemen in their then shiny helmets hanging on. A local resident and Fireman was a Mr. Bond who fought fires in the air raid on Cardiff in ...see more
Evacuation - September 3rd 1939
The government decided that mothers and children should be moved to the countryside away from areas at risk from bombing. On the 3rd, parents and children all gathered at their local schools; we went to Saint Joseph’s Primary School. Some parents didn’t accompany their children and they were with teachers. We were all given labels with our name on them, tin mugs ...see more
I remember breaking and entering on a Friday night in February. Mr Doyle the local policeman rounds us up on Saturday a.m. in his house that doubled as a police station. Father went crazy and ripped up Wales-Australia tickets and threw them on the fire! My family went on holiday in the summer and left me behind with a neighbour. All for a few .22 bullets. I shall not name my co-defendants. This aint my ...see more
As a child I swam in the sea next to the Sandwell Gate and the ruins of The Freemasons Arms which was an old pub that was on the Fish Sands.
I remember sunny days, swimming and picnics with sand in my sandwiches with my friends. One day my friends noticed that when I walked back up the beach after a swim I left 'red' footprints. I had unknowingly stepped on a piece of broken ...see more
My memory of the Baths was getting up at 6.30am to get there for the First Session at 7am. I would swim until 8am then either ride on my bike or walk along the Seafront and Mainsforth Terrace, past the Coal Staithes to Middleton where I was an Office Boy at Richardsons Westgarth. It was great on a fine morning but not so good when it rained. Being only 15 at the time I used to do some silly things, one ...see more
I was born in Tean and in about 1957, when I was 8 yrs old, I was allowed to travel to Cheadle alone on the PMT service buses. I was 8yrs old. My gran would meet me at the cinema stop on Butlers Hill. She would always be standing outside the cinema steps. Sometimes I would walk along the High St with her to do some shopping. We always visited on these occasions the market. At the time, the ...see more
The journey up to and across London to King's Cross Station in 1944 for a 4-year old boy was exciting enough, but our adventure had only just begun. Holding my mother's hand tightly, we searched carriage after carriage for our seats on the packed but magnificent steam engine that was to take us at breakneck speed to Newcastle and the safety of my nana's house in Stanhope ...see more
I was sent to Southborough from London in September 1939 and was billeted with a lovely couple, Mr and Mrs Brown who lived at Holden Corner. I was with another girl evacuee named Audrey and she and l just loved the chickens and fishing (with jam jars) in the pond. We went to the village school, bought Tizer and ice-cream from the shop, and I seem to remember going to the church there, ...see more
I remember the pianist who played for a week at the St James, I had forgotten what he was called until I saw your entry. A few years later I worked at the St James as a projectionist with a Mr Bell; there was a Miss Greenan who was secretary & in the box office. I can also remember one of the usherettes, a very tall girl who stayed there for a long time & also worked in the box office, I think (her name ...see more
Having gained my Air Gunners wing in Egypt I was posted to the Air Crew holding unit in Harrogate where I stayed for about three weeks early on 1945, and again a few months later. I remember the dance held in a marque in the Valley Gardens in August on VJ night (what a night that was!) I was billeted in the Grand Hotel. The CO of this unit was the English wicket keeper Les Ames On parade one morning in the forecourt of ...see more
The post from 2009 by (name unknown) reflects on my childhood spent in Talacre, because my father worked for Dora Williams as the baker. His bread and pies were awesome! I also, at the age of 7 or 8, had a job from the bakery, which was also a dairy. I had a pony and cart that I used to drive to a farm down near the main Chester road, where I would collect a big churn of milk and bring it back to the ...see more
Many, many, happy memories of holidays in a cottage on the Warren located next door to old Tynans (sorry if not spelt right) bakery. Waking up to the smell of pies and bread, while being sent to the stand pipe on the old dusty main road for the water. Waiting for the call of the calor gas truck, the excitement of the weeeeooooop from the loud speaker on its roof then CALLLLLOR GAS CALLLING....CALLORRRR GAS ...see more
There were four Italian shops in the town when that nation joined Hitler. Tazioli, Vincenti and Rinaldi had ice cream/sweetie shops. Moscadini had a fish and chip shop, a thriving business. The first three kept very quiet but silly old Moscadini would go down the pub and tell all the lads about what cowards the English were and how brave the Italians were and often had a black eye to prove it! However his fish and ...see more
We didn't need a gym, we got our fresh air and exercise outdoors. Couldn't wait to catch up with friends after school, John, Kevin and myself went to Saint Cuthberts Catholic School, the only Catholic family living there at the time. Church every Sunday, back home, out of or good clothes and off we went. It didn't mater what religion you were, we were all mates. I remember going with Linda, my best friend, ...see more
I was stationed in Morfa Camp in Towyn between Jan 66 and Dec 68. We were more or less regulars at the pub, especially on Saturdays in the winter. The landlord at that time was an Englishman named Len or Les. He was an authority on the history of the British Army. My fondest memory is of winter evenings sitting by the log fire and listening to the 'choir' that regularly entertained. They were led by a ...see more
The Army
My call up papers came with a railway warrant for Gloucester, where I and another group of lucky lads, were picked up by army lorry and taken to the barracks of the Gloucester Regiment for our six weeks basic training. Unloaded at the barrack square, we were marched (shambled) to our huts, then to the QM stores for uniform and kit.
The Army does not give you your kit, it is yours “for the use of” during your ...see more
The Seagoing Years.
I must have left the Army sometime in August or September of 1949, and went back to C.J.King & son, tug owners, to carry on with my job as deck boy. This was not to my liking, as I was now twenty, and scrubbing floors for 3 quid a week all hours of the day and night was beneath my dignity, even though I was only getting 26 Shillings in the Army, but that was ...see more
After the war, on April 14th 1946, flying training ceased, and Lulsgate Bottom was abandoned by the RAF in October. The airfield was used by Bristol Gliding Club during the next ten years, but the accommodation became a refugee camp for Poles, whose children went to Catholic schools in Bristol.
In 1948 and 1949 motor race meetings were organised by the Bristol Motor Cycle and Light Car Club using a ...see more
It is ironic that these massive buildings that dominate the ridge at Ashley Down were known for generations as the Muller Homes. Their founder, German immigrant George Muller, was insistent on the title 'The New Orphan House' as he did not want his name to be prominent, for he considered himself merely an instrument in the venture. In fact, in his youth he must have seemed an unlikely candidate for such benevolent ...see more
The Dutch House - this 17th century building once stood on the corner of Wine Street. It was reduced to a charred skeleton during the Second World War and for safety's sake it had to be pulled down.
The Dutch House was Bristol's best-known landmark before the Blitz. By 1732 it was the house of John Vaughan, a goldsmith, in 1810 it became the Castle Bank, in 1826 the Stuckey's Bank; and by 1855 it was occupied by Mr ...see more
St John's Gate in Broad Street in Bristol is the only surviving medieval city gateway, at one one time there were seven gates into the old city. Fortified gateways pierced the town wall at intervals. St John's Gateway, originally one of these, is the only Bristol one to survive. Portcullis channels are still visible within the arch. Queen Elizabeth I rode through here on entering the city in 1574.
St ...see more
Over a thousand years ago Bristol's harbour developed around the lowest bridging point of the River Avon. The exceptional tidal range of the Severn Estuary and Avon carried laden ships into the city and scoured the river of silt.
Local trade flourished between Bristol, South Wales, the Severn ports and Ireland. During the Middle ages the port grew in prestige, trading with the Atlantic seaboard, Iceland and the ...see more
Pisa has its famous leaning tower - and so does Bristol, with its drunkenly off-vertical tower of Temple Church in Temple Street. The tower isn't on the stupendous scale of its Italian counterpart, it's true. But its prominent position by busy Victoria Street and its proximity to Temple Meads station make it one of the most startling sights to be seen by newly-arrived visitors to Bristol.
Poor ...see more
Our family had returned to England at the very end of 1948 from a short overseas BOAC posting in Montreal. My father, a BOAC pilot, was due to begin training to fly Boeing Stratocruisers at Filton in 1949, and along with other crew families we were placed on a new housing estate in Westbrook Road. Shortly before Christmas 1951 my older brother (8) and I went shopping in the Centre travelling in by bus, I ...see more
'Cash on the Nail' the man said. . . and a century or so ago in Bristol he really meant it. For the deal would have been clinched on one of Bristol's four famous nails standing outside the Corn Exchange on Corn Street or, from the late 1550s to 1771, under a covered walk outside All Saints Church before they were moved to today's well-known site.
The brass nails with their flat tops and raised edges to prevent ...see more
Goddamn fish and chips!
At the very bottom of the Christmas Steps lies a building thought to date back to the 13th century, which has housed a fish and chip shop for well over 100 years. One of the first ever 'chippies' to open in England, this shop won a Best in Britain award whilst under the management of the inimitable Grace and Robert. After taking over the restaurant in 1964, the couple remained ...see more
The High Street - the scene of many stirring events in Bristol's history and the heart of the city - was destroyed and lost forever during the Second World War.
As a city with docks and industry at its heart, Bristol was a natural target for German bombing during the Second World War. The German Luftwaffe were able to trace a course up river from Avonmouth using reflected moonlight. This path brought them right into ...see more
Arnos Vale Cemetery is the location of the tomb of Raja Ram Mohun Roy - 'The Father of Modern India'. He died when on a visit to Bristol in 1833. This gentleman left home and 'sought knowledge by his extensive travels'. He mastered ten languages, encouraged the study of English in early 19th century India and was a journalistic pioneer in India.
He came to England in 1830 to plead the cause of the ...see more
The large vessel in the foreground is a pleasure steamer belonging to Campbells, the 'Empress Queen', and was the first screw steamer owned by the company. The vessel on the opposite bank was a William Sloan steamer, registered at Leith, although her name, partly obscured, was not one of their regulars and may have been on charter whilst either the 'Annan' or 'Findhorn' was in dry dock. They operated from ...see more
Two of the cranes were purchased by 'City Dock Ventures' and two by the city council. All four were put into the museums care in 1989. Although the electricity supply to them was cut in 1974, one has been restored and another is in the process of being restored by a dedicated team of volunteers, led by Dave 'The Crane' Cole.
One crane is now fully working and sometimes open for the public to go up to the ...see more
The Llandoger Trow - It is rumoured that Daniel DeFoe had met Alexander Selkirk ( shipwrekced sailor who had been rescued by a Bristol ship) in the Llandoger, on whose story he based his book 'Robinson Crusoe'.
The Llandoger is also supposed to be the model for The Admiral Benbow pub in Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure book 'Treasure Island'. Blackbeard the pirate, who also came from Bristol, may ...see more
Only a handful of people have survived the terrible fall from the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The most celebrated was young lover Sarah Ann Henley.
Sarah was a local girl from St Philip's in Bristol. In 1885 she was 22 and working in a Bristol factory when she was jilted by her boyfriend. The heartbroken girl made her way up from industrial St Philips to Clifton and the bridge and, in despair, she ...see more
It has long been claimed that the lady in black who haunts the beautiful old Theatre Royal in King Street, home of the Bristol Old Vic, is none other than the great actress Sarah Siddons. There are similar tales of Siddons haunting other theatres but why should she haunt the Theatre Royal where she rarely appeared and where nothing momentous happened to her?
The answer is that the Theatre Royal's dark ...see more
Having a harbour right in the city centre gave Bristol an unrivalled attraction for visitors who gazed in wonder at the sight of tall masts - 'In the middle of the street, as far as you can see, hundreds of ships, their masts as thick as they can stand by one another, which is the oddest and most surprising sight imaginable', wrote Alexander Pope in 1732.
A long street, full of ships in the middle and ...see more
The Thames-side Miniature Railway opened in about 1946 and closed in 1954. The station, which had a single platform, stood at the Caversham end of the line. To the east of the station was the engine shed and, beyond that, a turntable. At the western end of the railway was another turntable and a passing loop that enabled the locomotive, once turned, to return to the front of the train. The railway was ...see more
Wonderful little beach. As a lad in the late 1940's and early 50's, I was a deckchair boy here, and hundreds of people would walk from town to have a coffee at the cafe at the bottom of Rapparee steps, or spend half the day sitting in a deckchair. I learnt to swim here, jumping from the rocks at the side of the beach. Rowing boats from the harbour would visit, taking people back to the quay for ...see more
During the years of 1959-1960 I worked as secretary in the Education Centre at RAF Mildenhall. One of my favourite memories of that time was having lunch at Tillys Pantry every Friday. Another secretary at the air base had just passed her driving licence exam - quite a feat for a young girl at that time as it was a thorough examination and not too many passed on the first attempt, and ...see more
I remember this paddling pool so well, when I was about 8 years old I would be there with my nana {in fact in looks like me in the pic}. She would sit on the bench in the pic and eat her rich tea biscuits. I begged her to let me swim every time we were there, I would mostly paddle though. One day the pool was empty and I was playing around the drain and I got my big toe stuck in it, I was really scared ...see more
I was a policeman in Newmarket from 1962 -1970 and well remember having to stand in the glass tower in the middle of the roundabout controlling the traffic using the part-time traffic lights on each of the 5 entrances to the roundabout. This caper was mainly carried out on Summer weekends when the traffic coming back from the coast would be particularly heavy coming down the Bury ...see more
My friend Sue and I worked as waitresses at the Runnacleve during July and August of that hot summer whilst on holiday from catering college. Not that we saw much of the sun! We served breakfast, lunch and dinner with short breaks in between. We would start work at 7.30am and finally finish around 9pm. We were in the annexe of the restaurant and I waited on the American owner, Mr Roberts and his family who had the ...see more
My family ran the Carlton from the early 1970s. We lived there for a year or two in the flat which was on the right where the garage is in the picture here. I remember cycling around the place on my blue plastic tractor (I was born in 1971 was I wasn't old). We found that some guests came into the flat and used our bathroom so we hid a fake rubber severed hand poking out of the toilet. They never came in ...see more
My mother Elizabeth and my father, Graham Thomson, lived on a houseboat in Poole harbour during 1950 and 1951. I was a baby and they had to move to dry land when I became a toddler! My mother used to tell me how she used to hang nappies from the sail masts on deck. I don't remember much, apart from the clinking of sail masts which I still find very soothing.
My mother and father used to go ...see more
At the same time in Wimbledon, there was also another Kennards and like the poster said, he used to go to Kennards with his mum and nan and so did I (to the Kennards in Wimbledon). I was about 4 or 5 then, just after the war and when I first went there with my mum and nan, I was amazed to see in this great big shop with so many departments, there was a dance floor and a small orchestra playing and a singer. I had never seen ...see more
Was there really a live donkey in Kennards Arcade at some point? Was that just a childhood dream I had?
One highlight of my childhood was going to one of the big department stores with my grandmother and mother. Ladies dressed in black played violins while we ate coffee and cake. For a few brief hours we were rich, had a huge house and all the other things I once thought made life fun. I cannot remember if it was Alders, ...see more
I was also in this Fever Hospital with Scarlet Fever for three weeks I was 9 or 10. I clearly remember being rushed there in an ambulance wrapped tightly in a blanket with a bag of sweets stuffed down my front. I felt very bewildered by the whole experience. I recall the nurses were very kind but the food was not so good. A big box of oranges was sent in by one of my uncles which felt very special as I saw no ...see more
My memories are relating to the mid 1950`s & 1960`s: smelling the ground coffee and Broomfields Bakers, C&A store, a boutique called `Bus Stop` and Martin Fords in the high street, where I bought my first leather coat. I have lots of memories of the old Croydon, especially going swimming in the baths in Scarbrooke Rd. It had two baths, a large and a small. Cost of 6 old pence a session. After, we used ...see more
My mother Kathleen Reeve used to work in Kennards and I remember that at the end of the day over the loudspeaker system they would play "Now is the Hour". In later years she always used to say how much she disliked that tune! I was only 7 but I too remember the arcade and the sights and smells and how wonderful it was for a child at Christmas time.
In about 1952 appeared in the scouts gang show at Civic Hall organised by Ralph Reader. In 54 attended my final year prize giving before I left Croydon Sec Tech. Still have picture of this event which appeared in the Croydon Advertiser. I also remember well the toy shop Hamleys and many Dinky toys and Meccano kits, my parents bought for me. The Sax One Shoe at the top of the hill provided me with some ...see more
Hi, my name is Margaret Henderson (nee Percy). I lived in Westerham, Kent but worked in the Croydon Model Laundry. I used to travel by bus to Croydon every day from Westerham and then walked down Surrey Street markets to the laundry; you turned left at the bottom of Surrey Street (BHS was on the corner on the right), the laundry was further along on the right, near a bridge. I loved going down the markets in the ...see more