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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This week's Places
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Displaying Memories 35041 - 35120 of 36890 in total
Lerryn is a place that one almost wants to keep secret so that it does not become a popular destination. It has barely changed in a hundred years. A beautiful and unspoilt village in a steep sided valley, Lerryn lies at the tidal head of a tributary to the River Fowey. A place to take gentle strolls through the National Trust's Ethy Wood, said to be the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame's "Tales of the Riverbank" ...see more
When I was still at school I went and helped out in the evenings and weekends at the zoo and one of my jobs was feeding the penguins.
I was working at Shelton House during 1962 when it was Dr Barnados. Last week I went back for the first time since leaving the area to look for it and cannot find it. Does anyone know what happened to it?
Recently we took my Dad's Canadian cousin to this spot. John Pine (her father) was born here at New Mills, Loddiswell in 1889. William Henry Pine (my great grandfather) was miller and parish overseer. In our family photos we have an identical photograph and family lore is that they remembered the photograph being taken. After working at New Mills my great grandfather moved to Garden Mills, Kingsbridge. ...see more
The music library was in Friars Terrace until 1994, when it moved to the top floor of the library at the Green, which had been the Art Gallery before that moved to the Shire Hall. By 1994 the LP collection was little used - it had been the biggest in any library in the UK. By 1994 we had the biggest CD collection in the UK, covering every possible kind of music. Stafford was the first library ...see more
My Great Grandfather's brother used to own a sawmill in Newport in Wartime (World War II). His name was George Alfred (Alf) Ginger and Alf was married to Rebecca. My father remembers visitng the sawmill as a boy, seeing his cousin Seorus and hearing stories about how their house, situated near the mill, was haunted. My father's Uncle Ralph would make matchsticks stand up on end! I would be interested hearing from anyone who knows anything about the sawmill or my long lost relatives.
I have fond memories of walking from High Bentham to my primary school - Low Bentham Church of England Parochial School. Teacher Miss Robinson, pupils, Eva Clay, Carol Hinds, Joyce Thornber, snow in the playground, piles of coke, hallway with rows of coats, Junket !! Francis Hardy-Birt
In the late 1970s and early 1980s I attended Rosary Priory High School and looking at this picture reminds me what a magical building it was. I can remember sitting in the classrooms looking out over the grounds waiting for the lunchtime bell to go. I can remember a few run-ins with the nuns for relatively minor offences! which make me laugh now. At the time I didn't! I'd love to ...see more
My family used to rent a bungalow just off Boat Cliffe Road called 'Sunny Dawn'. It had a big verandah all around it and flies used to stick to the windows after it had rained! We always went to Reighton for holidays and my brother always went to the Sea View Stores to buy his Marvel comics. The shop was owned by two very distinctive ladies! I still go to Reighton and own my own caravan now - things ...see more
I moved to Farleigh Road, New Haw in 1952. I attended West Byfleet Junior School and then Fullbrook School until I graduated in 1960 (after taking a special "commercial course"). Left New Haw in 1966 and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where I still live. Haven't been to New Haw for about 20 years but the shops, the youth club, Woodham Lane, cycling to West Byfleet, Old Byfleet and Woking are some of my clearest memories.
I was looking at the photo of Betton Hall and I think my aunty used to live there, Joyce Allen.
Although this photo pre dates my first memories of the High Street by about ten years, I still remember visiting my grandad's confectioners shop on the right side a little further up. Ever the businessman, he would encourage myself and my older brother to choose what we wanted from the stock and then give my dad the bill. I never did find out if my dad actually paid or not! The shop itself ...see more
In the early sixties I was a member of the St John's Ambulance Brigade and often on a Saturday morning I would don my uniform and present myself (as instructed by my leader) to do my duty at the Odeon. Often there would be 2 or 3 willing volunteers and we would always pray that no-one would get sick or ill so we could enjoy the movie as well. Great days. In those days the Odeon was massive with a ...see more
I have this photograph on the wall as it reminds me of my dad, Arthur Edward Elson. He was born in Mill Lane in 1914 and worked as a 'butcher's boy' for Baldwin's which is just visible on the right of the photo. He delivered meat to customers by bicycle which is how he met my mother, she had come down from Durham and was working for Doctor Eileen Stevenson who lived at Holmfield in Cheam Road. He worked ...see more
My son Thor had a branchial cyst removed when he was about 20 months old. The staff were wonderful. I stayed in the hospital all the time and beds were made available for the mums. For our meals we would cross over the road to go to the army canteen and the food was incredible. My son soon made a speedy recovery.
My mum Lois and I used to catch the blue bus from Dorney Reach and we would go to Maidenhead to visit the doctor or the dentist and then pop into the library where I would always pick a library book about animals.
My great grandfather Thomas Peck was born at Cippenham Green in 1844 and his birth was registered by his mother Jane.
I worked at Zwicky in Buckingham Avenue and some lunch times my friend Ann and I would have a game of bowling, a light lunch, then back to work. My brother Frank used to be in one of the bowling teams that played in the evenings. My friend Jean and I would be up in the bar and would watch the bowling from the viewing windows.
The white building on the right was where I was born; it was a bakers and confectioners owned by Mr White. My father was the baker there and we lived in the flat above the shop. The bakehouse was through the entrance where a person is standing with a bicycle. The ovens were wood (oak) fired and there was a large well in the yard which supplied the water. The next shop down towards The Dean was a general ...see more
GGGGreat Grand Father (John Pigman baptized there Aug. 26th. 1661) Tks. Donald S. Pigman
My aunt and uncle went to live in Flookburgh in the early 1950s. My mum, brother and myself went to stay with them on holiday. I can't remember where we got the coach to but my uncle laughed when we got off the coach with paper carrier bags with our clothes in (no suitcases for us in those days). The road was a country lane (going down the road at the side of the cross) towards the sea. I remember there ...see more
I went to Steventon as a 'Mother's Help' to an Italian family. I came from near Manchester. I had to clean, look after a baby and a toddler and help with cooking. But I had never been away from home before and decided it wasn't for me. It was a lovely house on the Causeway which was a listed building. The family didn't own it. I remember the lady making me wash and iron all my bedding while my mum sat with me in the kitchen to take me home!
I lived in a two story flat, over what was Barclays Bank. Almost opposite was the Guidhall and St Nicholas and Faith Church. We had a clear view from our lounge and upper bedroom window of the road leading to the station and local police station. Immediately behind the bank property lived Mr and Mrs Hobbs with their daughters on what you might call a smallholding. Mr Hobbs worked for the council and bred ...see more
I was born in Crouch End in 1963 and lived for 22 years of my life in Buckley Court, Carysfort Road, a small block of council flats in quite an exclusive road. My Grandfather, John Leo Monnington, was relieving officer for the area from approx 1930 until the end of the war. He, my Grandmother and their 6 children lived in Westfield Road, just opposite the doctors. My Grandmother later moved to Berkley Road. I ...see more
My Aunt Sylvia Monnington worked at Hornsey Town Hall from the 1960s until at least the mid 1970s.
The person in the white macintosh walking towards the camera is myself, Bob Vincent with a friend, Peter Watkins. I lived at 4, Shepperton Street, Chllvers Coton (opposite the Vicarage) and Peter lived in Coton Road close to the Arches. I emigrated with my family to Perth, Western Australia in 1970. We used to frequent the Lido milkbar next to the Post Office. Should anyone wish to contact me, I can be reached by email bobbysue@iinet.net.au
Clara Pine was born in 1891 at Shute Farm in Lower Town, Malborough (see other photo). Aged 3 years she went with her Mum and older brother to America where she met her Dad for the first time in New York. Another brother was born but the young family returned to England a year later. Elizabeth Pine and the three children returned to Malborough to live in the cottage in the photo - on the ...see more
Florence Pansy Muggleton born in Grantchester 1920 can trace her family back to her great, great grandparents Joseph Muggleton and Mary Ann Boutle who married at Grantchester church on 17th January 1822. Flo has many memories over the years of the village. She moved from the village in 1945 but still kept in contact via her family. If anyone has any queries about the village pre 1942 she will try and help you and can be contacted via her daughter Gill Casper at gillian.casper@ntlworld.com.
My forebears came from the village of Harpford. In the Tithe schedule of 1839 Joel Carter rented the small cottage in the centre of the photo and also the cottage on the far right (which had a workshop at the back.) Joel was born at Podbury's Cottage (then a farm) which I think is at the back of this photo - certainly Podbury's is the main subject of the other Harpford photo. In the 21st century all ...see more
My late father worked for the Pemberton Estate as a tractor driver from 1946 to around 1958. I offer below, in his memory, an extract from the tribute I composed for his funeral in March 2005. But, there was another love in your life, by the name of Allis-Chalmers. And you spent many hours alone in her company as she ploughed each field with furrows. As a child I’d sometimes ...see more
This picture evokes a strong memory of attending church with my brother when we would only have been 9 years and 8 years old. Walking together come wind, rain, or snow. One Sunday morning particularly stands out in my memory, which was when we were sent off, not adequately dressed, thick snow on the ground, both freezing cold, but looking after, and, looking out for each other.
My Mother was born in the flat above Mortlake Fire Station in 1899. Her Father W.O.Knight was the Officer in charge. I lived there until approx 4 years of age and can remember the two fire engines and many details. The building is still there but has been converted into offices.
I grew up in Mitcham, born in 1976 and left there in about 1997. I feel like I have two Mitchams in my head - the old and the new. I felt a link with the place because my dad had grown up there and my grandad had links with Morfax and ran his own engineering company in the town later. My dad shared lots of memories with me about his growing up in the town and so I had a real feeling of place and continuity. During ...see more
When I worked for Samuel Jones the boys in our office played cricket against a team in Cookham Dean and we girls went along as support. What a great place this is! I remember a lovely village in lovely countryside - must be a nice place to live. I didn't realise at that time the connection with Wind in the Willows but that just about sums it up. I hope its stayed much the same.
The picture is taken from the footbridge and show the rail tour on about 3/9/61. There were two. This one is the one I travelled on hauled by GWR 2-6-0 5306. I rode on the footplate of the engine from here to Cirencester. The other one was hauled by 7808 Cookham Manor.
I attended Warnham Court when it was a school. It remained a very good school right through to the 1990s when it was closed and revamped in a rather horrid way and sold off as individual flats.. some houses were built on what used to be our classrooms and others built along the beautiful drive that had a fantastic pinetum on either side of it. It was surrounded by the beautiful deer ...see more
It rained. It truly rained absolutely all day. Although Whitethorn Morris were booked for three dance spots in the street plus an Arena show there was no chance whatever for either the dancers or musicians of the Whitethorn Band to perform as planned. We took shelter where we could, standing in doorways, shopping mall entrances and we finally took refuge at The ...see more
I remember visiting Trelawne House during the annual fete, in what I assume must have been the summer as it was warm and the sun was shining. There were copious amounts of cakes and cream teas with a never-ending supply of tea on tap, served in cups with handles through which you could never fit your finger! I seem to remember spending hours, well at least minutes, in trying to hook ducks out of a paddling pool. I was ...see more
This was my high school from 1960 to 1967. I particularly remember the school dinners and the extensive playing fields. Back then we had 3 hockey pitches, 3 hard tennis courts and 13 grass courts. Not to mention the air raid shelters. Since I have lived in Australia since graduating from uni I wonder what remains of those facilities now?
I was born in Springfield Road, Old Oxted in 1951. I attended Beadles Lane School and Oxted County Secondary School. I recall Old Oxted High Street when it was the main A25, before the by-pass, when the village shops consisted of Deans the shoe repairer, the post office that sold everything owned by Kath Cox, the butchers, greengrocers, general store, the dairy, Hilliers the bike shop and of course, four pubs and a ...see more
These pictures bring back delightful memories! We spent a week of our honeymoon in the 16th century mill at Lydia Bridge. Across the lawn was a view of the brook and early spring flowers. We stepped outside to the sound of the waterfall across the narrow, winding road. From the bridge on closer inspection the waterfall was spectacular. A path along the brook led to the ancient church where we wandered around ...see more
My great grandmother was born in Great Houghton in 1868. She married Charles Neville and moved to Swanscombe in Kent. She had four children at the time of the 1901 census, the eldest of whom was nine. All I know is that her name was Lizzie! I need to do some research to find her maiden name and to see if any relatives of "Lizzie" live in the area. I now live 20 miles from Great Houghton, having been born in Dartford, Kent. She and I have crossed paths!
I was born in 1950 and attended the convent as a boarder, leaving in 1958. I travelled by train with my mother from New Street station Birmingham to Paddington station London where the convent nuns met up with us and the other schoolchildren for the journey to Bridport station. We used to have long country walks during the summer and I can remember going to a place covered in long fern vegetation in ...see more
manor of Highnam by Tom Fenton
The woods behind South Entrance were our playground. I lived at 5 South Entrance and knew every nook and cranny, and in the spring I knew where every nest was. Names that come to mind are our neighbours Julian and Christopher Chilvers, Doreen, Christine Mattinson (or Matteson) then David Nettleingham, Cookie, Richard Green, Colin Thomas. Our biggest secret was the old well, through the far end of the ...see more
The large house to the right of the picture is called Barclay House, it's also St Keverne garage. We moved there in late 1979 and lived there for 3 years, having to leave it behind and move back to the north west due to family problems. We bought the house from Pat Johnson who had lived there with her husband. Looking back now, it's heart breaking that we had to leave behind this idyllic, beautiful part of the ...see more
I lived on the border of Belvedere and Erith, just off Parsonage Manor Way and used to travel to Erith by bus. I remember as a child of about 8-10 taking the 122a into Erith to go to the Odeon, Saturday Morning Pictures. I seem to remember it was 6d downstairs and 9d upstairs. I cannot recall what I saw now, but this was an important time for me as it began an interest in cinema which has lasted all ...see more
The Tower also had a bowling alley and the restaurant was a Chinese. As a teenager I worked up enough courage to ask a girl for my first dance at the Tower's ballroom. We used to park our motorbikes outside the "Bluebird Cafe" opposite and had the odd pint of scrumpy cider for Dutch courage. I was very sad to see the Tower demolished as it had everything a teenager needed for a good night out.
I was born at 55 Pattinson Town about 20 yards from the chemical works which manufactured products from asbestos. Most of my mother's side of the family worked at the factory and have since died of asbestos related diseases. I am surprised that no mention or photographs exist of this factory. I used to pass through the village green going to Washington Glebe secondary school. The school had terrible ...see more
My grandmother and all her children except my mother were evacuated to this area during and for some time after WWII. I have a picture taken outside what I believe to be the post office. I think perhaps it was on this street c1950.
Grange Farm was the place to go for all teens. You could swim or just hang around with friends. To get there we walked across the fields and over the bridge across the Roding. Now of course this place is no more. A great loss.
St John's Church, Loughton is a lovely church much loved in our town. I was married there in 1963.
In 1949 when I was six, my two cousins and I were sent to Burnham Beeches for a holiday. We lived in the East End of London. We loved it there, it was summer and very hot, to play all day in the fields was such freedom. The family with whom we stayed were called Walters they lived in a converted Nissen hut . The eldest child was named David, also a younger girl. The father worked in a sweet factory which ...see more
This view of Courtenay Park is quite poignant for me. It shows houses at the lower end of Devon Road and also the land on which Egremont Terrace was later built. My parents lived in no. 10 Egremont Terrace from the late 1930s until they moved to St Dunstan's Road in 1970. We had a splendid view over the estuary from the balcony of no. 10 and sitting out there in the summer was like having an extra room. ...see more
As someone who was born in Courtenay Street, Salcombe in 1941, I have a fairly good knowledge of local people. The man on the extreme left of the picture in waders is Larry Prinn or Prynn, the one on the extreme right would appear to be Ian Cooper. I recognise the central man in the group- I think he may have been ? Distin (Eric Distin's grandfather).
My late grandmother, Sheila Clifford (Bagge) Evans, grew up at Gaywood Hall. I was very close to her and she shared many stories of growing up in this area with me. I live in the U.S., specifically Arizona, but hope to someday travel to Norfolk. posted May 27, 2007 by: Cristi (Barraza) Watson
I was evacuated from Dagenham during the war with my sisters Joyce and Pat. They lived with the schoolmaster Mr Pearce, whilst I lived with Mr & Mrs Norris Tinylogs, Lily Lane. I remember working with Mr Frank Hazzard during my spare time, who was a wonderful man. Our time in Templecombe was made happy and memorable by the villagers who looked after us all.
Can anyone help me. A book was written on Barkingside about 2 years ago but I have not been able to get a copy can anyone help?
I have lived in Fullwell Avenue, Barkingside all my life. I was born in 1949. Who remembers where in the high road was W H Smith or Pollacks or where Sainsbury's was orginally? How about the garden centre that was opposite the old police station. Mossford Garage was where Somerfield is now. What about Fance's the bakers? And Eastwells the greengrocers. How it has all changed but not for the better.
The tall young chap in the right-hand side of the photograph was my grandfather, Leonard John Yeoman. He also features in a photograph taken in Higher Town.
I grew up in Combpyne but I remember that we used to have a van that came up to the village from Musbury 2 or 3 times a week with everything any body might need from paraffin to bread. I remember the man who owned the post office then was called John Fenner. My Mum and Dad always had a friendly banter with him. I recall my mum teasing him and calling him butter fingers because he was always dropping things. ...see more
The text to the Egham photographs calls Egham uninspiring. What it may lack in architectural merit (although there are gems if you look closely, perhaps an architect would care to enlighten the readers) is more than made up for by its place in history as the location for the signing of the Magna Carta by King John in 1215. This took place at Runnymede. There was a major celebration in 1965. This took place on the ...see more
We moved to Egham in about 1955. My father had been born in Medlake Road in 1920. We lived in Oak Avenue, Egham Hythe in a house built in the 1930s. I attended Egham Hythe Infants and Primary and later Magna Carta (on both its sites - Egham Hythe and Manorcrofts - it is now just in the Hythe). In those pre-M25 and M3 days Egham was a much quieter place. The High Street was much as it had been in the early ...see more
I was born on the 23rd March 1947 in my grandparents' home, Hope Cottage to the right of the Sun Inn and next to Lloyds Bank. Nurse Caines was in attendance. To the left of the Sun Inn lived Lord King ex chairman of British Airways. In front of the pub was a pond that was filled in when the village went onto main drainage. The village boasted six shops, two petrol pumps, a bank, two pubs, a social club, village ...see more
After a day down the front we sat just around the corner of the Donkey just past where the cars are. It was a great summer evening and we were just finishing the day with a drink. I thought it was the right time to ask her dad if we could become engaged and he and my future mother-in-law agreed. Another milestone in my life happening in Holland-on-Sea.
My first holiday with my future wife and her family. We sat on the sands by the cafe as we didn't know how to hire a beach hut. That was the start of an association with Holland-on-Sea for me that is still going strong. I can't get down as much as I used to, but my daughter has a caravan on Valley Farm now so when my health lets me I do go down with her.
I too had an aunt who lived there. In its time, it has had a house on top of the tower and a house on the wall attached to the left. The house on top by then had disappeared. Through the archway was a line of small cottages with large front gardens. This was known as Adam and Eve's Gardens. I used to go through here to get to Friars Lane where my grandmother lived. Further to my previous statement, this ...see more
I was born in Hornchurch in 1934, but my mother, father and myself were the first residents of 121 Warren Drive, Elm Park. My brother was born in the house at 121, in 1945. This is the last view I had of the street, as we left in a taxi, to sail to Canada in 1946. Made a brief visit to Warren Drive in 1956. I remember queuing up outside Meyers Greengrocers with my Mother to try and get a few oranges in 1940. I also ...see more
Dear Paul, I feel I should know either you or your brother but don't. However, the Youth Club was originally Little Sutton library and prior to that the reading room. I remember going there to choose my books from a very young age. I participated in decorating it when it was gutted and became a Youth Club. It was very busy on its opening and I had to serve behind the "bar" i.e. coke, orange etc. As I ...see more
My parents Arthur and Hilary Cork bought their house in Towncourt Crescent in 1927 from Mr Coleman for £1000. Twice a day I would walk to the station to go to school at St Dunstan's in Catford. In those days there was the Daylight Inn and only two shops, Willet's cafe and Nelson's newsagent on this side of the station. The walk along Towncourt Crescent was always difficult in winter because of the huge ...see more
My 4th Gt grandfather was Michael Breckinridge--he died in a storm at sea c 1808. He and his son, Michael (married to Elizabeth Shrewsbury---her father and husband both shipwrights), were both Chief, Cinque Ports. Some of the (then) cousins, surname Hiller, were born IN the North Foreland Light. My 3rd Gt. grandfather, Edward William Breckinridge, who married Mary Ann Adkins of Ramsgate, Kent, sailed to ...see more
I was stationed at Bushy Park with the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1960 and I have many memories of Hampton Wick, most good but some not so good. I never ever thought I would forget the name of our favorite pub and taxi service but alas I did. We would walk down town and congregate there at the pub. If I needed to get from point A to point B, all I had to do was call for my car. It was ...see more
This street had changed little until the mid seventies. Today the street is still recogonisible with several of the buildings still looking the same style, but under new ownership.
My memories of Kessingland was us catching the coach from outside the bakers in Stotfold (my home town), travelling down via Newmarket, passing the site where a young gypsy boy had been killed many moons ago. We would then get to Lowestoft bus depot where a minibus would then take us into Kessingland. We would get to the pub on the top of the hill where you could look down and see the sea and an old boy ...see more
Pridgeons Ltd, in Garden Road, Abbots Langley was our family business from the 1940s until it was sold in 1972. My grandfather Cyril Pridgeon and my grandmother Dorothy Pridgeon started the business. Then my father and mother Peter and Dorothy Pridgeon took over. It was a grocers. I used to help my parents during the school holidays and really enjoyed the experience. Once ...see more
My mother Doris Saxby attended this school.
I was a cadet on HMS Worcester 1957-1959.
My great grandmother, Mary Ann Shuker came to Manchester from Chirbury in service as a maid. She married my great grandfather, Ernest Edward Chorlton and they must have returned to Chirbury to be married because the family bible states they married at Chirbury Church on 22nd December 1888. I always thought she came from Wem - but this is quite a way away (for those days). I would love to find out more about her ...see more
I lived in Cranborne for two years from November 1963. My father owned the shops at the far end of the terrace in this picture and the building immediately facing, although it was derelict at that time. My sister and I were enrolled in the local secondary school that had opened two months earlier.
I lived in Mounts Road for the first eleven years of my life and spent most of my days exploring during the summer holidays, espcially the cows field at the rear of our house as there was a tunnel in middle of field where the old railway used to run. We were told stories of how the tunnel caved in and the train was buried. One day my friend and myself went down to explore and there sticking out were the ...see more