Nostalgic memories of Hadleigh's local history
Share your own memories of Hadleigh 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 15 in total
The garage belonged to my mum's cousin and on the opposite side of the road or thereabouts my grandma's sister lived who could be seen pushing an old barrow around Hadleigh, wearing white plimsoles during the fifties. Just next door to the garage was Jim's cafe and a couple of cottages prior to the garage development where the church sexton lived if my memory serves me right. Coming back toward the bottom ...see more
Hi, Grandad, Alf Bainbridge, had Rogers Farm, by the Tarpots. He had been transferred from Laindon, now called Basildon, by compulsory purchase and enjoyed the smallholding up the lane behind the C W S factory, about the time a steamroller came down the hill and crashed into the lampost finishing in the ditch!
Alf had a flatbed, with Dick the horse between the shafts and used to like a drink of mild at the ...see more
I didn't move to Hadleigh until 1963, but Gallaghers butchers was still there on the corner opposite the church. It is now a kitchen and bathroom units shop.
Anyone live or near Common Hall Lane in the 60's
I purchased my first house at 28 Chapel Lane with my late wife. This lane led down to the Salvation Army Farm where an annual event of motor cycle scrambling took place. The lane was quiet apart from this event and to compensate the organisers gave residents complimentary tickets which we used on several occasions. The castle stood to the east of this area.
Alas our house was pulled ...see more
i was born in Hadleigh in1956, my grandfather worked at Gallaghers butchers which from my memory was back this side of the Esso petrol station.
My Dad had the sweetshop opposite the police station in Benfleet High Road, and in the summer we used to do a roaring trade selling Lyons Maid icecream to the overheated drivers & passengers - often very fractious kiddies. Even after the underpass, there were still queues. The new road on to the island was welcome - we might have lost a bit of passing trade, but the ...see more
Many of us growing up in Hadleigh were lucky enough, weather permitting, to have a birthday picnic at the Castle. Plenty of food prepared by various mothers, kite flying, games and everyones favorite rolling down the hill. Of hills,
Anyone who has lived in Hadleigh will have heard of or even participated in tobogganing down Castle Hill when winter conditions allowed. I was lucky enough to share this the ...see more
I was born and brought up in Hadleigh. I was born at home in Beresford Gardens, third of seven children. I went to school at the "new" infants school and the red brick built junior school, lots of memories, mostly good. Walking to Hadleigh Castle with my older sisters and to the seaside at Leigh-on-Sea. My friend and I used to walk to school, either through the town or the park, no buses or lifts to ...see more
As a family, we used to visit Canvey quite often during the summers of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and getting onto Canvey from the A13 was quite stressful in those days, you had to turn at the Tarpots and follow the High Road all the way to the High Street, which meant queuing all the way, until you crossed at the level crossing at Benfleet station. This could be quite a while, as the excursion ...see more