Nostalgic memories of Daventry's local history
Share your own memories of Daventry 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 remember a sunny day in 1940 a 10 year old London kid alone nervous scared alone except for a bunch of other kids, We had been scurried away from war torn London having gone through the Battle of Britain German airraids. The British goverment had devised a plan given the secret name "Pied Piper" the ide to protect Britain's future generation .
So here I m swinging on a garden gate leading up the path to a Red door, the ...see more
Reading some of the uses that this grand old building has been put to over the decades, brought back memories of my earlier years in the 1960's where the Abbey buildings frequently featured. Probably the first visit I was not aware of, because in the late '50's the post natal clinic was held there. I do remember tagging along with my mum and new baby brother to pick up the tins of powered baby milk. I've ...see more
Currently researching the history of the building which now houses First Light Photographic & Dawn Branigan Photography at 3 & 3A High Street. Have traced it back as far as 1836, when Leigh's Bakery was founded by one John Leigh. His son, Samuel George Leigh carried the tradition on well into the 20th Century. Does anyone know when Leigh's closed and the Danetre Fancy Bakery was opened? According to the ...see more
A short distance north-west of Daventry is Braunston. The village lies on a hill overlooking the Grand Union Canal, one of Britain’s most famous inland waterways, and is a hub of the canal network. This photograph (D83014) shows the Welton end (just north of Daventry) of the long Braunston Tunnel, which was built to connect the Grand Union Canal from London to the Oxford Canal at Braunston. The house over ...see more
In 1925 the BBC chose Borough Hill near Daventry as the site for their new national radio transmitter, which would bring a ‘National’ service to everyone in Britain from one site. This was followed in 1932 by the opening of the Empire Station. The masts and aerials on Borough Hill wee a feature of the landscape for over 65 years, and Daventry continued to broadcast to the world until 1992, when the facility was ...see more
This pub was run by my grandfather and his wife around about 1910. They were John Percy Kingston and his wife Maggie Lizzy.. There were tales of many local characters who came into the pub . I believe the pub let rooms for the night and sported a sign at that time advertising 'Accommodation for Motorists'.
My mum worked here for many years, however my abiding memory is of the huge horse chestnut tree that grew in the middle of the large lawn in front of the hospital. The tree produced the best and largest conkers so every year we crept into the hospital grounds to collect them. In those days we were not really allowed in the grounds so it felt quite exciting and dangerous to creep in unoticed and fill our pockets.
This was my local rec and I played here every day without fail. I remember the engine being installed and playing on it long before the health and safety guys realised its potential. We found everything worked - the boiler door opened you could crawl inside to hide. All the levers worked and it was probably after some poor kid lost a finger or got stuck inside the boiler that they made it 'safe'!
It really ...see more
I regularly took a short cut through this graveyard when I was a kid in the 60's and early 70's. If it was dark or foggy it was very, very spooky and I used to run like hell - I was a good runner!!
Hi there
I remember the day that this engine arrived in the rec. It was a source of great entertainment for us youngsters particulary, as originally everything was accessible. I remember climbing up on the footplate and seeing a little lad emerging from the firebox. It was rumoured that it was possible to get into the boiler and exit up the funnel but I never saw it done! It was great for playing hide and seek - I ...see more