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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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!

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Displaying Memories 21601 - 21680 of 36955 in total

My grandparents, aunts and uncle (the Williams family) lived at Lower House before moving to Llandrindod Wells in the 1960s. I used to visit Newbridge with my parents for our annual 2 week holiday. I remember the trains passing along the end of the garden, and as a child waving to the engine driver. In those days Newbridge was a thriving village with several pubs, shops and even a bank. We ...see more
I was sent to Oak Bank school as a seven year old and stayed for about two years. The Matron was a lovely lady called Miss Bremner, and I remember I stayed in a dorm called Oak, all the dormitories were named after trees. I have never forgotten the beautiful Kent countryside and the wonderful interior of the house, I wonder if anyone else who was at the school has such good memories.
The summer of this year, I left Clare School at Brympton after spending a few years there. The house was an extension, but for older boys, of Clare school at East Coker Court. Clare School opened to just a few of us, Boarders and Day Boys, in the year 1957. The Headmaster and owner was Mr Bowden. It was a private school and run as a Grammar School. It was strict, not that I always enjoyed ...see more
I was born in 1953 in the front room bedroom at 103 Chamber Road, Hollinwood, Oldham. My Dad Denis Murray was from Oldham, son of Simeon and Margaret Murray from Talbot Street. I remember walking to Corpus Christi School on Old Lane with my big brother John. I remember Miss Doran who was a very scary person to a 5 year old. I remember going to Oldham market and eating 'specials'. I remember going to Lord St Baths. I ...see more
I was born in St Ives in 1939 but lived in Earith at what is now number 43. Next door was my Grandad's grocer's shop - Bert Russell. I moved to Peterborough in 1958 where I still live in Werrington Village. Earith was a good place to live - we had a main road, a good river for fishing and lots of characters, like Bill Hinkins, the coalman; Mr Pledger the High Street Farmer and Stan ...see more
My parents used to own the local post office/ grocery store which I now believe is a private house. One of my brothers took it over from my mother and I used to stay there on holiday. When my parents owned the post office, I remember we had a "nanny" to look after us by the name of Hannah Coates. She used to live in a little cottage over the brook at the rear of our property. I, ...see more
I have a silver brooch presented to "Bro" AQ. Hunt, Cowbit Branch by the National Union of Agricultural Workers, probably 1930s or earlier. I acquired it from a market stall in Bury St Edmunds many years ago and I would love Mr A. Hunt's relatives to have it. My email is daveb3391@msn.com David Blackford Isle of Wight
I attended Kirkburton First School (School Hill), prior to this I was sent to a Catholic school in Huddersfield, although living in Burton at the time, there was no comparison, Kirkburton School was like heaven following the Catholic school. I thought Mr. Pearson was wonderful and if you did your best he tried to do his best for you. I thought all the teachers were very good, especially Mrs Schofield, ...see more
My family hails from Storrington, Spierbridge Road. My Nanna was Hilda Linfield, my aunts still live quite local. My late mother was Josephine Linfield. I was Jozane Linfield (later Ellis). I remeMber the carefree days playing with several of my cousins and friends at the reck and around the fish pond, as I got older I would venture to the fields near the convent where they were always horses. I will never forget ...see more
I think this is a photo of me (note groovy sunglasses) walking my dog Zoe. I used to walk her along by the sea from Folkestone through Sandgate to Seabrook (in high heels!). I think it was about 1962-64 and I remember the coat, which was Kingfisher Blue.
My great grandfather lived in and owned Lea Park and I am interested in the history of this wonderful building. My father Austin Stone wrote in one of his crime novels of the underwater fountain in the lake?! Any information and records/photographs would be most gratefully received.
I'm currently researching for a forthcoming book on the former (now demolished) Hallsands Hotel. If you have any memories of it from any era that you would like to share, I'd be delighted to hear from you. Many thanks Nick Gilman hallsandshotel@hotmail.com 07904 449982
I was at Burrow Hill School in 44/46 I think, quite a few years ago. I also have fond memories of this place. I was sent there as I suffered from TB. I remember finding live ammo on the Heath and also the Badger sets in the woods. Coming from the East End of London this was a child's paradise with all the heath land and woods nearby. As it was the years at the end of the war I remember the ...see more
I was born in Sudley Road nursing home, Bognor, and we lived in Nyewood Lane, but I used to stay frequently with my grandmother in her flat a couple of hundred yards from the Royal Norfolk Hotel. One of my earliest memories was of her taking me out of bed one summer dawn for a walk down to the beach in front of the Esplanade Theatre. We both went skinny dipping, for it didn't matter to her that the ...see more
During my childhood we went to Linshader every summer holiday and stayed at my auntie's house (No 7). It was great ... we enjoyed collecting eggs, putting the cow out to pasture, helping to make haystacks with my uncle, feeding the calves with my auntie, visiting people through the village, waiting for the Co-op van to come round so we would get a lollipop, rowing over to Callanish with my uncle, ...see more
I can remember cycling to Wolverton every Friday to meet my dad out of the carriage works. When the hooter went, about five thousand men came out the gates. Dad used to buy me sweets from Muskets sweet shop and take me to the indoor market, we used to have a cup of tea at Ethel's, she ran the tea bar. Then cycle back to Loughton.
Loughton was the village I grew up in. A loveley village surrounded by countryside and farm land. I grew up in Railway Cottages, somtimes known as Fog Cottages. Me and my friend Marlene used to sit on the fence train numbering. I also remember going for walks in Linford Wood wich was huge then and full of bluebells and primroses. In the summer we would also collect rose hips and blackberries. The mushrooms ...see more
I am trying to carry out a family tree with the surname Jones, it is difficult! I know there was an Elizabeth who went to Wrexham for a time. I do not know whether she returned home and would like to know more about her and her family. Anyone out there - I believe I was named after her. I wonder if there are any family members still living there and what happened to Elizabeth.
I remember Smithybridge with great liking and fondness. I was fortunate to have my sister and her husband living there, Ken Davis being an ex police officer who decided to retire there. My visits to them from Tasmania were made in winter, and I remember the snow and seeing fires shining through windows as I went for walks around the lake and through Littleborough. The great feeling of having lunch in a ...see more
Born and bred in Morrison Street during the war I lived in Russell Street teams for a few years, I have lots of memories of that place. I went to Rose Street school till I was 15, I started work at Hugh Woods TVTE, got my apprentiseship then moved to Newcastle, working at Vickers for 10 years before emigrating to Melbourne, Australia.
I was born in 1965 at Cliveden and lived in Grubwood Lane near the entrance to Quarry Woods with my parents for 16 years. I remember walking to Cookham Dean Primary School where the headmaster Mr Turner made my life a misery! I remember scrumping apples in the orchards opposite my house but had to watch out for the 'bangers' - the farmer hung small explosives off ropes in the trees to scare off the birds and ...see more
The MORLEY family of nine who squeezed into a new house in Rosewood Ave, Elm Park 1950s - 1980s, did a 'down memory lane' trip 28 July 2011 (Romford Recorder), brilliant to go back to your roots. Some shops literally have not changed and some shops are long gone. Harold Lodge Park still beautiful with lake, Maylands Girls School now called Albany. Did the trip to school from old home, which was long and ...see more
My grandfather was Albert Fish. He lived in Small Dole all of his life. He ran a haulage business with his brother Jim. He had eight children, one of whom (JIM) was killed in Italy in the war. My mother, brother and I walked from Beeding to see my grand father every Sunday. My grandmother died when I was a few months old. In the early fifties Granddad married Violet. In the forties virtually everyone in Small ...see more
I was born in Upney hospital in 1954, lived in Barking in Esex in St Aldrey Street, attended Ripple Middle School, loved going to Barking Park as a kid, we moved to Australia in 1966.
I first remember Holland-on-Sea when I worked my first 'season' as solo organist at Valley Farm Camping Ground (as it was then called) way back in 1969. I used to regularly have lunch with a work colleague at the little 'Peter Pan restaurant' at the top end of Sladbury's lane where it joins onto Holland Road. The two ladies that ran it were extremley pleasant and years later, I was ...see more
My email address is john98718@gmail.com Mobile No. 0879615663
I came to live in Cornwall, just nine miles from St. Germans in December 2006. Much to my amazement, I found that my Great Grandmother, Amelia Hawke was born and brought up here in the house next door to the post office. Her father George Hawke was a bootmaker. I did much research into the Hawke family while I lived in Cornwall for about 15 months and still go back as often as I can to see all the graves of my ancestors in the graveyard opposite the church.
My name is John Power, Waterford City. I lived on Harlesden Road, Willesden from 1965 to 1968 and then returned to Ireland. In that space of time I made some great friends and one family in particular who were named Roche from Kerry. There were at least 6 men and 2 girls in the family. One girl was married and had a family in Willesden and the youngest girl came to Willesden in 1966/7 after finishing ...see more
I used to be so excited about the street fair every September. It ran the entire length of Old Amersham High Street. I still have a precious photo of me, along with two little monkeys, which was taken at the fair. Possibly in about 1961. My parents were married at St Mary's church in 1940, the same year my grandfather died. He was buried in the churchyard. My grandmother is also buried there, as is my dear mother. ...see more
65th birthday on July 19 - what better way to rediscover lost innocence than a visit to Knott End and a ferry boat trip. So we all piled in to the ageing family MPV and up the M6 and over Shard Bridge we went - recalling the anachronistic way one used to have to pay a toll to the troll who manned the imaginary barrier. Well quick and clean and quiet the modern boat may be, but nothing could ever beat being ...see more
I remember visiting Fontigary Bay Caravan Site with my family during the late 50s and early 60s. The caravans used to cost about £3 a week to hire. They didn't have toilets, of course, and we had to use the site's communal shower/toilet block. I can remember my dad lighting the gas mantles each evening. The beach was reached via steps - quite a few steps, if my memory serves me correctly - and the bottom ...see more
I lived in Newcastle-upon-Tyne from being 3 so I really can't remember much. I lived with my mother because my dad was in the army, he came home in 1945 and we had a big party in the street, it was lovely. We had parties in the street for quite a few things, it was fab. Years later I married and went to Australia, we went back in 1994. It was weird, nothing was the same, our house was no longer there ...see more
25th January 1932 - the day my grandmother died at Parc Gwyllt Hospital. A very sad story for her family but thank you for posting this photgraph - it does help. Fortunately the world has changed somewhat and also people's attitides to mental health. Living in Australia it was lovely for me to have a place to go with the name on her death certificate. All I have to do now is find out where in Bargoed she is buried.
My mother was born in Rishangles, 12th Sept 1919, her mother's (my nan) maiden name was Catchpole.
I moved to 274, Oxford Road with my family in 1959. I lived there until marrying in 1978. The school bus collected me from outside my house and took me to Begbroke. At age 14 I moved to a school in Oxford City and caught the public bus thereafter.
We were married in April 1978 and our first big shop was done at Waitrose.  We filled a full size trolley to the brim for the princely sum of £20.00. This area is now the entrance to the Woolgate Centre Happy days....
Me and My Mum used to go in to the old Co-Op in Woolwich and My brought a mat in there before it closes and there was a post office in there aswell
It was only recently that my eldest daughter (17) asked where I was born, I told her of this place, she asked if the place still stands to which I told her no. She asked about the Cambridge Military Hospital and I told her all I know about the once majestic building, its role in history and its role in our family, she replied that it is a tragic waste of such a beautiful building. I left ...see more
My mother left Yorkshire with me in 1945 when I was four years old. She worked for a Mrs Curzon at Arrochar house in Rothiemay as a cook and general help. I think the owners were titled people. I remember collecting daisies and dandelions in the garden. There was also agirl of about nine years old named Marion who lived at the adjacent house. She would take me on the bridge and shake it ...see more
This was Clacton`s `pride of the fleet` - I worked there as a entertainer on many occasions. I remember Derek Howes at the mighty theatre organ in the lounge/ballroom. The MU (Musicians Union) used to have their annual dances there. In latter days, I entertained the holiday makers and called bingo in my interval with Des. I spent many happy times in the front bar entertaining the `charabang outings` on ...see more
There was a reason for the demise of the old building, but I cannot remember it - the relatively new one is lovely too - my daughter recently got married there and I played the wonderful pipe organ that is in situ. I used to live in Victoria Road and spent many hours practising at the organ in the church. On one very memorable ocassion I was sitting at the console writing out some pedal parts (during the ...see more
I first came to Clacton in May 1969 (man had yet to land on the moon!!) to do a `season` as solo organist at Valley Farm Camping Ground(as it was then called) It was all `heady` stuff as, up until then, I had hardly been out of my home town of Shrewsbury(Shropshire) I served an apprenticeship at Hall Engineering and during this time was playing organ with Shropshire`s then top group-the ...see more
The River Avon dominated most of the kids' lives in the village! I remember swimming 'down the mill' and at Gunville where my Great Grandmother (Sarah Marks) lived. We used to scrounge used inner tyre tubes from Mr Stansfield (who owned the Tourist Coaches next door to the Workingmen's Club) and float down the river on them from the bridge. Also used to get the watercress from the bridge too! So much to do! ...see more
I was at Port Regis in 1950 for 3months and in 1952 for 9months. I saw the coronation there, and went with three other girls from my area. I remember playing with a girl called Teresa, also Sister Mary Magdalane. I was not abused or cruelly treated, probably due to the fact that my dad always left a good tip for the nunnery, I was taken on outings and remember the light house very well ...see more
Holland is a bustling Essex coastal town `resplendent`-a bride in her wedding day gown, tree lined avenues, with neat little plots, well kept gardens and a place for the tots, a school, four churches, library and hall, a pet shop, two surgeries and a doctor `on call.` `Jeremy Oates` is the chemist who certainly knows his pills (He’ll mix you a `potient` that’ll soon cure all known ills) and `Kings Drug ...see more
I see an advertisement for "Chimneys Hotel" in Blackhall advertising as having been built in 1925 and formerly named the "Trust". I lived in the Trust as a boy but in Horden and believe the hotel in Blackhall (Chimneys) was in fact the "Hardwick". Can anyone tell me if I am right or wrong please?
I was born at Addicroft mill. The picture on the cover of the book "A Millstone Around My Neck"my mum says is exactly what it was like when we lived there. She has many memories of life there as does my sister....Olver was our name. They were very hard but happy days. Mum and Dad had the electricity put in...
I remember getting off a bus in Upper George Street with my dad and walking down towards George Street and I saw the library and said what's that pointing - my dad said "It's a library and you borrow books from there". I was amazed and wanted to borrow a book but my dad said "We're buying your shoes today" - one of several even earlier memories of how much time I spent with my dad when I was little. I had two younger ...see more
Does anyone know the history of Lodge Pond, my family were Brickmakers and had a brick kiln nearby, we think the pond was created by them digging the clay. I would love to have any opinions.
My partner was a regular visitor to Talacre in his youth, we came back with our children who have never been this year. My partner has a vague recollectoin of a bunker being on the beach where himself and his friends used to camp, so as we were there he wanted to show the children where he'd misspent his youth but we can't find the bunker and can't find any info about it, can anyone help? Many thanks.
I went to St Michael's School in Champion Crescent. My grandparents Annie and Ernie bines lived opposite the road. Good times.
My name when I lived on Harold Hill was Susan Bryan (and then Shepherd when I married for the first time). My parents moved to Newbury Road, Harold Hill in 1950 when I was just two years old. There were no shops in Hilldene Avenue and no bus service. There used to be a guy called Wally (I think) who would come around with his van selling food. Another man used to come around on a bike with a basket ...see more
My earliest memories were of the surrounding streets, Barmore and Ingrave, York Road and especially the "Monkey Stairs", a set of steps off both York and Lombard Roads leading to flats on the first floor. We had tons of fun running up and down these steps, probably annoying the residents. There was the Bagwash shop, on the corner of Ingrave and Creek streets, and the old, dark ...see more
Hi, does anybody remember living in the Ebenezer Square? We lived at the top, if you turned left you went under a hallway and we lived in one of the houses. I remember some of the families, Fallis and Fletchers, and we had a relative who had a shop at the side of the Co-op, she was called Goldthorp, when we bought 2 ounces of spice, or sweets as they are called now. If it went over she would cut the sweet in half ,the good old days, 2 blackjacks for a halfpeny, wow we thought we was rich.
We recently moved to Ascot in 2010, our house is about half way down the left hand side of the photo - or rather it would be if the photo had been taken 3 years later (our house was built 1909). The house on the right is more or less the same today and you can see the railway bridge in the distance. About as close as I can get to an old photo of our house!
My strongest memories of Lewisham is there being three cinemas there. The Gaumont (where I saw the Beatles live in the 1960s) - I went to Saturday morning pictures there. The Rex cinema, just by the bridge opposite The Duke of Clarence pub, also opposite the best restaraunt in Lewisham, 'The Saville'. And the Prince of Wales which was further up Lewisham High Street almost opposite the ...see more
Hello everyone, I am doing some genealogy work and found a distant relative who was a groom at Ryton House (as listed on the census). I can't find any reference to it online, does anyone remember such a place or have any idea what it might mean. Thanks in advance Kashmir
I was at Langley between 1979/83, Mr and Mrs Wright, good people, Mr Trameer and good lady daughter Alex, she'd be 31 year now, I wonder what she's doing. I haven't seen anyone from my day exept Ronnie. I've been to the school a few times and was shocked to see a housing estate there. If anyone knows anyone from my days I'd like to know. Mr Haggis, nurse, Mr C Trameer, Alex etc, Mrs Godfrey, cook, kids etc. Contact me. Mark Bradley
I was born in May 1950 at 85 Killingworth Avenue, Castle Park, Backworth. I was the only child in the street for a few years and I remember going into everyone's house for biscuits. I played with everyone's cats and dogs and played in their gardens. I remember my third birthday and watching the Coronation on my Nana's new television, that was 1953. In September 1953 we moved across the road to Number 78 ...see more
I remember going to Rivacre Baths and playing in the fountain near the entrance, I kicked and splashed but managed to kick the wall so hard my nail eventually went black and fell off. I was very young then but remember walking ALL the way from Princes Road (near the Prinny) to the baths on many a hot summers day with my friends as I got older. I'm in my fifties now and have fond and not so fond memories of the baths, and how many of you used to bunk in through the missing railings?
I just loved Surbiton Lagoon. Me and my twin sister lived in Alexandra Drive, just around the corner and we were good friends with the manager's son Vaughan Hancock. In the scorching hot summer of 1976 we were 14. My mum worked at the Lagoon so we got in free. We spent all the summer holidays there and 'bagged' our sun bathing spot on the stairs at the 5ft marker. This is because me, my twin (Nicola) and our ...see more
Hi all Draytonions, In the 60s what a great town this was, so much fun, what a shame to see it now.. is this what they call progress, aaaah John Tomlinson
I was born in Sunbury in 1953 and left in 1978, so have many fond memories of it. Does anyone remember Mrs.Bennett, who taught swimming at the open air pool on Rivermead Island? She was my mother and taught me. She was a tough 'un who insisted I jump in when it was freezing, just to get it over with! She's in a home with dementia now, aged 88. Sad, but still love her to bits! Jo Bennett that was from Fordbridge Road
I was born in Oakleigh Road North in 1965. I went to school at Sacred Heart Primary which was just up the road but felt like it was miles away while I was hanging onto my brother's hand and he walked with long strides while I ran on tiptoes trying to keep up with him. He would walk me to the gates and go on his way to Finchley Catholic High School. My other brother later went there and my ...see more
Looking to re-connect with Fiona Stewart (maiden name), daughter of Ken and Hilda Stewart. Fiona, my Mum (Lilian Holmes) and I used to visit you when we lived in New York. I now live in Canada. Where are you now? Regards, Diane
I went with my family to the Congregational Church all my life till we got married there in 1970 and then moved away. I remember the new hall being built and Harold Johnson getting cement on his cassock whenthey laid the foundation stone. Of course both the old hall and church have now been demolished. The church used to put on shows in both the old and new hall which we took part in. My friends were ...see more
In the 1950s and early 1960s I was very fortunate to be a regular guest at Beach Court; week-ends, and Easter and summer holidays. In those days Beadnell was indeed like a suburb of newcastle, somewhere between Gosforth and Jesmond, and practically all one's friends would be there. Dorothy's café (sometimes with piano accompaniment courtesy of Nigel), sailing, swimming off the pier, Yacht Club regattas, ...see more
I don't have a memory, but I am researching the Lamberts' family tree and my dad Alfred Horace came from Helperby and his father was the village bobby, his name was David Lambert and he married a Mary Elizabeth Hicks, all I know is he lived in the main street in Helperby, his birth was 1851. I think he also worked in the village pub. He had quite a large family,13 or 14 children. I would love to know if anybody has any information about this family, I am his grandaughter.
Gosh, this takes me back! Our family of six used to stay in one of these 'chalets on stilts' in the late 40's. We used to buzz around on hired 'side by side' twin tricycles.
Mr Allen (snr) was my grandpa. As a child in the 60s, the shop was a magical place. When this photo was taken, the shop was the second one from the corner of Chapel Street (walking towards the church). There was a antique shop on the corner when I first remember it. Later the chemist shop was extended and took over the corner premises. I too remember learning to swim at Oadby pool. I also remember Ellsons bread : )
The summer of 1959 goes down as the hottest in my memory. It started at the end of April and continued right through until the end of September. I was ten years of age that year and I spent most of that glorious summer hanging out with my pals over the outdoor pool in Barking Park. I remember bus drivers and conductors who had finished work at the adjoining bus garage, asking the girl on the turnstile if it was ...see more
I started at the school in 1961 as a day boy. The school also had boarders who lived at what had been the original school building off Court Barton which was also the girls school in my day. Looking at the photographs in this collection, the school was very much the same when I was there. Now it is a first school called Greenfylde. the school was founded in 1549 so it was a very old institution indeed. When I look back I am glad I was able to go to the school.
There was an enormous moth-eaten walrus on display here.
I remember attending Christchurch School and having an early Friday finish on condition that you attended church on Sunday.
We had a small caravan in Pensarn and as a child I remember the walk down to the beach and the man with his donkies in this picture. Further along was a small fun fair.
This memory is a bit vague as it relates to my aunt who was evacuated from Tottenham, North London to The Lizard in 1940. Sadly she died a few years ago and I have been trying for a while now to find out exactly where she stayed and which school she went to. All I have to go on was she could walk to the beach and swim and she stayed with a family in a big white house. I think the father was a writer, maybe of the War. ...see more
My father W C Smith was QM. at Hythe From 1919 to 1940. Rising From RQMS. to Major QM when the school moved to Bisley. I was born in Bevan House, Sandgate in 1928, and lived at Military House within the barracks. I went to school at St Leonard's church school. I also remember seeing the Graf Zeppelin passing over about 1937-8.
On the 12th June 1941 I was born in the Duchy Hotel as my father was then a serving Prison Officer. As I was so young I don't remember the early years of my life, but Princetown and the Duchy Hotel have been part of my life, and I have been back many times. I can remember returning to the Duchy with my family one christmas and having a large room for all the children there to play in and I had a pair of roller ...see more
The row of houses mentioned earlier were re numbered in the early 1950s. Our row started at 206- 214. The row of houses we lived in were actually owned by my grandmother Minnie Garbett. She bought them sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s. I remember being told that she caused chaos by fencing off her property and making the people next door at 204 use the next entry by number 202 instead of taking ...see more
I was delighted to find these lovely photos of the Warlingham area, but surprised that, so far, there is no reference to the Warlingham Park hospital, the staff and patients of which were a source of financial income to the area for over 100 years. Many of the staff lived in the houses on Harrow Road which may even have been owned by the hospital, as often these ...see more