Nostalgic memories of Gravesend's local history
Share your own memories of Gravesend 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.
Add a Memory!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the 'Add Your Memory' buttons to begin
Displaying Memories 11 - 20 of 42 in total
Hi Nita, I remember your uncle! My Dad was in both Northfleet and Gravesend bands and they regularly had 'socials'. Your uncle, Albert Card, was often the Master of Ceremonies (MC) at these 'do's'. He was a very smart, dapper man with a great personality. I was only a small girl, but he made a huge impression on me. He was in Gravesend Band and there is a cartoon of him on their website.
Google 'Gravesend Borough Band' and look at the photos. Thank you for the lovely memory. Dee
My Uncle, Albert Card, had a dance band and used to play at the Royal Clarendon after WW2. My mother took me there to see him play. He was a very talented musician and had won the Nat Gonella Award for trumpet playing. Nita Jenkins
I was born in Gravesend and in 1939 we were evacuated to Norfolk and spent the first night on the Racecourse in Yarmouth.We then came back home as no bombing but it soon started in earnest. We lived in Bligh Road. I recall the Old Main just across the road where the Fairground people used to have their caravans etc which during the War was used by the Forces.I was staying with my grandmother in Northfleet the ...see more
When I moved to gravesend I was about five year old , we lived in rooms in Clarence street then moved to 13 john street this was about 1958 I went to school at wrothem road primary school lovely memories we used to play on windmill hill don't know if the school is still there there was a street called Peppercroft street no longer there would loved to know of other people who live in this area left 1963 moved to Cornwall but had a lot of memories here .
The Photo of the LMS Gravesend to Tilbury Ferries brought back memories of my time working on them as Deckhand and Fireman in the 1950s.
Those who crossed on the Ferries did not realise the work involved in getting them safely to the other side with the Captain and the Mate on the Bridge and the Deck hands keeping lookout
more so when the weather was bad or Foggy I remember a good few near ...see more
Arthur is sadly no longer with us, but his wife Rene is still alive and living in a retirement home in Gravesend. Arthur was a great friend of my father-in-law Laurie Shrosbree who lives in Gravesend and is now 93 years old. One of Arthur's daughters still lives in Gravesend and the other one (Christina) lives in Australia. If you are a member of Facebook there are a few groups on there for people who grew up in Gravesend to share their memories.
This a request on behalf of my daughter and her partner. They are renovating a house in Old Road West which they think is Victorian. I have found the occupants there in the 1901 Census but not in the 1891. It is possible that the houses there were built in the 1890s. Is there anyone who might know more...perhaps memories passed down through families.
I remember the passenger ferry terminal well during the late 1940's. I lived with my family in Wakefield Street which was a ten minute walk away with my little legs - I was 4 or 5 at the time! We had so much freedom in those days. I was a proper street urchin and loved it, every day was an adventure! I would play in the mud underneath the terminal with friends from school. My older brother would dive from ...see more
I can also remember the old ferries that sailed between Gravesend and Tilbury Docks. My mothers parents lived in Grays and my father also worked there, and so the ferry trip from Gravesend over the Thames was one taken very often. There were 2 ferries, the car ferry (this is now where the remaining passenger ferry sails from) and the passenger one going from the Town Pier. This was an ...see more
I too, was a resident at St Mary's. I went there from St Anne's, Brighton when I was about 6 in 1949 and I left in 1956/57. At that time I was known as Michael Murray. I remember playing in the Shed, it was very cold in winter, or going up to the Squares to play. The long Borstal Walks with Father Baker, god help you if you got behind him, he whacked you with his walking stick. Remember ...see more
