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 24001 - 24080 of 36955 in total

I can remember going to school at Molesey County Secondary Boys School, I can remember a few of the names of the kids in my class. I also remember the Pond Stores in Beachamp Road where you could buy 2 Park Drives cigarettes in a pack and nip behind the cycle racks in Ray Road. Although I resided in East Molesey I was of that breed what they did in West Molesey we could do better. I remember a David ...see more
Does anyone have any pics of the old Youth Hostel on the clifftop from the early 1970s?
My mother and I lived in Laurel Cottage for the duration of the Second World War. I seem to remember it was next to the pub. I had a friend called Peggy. Her parents had a farm and I seem to remember it being in the village. We used to gather nuts from the hedgerows. I was 4 when we left but isn't it funny how happy memories linger. Anne
Hi, I was christened here at St Peter's Church and lived in Berkhamsted for 21 years.
I used to go roller skating three times a week at the Gliderdrome, when I was in my late teens, also after my National Service. One particular night stands out. I was skating backwards when I fell over someone who was already on the deck. I came down such a cropper and my knee went through the Asbestos floor. I thought I had broken my knee, I crawled to the side and sat on a form nursing my knee, very embarrassed. ...see more
I remember walking along the cinder path from Leigh station where the 21 bus dropped us off, buying cockles and Leigh shrimps for tea. We always had a plate of cockles while we waited for the shrimps to be weighed up. Lots of vinegar and plenty of pepper, lovely! We then walked up all the steps to St Clements, through the churchyard where my Dad showed us the stone that the pirates, more likely the ...see more
This is where my mum was born, 76 years ago.
Entering this house was like the first day in the rest of my life, shaping me into the person I am today.
The Aquarium was the venue for the 'Chinese Jazz Club' which was run by a man in a straw hat called 'Bonnie'. I was a regular as a student and despite the name all I recall was R&B music from a range of bands and singers including Muddy Waters, Blind Lemon Jefferson (I think) , Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart - then known as Rod the Mod.
In the 1950s the Railton Mobil Special with which John Cobb had taken the world land speed record in 1947 was displayed in the showroom. Reid Railton, the car's designer, was associated with Thompson & Taylor. The garage was also an Alfa Romeo dealership and to see beautiful red Guilietta coupe's in the showroom with 5 gears, twin overhead cam engines and twin carburettors in the 1950s when my mother stopped for petrol in her 3 gear sidevalve Ford Anglia was a schoolboy's dream.
Although I am relating to a time a little earlier, around mid and late 1940s, the scene in the photo still resembles the countryside as I remember it. Wantz Corner branched off in three directions, and for me, all leading to aunts, uncles and cousins, living in the area, fields to roam and play all day, haystacks to build tunnels in (I can't ever remember being chased away by a farmer), and of course school. ...see more
I purchased Outlands in 1987 for £70,000, it was and still is my dream home with so much potential, we are still on generator and spring water, the river Camel with salmon and trout fishing is on one boundary and a stream on another boundry with a bridge to access the property. The rear of the property has 200 acres of open forest and a little used extension of the Camel Trail that leads to Bodmin Moor one way and ...see more
Hi We lived in Fairy Cross at Keepers Cottage, it used to belong to the Pine Coffin family, for a number of years, very happy there.
My dad Neville Gerry was born in Sandwich Road in 1949, he was the youngest of 5 children. He was not what you would call a model son as he used to follow my grandmother home after she took him to school. I spent many a happy summer there myself, walking through the fields and going to Tommy's hole to play. Collecting blakberries along the disused railway track and spending time at the stables next to ...see more
My memories of Whatton relate to my Army Service at 53. Company, Royal Army Service Corps, situated on the A.52 road half way between Nottingham and Grantham and not far from Bingham. I was stationed there from October 1954 to April 1955 before being posted to Essen in Germany in May 1955, where I completed my Army service before going back home to South Wales. Sadly I have never been to Whatton since ...see more
I was born in Dryburn Hospital, Durham and was christened in St Paul's church in 1960. We lived in Hamilton Row by the Black Horse pub, my dad played darts in the pub and was a miner in the local colliery. Then we moved to Waterhouses until my family moved down to the West Midlands in 1963. My other half of the family came from Bearpark. I still have a lot of family scattered over County Durham. If you know my ...see more
This picture is of my family home just under the quarry to the left. My father Glyndwr 'Pancho' Parry was one of the council machine drivers that had to fill in the canal between the Darren bridge and 'the now' cycle path entrance. He did not enjoy doing that as it was so close to home for us and we missed the scape of things! Other than that I loved living there and thought I would live there for the rest of ...see more
I was born in one of those prefabs halfway down on the righthand side, number twenty three in fact. My mum and dad must have thought they`d gone to heaven, moving from a blitzed east end tenemant with a shared outside toilet to a detached "bungalow" with its own facilities and garden I remember the road just as in the picture: empty of cars. My dad was one of the first to get a car, well a van in fact, a ...see more
Because of my friendship with Helen Jones, the manager's daughter, I also went to play with her at her house, for me it was something very special because I had never been in such a big house before. It seemed so big, especially after my house in the village. The excitment of exploring the rooms especially the attic was wonderful, and later the grounds, where we picked crab apples. It would be wonderful if I could get in touch with Helen once again.
Hi My great-grandfather and my grandad lived nr here on Manor Farm and the Old Priory, in 1700 to 1901.
I have many happy memories of the Kid Stacks, which was down the sea bank. The Kid Stacks was situated quite a way past which is now the Council Dump. The Kid Stacks was a firing range, the Home Guard used to use it. We would go there and dig the bullets out. Sometimes a large gang of us would go and play army games, we would organise ourselves into two groups with home-made rifles. One time we imagined it was Wake ...see more
I am researching my family tree and have found that my family lived in or around this area. I am keen for any information regarding Maggie May Hill (maiden name Shearing). She was married to Edwin Arthur Hill in 1920 at South Stoneham. I believe they had three children called Edwin or Ted, Mary and Arthur William Frank Hill ... Arthur was born in Bursledon in 1923. Any help would be great.
As my fourteenth birthday hove into view and we entered the summer of 1939 it became clear that we could soon be at war with Germany. Bushey Heath was just fifteen miles north-west of central London. My parents felt I should be out of the way of the expected bombing raids, so they sent me, not to friends but to friends of a friend, Mr and Mrs Ovey. Mr Ovey was Pastor of the ...see more
I was at Styal Open Air School from 1958-1967 and I have wonderful memories of picnics on the lawn outside Wendy House where I lived, and trainee teachers coming in the summer and playing games with us and taking us out to Styal Woods. I also remember going to Wilmslow for Christmas shopping and also shopping for other occasions. I remember bath nights on a Sunday night and then washing all the socks in the ...see more
Does anyone remember the Vane Dancing School in the late 1940s? I have some dance programmes from that time with very many names of all the dancers who took part in the shows. One name that does come to mind was June True who sometimes tap danced with my sister June Bannister.
We lived at Henfold a couple of miles from here, I used to be a pain in the neck to my older brother who used to come & fish at this pond. I caught my first "Red throat minnow" here. In the winter when it iced over we skated, played ice hockey & someone even drove a mini on the ice! I rode my pony often around the pond to access the Common & head off towards Leith Hill via ...see more
I am interested to find out if anyone can remember my grandmother Mrs Lillian Florence May Adams (nee Pearson) and my dear father Mr Meyrick Pearson Adams? My grandmother was born in Hereford and married and had my father and his younger brother Barry who lives at Colebatch in Shropshire. My grandfather's name I think was Alfred ...see more
I was born and bread in Anstey, 21 Rosebery Road, a council house with my 2 brothers Kelvin and Clive. I loved Anstey I still do. I have a lot of childhood memories. I joined the Royal Navy on leaving school, Anstey Martins Secondary Modern, and I am now living in Portsmouth in Hampshire although I have been back several times. I miss the place dearly. I would love to return to live ...see more
Please let Guy Jefferson have anything about Tholthorpe.
I was four when my parents, Geoff and Pyll Kleboe, bought Keepers Cottage, Henfold Lane, Newdigate. A Mrs Thompson and her husband "Blackberry Jack" had lived there for many years and the property was very run down. With the talent of my maternal grandfather William Jones, over a period of 25 years "Keepers" was totally renovated. Believed to date back to the 1500s, it was originally an old coaching ...see more
I am now 63 but it wasn't till a couple of years ago that looking at my BC I actually took in that I was born at the Holbrook Maternity Home June 30th 1947. I'd always put down Belper as my place of birth as I'd only glanced at the BC which showed Belper Road as the address of the Maternity Home, which throughout my adult life had been good enough for me...until now that is. So last year I made up my mind ...see more
One freezing cold day in December 2010 I went for a long coastal walk while staying with our friends Valerie and Jim Bougnague in Portishead. I was fascinated to find what I thought was a small lighthouse on the very tip of Battery Point but when I walked over a metal catwalk above the rocks to reach it I read a small sign: "This is a fog siren and may sound without warning. Please ...see more
Though I have never been to the fair city of Chesterfield, I had a good army mate whom I served with in Corsham in Wiltshire. I have been trying to find him for years, who knows, someone on this site MIGHT just know of him, a stab in the dark, maybe !!
My first serious girl friend lived in White Horse Road. She worked in her father's small grocery shop in Green Street. I recall I had to buy quite a few jars of jam before I could pluck up courage to ask her out on a date, as it turned out Linda was to give me a 'dear John', how shattered was a 17 year old? I also recall, I lived at 58 Higham Road when I would use the Erskin Arms public house, the landlord ...see more
I was born in Moreton in Marsh and lived the first 13 years of my life in Oddington. My father was a farmer and we lived at Green Farm right in the middle of the village. We used to have the village bonfire (November 5th) in our field opposite the farm and my father used to make a large bonfire with bales of straw around the bottom and poor old tractor sump oil on it to get it going. There was ...see more
I had a chum at St Nicolas School who lived in a flat in Dene Street, Dorking. I remember taking the bus home with him for tea. After we roamed around the town for a bit before I caught my 470 bus home to Epsom. My memory of names is not good but Andrew Davis sound very comfortable to me - I reckon I was at that school between 1950 - 1953. For many years we had a pewter cup at my parents' house with glass ...see more
I was born 1950 at Royal Bucks Hospital and moved from Aylesbury about 1957. I have so many memories of growing up there but would love to find a old photo of PROSPECT PLACE in Walton Street. My grandparents lived there and my mother was born there. I have tried several years looking for a photo of the row of houses but nothing. Can anyone help find a photo of Prospect Place? Thank you.
Stationed at RAF Scorton in the little medical facility which was reached by passing through a farm (I believe). My memory is not good as a result of a stroke. We were lucky to have our own hot water supply as the majority of the camp sites had only cold water. Looking at recent maps, I get the impression that the medical facility is still standing and now presumably used for other purposes.
I started at West Byfleet CS in 1963 when Fred Goodger was the head master, and a more paranoid man I've yet to meet, but some of the teachers were great! I remember the school very well and so many pupils. I came from Pyrford and West Byfleet was a long way in those days! I remember the shopping centre and Camerasports where we all bought our records (mostly The Beatles) and I remember the excitement when ...see more
These memories are as fresh in my mind as if they happened last week. Boston had its share of air raids, the first one was on a rainy Monday, it was July, the first day of our summer school holidays. It would be about 7.15 am when we heard a low flying plane, then a mighty explosion, followed by the blast, which took out out the fanlight above the front door, the house seemed to lift. The bomb had landed at the back of ...see more
I was also born at Gate Burton Hall. My mother was evacuated from Hull. I hope to get more information and visit Gate Burton in June next year.
I have just found this page and what memories it rekindles. I was a minor at the ABC, I even got a road safety prize from Coco the Clown. Thorpes record shop accross the road, there I bought my very first record, 'Runaway' by Del Shannon. Hutton's Fish shop, always had to bring a piece of previous day cold skate home for my gran. I went to Lonesome Infants School in 1950 and ...see more
I am raised in the village and was in the school when it closed. I remember most families and events and places in the village. 07826698904
I was brought up in the village in a house called Ty Newyth which means 'the new house'. I remember every part of the village from the school to the post office, the jet plane crash on Trefenter mountain, and the old Trefenter village higher in the hills where the windmills or turbines ended up. I remember some of the families from the village. If I can help in any way I would be happy to help.
My name is John Coulthard. I live in Scottsdale, Arizona U.S.A. My father Alfred John Coulthard spent his whole life researching the family's history back to the mid-1100s, He left me all his research including a book "A COULTHARD" which includes about 150 family genealogy charts and includes original material related to Cumwhinton. This starts with some background on a Richard Coulthard who apparently moved ...see more
My gran Margaret Ross lived at the "Old Smiddy" in Berriedale where me, my brother Ian and sister Audrey spent every summer on holiday. It's the most beautiful place in the world and I have the most wonderful memories of so many happy times there. One morning I took a donner doon to the water and there was a man with a big net catching fish, I gave him a fright and he says " Here wee man, have ...see more
My family were from this area and my grandfather Edward Gough Jones and grandmother Rosa Jones brought up 7 children Joan, Nora, twins Eileen and Beryl, Ron (who still lived in a bungalow at the Crescent Nesscliffe until this year sadly he died a few weeks ago and was buried with his dear wife Barbara at Great Ness Church), then there was Terry (who we have not heard about for many years, we do know he went to live ...see more
I was in the top year at Waltham Holy Cross County Primary in 1966. We took the 9th centenary of 1066 very seriously, given King Harold's connection with the Abbey. I wrote and directed a film for the school children. The sound synchronisation didn't work so we had to also have a voice over script when the film was shown. It must have been dire, but we did our best. There was also a big ...see more
I can't help with a photo - but I can confirm that the Mascot Hotel was in York Street. I stayed there for a couple of nights in June 1958. As I recall, the hotel was about 1/3 way down York Street on the right coming from the direction of Baker street. John Cavill
I was born at 7 Sandown Crescent in 1946. I now live in Vancouver Canada but my Aunt Win still lives in the same house. I remember playing football on the Mellons fields on Saturday mornings, Billy Butt, Nick Butt's uncle, used to play with us. I went to the Sacred Heart School with Pat Morrisroe and Greg Thompson. Our teacher was Mr Lee. We had some great times growing up. My last visit was in 2007, how ...see more
My wife's family the Oldcorns live in this end house and our friend Collin Parington also lives on this row. Posted Dec 2010, hasn't changed for a hundred years.
This is my father-in-law Austin A35 parked on the road, Alf Thompson was the owner.
My wife used to live in the house on the right, Number 5 Mill Close. When we were courting I would walk her home from our nights out and we use to sit on the bridge wall. This is where I had my first kiss from her, she was 17 and I was 19 years old. We have been married now for 46 years and have two children and 4 grandchildren. This is where it all started.
Does anyone remember a grocery shop in CUDWORTH called STOCKDALES please? It would have probably been in business after the war. Any memories or information would be very welcome. Mervyn Broadhurst northern Spain debasket42@aol.com
At this time I lived in Bookam and worked at The Central Electricity Research Laboratories in Leatherhead. I cycled over this bridge on my "off road" route to and fro work. Happy days! I remember the dairy but not the blacksmiths that others mention.
I have no memories of Down St. Mary, but I have a great-great-grandad from this village, Michael Rice, born December 12, 1791. I do not know when he left. He died in Independence, Missouri, USA, in March 1854. Are there any more Rices in this area?
Living at Ashburton, St Luke's was my local parish church where I got married in 1968, a lovely church. Although 40 plus years have passed, I still have good memories of living in the area.
Picture shows the junction of Main Road with Crossways. I moved to Crossways aged 7 in 1961. The shop on the corner by the phone box was a Co-op, and the one on the far side of Crossways was a Post Office. From 1961 to 1970 I caught the bus to Brentwood for school from stop opposite on left on photo. My father still lives in Crossways in 2010.
We moved from the garrison to the village just after the floods, I was 12. We moved into Malakwa, next door to the post office run by Mr and Mrs Smith and their daughter Silvia (I had a crush on her but that is another story). The paper shop by the railway station was run by Mr Eaton and family. People I remember are Mr and Mrs Busby and family, the Stocks who ran the grocery store, who lost their ...see more
I lived in the village in 1972 until 1980, everyone knew everyone's name and all the ladies of the house were known by 'Auntie', like 'Auntie Beryl' etc. It was a real village in those days and had lots of barns etc but all now are homes. The Buush was the hub of the village, and there was the village shop run by the Kitchens and also the post office until it moved to Myrtle Cottage ...see more
I attended Malvern Hall or Solihull High School for Girls as it was known at the time from 1962-1967. I loved the old part of the school and the imposing staircase which I never got to use as I left after my 'O' levels and it was for staff and sixth formers only. I also have an abiding memory of the cellars, which were strictly out of bounds of course! Happy days spent in wonderful surroundings.
I was stationed here at R.A.F. Netheravon in late 1958 to do trade training for the R.A.F. Police. I was only here for that duration, and can remember that it was quite cold. I made friends with a chap called Mike Howard while doing our training, and on weekends he and i used to travel around by thumbing lifts from cars. We were in uniform of course and in those days almost every car that came along would give ...see more
I remember the town hall well, situated at the traffic lights, Station Road, opposite Hollywood car sales. There was a bench seat at the rear and even ladies and gents toilets on each side. Many an evening was spent there, attempting to keep out of Copper Jones's clutches, chatting to school pals and eyeing up the girls. Oh, what fun in those heady days. And later gathering there on our motor bikes, ...see more
From 1947 to 1950 my father, V. U. Hinds, was the Station Master at Northfleet Railway Station. We lived in Berwick House, a Victorian "pile" next to the station which had two large mulberry trees in the garden. I attended St Botolph's School next to the church. Each day I walked along the High Street from the Rly. Stn. to school, including going home for lunch. Children had lots ...see more
After a trip to Gilfach Goch in July 1999 I started researching my family tree. I live in Cape Town South Africa and my mother was Ida Brandon, born 2nd February 1919. Her brother was Ernest Brandon and her sister Lilian. Through a very kind lady and contact given to me whilst In Gilfach Goch, I contacted Ruth James of Oak Street and she kindly helped me to obtain a copy of my mother's birth certificate. ...see more
The Crown Hotel dating back to the reign of Queen Anne circa 1702. Demolished to make way for hideous 1960s architecture, Dickie Wright's butchers shop and cottage on the corner of Church Street, the bandstand where Bob Simmons stood selling the Express & Star evening newspaper, Watkiss's seed and corn shop, later to become Yates Radio & Television where we bought singles for six and eightpence, ...see more
There's a ruined church, still with roof but no windows and totally surrounded by overgrown shrubbery and a tall wall, just west of Glenlochar Barrage heading towards Laurieston. It's on the right hand side heading west and is in a little patch of greenery amongst the fields with only the roof visible from the road. There's an old green way up to it a few hundred yards long. I'm trying to find ...see more
Not so much a memory for me as I am too young to actually remember Norman. Norman's name is among the list of brave young men that left the Heath and went to fight in the Second World War, he was the younger brother of my grandfather. They were in different regiments but actually ended up in the same POW camp on the famous River Kwai after being captured by the Japs. Grandad had no idea that Nornan was ...see more
My grandmother and grandfather lived at "Oaklands", in Maesgwyn Road, opposite a corrugated iron church. The road was unmade and beyond the church to the sea was a large meadow where cattle and sheep grazed. On the other side of the road were quarrymen's terraced cottages. My grandparents moved there in the 1920s after Grandad retired. Born in 1925, I spent much of my early childhood with them in ...see more
A few of us youths made small lofts, and got the idea we would have pigeons as a hobby. The trouble was we didn't have money to buy any. We hatched a plan, we could get all the pigeons we want, the only catch was they roosted under the Town Bridge. We used to go through gate near thr White Hart. It's locked now, it used to be unlocked. we would wait till it was dark, making sure no police was about. We would go along a ...see more
I also was confirmed here by Donald Coggan, and also attended Flaxley Road primary school. I still remember getting the slipper from Miss Reid around 30 times in one term, plus the cane from the head twice - I left the school in 1969 I think and went on to the Grammar School. We had a great footy team and also a great dancing team (rmember country dancing in the square in Selby. I left Selby in 1970/71 and have visited only once since.
In our school holidays, I and one or two more used to go with cattle drovers, there were often a thousand Irish cattle arriving at the cattle dock on some Saturdays. The front of the herd would be at the Town Bridge as other cattle were still leaving the cattle dock. We would guard all the sidestreets and passageways. Cattle would be sold at the market, then were taken to various fields outside of town. One drover, ...see more
My grandfather farmed Bushey Leazes farm on the Broadlands estate until his retirement. I loved that farm, playing in hay lofts, milking the cows, they had guard geese that would come down the long lane from the farm and not let you by till Gran shouted down at them. I lived nearby in Malt House Cottage, Leigh, but spent most of my time at the farm.
My grandfather Cecil Brown was born in 1887 at Caundle Purse on Tripp Farm. His father was Albert Brown and his mother was Emma Sheppard, they were farmers all their lives in and around Barrow Hill, Stalbridge and Trent Farm.
In the Second World War, shows were put on at the Scala Cinema. It is now Poundstretchers. One night my mother took me and my brother to one of the shows, and we sat on the front seats. Most of the audience was made up R A F chaps. It was gave out that the pianist hadn't turned up, and was there anyone in the audience who could play the piano? There was a lot of shouting at the back, I turned to see what all the fuss ...see more
We first lived in White Cottages, when I was about 2, my dad Des Brown worked as a dairyman on the farm, and my mother Audrey cleaned for a Mrs Henshaw. When I was 4/5 we moved up the road to 3 Wheatley Close, next door to Mrs Bond and Mrs Ayres, and went to the village school, the head was Mrs Tanner, she had a dog called Lucky. My teacher was Mrs Haycock, she would pick me up from my gate and take me to ...see more
I look back on my time living in Hoylake as a child with great fondness. We lived in the Lighthouse pub for about 3 years. We were there when it closed. I can remember going down to the beach to see the lifeboat.
Menstrie Castle was a great favourite for us young ones, looking at the staircase. I remember an old woman used to live there, I can't remember her name, but she used to chase us when we played there. We once found old bullets in one of the rooms next to the archway. One friend (Billy Boyle) fell through through the roof and broke his leg, yes those were the days. I was there last year but it is not the same now as the castle has been turned into flats and the old staircase has now gone.
In 1861 my great grandad Josiah Smith and his wife Elizabeth was butcher/publican at the Butchers Arms. I would like to hear if anyone has anymore information about this. Taken from the census 1861. Amelia Wesgrove was a visitor aged 13 years and Charles Seaton was the groom. Thanks
My great-grandparents lived at the Mance House, Anthorn, Cumberland, they were the Marshall family. Alfred Bailey Marshall was a lay preacher there from about 1879 till about 1900, he was married to Emily Willoughby. They had quite a big family, my grandmother (Grace) being one of them. I have seen the house a few times over the years, the chapel is no longer a church. A guy from Liverpool brought the ...see more