Recent 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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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

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:

  • How the location features in your personal history?
  • The memories this place inspires for you?
  • Stories about the community, its history and people?
  • People who were particularly kind or influenced your time in the community.
  • Has it changed over the years?
  • How does it feel, seeing these places again, as they used to look?

This week's Places

Here are some of the places people are talking about in our Share Your Memories community this week:

...and hundreds more!

Enjoy browsing more recent contributions now.

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Displaying Memories 721 - 800 of 36585 in total

I was in stowlangtoft hall with my brother Dominic Attard my sister Maria Attard my name is Rita, I believe I was only 6months old my brother was about 6/ 7 my sister about 3/4 years old ,I do remember having a sleep in the afternoon and playing in the big garden,a small bridge that went over the small stream I think we left when my brother reached a certain age..we were moved to Hornchurch cottage homes. My ...see more
I remember Alison crook Fred Clarke Alison Clark the crystals and Frank my name was Chris Trinder the home wasn't to bad apart from the staff.
Does anyone have any memories of the Greengrocers at 247 High Rd from 1963-1971?
Does anyone have any memories of Family Brown who lived in Elmfield Road until 1954? The parents were Percy & Winifred (nee Gover) who had 3 daughters: Winifred, Doris & Joyce and 1 son: Reginald.
Doze any one remember hassobury school hazel end when miss camp was head of school miss Williams miss evans miss Dollier miss Dunlop back 1969 lovely school can any one remember the school
I went to Orchard Road School too and lived in Well Street. I was just looking for old photos when I came across this site and memories.
From Machen junior mixed to Bassaleg in 1959 ( I think) this reminds me of being 'initiated' by being chucked down the bank. fond memories of my stay there but not of the then headmaster-Penry-Reese- He was hopeless. Other teachers made a huge impression on my life to come, like Miss Mainwaring (or Mannering) in English and 'Carrots' who was lovely and had red hair. POD( Percy Olwyn Davies) teaching french was ...see more
I remember as a child riding through the bridleways to get to the forge to have our horses shod. The farriers didn't have the ability to come out and shoe your horse then so you had to take the horse to the forge !!! We had great fun eating our lunches whilst waiting for the farrier to shoe.
Max Michaelis lived in Tandridge Court and was well known for breeding Shire Horses. He had Brook Farm built in 1903 to actually house his stallions and breeding stock. He also held agricultural shows on his land for the local community - flowers, fruit and vegetables as well as stock and horses. He had a very successful showing career with his horses
I was born in a maternity home in Ditchling in January 1946. I never knew its name. My mum told me she was in the home for three weeks and that Vera Lynn had her daughter in the same maternity home around the same time. Can anyone tell me the name of the maternity home? I would like to visit the place when next in the area.
I have discovered that this hotel, Hotel Atlanta, Tintagel, was owned by my 2nd cousin twice removed on my maternal side of the family circ. 1950's/1960's. Mr Cyril and Mrs Grace Ayles are my ancestors. I discovered they owned this place from their probate listing. I found a newspaper report that Grace died from a long illness, but what I cannot find is a newspaper report of how Cyril died. ...see more
I attended Chatsworth and then Twickenham County ,was a member of Hounslow swimming club . As Hounslow Baths were closed in the winter months the club used Heston Baths and we always stopped at Rossi’s in Lampton Road on the way home. The best ice cream in the world. I too remember Edmunds but was there a shop called Abernathys that sold sports wear? I remember a hairdressers in Bell Rd ...see more
When my father got a job in Bristol after the war we moved to Bristol from Leeds but there was very little housing available. After a year of living with a family ‘in digs’ as it was called then, we were allocated a council flat in a beautiful Manor House at the bottom of Park Hill just off the green in Shirehampton. I have wonderful memories of being in the fabulous garden there all day with ...see more
My mum told me she came to Peartree Farm Askham Bryan. She was an Ellwood from Batley. she described a hanging ham in the kitchen, her discovery of her allergy to mushrooms and playing in the fields here about. I have no idea which relative she stayed with and am struggling to find a connection to her family tree. I distinctly remember her showing us this farm on a trip back from the yorks E coast. We ...see more
My husband and I were visiting the UK in 2019 and checking out areas ancestors had lived in. One of these was Corfe Castle, specifically Ower Farm. When we arrived in Corfe we noticed the visitor center, went in and I asked if there was a historian present. The gal at the desk asked me why I wanted to know, so I pulled out my genealogy information and showed it to her. She became rather excited and asked if she ...see more
I was then Sandra Niven so remember very well Hazel Tomlins Fiona Patterson and Tokumba Audifferen. Mrs Hutton was the Head and her son Graham ran the office he had a stand offish wife and a quiet son that was terrifieď of us girls 👧 🙄
In my school days I used to go to the bakery with my school pal George. It was owned by Mr Rhodes, George's father. Helping to make all the bread-cakes-pork pies, Mr Rhodes would put a pork belly joint in the oven for our breakfast. Can taste it now, with fresh baked bread and proper butter. This was because we started at 6am, school came a sorry second. I would have been 14/15 years old then. The ovens where coke fired, ...see more
Does anyone have any information about the Laverick family from Hardy street Crook,my grandfather Alfred lived there with his mother Rachel,father Christopher and brothers Fred and Norman.Alfred was married at st Catherine’s church.We would love to try and trace our family history.
My memory often takes me back to the early 50’s when l was a pupil at Saltburn High School but earlier than that l recall being taken to the cafe at Saltburn pier which had Lloyd loom chairs and glass topped tables.It all seemed very posh to me. I lived in Redcar with my aunt and uncle and when my Father was able , he came from Leicester to see me. The special treat was a visit to Saltburn pier for a knickerbocker glory. It is now a lifetime away but the memories linger on!
Im hoping that local residents from the late 40s onwards can help. I remember travelling with my family late 1950s to vistit some relations who lived in March, in train carrages bolted together. My memories are vague but they were jolted today as I was looking for information on a cousin of my father and found someone with the same name who died in Cambridgeshire. The carrages were in what I would describe as a ...see more
1 was a pupil at common road infants approx. 1954 to 1956. We had recently moved from South Elmsall, the area was strange and I knew no-one, my parents bought the corner ship on Currieville at the end of Carlton Street, it was directly opposite to the one owned by 'HINKS'. if anyone remembers it, Hi! It wasn't a particularly happy time at school as I never really felt integrated until I hit Mrs Smeaton's class, ...see more
My brother and I used to spend Saturday mornings at the cinema in the 1960's. 6d for the bus from the clock tower to the cinema and 6d entrance. 2 hours of Flash Gordon and the Lone Ranger and others I can't now remember. :)
I lived at 12 Grange Park Road from 1956-1971. Whilst there, once a month we used to use the Public Baths across the road, as we only had an outside toilet, and normal bath night at home consisted of a strip wash in the galvanised washing tub. I was also a member of the swimming club there in the 60's.
I was born at Inshriach in 1949. My dad worked at the sawmill so we would lived in one of the houses there. My older brother went to school in Lagganlia. He has memories from then but unfortunately I don’t . I have been back but can’t pinpoint where I was born. I would love any information on the area. Moira Martin ( birth name Grant)
I worked there in the 80s best job i ever had.i used to work in Poly Sheathing nights and days. Great bunch of people i can remember big Stan Batchford catching me smoking hahaha. He was a good man old school very fair who didnt suffer fools gladly.
My mother, Betty Cronin, was the head teacher at Dunsfold School from around 1951 to 1958 and I lived in the schoolhouse with her and my sister Susan during this period. Both my sister and I went to school in Guildford which involved a two-bus journey there and back each day. I have many memories of life in the village during this time, too many to mention in detail. However, among those that ...see more
I vividly remember what my dear dad told me about the time he was an inpatient at Black Notley when he had TB of his hip in the early 30’s. He told me there was a star in the middle of the floor of the ward and if you were naughty (he was 6-7 years old) your bed was wheeled onto the star where there wasn’t a roof and left there regardless of the weather. He also told of the times he woke up with snow on the end of his bed.
My grandfather, Jim Kenchington, bought St. Catherines in 1961. It is the first house (partial) on the right, next door to Lasts Butchers. It was in a very sorry state when he bought it (for £900!) There was an article in the local newspaper The Journal on April 7, 1961 when he uncovered the original doorway from the 1300s with the dragons carved in the lintel. "Dragons Return to Botesdale" was the headline! Basil ...see more
I am 86 but still remember the time at Farley Croft during WWII. My siblings and I were evacuated to Westerham in 1939. Around 1942/46 my sisters Rose, Sylvia and I were taken from the billet we were in and put in Farley Croft which was being used as a children's hospital. We were treated well. The nurses were so kind and taught us how to play card games. It had been a private house and there was still a big ...see more
A faint memory of visiting houselands rd no 1 . Mother was born there ,my grandfather she told me was a boot repairer and took in army boots in ww2 .House had the shop at the bottom would love a photo looked for ages now , Any advice appreciated . Regards Alison
i am the Tony Williams that used to live in Hatherop road, Infant, Junior, Senior Schools Hampton. i moved to Bristol in 1953, i now live in Frome Somerset. I had lots of good happy memories of Hampton especially going fishing at Hampton Hill by the church, across the river was Hurst Park race course. Catching the ferry boat to go swimming at the Upper Deck open air baths just below Hampton Court Palace.. ...see more
In 1949/50 my parents moved to Little Morton, Hook Heath Road when I was 2 years old. The house (now advertised as having 6 bedrooms) seemed enormous and the garden was very large. In about 1960 my parents sold part of it for 2 detached houses facing Hook Heath Avenue which are there today. All the houses in the area had large gardens and so density was very low. I recall when I reached about 7 years ...see more
I remember living on Coke Street when we first came to live in Woodhouse from Sheffield. I remember going to Annie shop on the end of our street. The Rocks as we called it. Going to paling coal yard in the corner getting coal in an old pram. My dad and his family came from woodhouse . I remember the Chapel and Sunday school there. I have a lot of memories of Woodhouse. But I don't want to bore you with it. Keep safe Carole-Anne.
I started working for Sir Nigel Broackes at Checkendon Court, in June of 1999, and was a Gardener through the turn of the Century. I was working for the Court for thirteen years, until the owner decided that I had been working for them for too long. I was the only Gardener who stayed on at Checkendon Court, after the Estate was sold, in September 2001. I then worked for John Robinson, ...see more
Hi in the seventies every summer my late husband, myself and our three children stayed in an old caravan on Plas Hen farm,and they were the happiest of times. We could walk down Lon Geod to go to Afon Wen beach,and a more lovelier walk is nowhere..I was so pleased when I saw this photo and it brought back lots of happy memories. Could I get this in a photo form please ? * All images from the Francis Frith Collection are ...see more
I can remember staying at rosemary house for 3 weeks. evey year with my older sisher and to brothers really didnt like the place and never add a understand why we was tuck there .i do now
This pub was around until about 2004. It is now a Tesco Express.......like we haven't got enough of those already!!
Would love to hear from anyone with surname Butcher or anyone connected to that name in Ludlow and surrounding villages. My father was born in Ludlow in 1913 and both sides of family also. Two great uncles were innkeepers in the late 1880's, The George Inn, Castle St and the Dolphin Inn on Upper Galdeford. Terry Butcher.
I used to spend many an hour in Startime with headphones on listening to what was new. In 69 I went there on my dinnertime from Gilbey's to buy the new Stones album Let It Bleed. There was a queue right round the Market Square doing the same thing. Unbelievable but I got a copy. And I used my paper round money in about 63 to buy a 5 speed racer from Blakes. It was 5 bob a week total cost £16 which was quite a bit then as my dad was on about a fiver a week
I grew up in Mitcham in the 1960s. Born in 1962, we lived in Tonstall Road, close to the level crossing by Eastfields school. I went to St Mark’s Primary School from 1967 to 1971. I remember most of my teachers: Miss Holmes, Mrs Carmichael, Miss Edge, Mr Myers. The headmaster was Mr Waverley when I started, who was succeeded by Mr Freemantle, known as “Froggy” Freemantle. I remember crates of warm ...see more
I was Christened in this church in 1956. In 2011 I travelled with my wife and daughters from Australia to show them Mawgan Porth. It was the first time I had visited this church since 1956. My birthplace was in Kenwyn House at Mawgan Porth.
Marilyn Celico was for a time writing about stuff back in America about 15 years ago on a Brentwood website(before Facebook) and just chattering about the States.I remember her blonde hair and accent and her Dad at the Cafe called the Donut Bar down the small street beside Odeon cinema that was!. First the swimming pool off Ongar Road was sold off and we had to wait 20 years for the ...see more
I lived in Langley Avenue from my birth in 1950 until we moved in 1962. I remember childhood meals at the Queen Vic and the waitresses saying I had better table manners than some of the businessmen. I went to school at Park Farm infant and junior schools and still remember friends names among the other kids there who lived on the Park Farm estate. I wonder how life has turned out for them?
I lived in Copnor, a neighbourhood of Portsea Island, from my birth (in 1949) until I left in 1967. It was a wonderful place in which to grow up. I went to school there. I visited most of its attractions including the mysterious and wonderful Baffins Pond. I have a lot of memories of that area which I would like to share but, sadly, very few photos.
I spent an idyllic childhood in Wargrave from 1944 until 1955/6. It was wonderful. We moved on to Twyford when I was 11 as our house was torn down and replaced by the fish shop. I wonder if the Chapel which was behind these houses is still standing. have not found a photograph of these three small houses. I remember taking the ferry across the river to go swimming. and many walks around the village. Climbing the trees ...see more
I was at sun trap at the age of about 7 or 8 years old .I was. born in 1943 and was sent there after having a very serious. Illness.some happy memories but mostly remembering how hard it was for a small little girl .How hard it was going back to my school at my home town missing all the schooling and never being able to catch up with the other children .Remembering walking along the beach what ever the ...see more
My uncle, Tom Gordon, was the owner of the hotel from the 1950s to his death in 1966. I visited several times over those years, the first time in about 1953. For me it was a magical place with magnificent grounds to explore and many places of interest round about. My Grandmother lived there for a few years too. The food was always marvellous, one speciality being crepes suzette! When I was 16, I ...see more
I am andrew longridge and I attended Oban High school from, 1989 to 1963, after graduating I started a job as lab technician at Alginate Indistries In 1965 I emegrated to Canada and have been here ever since. As a boy growing up in boomtown I had many friends many I could name and if some of this posting reaches them I would love to chat.
I was born 12 peveril St battersea in1949 went to Bolingbroke school spent a lot of time in battersea park, in the 50s we moved out in the 60s due to slum clearance. Have so many happy memories of those days. My name is Derek strapp if anyone remembers me I would like to hear from them.
I was part of the St James the Less Players, the Parish church drama group, which started my career on the boards. The Downs,The Manor, The Park, The Clump, The Chalkpit..The Woods The Beach..were all special places in our wonderful Sussex childhood. Our teachers at North Lancing Primary were dedicated – I remember Pop Stear, Miss Tait, Miss Laugham, Mr Cox ! Hill Barn Farm ...see more
Strange to read all the memories of Oakbank in the 50s which are so similar to mine! I remember being taken there by my mum and gran in August 1954, excited at the 40-mile bus journey but then downcast at realising I would not be on the journey back. Then there was the handover in a big lobby to the headmistress Miss Hardy and my great distress at being taken upstairs - God knows what it was like for my mum and gran. I ...see more
My forbears Robert Fergusson and Margaret nee Scott left Ceanghline around 1806 and moved to a farm near Dingwall. Family hearsay has it that they followed a charismatic Moulin minister Alexander Stewart when he went to the Black Isle. Thereafter the family were named Ferguson with one s!
We often went to the 'Beach' on the banks of the Thames, near to the swimming pool in the 1950's. My Aunt DeDe , My Mam and Cousins, Billy & Keith Taylor' ,they lived in The Avenue' and my siblings would spend the day swimming in the River. A Picnic of Sandwiches and Welsh Bake stones and it was lovely. Now and again we would go into the swimming pool -but we had to pay so it was the River for ...see more
Starting when I was eleven I was a patient over 5 years for three spells, 2 years, 18 months and 9 months with an infected hip joint which became a deep routed abscess. Many different ‘ new’ antibiotics were tried to no effect. In my first spell I was bed bound for 21 months and spent virtually all my time on the terrace, day and night, summer and winter in an effort to get clear the infection. ...see more
Mum worked in the basement in the shoe department on a saturday in early 60's
Arthur William Matthews born 1880, Sedgley, Staffordshire and Emma Jane Marks born In Tipton, Staffordshire married at Saint Deiniols on 16th January 1905. He worked as a furnace man at Shotton iron works. When war broke out Arthur joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers to fight for freedom. He gave his life in Gallipoli on 11 August 1915 leaving his wife and two children. You will find the full write up on https://theirlostvoices.com early in 2022.
Queuing up to go and see our films on a Saturday morning and singing the song about the abc minors. The words are as follows.We are the boys and girls well known as minors of the abc and every Saturday we line up to see the films we like and shout aloud with glee we like to laugh and have our sing song just a happy crowd are we were all pals together we minors of the abc. When the films ...see more
Hi. Anyone have pics of Carlisle Great Fair. Ideally pics of the WW2 Army vehicles that were in the big parade past the town hall. Many thank. Bill.
My name is Peter McGuire and i lived at the Gardeners Arms Pub in 1971-1972. I worked at Selo's Film factory on shift work. Reg who owned the pub back then let me arrive at odd hours which made live easier. I shared a house in Ongar road with 3 other young men, near the Robin Hood pub,which was owned by an ex West Ham player Brian Dear and drank with most of the team on Saturday night. , but found my self with ...see more
My family arrived in Wargrave just after the war. We moved into a flat above the Post Office/ Telephone Exchange. Dad was a caretaker operator. Things I remember about the village were of course the nearby river, the houses so different from those we lived in in Reading during the war. Gilkes Garage next door but one. The adventures we had - down the triangle and riding bikes along the gully, climbing trees, ...see more
I lived in West Ashton Street from 1948 to 1968 when I got married and left. I remember Elaine and Lucille who lived in George Henry Street and there was a family at the top of the street who emigrated to Australia. My maiden name was Hall and I had a brother Kenneth.
My husband did an apprenticeship at Salford Electrical Instruments. He worked there when they moved to Barton Lane in Eccles.
My father was in the RAf and stationed in Bicester. I was born in 1948. He was still in the RAF and my mother took me to live in Bicester until I was about 3. She lodged with a woman there. I have been trying to remember her name but up to now I can't remember. I wonder if there is anyone who had any family members who took in the families of RAF personnel. I think it was a small farm she lived on.
I was evacuated with my mother to a back to back semi-detached flint cottage situated in a clearing in the pine forests. There was no sanitation or running water or electricity. There was a tiny kitchen with a black range adjoining a parlour with stairs in one corner leading to two bedrooms. We used candles with cardboard shields to shade them from enemy eyes of the German bomber planes attacking ...see more
Hello, I'm looking for anyone who might remember Olive Alice Daniels – she was a widow who lived with her brother, Thomas Oram Durst, at 118 Balham Park Road. They both died in 1964, him in April, her in October. She was 77. I'm trying to trace her life after her husband, Henry 'Harry' George Daniels, was killed in 1917. Currently, their postcards are on display at London's Postal Museum but little is known about the couple beyond official records.
My mother, Edith Lucy 'Dot' Jeffery, was born in Penge in 1927, to a Lucy Russell, nee Dowding. She married in 1949 and moved into Queen Adelaide flats, and had me in 1950, before moving to Sidcup in 1955. Since that time, she lost contact with her relatives in Penge, but I know that many Russells and Dowdings lived in the area for many years, in Woodbine Grove and Maple Road. As a small boy I can remember walking ...see more
I was born at Orfa Villa Rhydcymerau 1940s fond memories of country life and great people I have some old photos from the village witch I will add when I find out how to do it regards Hefin Jones.
In 1961 or 1962, as a small boy of 5 or 6 my mum, brought me to Hednesford to visit her grandmother, my great-grandmother, Emily Chetwyn. A diminutive lady, we, the children, called her little nana. I believe she lived in the end house of a terraced row of miners houses on Cannock Rd as I have fixed in my mind walking down to a junction and turning right to cross over the railway bridge, while turning left ...see more
My first school was Lyon Hall Preparatory School - a small private two room school. Does anyone have a photograph of this school? During the 2nd WW I went to primary schools in Glasgow, Stirling and Stockton-on-Tees. After the war I attended the Lower School of John Lyon.
Hi Janice Dinnick here, I lived at 3 Swindon Lane from 1950-1959 moved to Camborne Ave till 1969 when I married Bill Sodeau . My best friend was Susan Smith from Swindon Way she had sister Janet and brother Brian. I went to Dycourts junior and Harrowfield girls from 1961-1966. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me or Bill who also went to harrowfield boys. I now live in New Zealand. It’s been so nostalgic reading all these memories please email janbill@gmail.com
My grandmother Elizabeth Keeler was born at Knights Bottom Ringwould in May 1899. Her father George Keeler was a diver working on building the extension to the Admiralty Pier in Dover. He was killed in 1906 when he was knocked from the top of the diving bell. A lathe pulley knocked him into the harbour where he drowned.
Coedpenmaen primary school used the pool for swimming lessons. We changed under the canopy and duly walked into the water ready for the lesson. Fine if it was June /July, this was mid March ! Still, the walk back to school eventually warmed us up.
In the mid 50s we moved to Gillingham Lyminge close. We were the first occupants. I think it was number 10 anyway, the corner house facing NE. I with 2 friends started the Twdall scout group and as we had nowhere to go, we used the Kitchen for the first 6 Scouts. Later on we had an ex-Army hut. I can remember as a student working at a canning factory plucking the stalks off Strawberries. The mouldy or bad ones were ...see more
My parents moved from Scotland to Brockworth after WW11. As a child attended Brockworth primary (now Brockworth Acadamy) between 1953 and emigration to Australia in 1959. I could write for hours on any number of life changes involved in that migration, but I'm hoping someone might have class or sports photos from that time to replace my own that were stolen by a former class member who also migrated to Australia ...see more
I recall visiting a family friend as a little girl , I knew him as Bill Reeves , he lived a solitary life in a beautiful gypsy caravan in the woodland somewhere in the area. He was a fount of knowledge regarding anything in the natural world, smoked a pipe and rode his bicycle as preferred method of transport! Well travelled and possibly a conscientious objector during ...see more
Looking at the photos brought back so many happy memories, I lived at Homefield Gardens across the Heath & went to the Methodist School from 1956 to 1963. Miss Fletcher was the headmistress & I think Miss Watts was my teacher & seeing the photo of Miss Marshall was just as I remembered her. Walking across the Heath every morning to school, through the snow in winter, my first kiss at age five with a Janice ...see more
It was 1966 myself and 2 colleagues were bouncing across the downs in a Landrover when I first saw Imber. What a beautiful little village nestled in the bottom of the valley. It's red brick manor house next to the church and the houses clustered around them, from the top of the downs it looked typical of 100's of English villages. It was only as a tank shell whistled overhead [we had been assured there'd ...see more
I was born in 1973 and lived in Burnt Oak for 6 lovely years from aged 4 to 10 when we relocated to South London. I attended the Annunciation Primary School and St Martins School on Dryfield Road. I remember Toni and his lovely ice creams on the main road. I remember the park, the church and the priest Father Kiernan but above all I remember some of the lovely ...see more
Hi I was at a school in Balham for 1 year before we moved into the brand new MT School. The first year at Balham school was horrible we had a very strict teacher called Miss Smart. She used to hit my friend's hand across her knuckles because she didn't write well with the ink and pen tip which was so hard to use. I left MT in fifth year on 1965 after doing 2 years doing ...see more
I was fortunate enough to live in Pinner as a small child 8 & 9 years old. We lived on 9 Nower Hill, and I remember befriending the railway station ticket lady. She and I used to go out to the parking lot (which was gravel back then) and look for loose change. She would be kind enough to give me rail passes, and I would go to the History museum, or Kensington Gardens, or the Queens residence Buckingham palace. I ...see more