Nostalgic memories of London's local history
Share your own memories of London 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 44 in total
I took my two daughters up to London for the day and we visited the gardens. It was a very hot day and they ran ahead to see the fountain. The youngest one had her sandals off in the blink of an eye and was in the fountain before I could stop her.
My nana was born in Hackney in 1907. She was born to an unmarried mother in the Salvation maternity hospital for unmarried mothers on Mare Street, Ivy House to be precise. She stayed in Brent House mother and baby home just around the corner. Does any one out there know of anyone else who was born in this hospital? I would like an old photograph of Brent House as it was at the time when it was a ...see more
London's main railway stations truly are wonderful and Charing Cross was the one that I frequented the most as I travelled every weekday from Woolwich Arsenal in SE London to Green Park Underground, near the great Victoria Station. The sounds of the whistles, doors slamming, the hum of the electric trains...the overhead announcements reverberating in the cavernous domed roof... "last call for Waterloo, ...see more
I think it ought to be mandatory, for every person of English heritage, to pass through Westminster Abbey at least once! Returning from Canada and, later, the USA , for only the second time in 35 years I took my teenage son and daughter to tour Westminster Abbey. There we joined the throng as it somehow wound its way through the crowded abbey. As much as I have become a North American, it surprised me that ...see more
As a frightened 7 year old, in 1950, I was plunged into an unfamiliar London life when my meddling and self righteous aunt unfortunately reminded my stepfather of fulfill his promise to my dying mother to 'take care of Jimmy'. He had since remarried and brought my sister and I together again after we had spent three years apart,my sister with his parents in Chester and I, happily in ...see more
Before my time, of course, but this is still a very familiar view to me . Not only did I intern (from Westminster Technical College Hotel School) at the Charing Cross Hotel on the right but also passed through the station 5 days a week for two years. On occasion I'd stay too late at a party on a Friday night and have to get the 'milk train' in the dawn hours. I loved walking the streets of ...see more
Does anyone recall the Mascot Hotel which used to be it, near Baker Street Station? It was owned by relations of my wife for a time, I believe it is no more but do any photos exist of it from the 1960s and 1970s? When was it demolished and was it always called the Mascot? IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN YORK STREET BUT THIS IS NOT CONFIRMED
I remember visiting this spot when I first moved to work in London. It is described in Nairn's London, as follows:- " A very fine passage called The Arches runs underneath Charing Cross station from Villiers Street to Craven Street. The steps at the western end announce a different world. Hungerford Lane; and this is like meeting a person five hundred years old. It starts by the Wimpy Bar in Villiers Street, and ...see more
The day rock 'n' roll singer Eddie Cochran was killed, I went around London and had my picture taken on Eros, then in the evening I went with my friend to see Adam Faith on stage. It was a sad day because of the death of Eddie C. but we did enjoy Adam F. I also took a picture of a young 'bobby' which I still have to this very day. I was a teenager at the time. Great memories!
I was a young Constable in the year 1951, and fresh from Peel House, Westminster was assigned tio the Savile Row station known as CD. I lived at the Section House on Broadwick Street, Soho named after Lord Trenchard. Many times I was assigned to Piccadilly Circus, on the early turn or at 5pm to 1am for a two week period. There was the box attached to and adjacent to the stairs to the Piccadilly ...see more