Nostalgic memories of Barking's local history
Share your own memories of Barking 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 101 - 110 of 111 in total
I spent many an hour floating around in a boat on that lake and dreading the second when the voice of authority would call out: 'Number 3 (for instance, your time is up.' We'd then make our way back to the boat house, as slooooowly as was possible.
I was born in Upney Hospital in early 1951, the youngest of six children. We lived with our parents in North Street. When I was two our parents split up and my dad eventually 'won' custody of myself and the brother next up to me, four years my senior. Dad had been disabled during the Second World War and, as such, was no longer able to do his job, in civvie land, in the building trade. So he was at home a lot ...see more
I remember being taken to the Capitol by my sister to watch the Disney film Bambi. We sat through it three times, I was taken ill the next day and my sister got the blame. The Capitol had a ventilation fan under a hole in the roof, when it rained the fan sprayed water onto a big circle of seats below. We sat in the middle of the circle to keep dry! I went to Ripple Road school near the level crossing and lived ...see more
If I remember rightly, coming round the corner from Ripple Road into East Street, there was a hole in the ground courtesy of the German bombers. Later, Timothy Whites was built there. Anyway, as youngsters, we used to head for the Capitol cinema for the Saturday morning club, but before we got to the cinema we used to stop at a covered arcade (market) where we used to swap and buy comics - Beano, Dandy, Marvel Topper, you ...see more
I remember going to the Ripple Road School. I started in the middle of the year 1949 I think. I left about the middle 1950s. I remember going to the corner shop to buy sweets like false teeth and the like. Then walking home with my friends up over the rail bridge waiting for the train to come and enjoying the steam on our face. With my friend Ann we would then walk to Chalmers Avenune where she lived and I ...see more
My first real memory of the town was Mum taking me to Blakes corner which has been bombed and me peering through the wooden safety wall, to look at the hole down below. I think it became Timothy Whites & Taylor after that. I was born in 1946 and lived in George Street, off Linton Road, and went to Northbury infants school, the headmistress being Mrs. Biddis, her hubby was a local vet. The Capitol was in ...see more
I was born in 1948 and lived behind Wallis's undertakers in Ripple Road, where my dad was the manager. I went to St Margaret's Church of England School in Back Lane, and was married at St Margaret's Church in 1970. I also did my nursing training at Barking (Upney) Hospital, before moving to Colchester. I have memories of losing my Easter bonnet into the Town Quay one Sunday morning after church. Carol Harding (nee Leith)
I was born in 1947, so anyone that reads this of that era can relate to the great shopping and Barking people. You could never walk through the shops without seeing a friend or neighbour and through a child's eyes everything was 'right with the world'. My mum and I would have a cuppa and egg and cress roll in Woolworths, they had a cafe along the width of the shop at the far end. Does anyone remember it? ...see more
When I was four years old our family moved from Benfleet Essex to Barking. M y Farther took a position as Manager of a Corn Chandlers In Tanner Street, and we lived at number 81 next door. I can recall starting school at Church Street primary, although it was called an infants school then. my memories are so many it's difficult to pin down the best, but I will try. I used to walk down Taanner Street ...see more
In the early sixties I was a member of the St John's Ambulance Brigade and often on a Saturday morning I would don my uniform and present myself (as instructed by my leader) to do my duty at the Odeon. Often there would be 2 or 3 willing volunteers and we would always pray that no-one would get sick or ill so we could enjoy the movie as well. Great days. In those days the Odeon was massive with a ...see more
