Favourite Memories
Reconnecting with our shared local history.
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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Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write? It's easy - just think of a place that brings back a memory for you and write about:
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How the location features in your personal history?
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The memories this place inspires for you?
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Stories about the community, its history and people?
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People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
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Has it changed over the years?
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How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?
This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 1851 - 1900 of 2029 in total
This is about Christmas Day 57 years ago, and how things have changed. Even though we had nowt it was still a very exciting time, as it is now, but money was tight and we could only have the presents that each family could afford. What I mean by this is, there wasn't such a thing as credit like today when you, 'buy now, pay later'. We always had our stockings on the end of the bed, filled with nowt fancy, just a handful ...see more
This was 1958 the time when I seriously got into drainpipes, drapes and rock 'n roll music. I was at Walbottle Secondary Modern School. I used to take in the leg width of my jeans by hand using a needle and thread to make them as tight as I could get them, and I went to school with these drainpipes on and a Donegal jacket, along with black crepe shoes with white bars of music on the front, along with ...see more
This memory of 1961, and me and me pal Wes Coulthard started work at the Delta Rolling Mills (this was over Scotswood Bridge towards Blaydon, left along the river by the Skiff Inn). It was hard work but the dosh was better than other places. We started on the East Mill which rolled flat bars maybe up to 60 feet long when finished through the process of the rolling. I remember Phil and Lennie Scott who were brothers, ...see more
It was about 1956. John Sample had started to change with the times and bought himself a pick up truck, him, 'Auld Jimmy' and me went to the horse sales at Gateshead just over the bridge, and I cannot for the life of me remember if it was the High Level or the Redheugh. They went to buy a horse, which they did, and it was my job to bring him home, they bought this poor sad horse showing its bones and saddle sores, it ...see more
This was around 1968 and I lived in 21 Millfield Lane. I got auld Mrs Bradney's downstairs flat and me Nanna lived in No. 25, so nice and handy to pop in for a cuppa and a chat as me Ma 'n Da 'n two sisters had moved to Pegswood, Morpeth, through me Da being transferred from Loughbride drift in Callerton to a mine in Ashington.
There was a lucrative company in Millfield/Newburn, the Neolith factory. It had a top factory ...see more
1965. Wes and me got back from the Smoke wi nought and needed a job, he got started at the leather works on Scotchy Road and I got started at the Lead Works which is now the site of the Arena. There were two sides to this place, the lead smelting side and the aluminium smelting side, I got into the aluminium side which pleased me as the lead side was a bit naughty with all the fumes and protective clothing including ...see more
1965. During my time working here I carried out a number of different jobs, one was to make Zinc ingots, my shift would start with my furnace fired up and there next to it would be my "charge" this would be a pile of old Zinc ornaments the sort you will see on antiques road show now, there was every size of every subject, some damaged some not, we were allowed to buy stuff that came in at scrap value but ...see more
This was about 1954. The Salvation Army was a large hut on Millfield bank, they did lovely pie and pea suppers now and again for about threepence. Every Sunday evening from six till about seven the Salvation Army band would play on the corner next to Lloyd's Bank. I was enthralled with the musical instruments and decided I wanted to learn how to play one of these, so I joined the band. I went along to band practice and ...see more
This is August 1953, I was 10. We were playing cricket on the clay field with some older lads, the stumps were iron and came from Spencers steel works which was nearby and stuff like this was easily got. Anyway I remember it was very hot and clammy, when out of nowhere came this bolt of lightning and knocked our stumps for six, followed by an almighty clatter of thunder but no rain. Then someone walking on ...see more
As a young boy from 1943 to 1960, I lived in Heath Lane, Stourbridge and I think I spent almost all my free time playing in Mary Stevens Park. The area where the playground still stands would be where all the children would meet up, then decide what the game for that particular day would be. Quite often it would involve a ball. Coats or jumpers would be thrown down for goal posts if we played ...see more
I lived at Ecclesfield and I remember being taken to Cliton Park as a yearly treat aged 7. It must have been a Bank Holiday because the pool was full of kids and lots of parents sat around the edge on the steps. With it being round it was easy to get disorientated, it was scary when you looked up and your parents were not where you thought they should be. It was difficult to ...see more
For a few years in the late 1940's (I was about 7/8 years old), my parents were avid campers in the primitive way. We had an Austin 7 and ventured out from east Lancs camping at weekends.
One venue became a regular weekend site - Skirwith Farm, Ingelton. It was tenanted by a family matriarch, Mrs Lambert, and was worked by her two sons, Thomas and Norman. There was also a daughter, Joan, who married the ...see more
This is Arthur Shackson with the donkeys from the New Inn Hotel (Kiwi and Peggy). Arthur was the Porter for many years for the New Inn, meeting the guest at the top of the cobbled street and transporting their luggage to the hotel half way down the village. The donkeys were used to carry the luggage to the top in the morning, plus other items which needed to be taken to the top, ie all returns from the bar.
My name is Sam Burrow I was born in Hartland in 1936 - the family moved to Clovelly in 1939 and lived in Home Lodge. My father, J A Burrow, was the estate foreman. My mother, Florrie, was the school cook throughout the war years preparing meals for not only village children but also the many who had been evacuated from London and Plymouth. After the war she managed the tea rooms at the car park ...see more
My grandparents, my mother's parents, lived in Vicarage Road, Plympton until 1962 when they moved to Moorland Avenue. As children we always spent our holidays with them and I have early memories of accompanying my father or grandfather in the 1950´s to the road bridge overlooking the station to watch the trains go by. Bells ringing in the signal box and then signals moving into the "off ...see more
This photo shows the arrival of Royal Mail being deliverd to the Post Office at Higher Clovelly. The mail for Clovelly village was then loaded on to the donkey and taken down the steep cobbled street to the Post Office in the village where it was delivered by the postman. The Royal Mail employees in the photo are Roy Fisher who was the local postman, and on the right is Studley Shute of ...see more
It is strange to see one of the two portraits that hung in my grandparents' hallway, for sale on the web. Issac was born in 1837 in Berwick Bassett, Wiltshire. Taught himself to read and write while an agricultural labourer, and joined the Wilts Constabulary in 1874. During the winter of 1881/2 he was pensioned out of the police from injuries sustained in the line of duty. The family story is that he was ...see more
I was the youngest boy (8 years old) at the City of London School sharing Marlborough College as evacuees from London during the Second World War. I, together with a few other youngsters, had a 'camp' in Treacle Bolly. One high on the hill on the left-hand side in a tree root and one further in down by the river. At that age, and during a war, I can't say that they were the happiest days of ...see more
My husband and I were both born in Marlborough. My husband is Peter Long and I believe he went to Grammar School with Julian West whose family owned the tea rooms. We both remember the fire as it was the year we were married; and that afterwards the Mop Fairs held in October had to re-position itself to accommodate fire engine access should another fire happen. I worked in Rawlings and Phillips corn merchants ...see more
I was born in Consett at 11 Newmarket Street in June 1933, though my parents were living in Norfolk and later on in Middlesex. I was sent back to live with aunts when the Blitz really got going.
I went to the CofE Primary School at the back of the church which I also had to attend as a choir boy.
Consett was full of noise in those days especially outside No.11. Buses started their long climb up ...see more
I worked as a pre student nurse at the children's home. We took children from the West Yorkshire area suffering from Asthma and Eczema. Children from the age of 2 yrs until 12 yrs. A very strict Matron, scary in fact. We would take the children down to the beach, very large old fashioned prams. I was not allowed to continue my dancing lessons for exams, even when my Mother came to ask. We each ...see more
I have just come across your site and postcard of Newbigin Hornsea... The garage pictured on the left was owned by my grandad, Arther Sherwood (who was married to Doris). My dad, Peter Edwin Sherwood (their son) and his wife Pat took over the business in the 60's, I believe. My dad sold the business to Mr Presscott, a local builder, in 1973-74. We then, myself (Annette Jane Sherwood) daughter of Peter and Pat ...see more
We moved to Southampton in early 1950 just after the trams had stopped running - some of the rails were still there. Above Bar along with much of the town had been badly bombed in the war and there were many bomb sites on both sides of the road. Woolworths was a large wooden hut reached by a bridge across a crater. Gradually during the 1950s new buildings sprang up amid the bomb sites until the scene was ...see more
I lived just outside Hexthorpe Flats, next to the shop called the Dell Chocolate Box. I remember that sometimes on a Sunday they had a talent show in the Dell. All those who had entered were taken into the bandstand to wait for their turn to go 'on stage'. The weather always seemed to be sunny and warm and everyone enjoyed the flowers in the Dell. We were allowed to sit on the grass over the little bit of ...see more
I can recall many happy times as a trolley bus driver in Doncaster , I started work with DCT as a conductor in the mid 1950s and passed a trolley bus driving test on the Wheatley Hills route by the late 1950s; in those days the bus service was the main form of transport. The first trolley bus left the depot at Grayfriars just after 4:35am to start service at 4:45am on the Balby route, others came onto the ...see more
Summer time, I had gone fishing on Royston Canal. The local fishing club had replenished the canal with fresh water trout for the anglers. These fish were so tame that all you need do was to hold out your hand with a few maggots and they'd come and feed from you; they were farmed trout. They knew nothing of predators and would calmly swim alongside Pike. Pike were soon to get so fat from feeding off the ...see more
I'm Not sure whether that was the actual date but as a child of five I recall my mother standing on the top step of our home where she would watch me go over the brow of the bridge on Midland Road on my way to school: as I got out of the door and began to walk on the causeway I noticed that there was a glinting on the Kerb and when I focused my eyes, I could see a whole line of pennies which were ...see more
My dad once made me what us Royston lads would call a Cadjie! It was a go-cart made from bits of waste wood and two sets of wheels from off an old pram or pushchair. One would control it by its front wheels which were attached to an articulated axle, it was also steered by the feet. Dad had taken five hours to make it up and was quite sturdy to say the least. Most Cadjies were made from big pram wheels but the ...see more
I was born in Royston in 1949, some four years after the war. The thing about me I have a very good memory of thing that had occurred within my childhood days, some of which, like everyone else would like to forget. I recall that when I was roughly three years of age, I was to go out of the front door and and amble my way into the fifty acre field, which was some half a mile walk from where I lived on ...see more
My Dad's family, the Burnetts, live in Kingston Upon Hull. Most summers in the 60s and 70s we stayed at grans for a week. Grandad worked on the Boating lake he was the one you paid your fare to; my sister and I always remember him shouting "Come in number -", whatever number your boat was. He always wore his flatcap,and grew lovely roses in his front garden. Auntie Alice was amazing she was ...see more
The shop in the middle of the picture with the two awnings (now the Nationwide building society) used to belong to my great grandmother Eva Cadel and was a wool and toy shop. My Grandmother and Great Aunt ran it until 1971. My grandmother Joan ran the toy side and my Great Aunt Mary ran the wool. Many people still today tell me that their first pram/doll/train set came from the Cadel shop. Pictures such as these are very special and are a treasure.
We used to go on holidays almost every year to Littlehampton, so far as I can remember. We took the train there. Then we walked - lugging our suitcases. There was a butcher's shop on the way and it had a little statue of a pig outside. We always looked out for "Wally Pig" as we called it. We stayed at a boarding house - Mrs Wyatt's at 34 Pier Road. So far as I can remember I shared a bed with one of my ...see more
I remember gong to Littlehampton on coach outings each year from about 1950. There would be about 40 charabancs full of children from London and Greater London descending on Littlehampton, from memory the children were aged from 7 years up. The trips started some time after the war. They would have packed lunches for us in boxes and envelopes with tickets for rides and 1 shilling each. We would have a ball at ...see more
My great grandfather, Christopher, owned Bridge House next to the bridge when this photo was taken, having moved there from Spennithorne where he had been the landlord of the Old Horn Inn.
We believe the cart driver was my great Uncle Herbert who had a cart business in the Dale - his sisters the 'Miss Hauxwells' ran a fish business from their home.
Herbert was killed, following a fall from the cart on his ...see more
I lived on Long Street in Topcliffe 1958-1972 - opposite the old school, which is now a post office, and therefore on the other side of the road from this photo. I was excited by the fair, horses trotting along the road, smells, sights and sounds different from usual, lots of people, including photographers who wanted to take pictures from our upstairs windows and the occasional visitor who would ask to use our ...see more
My family lived at No 3 (the top flat), Corner House, at the top end of Broad Street, first on the left looking at the photo (but just out of the picture) for many years from 1947 or so. I was eleven when we moved to Alresford from Bournemouth. Butcher, chemist and flower shops occupied below at street level. John Sergeant's TV program showing at the moment has led me to ...see more
I remember being a regular visitor to this shop in the 1940's and 50's with my grandmother buying material, ribbons and clothes. Like all the other children I was fascinated by the pneumatic tube system for conveying the paperwork and money to and from the office, in later years my school uniform was bought here. Nearby in Marsh and Baxter's big shop there was another system for conyeying the money in ...see more
My memories are of the hairdressing salon in Clare Road. It had only been open for a short while. All the shops were new. I went to work there as a hairdresser's apprentice in April 1959. My first job after leaving school. The salon was called Joan Basten. Joan Basten was the owner and she and her husband, Dennis, had a lovely flat upstairs, really 1950s modern. I worked at the salon till 1962. It was very busy; we ...see more
I was born in Preston Hospital, North Shields.in 1943. My first recollections as a child were of living on Rosehill Road known as Parker Terrace at No7. An old lady called Mrs Roper lived next door. Another family called Spencer lived in the big house close to us. In 1947 my dad, Jim Surtees, bought a haulage business from Bill Snowdon who was emigrating to South Africa. Rosehill Haulage was my dad's. He was also ...see more
Just opposite the Buddle School,
There stands paper shop,
Throughout my youth I as a rule,
Would almost daily stop.
From Nineteen seventy seven,
Until the Eighties took their bow.
This shop was ran by Tommy,
Sadly no longer with us now.
He looked like a young James Coburn,
With his smile and year round tan.
We all thought the world of Tommy,
Such a charismatic man!
The heart of our community,
Is where all ...see more
Born in the Green Maternity Hosp 1954, lived in Windsor Drive, Howden, Sandown Gardens, Howden and Prospect Ave. I remember being taken to the Masons Arms at Bigges Main in a pushchair, parked outside the corrugated iron lean to off-license in the rain with a bottle of pop and a straw. I remember joining the 8th Wallsend (St Johns) scouts at 6 years old after being rejected by the 7th wallsend troop for not ...see more
I was born in 1934 at Weybridge in Surrey, close to where the River Wey joins the Thames, thus offering the dual attraction of open countryside and water - a totally irresistible combination to young boys set free from the heavy-handed restraining influence of fathers by the advent of the Second World Ware!
For a few miles before joining the Thames, the Way comprised the original Wey ...see more
I remember this picture very well. Just down the road from Woolworths by the white car, was a Launderette (maybe it's still there). This Launderette was the first one ever introduced to the UK from America in 1959. As we had no washing machine or dryer, this place certainly changed our lives. I can remember one day I was with my brother Bernard waiting for the washing and as usual went to look for some mischief ...see more
The 'modern' building in the middle of the picture is the telephone exchange not blending in with the rest of the scenery! The bus stop was for Weybridge's only 'red' bus route the 219 from Kingston Bus Garage to Weybridge Station or during working hours extended to Vickers Aircraft factory, then British Aircraft Corporation now defunct. Not visible in the picture, but to the right of the cars is ...see more
This is a view looking toward the High Street - what looks like two brick memorials (on the left) is the entrance to the cottage hospital. On the opposite side of the road is the bus stop where I use to catch the bus to visit my grandparents in Ottershaw, about 5 miles away. About the time of this photograph or shortly after, behind the bus stop, is where the 'new' library was built replacing the old ...see more
We lived in Penton Road and my brother and I went to Hygeia House School, sadly gone now. We used to walk down the tow path to the Lock. Once my brother (4 years older than me) dared me to walk across the wall below the weir! I still have nightmares - I couldn't swim, but somehow I waded across without slipping to my death! My brother also worked during the summer holidays helping the lock keeper, running to open and close the sluice gates.
My fond memory is of my father's furniture shop in Thames Street, S & E Oliver Ltd. Every morning dad and I would display furniture on the shop forecourt and I would do deliveries and window displays. My dad, Mr Barry, was a courteous gentleman who gave the best customer service ever and he taught me his skills which I still use to this day. Does anyone remember him?
1954-1959, say?? Perhaps earlier too. This section of the River looks v. close to the area off the top of Thames or Bridge Street (?) known as The Staines "Lammas". A number of pools and play areas, with a swimming pool set into the River itself. Such a trek by 'bus to get there. I don't think anyone would do it today. But we did and we thought it a wonderful treat.
Although there were many hardships for most ...see more
I was born in Blackhall in 1940 and lived in 11th Street and went to school at Henry Smiths - hated it, so I borrowed a fiver off my granda, signed my parents name on the form, and left when I was 15 (in those days when you went to Grammer School you had to sign to say you would stay till at least 16, or pay a fiver to leave at 15). By the time my mam and dad found out it was too late to ...see more
My grandparents spent nearly all of their married life in Blackhall and my grandad still lives there today. I'm 37 now and live on the other side of the world. I have lots of great memories. I used to spend a lot of time at the swings in the park next to the cricket and bowling ground with my sisters. I'd take walks along the beach banks with my Nan, sisters or on my own with their ...see more
