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.

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Displaying Memories 31 - 40 of 40 in total

I think it was about 1970 /71 that I worked in a children's home in Gravesend, I am sure this was called St Mary's, it was a big old building run by nuns near Eco Square. Has anyone got any info on this home or photos? Iused to look after a boy, he was about 18 months old, his name was Rodney, he was African I think. I lived in the place. A girl named Julie used to work there too, the old building was well ...see more
I did my two years National Service with 75th HAA Regt.RA ,reporting for duty August 1950 after passing out from MONS OCS. Aldershot. Served with 288 Bty in a Troop commanded by Capt. Pinfold. I have lived in Canada for 54 years and quite recently renewed my interest in early AA gunlaying radar, recalling my days participating in Air Defence exercises and attending Practice Camps around the UK coastline. Logged ...see more
I was at Milton Mount College (then known as St Mary's School) from 1951 - 53. The Child Rescue Society sent me there from a convent (St Anne's) in Brighton, Kent. In 1953, when I was 8, I was shipped out to Australia (child migrant) & spent the next 8 years in an orphanage (Clontarf Boys Town) in Western Australia. http://micky-clontarf.blogspot.com/
I was there - in 1962? I put this date because I wasn't quite sure of the true date, but I left in 1963. I have not got any pictures of my time there but I loved it. It was a very imposing building, I wonder if anyone has any more recent photos of it? If so, please contact me. Paul.
It is believed that this was a training college for Church of England vicars and then it was subsequently used as an orphanage run by the Catholic Rescue Society and staffed by the Sisters of Chariry, a French order of nuns. During the years of the Second World War the whole school was evacuated down to Devon and the building was left unoccupied. After the was the school returned and it was known as St Mary's ...see more
I spent the academic year 1987/88 in Kent training to become a Careers Adviser on a post-graduate course run by Kent College for the Careers Service. During my course I had to visit businesses, universities, schools and colleges all around the county (and beyond) but the visit that sticks in my memory more than any other is the day I visited the National Sea Training College at ...see more
I arrived in Gravesend in mid 1947 as advance party to re-open "Milton Barracks". Our first night out was a walk around King St to see what we could find. It didn't take us long to find the pubs in Gravesend or to find the Prom.  We spent a lot of time on the Prom watching the boats and the birds. That's how I met a girl called Eileen Mockett.  We were married in Milton Church on the 21 August 1948.  I stayed in ...see more
I was born and bred in Gravesend. This photo brings back many memories of summer days down the prom! We always came here with my mum. She used to leave us and our cousins in the park behind the cafe whilst they went shopping in town. We used to have a lovely time. As I got older I used to know Fort Gardens like the back of my hand and especially the concrete steps that led up to the lookout that was probably the ...see more
I can still remember waiting on this pier for the 'Royal Daffodil'  or the 'Royal Sovereign' during my childhood, for our day trip up the river. We would do this trip regularly whilst on holiday with my Grandparents in Northfleet. It was one of my favourite days out. Julia (Weekes)
I arrived in Gravesend in 1958 on the back of my boyfriend's motorbike, we had travelled from Colchester in Essex. My father, who was in the army, had been posted to Gravesend so we all had to move. We crossed the river Thames on the Tilbury to Gravesend Ferry and so landed and rode off the ferry and up the High Street to find the house where my parents had moved into.